A team of American researchers has developed a new type of platform that allows beams of light to communicate with each other predictably while they pass through solid matter. The achievement could contribute to the development of a new type of computing technology.
The mixed team of researchers employed advanced hydrogel and light guidance and measuring protocols to reach the results. A translucent material with the consistency of jelly was enhanced with light-responsive molecules. When light passes through this type of molecules, they can change their structure to facilitate the containment of the light beans and transfer of data between several beams.
Regular beams of light tend to become broader as they continue to travel. Still, the phenomenon was prevented by the gel, which can guide the narrow laser light along a specific pathway through the material, in a fashion similar to a pipe.
The study involved interactions between light and material
During the experiment, several beams with the width of human hair were aimed at the same material, and the researchers observed that they were able to affect their intensity even if there was no overlap between their optical fields.
Further research revealed that the interaction between the thin laser lights could be controlled directly as the researchers can start, stop, and generate a predictable output at an impressive speed. Even if the beams are separated, they can detect other beams and change due to their neighboring presence.
One of the researchers who contributed to the study has mentioned a new and fresh possibility in the form of computers that could harness the potential of beams of light t perform operations at an impressive speed. Many of the current computers rely on hard materials to perform this task. An optical computer would remove the need to use advanced circuitry to build a powerful system while offering impressive performance. A paper was published in a scientific journal.
