Researchers find ways to squeeze light into spaces never thought possible

It looks like a team of UC Berkeley researchers led by mechanical engineering professor Xiang Zhang (pictured) have found a way to squeeze light into tighter spaces than ever though possible, which they say could lead to breakthroughs in the fields of optical communications, miniature lasers, and optical computers. The key to this new technique, it seems, is the use of a "hybrid" optical fiber consisting of a very thin semiconductor wire placed close to a smooth sheet of silver, which effectively acts as a capacitor that traps the light waves in the gap between the wire and the metal sheet and lets it slip though spaces as tiny as 10 nanometers (or more than 100 times thinner than current optical fibers). That's apparently as opposed to previous attempts that relied on surface plasmonics, in which light binds to electrons and allows it to travel along the surface of metal, which only proved effective over short distances. While all of this is still in the theoretical stage, the researchers seem to think they're on to something big, with research associate Rupert Olten saying that this new development "means we can potentially do some things we have never done before.

[avester @ Jul 31st 2008 3:17PM]

"Rupert Olten saying that this new development means we can potentially do some things we have never done before."

Oh wow.

Who could've imagined.

[OneLove @ Jul 31st 2008 3:19PM]

首先

[understandingpunctuation @ Jul 31st 2008 3:33PM]

"The most striking thing about that quote is the end.

[illicit @ Jul 31st 2008 4:35PM]

"

[Kris Quigley @ Jul 31st 2008 10:56PM]

@OneLove

FAIL: you arent first. and i think and "FIRST!" posts should get ranked down, even if they're in chinese.

[Mustaine @ Aug 1st 2008 12:26AM]

http://www.nndb.com/people/471/000092195/eggshen.jpg
Egg Shen: Can see things no one else can see. Do things no one else can do.

[Mustaine @ Aug 1st 2008 12:28AM]

http://www.nndb.com/people/471/000092195/eggshen.jpg
Egg Shen: Can see things no one else can see. Do things no one else can do.

[DigTheDoug @ Jul 31st 2008 3:17PM]

What, like the back of a Volkswagen?

[Sotheby @ Jul 31st 2008 3:24PM]

Solid Mallrats reference

[bob sakamano @ Jul 31st 2008 3:19PM]

is that his yearbook photo

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 31st 2008 3:19PM]

Squeeze them on random spots in Boston, like Subway entrances and highway overpasses.

[IT-Accountant @ Jul 31st 2008 3:20PM]

"do some things we have never done before"

like get a girlfriend!

all joking aside, though, this is pretty cool.

[Mathieu D @ Jul 31st 2008 3:23PM]

So, does that mean that the light will shine where the sun dont shine?

[avester @ Jul 31st 2008 3:24PM]

Some people have already shown those places to the camera.

[kjb434 @ Jul 31st 2008 3:31PM]

Damn, beat me to making that comment, LOL

[Rick @ Jul 31st 2008 3:32PM]

Only if you fold it up seven times first.

[Victor @ Jul 31st 2008 3:33PM]

you are going to get sued for this

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 31st 2008 3:33PM]

This is FiOS. This is big.

[Mikey @ Jul 31st 2008 3:33PM]

"Rupert Olten saying that this new development 'means we can potentially do some things we have never done before.'"

I wish he would explain to us mere mortals what those "things" are.

[Rick @ Jul 31st 2008 3:34PM]

Looks like the usual university engineering departmental webpage photo.

[Poke4Christ @ Jul 31st 2008 3:52PM]

This headline sounds like it should be something submitted for a photo caption contest. BTW, when is Engadget gonna have another one of those? It's been a while.

[George @ Jul 31st 2008 3:59PM]

"While all of this is still in the theoretical stage..."

If they've actually managed to trap and move light in these devices, it's well beyond the theoretical stage. It's in that vast gulf between theoretical and practical.

[Bleck @ Jul 31st 2008 4:14PM]

Am I the only one who read the title as "Researchers find ways to squeeze tight into spaces never though possible"?

[Rick James @ Jul 31st 2008 5:19PM]

Haha i read that too, i was like, my flashlights have been seeing behind my fridge so my dog can lick the shit i spill behind my fridge for years. I thought this was already possible

[Jason @ Jul 31st 2008 6:57PM]

Rick James, you gotta move to tha can so much fasta man!

[Jason @ Jul 31st 2008 7:52PM]

love that reply system!!! WOW!

[desmond @ Jul 31st 2008 4:58PM]

Go Cal !!

[phanbouy @ Jul 31st 2008 5:09PM]

yeah Cal! you bribe all the best nerds from China

[scott @ Jul 31st 2008 5:42PM]

thats what..he said?

[Jason @ Jul 31st 2008 6:53PM]

"Researchers find ways to squeeze light into spaces never thought possible"

Windows source code?
iphone contract loopholes?
Difference b/t Eee models X and Y?

er...Engadget comment/reply system????

[computer.dude.28 @ Jul 31st 2008 7:33PM]

you left the t out of the word thoughT. I'd copy and paste you the quote but I don't think apple wants me to cause they didn't include support for it on the iPhone/iPod touch.

[El Taco @ Aug 1st 2008 1:36AM]

let's see if it's possible to turn every post into a iphone reference, shall we?

[Kris Quigley @ Jul 31st 2008 11:05PM]

Is it me, or is engadget's English getting worse by the post?

[El Taco @ Aug 1st 2008 1:35AM]

Engadget is having good engrish

[Scott @ Aug 1st 2008 1:36AM]

Is his first and last names pronounced the same?

[Scott @ Aug 1st 2008 1:37AM]

is -> are

[Jason @ Aug 1st 2008 10:37AM]

No the first is pronounced "Xiang" and the last is pronounced, "Zhang," but you can call him Professor Xiang.

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