(June 28, 2012) A University of Washington lab has been working for more
than a decade on fusion energy, harnessing the energy-generating mechanism of
the sun. But in one of the twists of scientific discovery, on the way the
researchers found a potential solution to a looming problem in the electronics
industry.
To bring their solution to market two UW engineers have
launched a startup, Zplasma, that aims to produce the high-energy light needed
to etch the next generation of microchips.
"In order to get smaller feature sizes on silicon, the
industry has to go to shorter wavelength light," said Uri Shumlak, a UW
professor of aeronautics and astronautics. “We’re able to produce that light
with enough power that it can be used to manufacture microchips.”