Light Reduction: Nanoscale Optical Breakthrough, the spin-off feature allows for very limited sub-nanometer optical apertures
Imagine reducing light to a single molecule of water, opening up a world of possibilities. It is a long-time dream in the field of science and technology.
Recent advances have brought us closer to achieving this critical task, as researchers at Zhejiang University have made significant progress in covering light at sub-nanometer scales.
Traditionally, there have been two ways to transmit light across its wavelength range: dielectric confinement and plasmonic confinement.
However, challenges such as manufacturing precision and optical loss have prevented the limitation of optical apertures to levels below 10 nanometers (nm) or even 1 nm. But now, a new optical fiber design reported in Advanced Photonics promises to unlock the potential of subnanometer optics.
Picture this: Light travels through a normal optical fiber, begins its transition through the fiber cone, and finds its way to a Coupled Nanowire Pair (CNP). In CNPs, light is converted into a remarkable nano-slit state, creating an optical gap that can be as small as a fraction of a nanometer (about 0.3 nm). With an amazing efficiency of up to 95% and a high top-to-bottom ratio, this new approach opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
The new waveguide scheme extends its reach into the mid-infrared spectral range, raising the bar of the nano-universe further. Optics can now reach an amazing scale of about 0.2 nm (λ/20000), offering even more opportunities for research and discovery.
Professor Limin Tong of the Nanophotonics Group at Zhejiang University says: “Unlike previous methods, the navigation system is designed as a linear optical system, bringing many advantages. It enables broadband and ultra-fast pulsed operation and enables the combination of multiple sub-nanometer optical fields.
The ability to create spatial, spatial and temporal patterns in one production opens up endless possibilities. »
A device that can do such good things is interesting. Optical surfaces that are so embedded that they can interact with molecules or atoms hold promise for advances in optical interactions, ultra-high-resolution nanoscopy, atom/molecule manipulation, and ultrasensitive sensing. We stand on the precipice of a new era of discovery, where the bottom of existence is within our grasp.
