Light vortices may travel faster than light, scientists say
Researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have experimentally confirmed for the first time that certain structures within light waves—so-called dark spots or vortices—can travel ahead of the light waves.
The study’s authors reported this in the journal Nature.
According to the team, these objects have no mass, do not carry energy, and do not transmit information, so their superfast movement does not violate the theory of relativity. “Light vortices are nodes of light waves where the amplitude drops to zero, forming zones of complete darkness within the light field,” the scientists explain.
For the experiment, the scientists used hexagonal boron nitride, where light waves transform into slowed-down states—polaritons—that move about 100 times slower than light in a vacuum. It is within these waves that vortices can “jump,” outpacing the speed of light.
“This discovery sheds light on universal laws of nature common to all types of waves—from sound and liquids to complex superconducting systems. The new electronic interferometry technique significantly improves image clarity and becomes a powerful tool for studying nanoscale phenomena in materials,” noted Professor Ido Kaminer.
The researchers believe that observing light vortices opens up prospects for the development of quantum optics, information encoding at the nanoscale, and the study of superconductivity.
Previously, researchers from China made a breakthrough in materials science by successfully creating pure samples of lonsdaleite in the laboratory.
Scientists are working to help humanoid robots better understand human emotional states and respond appropriately. In particular, one research team is developing technologies that allow machines to identify emotions based on facial expressions and respond naturally, avoiding excessive or potentially dangerous empathy.
