Scientists Control Light Wakes For The First Time

Physics





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Artist's rendition of the wake produced by a fast-moving charge in surface plasmons on gold. Daniel Wintz, Patrice Genevet, and Antonio Ambrosio

A wake has been created on a metal surface out of “light-like waves” known as plasmons. In the process, the creators proved that they can control the wake in ways that may allow the production of new types of holograms and focus light with a precision far smaller than a single wavelength.