Laser temporarily reprograms ultrathin optical device without electrodes
A tiny device that can be reprogrammed using a laser could lead to adaptable devices for computing, imaging and telecommunications. Most devices are built to perform a particular job. If you want them to do something different, you generally need to replace a component, rewire the system or manufacture a new one. For example, every time you ask a large language model like ChatGPT or Claude a…
Scientists have developed a tiny optical device that can be reprogrammed using a laser, potentially leading to more adaptable devices for computing, imaging and telecommunications. Traditional devices are designed for specific tasks, requiring component replacement, rewiring or new manufacturing for any changes. Large language models like ChatGPT or Claude rely on electrical signals in computer chips for processing, which consumes significant energy.
Researchers at the ARC Center for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems at The Australian National University, collaborating with teams from Nottingham Trent University and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, aimed to create a tunable device that could be adjusted after fabrication.
The team integrated an ultrathin optical surface with liquid crystals, the material used in electronic displays, creating a metasurface—thin material with nanostructures controlling light properties. Metasurfaces traditionally have fixed responses due to their permanent nanostructure arrangement. By surrounding the silicon structures with liquid crystals, the researchers discovered that shining a laser induced an optical torque, rotating the liquid crystal molecules.
This rotation altered the metasurface's interaction with light, effectively reprogramming its function without the need for additional electrodes. The device acted as a platform or amplifier, making these changes observable.
The laser's effect extended into nonlinear optics, enabling the conversion of infrared light to visible green-yellow light through a process called third-harmonic generation. This dual capability—converting and programming light—demonstrates the potential for light to modify optical component functions during operation. This advancement suggests that light could replace some electrical signals in optical computing, potentially enhancing processing speed and energy efficiency. Such technology could also benefit optical neural networks, crucial for advanced AI systems.
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