“A new device lets scientists switch ultra-stable, donut-shaped light patterns that could carry future wireless data.
A new optical device allows researchers to generate and switch between two stable, donut-shaped light patterns called skyrmions. These light vortices hold their shape even when disturbed, making them promising for wireless data transmission. Using a specially designed metasurface and controlled laser pulses, scientists can flip between electric and magnetic modes. The advance could help pave the way for more resilient terahertz communication systems.”
NinjaLanternShark on
I didn’t understand how light could be a vortex so I got this pretty reasonable analogy (I hope) from my friendly neighborhood AI:
Imagine a straight rope wave. You flick a rope, a wave travels down it, the rope moves up and down.
Now twist the rope into a spiral shape before sending the wave. The wave travels forward, but the motion now has a circular component.
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“A new device lets scientists switch ultra-stable, donut-shaped light patterns that could carry future wireless data.
A new optical device allows researchers to generate and switch between two stable, donut-shaped light patterns called skyrmions. These light vortices hold their shape even when disturbed, making them promising for wireless data transmission. Using a specially designed metasurface and controlled laser pulses, scientists can flip between electric and magnetic modes. The advance could help pave the way for more resilient terahertz communication systems.”
I didn’t understand how light could be a vortex so I got this pretty reasonable analogy (I hope) from my friendly neighborhood AI:
Imagine a straight rope wave. You flick a rope, a wave travels down it, the rope moves up and down.
Now twist the rope into a spiral shape before sending the wave. The wave travels forward, but the motion now has a circular component.