Laser Made of Germanium and Tin (IMAGE) Forschungszentrum Juelich Caption Scanning electron microscopy images: The germanium-tin layer is only a few micrometres thick and is applied to a "stressor layer" made of silicon nitride and an aluminium base for improved heat dissipation (left) and then coated with silicon nitride (right). Orienting the germanium-tin compound along the wider atomic distances in the crystal lattice of the silicon nitride leads to stresses in the embedded material, which ultimately cause optical amplification. Credit Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Nils von den Driesch Usage Restrictions Please give credit. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.