08-16-2017, 10:01 PM
Researchers at the University of Southampton have created a type of memory glass of computer that could reduce costs of medical imaging.
The team, led by Professor Peter Kazansky in the Centre for research in Photonics of the University, used nano-structures to develop millimeter devices that change the way light moves through glass.
Known as polarization glass converters space varying monolithic, these devices redirect light in 'eddies' which can then be read in a manner similar to data in optical fibers.
The information can then be written, erased and rewritten in the molecular structure of the glass by using a laser that prints tiny points called voxels, which are like a 3D version of pixels on a video screen, in the glass.
"We have improved quality and manufacturing time and we have developed this memory, which means that the data can be stored on the glass and go on forever," said researcher Martynas Beresna.
By passing polarized light by voxel printed in silica glass, researchers have observed that it moves differently depending on the orientation of the polarization of light.
This phenomenon "form of birefringence ' is at the base of the new converter of polarization. '' Using this method for microscopy could be 20 times cheaper than the existing and much more compact methods.
Before that, we had to use a spatial light modulator based liquid crystal which costs about 20,000, said Kazansky. Instead, we have just put a small device in the optical beam and we get the same result.
The technology could also be used for more precise material processing laser, optical manipulation of Atomic objects, ultra-high resolution imaging and, potentially, the accelerators of particles on table.
The researchers are working with the Lithuanian company Altechna to introduce this technology on the market. This work was done in the context of the European project, Femtoprint.
The optoelectronics Research Centre has also developed materials for optical fibres that are also semiconductors. These can be used to speed up the transfer of data and more efficient solar cells.