New Mexico State University Researchers Receive Funding to Use Raydiance USP Laser Platform to Detect Counterfeiting of Precious Gemstones: USP Las

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Business Wire EON) February 14, 2008 -- As part of this initiative, the precision and power of the Raydiance USP platform will allow researchers to differentiate fake gemstones from real gemstones, as well as uniquely identify individual gemstones with certainty, without causing damage to the stones. Until now, other lasers that have been effective at this technique have not been small, portable, precise or inexpensive enough to be practical for commercial use. They have also typically caused collateral damage to the material being examined.

Nancy McMillan, PhD, professor and academic head of the Department of Geological Sciences at NMSU and principal investigator of the gemstone project, said, "Lasers have been used in the past to determine the type, origin and quality of gemstones. However, until we saw Raydiance's technology in action, we had never seen a laser that does not cause damage to the stone, lowering its value. Looking ahead, we expect the Raydiance USP laser platform to be an invaluable tool for appraisers and insurers across the industry."

McMillan's project aims to illustrate how Raydiance lasers can detect gemstones that were treated to look like real stones, such as chemically-coated diamonds, rubies injected with leaded glass to superficially remove flaws, and sapphires that have been diffused with the element beryllium to produce a brilliant orange color. The research will also test the laser's capability to identify minerals that are being illegally sold as more expensive ones, such as synthetic forsterite sold as tanzanite.

Today, gemstone evaluation most-commonly consists of either subjective visible inspection, examining a stone's refractive index, or inspection with a microscope.

USP lasers are extremely brief light pulses of unprecedented power that, unlike continuous wave lasers, instantly vaporize any material without heat or residual damage at very precise scales, down to the micron level. Until now, most USP systems have been extremely expensive, very large and usable only by photonics experts.

Raydiance President Scott Davison said, "We are thrilled to partner with NMSU on these exciting, groundbreaking projects. As a leader in research and development, NMSU is exactly the type of research hub we look to partner with to develop innovative commercial applications that will not only disrupt the marketplace, but also foster knowledge-based job growth for the state of New Mexico."

Dr. McMillan's work is one of six research projects on the Raydiance USP laser platform currently underway at NMSU. Each multi-disciplinary team is developing novel applications based on the unique properties of Raydiance lasers to identify promising, high-growth ideas and projects that can be commercialized within New Mexico. Other projects include spectroscopic techniques for sensitive detection and identification of chemical species or microorganisms and live imaging of neural and sensory tissue for biomedical applications.

About Raydiance, Inc.

Raydiance, Inc. is the developer of the world's first compact, cost-effective and fully software-controlled UltraShort Pulse (USP) laser system. This breakthrough technology platform harnesses the incredible power and precision of these lasers and makes them easily accessible for the development of revolutionary new applications across a wide range of industries. Under the guidance of former AOL Chairman and CEO Barry Schuler today Raydiance is a fast-growth start-up that is rapidly validating its vision in the marketplace with early adopters across several application sectors. For more information, please visit www.Raydiance-Inc.com.

About New Mexico State University

A comprehensive land-grant institution of higher learning, New Mexico State University was founded in 1888 as an agricultural college and preparatory school. Dedicated to teaching, research, and service at the undergraduate and graduate levels, NMSU is a NASA Space Grant College and Hispanic-serving institution. The statewide system provides learning opportunities to all the citizens of the state through cooperative extension offices in the 33 New Mexico counties, 13 research and science centers statewide, campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Dona Ana County, Grants and Las Cruces, an Albuquerque Center and distance education programs.