7 Aug 2025
LMU researchers have developed a method that allows ultrafast control of the interactions between light and a material. This opens up new paths for faster optical computers, quantum communication, and photonic circuits.
In nanophotonics, tiny structures are used to control light at the nanoscale and render it useful for technological applications. A key element here is optical resonators, which trap and amplify light of a certain color (wavelength). Previous methods of controlling these resonances were more like a dimmer switch: You could weaken the resonance or slightly shift its color. However, genuine on-and-off switching was not possible, as the resonators always remain fundamentally coupled with the light.