According to the South China Morning Post, the “pen” uses ultra-short laser pulses to extract electrons from air particles and convert them into light-emitting plasma. The process takes place with enough precision to form words in the air.

What is known about the miracle device

The scientists haven’t fully explained how the whole process works, but they say they used 3D scanning to arrange the pixels and render the Chinese characters.

With the help of a completely new device, we can draw in the air without using paper and ink,
– Cao Xiangdong, the lab’s lead researcher, commented in an interview with the state newspaper Science and Technology Daily.

• The “Pen” works with incredibly short laser flashes, equivalent to just a few quadrillionths of a second.
• At the same time, the output power is “almost incomprehensible”. The SCMP writes that the power of the laser installation can reach one million megawatts, not far from the total amount of energy the entire United States can produce.
• However, because the pulses are so short, the device does not consume much energywhich makes it relatively safe to use, according to scientists.

Laser “pen” that can write in the air / Photo Hongtuo Lab

Laser “pen” that can write in the air / Photo Hongtuo Lab

The picture that the machine creates at the end, visible from all sides, which means you can create 3D images with the help of a laserwhich can be touched.

The team hopes that the “pen” could one day be used in quantum computing, neuroimaging and other advanced technologies.