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Laser Light May Display 'Liquid-Like' Properties

Posted by Roblimo on from the not-yet-demonstrated-in-the-lab dept.

verona_beach writes "From Physics News: 'Spanish physicists have shown how the photons in a beam of laser light might be able to condense into "light droplets" with certain liquidlike properties.'"

7 comments

  1. Geek Dream by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Caffeinated light. Stay up all night and get a teint.

  2. From the article .. by SpatchMonkey · · Score: 1, Troll
    • The light droplets, not yet demonstrated in the lab, would be useful as robust information bits in future optical computers.
    Are they trying to bullshit people here? Not only have these droplets not had any real demonstration, i.e. it is all theoretical, but also they are just pulling applications out of a hat here. Robust information bits for optical computers? This is science fiction.
    1. Re:From the article .. by macdaddy357 · · Score: 1

      You see all kinds of crazy things dancing in the lights after dropping acid, or toking from a bong. They didn't see them anymore once they came down. "Wow man! Check out the wierd lights, Man!

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      How ya like dat?
    2. Re:From the article .. by Yarn · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I'm a physicist specalising in optics and photonics, and I'm also quite dubious about the application. Unfortunately the guy in the department who specialises in optical computing seems to be hiding so I can't get his comments.

      The non-linear self focussing is real; I've seen nice bits of broken laser components where this has occured. The interaction they mention could also happen within a nonlinear material.

      I can kinda see how the surface tension-like effects could occur, each photon disturbs the material it floats through, at certain powers you could imagine it making it easier for other photons to travel in its 'wake', making it clump up. (The difference between 'droplets' and 'solitons' is unclear to me. I play with lasers. Burn things good!)

      I am dubious about the data storage. These droplets are still moving at a significant proportion of c, and presumably there is also loss.

      I suppose you could have a ring EDFA* of a known circumference and push bits in, drop bits out. I'd love to try it :)

      On the whole I'd say you're being overly cynical. The AIP is a well respected organisation.

      * EDFA: erbium doped fibre amplifier, I'm sure you telecomms and big networking guys know. In this case it just makes sure the droplets don't 'evaporate'

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      -Yarn - Rio Karma: Excellent
  3. possibilities by tps12 · · Score: 0

    This will take "light soda" to a whole new level!

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    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
  4. Newer article by Cybrr · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns999 92497 has simulated pics & more text.

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    Why did GEAR crush RDP?