Russian Laser at Duke University Pumps out UV, Gamma Rays

DURHAM, N.C. -- After settling in at Duke University, the Russian free-electron laser (FEL), has been brought to life emitting UV beams. The OK4 optical klystron FEL, developed at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk, Russia, was brought to Duke to take advantage of the 1.1-billion eV electron racetrack at the school's Free-Electron Laser Laboratory. The OK4 began UV emission in mid-November and within two days was induced by physicists to produce gamma rays by colliding the laser beam with the electron beam that feeds it.