Researchers of the FOM Institute AMOLF, the University of Kyoto (Japan) and the Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea) have discovered a way to the behavior of light at the nano-scale change. For the first time, where they took that, with the help of a metal nano-ring the incarceration of light in a nano-trilholte may be affected: the color changing light that is locked up and the time that the light remains locked up.
The researchers show that the interaction between the trilholte and the ring is caused because of the magnetic field of the light, that under normal circumstances completely negligible. The researchers publish their findings this week in the leading trade journal Physical Review Letters.
Long stored in a nano-Photonic Crystal light trilholte can be locked in a volume that is smaller than the wavelength of the light (see Figure 1a). Due to the fact that the light in such a trilholte can be stored for a long time, these Photonic structures seen as important components of future quantum communication networks. The light in the trilholte is also very sensitive to tiny disturbances which near the trilholte. In the first instance, that sounds like a disadvantage, but it is an advantage. As a nanodeeltje or a molecule that is close to the trilholte, the resonance frequency of the trilholte measurable shift. In other words, the trilholte will light of a different color. That is what makes this nano-trilholtes extremely suitable as a highly sensitive bio-sensors.
Magnetic field so far, the observed shift always the result of the interaction with the electric field of light. As a result of this interaction, the proximity of a nanodeeltje or molecule, in fact, that the trilholte increases because the light with more matter interaction, in the light of the resonance frequency shifts to longer wavelengths (redshift), just like a longer guitar chord a lower show. Light at the same time, however, a magnetic field. The interaction between this quickly vibrating magnetic field and matter is usually negligible. If the magnetic field of the light, however, come into contact with a small metal ring, there will be a stream in the little ring go running (see Figure 1-d). This stream is, in turn, a new computer simulation of magnetic fields on that the original magnetic field will. This is actually exactly what is happening in the windings of an electric motor, only happens here at a frequency that a trillion times higher. By these so called 'magnetische induction ' displaces the metal ring local the magnetic field of the light. Due to the fact that the light in the tribulation, the smaller and trilholte effectively shifts the resonance frequency of the trilholte to shorter wavelengths (blue shift).
Life take next to a shift in the resonance frequency you'd expect the light in the trilholte uitdempt faster by the presence of the little ring. The stream that runs through the little ring, after all, an electric resistance. This means that the light field by identifying the little ring should lose extra energy. Strangely enough, the researchers measure exactly the opposite: the damping of the light field and the life of the light in the trilholte and take even by 50%. This is against-intuitive effect has not yet been fully understood and will be the subject of follow-up.More (in Dutch) on
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