New laser to allow breath analysis for disease diagnosis

Researchers have developed a new type of laser that will enable exciting new advances in areas as diverse as breath analysis for disease diagnosis and remote sensing of critical greenhouse gases.

The team from University's Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the School of Chemistry and Physics said that they have been able to produce 25 times more light emission than other lasers operating at a similar wavelength which has opened the way for detection of very low concentrations of gases.

Dr Ottaway added that it has incredible potential for scanning for a range of gases with a high level of sensitivity, with great promise as a very useful diagnostic and sensing tool.

The laser, which uses an optical fiber which is easier to work with, less bulky and more portable, and much more cost effective to produce than other types of laser, will also help detecting methane and ethane in the atmosphere, which are important gases in global warming.

The study was published in the journal Optics Letters.