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New Optomechanical Crystal Allows Confinement of Light and Sound

PBH writes "Physicists and engineers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a nanoscale crystal that traps both light and sound. The interaction of light quanta (photons) and sound quanta (phomons) are so strong that they produce significant mechanical vibrations. 'Indeed, Painter points out, the interactions between sound and light in this device—dubbed an optomechanical crystal—can result in mechanical vibrations with frequencies as high as tens of gigahertz, or 10 billion cycles per second. Being able to achieve such frequencies, he explains, gives these devices the ability to send large amounts of information, and opens up a wide array of potential applications—everything from lightwave communication systems to biosensors capable of detecting (or weighing) a single macromolecule. It could also, Painter says, be used as a research tool by scientists studying nanomechanics. "These structures would give a mass sensitivity that would rival conventional nanoelectromechanical systems because light in these structures is more sensitive to motion than a conventional electrical system is."'"

12 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Wouln't that be a... by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

    A crystal that captures light and sound...? Wouldn't that be called a DVD?

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  2. Get Smart... by mpdolan37 · · Score: 2, Funny

    This brings to mind the Cone of Silence...

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    1. Re:Get Smart... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Also, I'll support the research if it works with my wife. And I'm not talking about blocking the blinding shine of her beauty.

  3. Kryptonian? by soconn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Optomechanical Crystal Allows Confinement of Light and Sound ..... Upon hearing the news, General Zod was heard to say... "ohh crap"

  4. Re: Phonon, not phomon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    But wasn't it Shakespeare who said, "If Guinness be the drink of love, phomon?"

  5. C'mon scientists... by ZarathustraDK · · Score: 2, Funny

    Demonstrate this new tech by making a nano-rickroll inside a chrystal.

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  6. Re:I'm guessing this must be important. by maharb · · Score: 3, Funny

    They can aid in transmitting it in "HD 4X" faster than it takes someone to realize the mistake of clicking a tinyurl.

    Dangerous stuff we have here.. better ban it.

  7. Re:Phonons by fyngyrz · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is the premise behind coherent raman scattering

    Well, thank goodness. I can never keep that stuff in the bowl; maybe now that the scattering mechanism is understood, I can get a full serving of noodles.

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  8. Interesting name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "New Optomechanical Crystal Allows Confinement of Light and Sound"

    Oddly enough they named it RIAA.

  9. ok, i give up on the flying car by circletimessquare · · Score: 2, Funny

    now i'm waiting for my fiber-optic headphones

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  10. Where is that guy with that sig by LuxMaker · · Score: 2, Funny

    This guy has a forum signature that "Light is faster than sound. That is why people appear bright until you hear them speak."

    Now you can capture both in an optomechanical crystal. I would like to see how he weighs in on the issue.

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  11. Re:Phonon, not phomon by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Phomon phonon!

    Doo doo-doo doo doo!