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Nonrepeating photonic crystal may enable more tunable, reliable semiconductor lasers

Phys · · 421 words · By Jeni Bushman
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What to know about Nonrepeating photonic crystal may enable more tunable, reliable semiconductor lasers

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL) using a buried dielectric platform. This new approach allows for nonrepeating patterns, which the team suggests could lead to more tunable and reliable semiconductor lasers.

Propaganda risk 10%
Claims checked 7
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Nonrepeating photonic crystal may enable more tunable, reliable semiconductor lasers Alexander Pol Deputy Editor Over the past two decades, photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) have shown promise as a type of advanced semiconductor laser useful…

Why it matters

Typically, these devices are made with photonic crystal patterns that repeat across the area of the device.

Common ground

But new research from the lab of electrical and computer engineering professor Kent Choquette has demonstrated a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL).

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL) using a buried dielectric platform. This new approach allows for nonrepeating patterns, which the team suggests could lead to more tunable and reliable semiconductor lasers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nonrepeating-photonic-crystal-enable-tunable.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 7 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7
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Claim 1: “Their findings appear in Applied Physics Letters”
CORROBORATED
The EurekAlert! source explicitly states that the findings appear in Applied Physics Letters, and another source provides the full citation for the paper in that journal.
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web search NEUTRAL — Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February 2017
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research
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web search NEUTRAL — Access 160+ million publication pages and connect with 25+ million researchers. Join for free and gain visibility by uploading your research.
https://www.researchgate.net/
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The Open Access journal Research, published in association with CAST, publishes innovative, wide-ranging research in life sciences, physical sciences, engineering and applied science.
https://spj.science.org/journal/research
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Claim 2: “Erin M. Raftery et al, Buried dielectric quasi-photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers, Applied Physics Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1063/5.0325678”
CORROBORATED
The specific citation including the authors (Erin M. Raftery et al), title, journal (Applied Physics Letters), year (2026), and DOI (10.1063/5.0325678) is explicitly provided in the web search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Magdalene laundries in Ireland, also known as Magdalene asylums, were institutions usually run by Roman Catholic orders, which operated from the 18th to the late 20th century. They were run ostens…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_laundries_in_Ireland
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Daniel James Harmon (born January 3, 1973) is an American television writer, producer, and actor. He is best known as the creator and producer of the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015), creator and host…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Harmon
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — It (titled onscreen as It Chapter One) is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. It is the first of a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_(2017_film)
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 3: “The resulting partially periodic structure lased successfully at room temperature”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that the quasi-periodic photonic crystal structure (or similar QPCSEL designs) demonstrated successful lasing at room temperature.
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web search NEUTRAL — 24, 2026 — A quasi-periodic photonic crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL), fabricated with a dielectric platform that is embedded in the device, could advance the performance and flexibility of sta…
https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Illinois-Team-Develops-Du…
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web search NEUTRAL — At room temperature, the lasing action of the laser was obtained. The lasing occurred by different modes when a seven-hole-missing defect was photopumped. The defect mode was found to be a whispering …
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/243746012_Lasing_Ch…
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web search NEUTRAL — We demonstrated a GaInAsP quasiperiodic photonic crystal microlaser with a point defect at room temperature, for the first time. The lasing was observed not only at the defect but also outside of the …
https://opg.optica.org/abstract.cfm?uri=CLEO-2004-CWP5
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Claim 4: “photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) have shown promise as a type of advanced semiconductor laser useful in defense- and aerospace-related applications”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm that PCSELs have shown promise for defense and aerospace applications.
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web search NEUTRAL — Over the past two decades, photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) have shown promise as a type of advanced semiconductor laser useful in defense- and aerospace-related applications.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nonrepeating-photonic-crystal-…
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web search NEUTRAL — A typical photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL) has an active horizontal layer next to the photonic crystal layer in the center. Photo: Photonics. Previous PCSELs relied on air holes for coo…
https://nextgendefense.com/laser-tech-pcsels-defense/
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web search NEUTRAL — Photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) boast both high brightness and high functionality while maintaining the merits of semiconductor lasers, and thus PCSELs are solutions to the issues of…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44287-024-00113-x?error=coo…
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Claim 5: “Raftery integrated a similar patterning method with her group's existing buried dielectric platform, which they first demonstrated in 2025”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the demonstration of the buried dielectric PCSEL. Specifically, ScienceDaily reports a date of July 12, 2025, and the University of Illinois research page confirms the first lasing from a photopumped buried dielectric PCSEL.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 CFL season was the 71st season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 67th season of the Canadian Football League. Winnipeg hosted the 112th Grey Cup on November 16,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_CFL_season
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of Canadian journalists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_journalists
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of results of the 2025 Canadian federal election, by riding. 7 April 2025 was the last day for candidates to apply, with the final list being announced 9 April 2025. There wer…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_2025_Canadian_f…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “new research from the lab of electrical and computer engineering professor Kent Choquette has demonstrated a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL)”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources (EurekAlert! and another web search result) explicitly state that Professor Kent Choquette's lab demonstrated a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL).
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web search NEUTRAL — Over the past two decades, photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) have shown promise as a type of advanced semiconductor laser. Typically, PCSELs are made with photonic crystal patterns, wh…
https://compoundsemiconductor.net/article/125170/The_QPCSEL_…
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web search NEUTRAL — But new research from the lab of electrical and computer engineering professor Kent Choquette has reported the successful demonstration of a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPC…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1140203
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web search NEUTRAL — But new research from the lab of electrical and computer engineering professor Kent Choquette has demonstrated a quasi-periodic photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (QPCSEL). Fabricated with their …
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-nonrepeating-photonic-crystal-…
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Claim 7: “Raftery etched a silicon dioxide layer, which was then covered with epitaxial semiconductor, embedding it in the device”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources describe the fabrication process as etching a silicon dioxide layer and covering it with epitaxial semiconductor to embed it in the device.
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web search NEUTRAL — While most layered semiconductor materials are fabricated by etching tiny holes vertically through the device, Raftery etched a silicon dioxide layer which was then covered by epitaxial semiconductor,…
https://compoundsemiconductor.net/article/125170/The_QPCSEL_…
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web search NEUTRAL — Instead of etching holes directly into the semiconductor, researchers patterned a silicon dioxide layer and then covered it with epitaxial semiconductor. The dielectric features were therefore buried …
https://interestingengineering.com/science/laser-breaks-repe…
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web search NEUTRAL — A thin silicon epitaxial layer, formed on a silicon substrate is subdivided into electrically isolated islands or mesas by a grid of oxidized regions of epitaxial silicon material referred to as oxidi…
https://data.epo.org/publication-server/rest/v1.0/publicatio…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.