Phys.org February 25, 2020
Self-trapped light beams hold potential for optical interconnects, applications in image transmission, rerouting light, logic gates for computing and for the next-generation light-guiding-light signal processing. However, self-trapping suffers from either the need for large incident beam power and loss of beam interactions at large distances, or it is slow and irreversible. An international team of researchers (Canada, USA – Harvard University, University of Pittsburgh) has shown that rapidly and repeatably switchable self-trapped laser beams with remote communication capabilities can be elicited at exceptionally small intensities in a pliant, processable hydrogel functionalized with a chromophore. According to the researchers the ability to generate self-trapped beams with this unique set of properties offers unprecedented opportunities to develop light-guiding-light technologies Video …read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
SP-modified hydrogels. Credit: Aizenberg/Saravanamuttu Lab. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2020, 201902872
SP-modified hydrogels. Credit: Aizenberg/Saravanamuttu Lab. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2020, 201902872