The ability to control light waves is a key component of optical communication technology. It is also a crucial element of many other fields, such as spectroscopy, imaging, and medical diagnostics. Now, a research team from the University of California, Berkeley, has discovered a new method for controlling light waves that could revolutionize these fields. The method, known as Brillouin-Mandelstam, relies on a special type of vibration called a phonon. Phonons are tiny vibrations that occur in materials, and they can be used to precisely control the properties of light waves. The Berkeley team has shown that phonons can be used to create light waves with a wide range of frequencies and intensities, allowing researchers to manipulate light in ways that were previously impossible. The implications for optical communication technology, and other fields, could be immense.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org