Discover the Mesmerizing Spiral of Nautilus-Inspired Light Designs

Beams of light can twist into unique shapes, and researchers at Harvard have made an exciting advancement in this area. They created a new type of light beam called the "optical rotatum," which not only spirals as it travels but also changes patterns in different ways along its path. This behavior mimics the logarithmic spirals found in nature, like nautilus shells and sunflower seeds.

The team, led by Professor Federico Capasso, describes this optical rotatum’s transformation as similar to how torque affects an object’s movement in classical mechanics. The name "rotatum" reflects this concept. Capasso believes this light could help manipulate tiny particles effectively: "It’s potentially useful for controlling small matter."

Interestingly, the optical rotatum grows in a predictable way that echoes the Fibonacci sequence. This sequence is commonly seen in nature and art, and its appearance in the light patterns was a delightful surprise for the researchers. Ahmed Dorrah, a key contributor to the study, hopes this finding inspires mathematicians to delve deeper into the implications of these light patterns.

The research builds on previous work with metasurfaces, which bend light in specific ways. Now, the Harvard team has added more control, allowing shifts in the light’s spatial properties as it moves. Co-author Alfonso Palmieri emphasized that this new freedom enhances versatility, showing that control over light can be continuous and refined.

One of the most impressive aspects of their study is that they achieved this with a simple setup using a liquid crystal display and low-intensity light. This approach lowers the barrier for applying this technology in practical settings compared to earlier methods that required more complex equipment.

The potential applications of the optical rotatum are vast. They include manipulating small particles in fluids, much like using optical tweezers. Using this new beam, researchers might unlock new ways to explore and interact with microscopic objects.

In today’s tech-driven world, improvements in light manipulation could lead to breakthroughs in fields like medical imaging and materials science. For instance, precise light control may one day advance how we perform surgeries or craft new materials at the atomic level.

The research findings are documented in Science Advances. For further reading, you can view the study here.

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