A recent breakthrough in photonic time crystals is set to revolutionize the way light is utilized and controlled, offering exciting possibilities for future technologies such as lasers, nanosensors, and optical computing. This development comes as a great way to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the holiday season and the new year of 2025.
Led by Viktar Asadchy from Aalto University in Finland and Xuchen Wang from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, an international team of researchers has successfully designed what is believed to be the first realistic photonic time crystals. These metasurfaces exhibit unique electromagnetic properties that are uniform in space but periodically modulated in time, creating a momentum bandgap that allows light to grow exponentially.
The challenge of designing photonic time crystals for visible light has been a long-standing hurdle, but with a combination of theoretical models and electromagnetic simulations, the team has achieved a breakthrough in creating “truly optical” photonic time crystals. This advancement opens up possibilities for practical applications such as high-efficiency light amplifiers, advanced sensors, and innovative laser technologies, potentially redefining the control of light-matter interactions.
Asadchy and Wang are no strangers to groundbreaking research, having previously worked on 2D photonic time crystal metasurfaces in 2023. It is always exciting to see researchers build upon their previous work and push the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Congratulations to Asadchy, Wang, and the entire team involved in this achievement!
On a different note, the results of LFW’s recent salary/career survey will be featured in the January 2025 issue. It is heartening to learn that 81% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, reflecting a positive outlook within the industry.
As we approach the new year, we are looking forward to connecting with you at Photonics West in January. In the meantime, stay updated with the latest from LFW by subscribing to Justine Murphy’s Photonics Hot List videos, listening to the Following the Photons podcasts, signing up for newsletters, and attending webinars. You can also find us on Bluesky @laserfocusworld.bsky.social for more updates and discussions.
The advancements in photonic time crystals mark a significant milestone in the field of quantum technology, with far-reaching implications for various applications. It is exciting to witness the progress made by researchers and the potential for transformative technologies in the near future.