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Monday, 4th February 2008 (9029 views)

Laser technology could alter the properties of gold and other metals so that in the future, people could propose with a gold engagement ring turned blue to match their fiancee's eyes, according to an optical scientist.

In a new paper, Professor Chunlei Guo of the University of Rochester in New York says the laser technology, which works by altering the metal so that it reflects only one colour and absorbs the rest, could soon be used to change any metal to any colour, Nanotechwire reports.

Tabletop lasers have already been used to turn aluminium gold, blue, gray and other colours. In addition, metals including gold, platinum, titanium and tungsten have been given a new hue.

And, according to Professor Guo, because the laser process changes the properties of the metal itself, rather than coating it, the new colour will not chip or fade.

He says the technique could have multiple applications, from using a single laser to colour products made of metal, such as gold jewellery or cars, to etching full-colour pictures on metal surfaces.

Professor Guo joined the University of Rochester in 2001 and is now associate professor at its Institute of Optics.

 

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