For decades, the effective projection of ground-based high-energy lasers into space has been a technical goal pursued by major global powers in terms of energy alignment. The core bottleneck has always been a key material - a special crystal that can withstand extreme conditions and efficiently convert the beam. Now, Chinese scientists have successfully announced the export of the world's largest photon crystal (BGSe), whose outstanding performance parameters not only solve the long-standing problem of material damage in high-power laser systems, but may also fundamentally change the future landscape of directed energy technology, space detection, and infrared sensing fields.
The Bottleneck and Breakthrough: Reinforced Crystals to Unlock the Atmospheric "Window"
High-energy lasers experience severe attenuation when penetrating the atmosphere due to absorption and photons, but mid-to-long-wave infrared light in specific bands can pass through the so-called "atmospheric window" with extremely low absorption and reach distant targets. However, efficiently converting common high-energy lasers into these ideal bands requires the use of non-optical crystals. Throughout history, these crystals themselves are prone to internal damage at high energy densities, becoming the "Achilles' heel" of the entire system. In 1997, the U.S. Navy's mid-infrared laser test aimed at hitting satellites failed due to damage to critical optical components, highlighting the severity of this material issue.
The BGSe crystal, marked by the team of Wu Haixin, a physicist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was specifically designed to solve this core problem. Its most notable feature is not its size, but its astonishing laser damage threshold. According to a paper published by the research team in the "Journal of Synthetic Crystals," this crystal can withstand up to 550 megawatts per square centimeter of energy density, which is about ten times higher than most military-grade optical materials. This vacuum durability means that ultra-high laser power systems can break through previous power limits and stably produce powerful mid-to-long-wave infrared beams, clearing the most critical material obstacle for lasers to precisely target objects in space from the ground.
A Decade of Effort: The Art of Manufacturing Ultra-Pure Crystals
This breakthrough was not accidental, but the result of a decade of arduous efforts in the laboratory. BGSe material was first discovered by Chinese scientists in 2010, but transforming its excellent properties from theory into large-sized, high-success-rate usable crystals was a huge engineering challenge, and previous attempts by the West had not succeeded.
The manufacturing process mastered by Wu Haixin's team is complex and exquisite. First, high-concentration dynamic elements and original elements are sealed in a vacuum tube, then heated to 1020 times in a dual-zone furnace. Over a long cycle, precise control of temperature fluctuations allows the crystal to grow rapidly. This process (especially oxygen and water) requires extremely strict control. After the crystal is formed, it must undergo several days of annealing treatment - keeping it at 500°C and slowly cooling it at a rate of only 5 degrees to eliminate internal stress and prevent the formation of small defects. Finally, through fine polishing using diamond saws and silicon dioxide slurry, an optical performance and structural defect-free product can be obtained. Every step of this entire process has pushed the limits of materials science, and the final success has enabled China to master world-leading core technologies in this specific field.
Two Uses: From Strategic Defense to Cutting-Edge Technology
Although the research paper obviously implies the purpose, the potential application prospects of this achievement are self-evident, and its emergence aligns closely with China's strategic interests in directed energy weapons and space technology in recent years. A high-capacity infrared crystal is the cornerstone of building next-generation laser systems. These systems can be used for various strategic purposes, such as precise detection, interference or destruction of satellites, building advanced missile defense, or achieving high-intensity secure laser space communication.
At the same time, this technology also has extensive civilian value. The efficient infrared conversion capability can give rise to ultra-sensitive infrared detection systems, playing a key role in missile early warning, aircraft identification, environmental monitoring, and smoke detection. In the medical field, high-power mid-infrared lasers based on this crystal can enable more accurate non-invasive surgery and high-resolution medical significance.
In summary, the birth of this giant BGSe crystal is not only a world record in terms of size, but also a fundamental breakthrough in the field of materials science. It provides a key "key" for the development of high-performance laser technology worldwide, unlocking application areas that were previously unattainable due to material constraints. In the future, countries that master this core material manufacturing technology will undoubtedly gain a significant advantage in the next phase of technological competition, whether it is strategic games related to national security or scientific exploration that pushes the boundaries of human understanding.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7531119001720816164/
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