'Like a field plowed prior to planting': Researchers want to grow lasers, yes lasers, on material commonly found in sand

Gallium arsenide nanoridges.

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• Researchers at Imec have found a way to grow lasers directly on silicon
• Imec’s lasers use gallium arsenide, a material that doesn’t naturally bond with silicon
• This breakthrough could lower costs and improve photonic chips for AI and telecom