The brilliant feathers of a peacock contain nanostructures that scatter light in such a way that the plumage shimmers with shades of blue and green.
Researchers from Florida Polytechnic University and Youngstown State University (USA) applied a special to several areas of a peacock’s tail and set out to discover structures that could emit a completely different kind of characteristic glow.
Ultimately, the team made a stunning discovery: they found that the wavy spots on the peacock’s magnificent feathers possess unique properties. They align light waves, reflecting them back and forth, effectively transforming them into yellow-green lasers.
What Did the Scientists Learn?
The term “laser” is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. When light is directed at the atoms of certain materials, such as dyes or crystals, they excite each other, emitting a stream of photons.
According to the scientists, this type of light amplification is not uncommon in nature. Typically, this phenomenon attracts the attention of researchers developing biological lasers, as reported by Science Alert.
However, to create a laser beam, the buildup of stimulated waves must be aligned, and their phases must be synchronized. One way to achieve this is by reflecting waves back and forth in a confined space known as an optical resonator.
The researchers found evidence of optical cavities in the form of resonating nanostructures in various segments of the wavy spots. Each of these emits two different wavelengths: green and yellow-orange.
It remains unclear which specific structure is responsible for aligning the amplified light in these colors. However, the fact that they are scattered throughout the feather and emit the same precise wavelengths in a characteristic manner suggests that something extraordinary is happening here.
The team hypothesized that understanding the physical properties of these resonators could lead to advancements in laser technology or provide biologists with a new tool for studying living organisms.
As for peacocks, one can only speculate why evolution embedded lasers in their , which shimmers so remarkably.
The research findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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