Jennifer Matthews: Behind this door sits a giant laser called Hercules. It is named after the powerful Greek hero for good reason.

Dr. Dale Litzenberg: The pulse lasts about 30 millionths of a billionth of a second, so you take a lot of energy, press in a short amount of time in a very small spot size, it makes it an extremely powerful laser.

Jennifer Matthews: Doctors say the intensity of the sun beating down on you on a hot summer day is nothing compared to this laser's power.

Dr. Victor Yanovsky: Basically, billion, billion, billion times higher than that. So intensity like that you can only imagine in very rare astrophysical events like explosions of stars.

Jennifer Matthews: He says Hercules could revolutionize the way cancer is treated and diagnosed. It could even replace that old standard, the X-ray.

Dr. Victor Yanovsky: If you produce the X-ray source with the laser beam, then the size of the source could be very small so in practical, it means that the cancer can be detected earlier.

Jennifer Matthews: The technology is advancing. As it does, cancer researchers across the country say they are ready and waiting for this new revolution. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.