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As light dances slantly with high-energy electrons: First decoding of its polarization cipher

Scientists have successfully decoded the polarization cipher of high-energy electrons, demonstrating a new pathway to creating highly polarized gamma-ray sources. The study's findings confirm key predictions of quantum electrodynamics and open up new design options for mid- to high-energy gamma-ray sources.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 25, 2026

The playbook for perfect polaritons

Researchers at Columbia University have identified the rules for creating perfect polaritons, which are hybrid quasiparticles combining light and matter. The guiding rules include large optical absorption, low disorder, and inherent exciton delocalization, enabling polaritons to preserve coherence despite strong interactions and disorder.

SourceColumbia University·JournalChem·DateOct 10, 2025

Researchers discover a more eco-friendly approach to study light and matter interaction – could revolutionize development of emerging technologies

Researchers at the University of Turku developed a simple, eco-friendly approach to fabricate optical microcavities, allowing for precise study of polaritons and potential applications in ultra-efficient lasers and quantum optics. This innovation makes quantum and photonics research more accessible and energy-efficient.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMay 13, 2025

Rice scientists uncover quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles

Researchers create 3D photonic-crystal cavity to study ultrastrong coupling between light and matter, enabling faster and more energy-efficient quantum computing and communication technologies. The study paves the way for hyperefficient quantum processors, high-speed data transmission and next-generation sensors.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2025

Will the convergence of light and matter in Janus particles transcend performance limitations in the optical display industry?

Researchers pioneer technique to control polaritons, unlocking potential for next-generation materials and surpassing performance limitations of optical displays. The breakthrough enables stable generation of polariton particles with enhanced brightness and color control.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 8, 2024

Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes

Scientists from CNR Nanotec and the University of Warsaw created a new method to simulate interactions between artificial atoms by forming macroscopic coherent states. They used optically tailored quantum droplets of light that became bound together, enabling stable and long-lived polariton fluids with unprecedented coherence scales.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 7, 2024

Recovering lossless propagation: HKU physicists overcoming optical loss in polariton system with synthetic complex frequency waves

A research team led by HKU physicists has introduced a solution to address optical loss in polariton propagation using synthetic complex frequency waves. This approach enables more efficient light-based devices, improved accuracy in sensors and imaging techniques, and enhanced nanophotonic circuits.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 24, 2024

Polaritons open up a new lane on the semiconductor highway

Purdue University researchers have found that polaritons can contribute a larger share of thermal conductivity in semiconductors, overcoming phonon limitations. By understanding how to design materials and structures, manufacturers can incorporate these polariton-based nanoscale heat transfer principles into chip designs.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 7, 2023

Manipulating nonlinear exciton polaritons in a WS2 monolayer with artificial lattices

Researchers have created deterministic potential wells to trap and manipulate exciton polaritons in WS2 monolayers at room temperature. This enables the achievement of strong nonlinearity while maintaining thermal stability, paving the way for integrated polariton-based devices.

Trapping polaritons in an engineered quantum box

Australian researchers have engineered a quantum box for polaritons in a two-dimensional material, achieving large polariton densities and a partially 'coherent' quantum state. The novel technique allows researchers to access striking collective quantum phenomena and enable ultra-energy-efficient technologies.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

A drop in the sea of electrons

Scientists at Swinburne University of Technology and FLEET collaborators observe and explain signatures of Fermi polaron interactions in atomically-thin WS2 using ultrafast spectroscopy. Repulsive forces arise from phase-space filling, while attractive forces lead to cooperatively bound exciton-exciton-electron states.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

New photodetector design inspired by plant photosynthesis

The new photodetector design combines long-range transport of optical energy with long-range conversion to electrical current, mimicking the photosynthetic complexes found in plants. The device can gather light from areas of about 0.01 mm² and achieve conversion of light to electrical current over exceptionally long distances of 0.1 nm.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateSep 1, 2022

Atomically-smooth gold crystals help to compress light for nanophotonic applications

Researchers demonstrate a new platform for guiding compressed mid-infrared light waves in ultra-thin van der Waals crystals, enabling strong light-matter interactions and improved detection limits. The use of atomically-smooth gold crystals provides a low-loss environment for the propagation of phonon-polaritons.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 13, 2022

Interacting plexcitons for designed ultrafast optical nonlinearity in a monolayer semiconductor

A team of scientists creates ultrafast optical nonlinearity in a monolayer semiconductor by designing plasmon-exciton polaritons, achieving strong interactions and great tunability. This breakthrough enables high-speed all-optical switching and energy-efficient data processing at room temperature.

Revealing new states in 2D materials

Researchers from the University of Würzburg have discovered new states in 2D materials by exploring their interactions with phonons. This breakthrough enables the creation of hybridized exciton-photon-phonon states, which could lead to room-temperature Bose-Einstein condensation and polariton lasing.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2022

The optical Stern-Gerlach Deflection and Young’s experiment in the reciprocal space

Researchers demonstrated Young's experiment for photons in reciprocal space, creating an interference pattern of light polarization with circular polarized stripes. The observation coincided with the 100th anniversary of spin discovery and showed a classic entanglement of two degrees of freedom - direction and polarization of light.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2021

Sandwich-style construction: Towards ultra-low-energy exciton electronics

Australian researchers have made a significant step towards ultra-low energy electronics by demonstrating the dissipationless flow of exciton polaritons at room temperature. The breakthrough involves placing a semiconductor material between two mirrors, allowing the excitons to propagate without losing energy.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2021

Optically generated quantum fluids of light reveal exotic matter-wave states in condensed matter physics

Scientists from Skoltech and the University of Southampton created an all-optical lattice that houses polaritons, quasiparticles with half-light and half-matter properties. They demonstrated breakthrough results for condensed matter physics and flatband engineering.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 30, 2021