It's a Bird, It's a plane, It's an... Optical Molecule?

    Dec. 14, 2006
    The internet could soon shift into overdrive, thanks to a new generation of the fastest optical molecules developed and tested by researchers from....

    Julie Kalista
    Online Editor

    The internet could soon shift into overdrive, thanks to a new generation of the fastest optical molecules developed and tested by researchers from Washington State University, the University of Leuven in Belgium, and the Chinese Academy of Science in China.

    The organic molecules, known as chromophores, interact more strongly with light than any molecules ever tested, making them prime candidates for use in optical switches, internet connections, optical memory systems, and holograms. The molecules described in this new report are more efficient at converting light energy to a usable form. Using quantum limits to try to get a more clear view of the non-linear optical interaction, researchers hope to show the unifying principles behind the interaction of light and matter.

    More Information:
    Washington State University

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