Live Science August 3, 2018
An international team of researchers (Canada, UK, USA – University of Rochester, University of Birmingham) created the knots by tuning the polarization of two beams of light. The knots formed around “polarization singularities” where the beams intersected and a number of other wavelengths of light looped around them. At those points, light bent in the way the researchers wanted. The knots were visible enough in images of the light wave data for them to identify the figure eights and toruses. They also confirmed their findings using formal knot theory mathematics. They hope this technology will speed the development of more precisely-tuned light sources… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
A figure from the study shows light waves interacting with one another around singularities. Credit: University of Bristol