Twisted Physics: Scientists Create Light Knots

[redqueen]

link


By reflecting a laser beam from a specially designed hologram (shown here as the colored circle), physicists created knots of dark filaments (represented by the colored knot). Credit: Mark Dennis.

Like your shoelaces or electrical cords, light can get twisted into knots. Now, scientists have used a computer-controlled hologram and theoretical physics to turn a light beam into pretzel-like shapes.

The twisted feat not only led to some pretty cool images, but the results have implications for future laser devices, the researchers say.

"In a light beam, the flow of light through space is similar to water flowing in a river," said lead researcher Mark Dennis of the University of Bristol in England. Even though the light from something like a laser pointer travels in a straight line, it can also flow in whirls and eddies, Dennis explained.

These swirls of light are called optical vortices. Along the vortices the intensity of light reaches zero, or no light.

(more at link)

Whoa.

Sorry! Formatting error :blush:

[phantom power]

1. Ummm....

[thereismore]

2. no link nt

[HeresyLives]

3. Oooh...link please? You forgot it. LOL

[tridim]

4. I've always wondered why we assume the light we observe in the universe..

Isn't already twisted into a pretzel?

[caraher]

7. Well actually, it sort of is...

I met Miles Padgett, who led this research, last year and attended a colloquium he gave, and basically anytime 3 waves intersect you create an "optical vortex." The work in the OP involves designing a very special configuration of waves to create those knots based on understanding these vortices.

So making this kind of knot requires a lot of engineering; but the basic building block is the optical vortex, which does occur "naturally"

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. That would make a great name for a band - "TWISTED PHYSICS"

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. sounds like a theoretical basis for the Death Star's superlaser. nt