Scientists Discover Achiral Materials Can Selectively Absorb Light
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Loading... - harry samuel
- 04 Oct 2024
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Researchers at the University of Ottawa have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing that engineered symmetric materials, known as achiral plasmonic metasurfaces, can selectively absorb light based on the handedness (twist) of the wavefront, a property previously thought impossible for such materials. Traditionally, achiral materials were believed to interact with light uniformly, without any sensitivity to the light’s polarization.
Led by Professor Ravi Bhardwaj and Ph.D. student Ashish Jain, with collaborators from the University of Ottawa's Advanced Research Complex, including Howard Northfield, Ebrahim Karimi, and Pierre Berini, the research overturns long-standing assumptions about light-material interactions. Their findings were published in ACS Nano.
Key Discoveries and Insights
- Breaking Old Beliefs: The team demonstrated that achiral materials can indeed exhibit selective light absorption, challenging previous assumptions that these materials were indifferent to polarized light.
- Precision Control: The researchers found a way to precisely tune light absorption by up to 50%, using a specialized form of twisted light.
- Improved Efficiency: This unique light manipulation significantly improved the efficiency of light absorption in achiral materials, opening up new technological possibilities.
- Simpler Fabrication: Since achiral structures are easier to fabricate, this discovery could lead to the development of more efficient and cost-effective optical devices.
- New Applications: The research provides deeper insights into light-material interactions and offers potential applications in optical technologies like sensors, switches, and advanced spectroscopy.
Professor Bhardwaj remarked, "Our findings challenge the long-held belief that achiral structures can't exhibit dichroism, paving the way for future advancements in plasmonic-based optical devices and sensing technologies." This discovery highlights the potential for new innovations in light-based technologies, offering enhanced functionality for optical metrology and advanced measurement systems.
