” Our work is developing on a series of experiments that show how we can produce metamaterials with unique homes that emerge from abrupt time variations of their electro-magnetic properties. These variations enable us to manipulate wave proliferation in ways not seen in nature,” explained Alù. “This latest work reveals that we can utilize abrupt temporal changes in customized metamaterials– called time interfaces– to make waves clash as if they were huge objects. We were also able to manage whether the waves exchanged, gained, or lost energy throughout these collisions.”
Accident of Waves and Photons
Generally, when two electromagnetic waves cross paths, they move right through each other without engaging. When two billiard balls clash, the overall energy in the system is saved, while when 2 rubber balls collide, they normally lose energy in the collision.
Photons would be expected to go through each other without any interaction, by setting off a time user interface the researchers were able to demonstrate strong photon-photon interactions and control the nature of the crash.
The research teams work was motivated by speculation about whether it would be possible to eliminate an unwanted mechanical wave, such as a tsunami or a seismic wave, by throwing another comparable wave against it to counter it. “While such a result is difficult in standard wave physics, we understood it was possible in principle with a temporal metamaterial,” stated Emanuele Galiffi, a postdoctoral fellow with Alùs laboratory and the research studys leading author. “Our experiment enabled us to demonstrate this concept in action for electro-magnetic waves.”
Applications and Future Work
The scientists likewise showed an application and proposed of their idea to shape electromagnetic pulses by colliding them versus each other. Gengyu Xu, a postdoctoral fellow with Alùs laboratory and co-leading author of the paper, elaborated, “This technique enables us to use an extra signal as a mold to sculpt a pulse that we have an interest in structuring. We have shown this for radio frequencies, and we are now working to understand this sculpting ability at greater frequencies.”
The teams efforts in developing methods to determine how propagating electromagnetic waves interact and shape each other could bring advantages to cordless communications, computing, imaging, and energy harvesting technologies, amongst other advancements.
Recommendation: “Broadband meaningful wave control through photonic accidents sometimes user interfaces” by Emanuele Galiffi, Gengyu Xu, Shixiong Yin, Hady Moussa, Younes Ra di and Andrea Alù, 14 August 2023, Nature Physics.DOI: 10.1038/ s41567-023-02165-6.
Researchers at CUNY ASRC have actually discovered a technique to manipulate photons so they can collide and engage utilizing tailored metamaterials. This development might result in considerable advances in telecoms, optical computing, and energy applications. (Schematic illustration of a photon accident at a time interface.) Credit: Anna Umana, Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate
Scientists reveal its possible to make photons that cross courses engage, paving the method for technology developments.
A research study group at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) has demonstrated that it is possible to manipulate photons so that they can collide, engaging in new ways as they cross courses. Detailed in the journal Nature Physics on August 14, the discovery will allow scientists who establish technologies rooted in electro-magnetic wave proliferation to make considerable advances in telecoms, optical computing and energy applications.
The Breakthrough and Its Foundation
The advancement occurred in the lab of Andrea Alù, Distinguished Professor and Einstein Professor of Physics at The City University of New York Graduate Center and founding director of the CUNY ASRC Photonics Initiative. It built upon another current experiment that showed time-reflections for electromagnetic waves.
“This most recent work reveals that we can use abrupt temporal changes in tailored metamaterials– known as time interfaces– to make waves clash as if they were enormous things. We were also able to control whether the waves exchanged, got, or lost energy during these accidents.”
Normally, when 2 electro-magnetic waves cross courses, they move right through each other without interacting. The research study groups work was influenced by speculation about whether it would be possible to remove an unwanted mechanical wave, such as a tsunami or a seismic wave, by throwing another similar wave versus it to counter it. “While such an outcome is impossible in standard wave physics, we knew it was possible in principle with a temporal metamaterial,” said Emanuele Galiffi, a postdoctoral fellow with Alùs lab and the studys leading author.