Kelvin Lynn, Regents professor in physics and mechanical and materials engineering, and Boeing Chair of Advanced Materials with various crystals grown in the WSU labs. (Photo WSU Photo Services) Neodymium YAG laser crystals: Used for high-power lasers capable of producing several kilowatts of energy—can cut through four inches of steel. Here a clear lavender colored laser rod. (Photo Wikimedia Commons) Most Nd: YAG lasers commonly produce a wavelength emission in the infrared, though frequency doublers are often used to produce higher powered green-emitting lasers as shown. (Photo Wikimedia Commons) Ruby laser crystals: A clear dark red crystal, it is an early laser material now mainly used in toys and science programs. Here looking lengthwise through a crystal rod. (Photo Wikimedia Commons) Cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet scintillator crystals: This clear yellow crystal is used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detect radioactive materials. (Courtesy SPIE) Cerium YAG crystals are also found in many fluorescent and LED lights. (Courtesy SPIE) Lead-magnesium-niobate piezoelectric crystals convert sound into electrical energy, used for medical ultrasound and Navy sonar. (Courtesy TRS Technologies) Industrial sapphire, ruby, emerald crystals: Used for a variety of optics. (Photo composite of Wikimedia Commons images) Industrial sapphire, ruby, emerald crystals are also used in hard window applications as military vehicles and aircraft. (Courtesy Lockheed Martin) Cadmium telluride crystals are used in many technologies including medical imaging and thin film solar cells. Kelvin Lynn holds a thinly sliced CZT wafer, which could be used as an imaging detector. (Photo WSU) Read about crystal making at Washington State, and the scientists who make them, in “Paths that grew crystal clear.”