Gamma-ray laser

A gamma-ray laser, or graser, would produce coherent gamma rays, just as an ordinary laser produces coherent photon beams. It would be powered by nuclear transitions from a nuclear isomer. To construct a gamma ray laser, one must find the right isomer, purify it, create a crystal from the purified material, and then pump enough energy into the crystal to cause it to emit a coherent gamma-ray beam. Because the wave length of gamma rays are shorter than that of x-rays, such a device, which has yet to be realized, would be very useful in applications such as high-resolution imaging, surgery, and communications, as well as high-intensity applications.