Science
Related: About this forumPhotonic device makes light any color by manipulating individual photons
By Michael Irving
April 25, 2021
A new optical device manipulates the frequencies of individual photons to change the color of light on demand NataliGiado/Depositphotos
Engineers at Stanford have created a new optical device that can easily manipulate light into basically any color desired. The system uses a series of modulators to fine-tune the frequencies of individual photons to change their color.
Our eyes perceive the color of light based on the frequency at which its photons resonate. Lower frequencies correlate with longer wavelengths, which is a measure from one peak to the next if you map out those frequencies. In the visible light spectrum, we can see from the longer wavelengths of red light to the shorter wavelengths of blue light.
The Stanford team has now created an optical device that can tweak the frequencies of individual photons. That not only changes their color, but by mixing these photons of different colors to different degrees, a beam of light can be fine tuned into basically any color thats needed.
The new device consists of a low-loss wire, with a series of rings dotted along it. As photons travel through this wire, they move into the rings where modulators transform their frequency. There can be as many rings as necessary to change the light into the desired color.
More:
https://newatlas.com/electronics/photonics-color-light-photons/
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)coming out of doing things just because we can.
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)Its very versatile, says Shanhui Fan, senior author of the study. The engineer can control the frequencies and proportions very accurately and a wide variety of transformations are possible. It puts new power in the engineers hands. How they will use it is up to them.
It has a range of applications.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,054 posts)"Research is what I am doing when I don't know what I am doing." -- Wernher von Braun.
What the heck would lead you to write such arrant nonsense?
Fundamental research is incredibly important. You would be tilling the earth behind an ox if not for fundamental research. Get real.
Pobeka
(4,999 posts)housecat
(3,121 posts)Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)I suppose congratulations are in order.
bucolic_frolic
(43,395 posts)Get me some Color Wave glasses.
BobsYourUncle
(120 posts)that you just put in your Apple color-wave contacts and download your workday or your favorite AR game, if its your day off. COOL!!!
Blues Heron
(5,948 posts)While they're at it put a lampshade on those things! Whatever happened to shaded bulbs? Every new LED security light these days is bare bulb - WTF?
yonder
(9,683 posts)make my skin crawl. It's like being around someone who talks too much: I'm always looking for the quickest and easiest exit.
JohnnyRingo
(18,670 posts)Imagine the light show if Pink Floyd had this tech.
caraher
(6,279 posts)They're talking about optical waveguides, not wires - in other words, fiber-optics.
This is about single photons for computer/communication applications, not "color" in the sense of something you perceive with your eyes. I mean yes, it is about that, but at the single photon level it's not light you would see directly.
Mr. Scorpio
(73,631 posts)mac2766
(658 posts)The Invisible Man has arrived.
mac2766
(658 posts)The Invisible Man has arrived.
LudwigPastorius
(9,206 posts)recreate a groovy, day-glo day in Haight-Ashbury circa 1967.