Have you ever stood in line at a grocery store and tried to figure out how the red light in the scanner worked? With this open-ended project, you can either pursue numerical simulations to showcase how lasers work, you can write a review paper discussing the future applications of laser technology, or you can even design your own laser (at least theoretically on paper)!

Prerequisites: Coding doesn't need to be a required skill but a background in physics is essential!

How does a laser work?

Computers currently have billions of devices all jam packed into a small chip that allow them to store, process, and send information. In the past couple of decades, the increase in computation speeds has followed this exponential increase (Moore's Law). However, these devices are getting so small that they're reaching a theoretical limit! In this project, you will research ways to utilize photons instead of electrons to pursue these computations. You will understand how devices can be made that control light, as well as the current drawbacks light has versus conventional electronics.