Focused ion beam milling allows to structure conically shaped voids of varying diameter and depth into a bulk silicon wafer. a, The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows a random arrangement of holes of varying diameter and depth. b, In the optical microscope image one can observe the wavelength-dependent resonant scattering from the individual voids. c, Optical microscope image. d, Top view SEM image, e, SEM image focused ion beam cut. f, Sketch of the experimental setups used. The surface of the silicon is illuminated with white light and the reflected light is collected. Credit: M. Hentschel, K. Koshelev, F. Sterl, S. Both, J. Karst, L. Shamsafar, T. Weiss, Y. Kivshar, and H. Giessen
Resonant optical phenomena in metals and dielectrics have profound applications in many fields. The nanoscale confinement allows for unpreceded control of light-matter interaction at surfaces and interfaces, manipulating and controlling the light flow. Resonant phenomena are usually associated with radiative and intrinsic loss channels, which are detrimental in many systems. Metals show strong intrinsic losses. Thus, dielectric systems have recently become the focus of attention as they promise lower loss, higher degrees of flexibility with respect to tuning the interplay of different resonances, and fabrication strategies closer to industrial standards.
In a new paper published in Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists, led by Professors Harald Giessen and Mario Hentschel from the University of Stuttgart and Professor Yuri Kivshar from the Australian National University, has developed a new technique for dielectric nanophotonics. Their paper, “Dielectric Mie Voids: Confining light in air,” will significantly enhance antenna and structure designs.
The optical response…
2023-01-30 14:43:03 Mie voids could bring about control of light in air
Post from phys.org Recent research suggests a revolutionary new way for controlling light in air: by introducing mie voids. Mie voids are specialized air gaps that can be used to control the direction and polarization of light. This technology could have a variety of practical applications, from improving wireless communication systems and enhancing television images to helping machines to detect objects more accurately and with better resolution.
Mie voids are circular or elliptical gaps made in the trajectory of light. By altering the shape of the gaps, scientists can manipulate the direction and polarization of the light passing through. The most effective mie voids are milled out of metal sheets and can be designed with dimensions that range from the size of several micrometers to hundreds of micrometers.
Mie voids are beneficial to certain light-based technologies as they allow the angle of transmission of light to be altered with greater accuracy. This enabled data to be transmitted between two points more efficiently, resulting in higher speeds, greater resolution, and better transfer of data.
When it comes to vision systems, such as those used in partially autonomous cars, mie voids allow for improved resolution and better object recognition. The way in which light is manipulated by mie voids can substantially enhance the resolution of images and give machines the ability to detect objects with much greater accuracy.
The potential of mie voids to revolutionize the way we control light in air is exciting and has the potential to bring about vast improvements to a variety of wireless communication systems and vision systems. Research into its use is under way and scientists expect that further exploration of its potential will produce further insights into its myriad of possible applications.
