It is impossible to absorb energy in the form of light though it can be trapped in the form of electric charge and heat.
Now a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) has developed a surprising trick to completely absorb light. The experiment was carried out by the lab team in Jerusalem. However, the concept and theoretical calculations came from the team in TU Wien.
The perfect setup to trap light allows a light beam to be completely absorbed even in the thinnest of layers.
The surprising light trap trick uses mirrors and lenses, in which the light beam is steered in a circle and then superimposed on itself in a way that does not let light escape. So, once the light gets trapped, the light has no choice but to get completely absorbed by the thin layer.
Direct absorption of light has the potential to enhance performance and bring significant improvements in both the design and technology of the devices we use daily.
Prof. Stefan Rotter from TU Wien said, “The system has to be tuned exactly to the wavelength you want to absorb,”
“But apart from that, there are no limiting requirements. The laser beam doesn’t have to have a specific shape, it can be more intense in some places than in others – almost perfect absorption is always achieved.”
