badgraph1csghost: sillyandquiteawkward-reblog: so what kind of theoretical tensile strength are we t
badgraph1csghost:sillyandquiteawkward-reblog:so what kind of theoretical tensile strength are we talkin about here becauseThe term “solid light” is a total misnomer, and yet another reason to be distrustful of science journalism. The research described in the headline involves a phenomenon called “strongly correlated light.” Under proper conditions, groups of photons (light particles) can interact with each other in a manner that is similar to how atoms interact with each other. However, this does not mean that traditional matter will interact with light as if it were solid.The actual cool thing about this study is more subtle. We might one day be able to use strongly correlated light to simulate exotic materials in a controlled manner, maybe even on a chip. I should go find one of the quantum optics folks down the hall and have them explain it a bit better, but that’s the gist of it. No rainbow road yet folks, sorry. -- source link
#john post#solid light#photonics#quantum optics