Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have fabricated a multiplexer/demultiplexer module based on a property of light that was not being exploited in communications systems: the optical vortex. Such devices will be crucial for improving optical networks, which are the backbone of today’s Internet, so that they can meet the traffic demands of tomorrow. Continue reading “Unlocking the untapped potential of light in optical communications”
Controlling thermal conductivity of polymers with light
Polymers are regularly used as thermal insulators for everything from keeping beverages hot to keeping sensitive electronics cool. In some cases, polymers can even be used as thermal conductors to enable efficient heating or cooling. Continue reading “Controlling thermal conductivity of polymers with light”
New way to make light interact with matter
A new way of enhancing the interactions between light and matter, developed by researchers at MIT and Israel’s Technion, could someday lead to more efficient solar cells that collect a wider range of light wavelengths, and new kinds of lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that could have fully tunable color emissions. Continue reading “New way to make light interact with matter”
Physicists devise method to reveal how light affects materials
Physicists developed a way to determine the electronic properties of thin gold films after they interact with light. Nature Communicationspublished the new method, which adds to the understanding of the fundamental laws that govern the interaction of electrons and light. Continue reading “Physicists devise method to reveal how light affects materials”