Dutch scientists develop half million euro, 'affordable' super laser

[img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/12/xfel-lasereindhovenuni.jpg
[/img]
The folks at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have lovingly
referred to their latest contribution to the world of science as the
"poor man's X-FEL." An X-FEL, or X-ray Free-electron Laser, is like a
super strong video microscope that converts electrons to X-rays to
observe high-speed molecular movement. TU/e's super laser alternative
depends solely on a very specific bunching of electrons to do the same
thing, allowing for a much smaller (it fits on a tabletop), much
cheaper setup. With an estimated cost of half a million euro, the
laser is hardly cheap, but it's far more affordable than the
competition: Stanford's X-FEL runs hundreds of millions of dollars,
and measures a whole kilometer. TU/e researchers admit that their
laser can't do everything that an X-FEL can, but, hey, you get what
you pay for. Up next for TU/e? In vitro pork products. Yummy.