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Scientists create "Optical Matter", Particles bound only by Light

physicsweb.org — UK Scientistshave made 2D arrays of particles, held together by nothing except light. The "optical matter" arrays consist of polystyrene nanospheres that are trapped by light that has been scattered off a prism. The arrays provide a new way of assembling matter on the nanoscale

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 30, 2006

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17 Comments

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  • CoolSilver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Holodeck here we come.
  • Pimpalicious316, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1light sabers, people. LIGHT SABERS!
  • polo3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I wish I were a particle, so I could be bound by light.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0And now I RTFA, and see it's Colin Bain - he was part of the same research group.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nothing that exciting or new - optical tweezers, optical vices, optical cooling, all been around a while. My tutor at uni (did physics) was part of a research group investigating supercooling by using lasers to prevent any movement within a system - quite crafty!
  • RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I did this in the sandbox in kindegarten. Old news. ;)
  • konstratos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That's awesome! Cool Digg.
  • ezkiel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0cool. application?
  • eastshores, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0which particular particle is the light? o.O
  • Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This sounds like something that could be used to create 3D displays
  • magicbouncer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Well that's good...I think?
  • Beautyon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0'cool application?'

    telecopying matter?
  • Bishoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Cool. I want my Green Lantern ring.
  • 7of7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm no physicist, but how the hell can a sphere be a sphere and 2d?
  • killyoko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0My thoughts exactly, Pimpalicious. Of course, this also seems like it could be applied to holograms and projection. Imagine: no more monitors!
  • mushoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0@polo3
    lol BDSM particles

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