US military orders development of powerful UV-based lasers for communications, disinfection and sensors

The US military has ordered the development of powerful ultraviolet (UV) lasers for use in communications, disinfection and sensors.

The lasers, which will be developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), will be based on a new type of laser technology called the “ultraviolet excimer laser.” Excimer lasers emit light in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum, which has a number of unique properties that make it ideal for a variety of applications.

One of the most promising applications for UV lasers is in the field of communications.

UV lasers can be used to create secure, high-bandwidth communication channels that are immune to eavesdropping. This is because UV light is easily absorbed by the atmosphere, which means that it cannot be intercepted by satellites or other eavesdropping devices. Additionally, UV lasers can be used to create free-space optical (FSO) links, which can provide high-bandwidth communications over long distances without the need for fiber optic cables.