Dual layer color-center patterned light source

Abstract

A thin layer of ionic crystal is grown on a substrate. The crystal could be any type of ionic crystal, such as sodium chloride or potassium chloride. The crystal is a pure form of the chosen compound and may contain contaminants which would shift the wavelength of created color centers. On top of the first crystal layer, a second thin layer of a different type of crystal is deposited, such as lithium fluoride or sodium fluoride. When these two layers are radiated with gamma rays, they will each form color centers at the spots radiated. Because of the difference in crystalline properties of the two different ionic crystal centers, their color centers would be at different wavelengths. Each of the two separate ionic crystals will emit light at different characteristic wavelengths when illuminated at their unique absorption frequencies. Each layer can be made to lase separately. The top layer has an absorption energy greater than that of the bottom layer, so that the layer energy of the bottom layer absorption peak will pass through the top layer and be absorbed only by the bottom layer. There are many ways of forming F-centers in the two superimposed layers, such as by the use of selective gamma radiation by heating of an anion layer of the particular compound and then depositing the second ionic crystal on the first ionic crystal and then depositing an anion layer on the second crystal and then heating to produce a structure which will lase it to the different frequencies.

1 . A method of fabricating a color laser capable of emitting two frequencies of light comprising the steps of: 
 forming on a substrate a first ionic crystal having a predetermined absorption frequency;    depositing a second ionic crystal over said first crystal to form a laminate, said second crystal having an absorption energy greater than that of said first crystal; and    forming on said laminate F-centers at selected locations on both said first and second ionic crystals.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further including the steps of: radiating said laminate with light indicative of said first absorption frequency to cause said laminate to lase at a first frequency, and radiating said laminate with light at said different absorption frequency to cause said laminate to lase at a second frequency.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the F-center forming step includes subjecting said crystals to gamma radiation.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the F-center forming step includes first forming an anion layer upon one of said crystals and then heating said one of said crystals and said anion layer.