Opto-chemo-mechanical transduction in photoresponsive gels elicits switchable self-trapped beams with remote interactions
Abstract
Self-trapped light beams hold potential for optical interconnects, applications in image transmission, rerouting light, logic gates for computing and, importantly, for the next-generation light-guiding-light signal processing, which envisions a circuitry-free and reconfigurable photonics powered by the dynamic interactions of self-trapped beams. In conventional nonlinear materials, however, self-trapping suffers from either the need for large incident beam powers and loss of beam interactions at large distances, or it is slow and irreversible. We show that rapidly and repeatably switchable self-trapped laser beams with remote communication capabilities can be elicited at exceptionally small intensities in a pliant, processable hydrogel functionalized with a chromophore. The ability to generate self-trapped beams with this unique set of properties offers unprecedented opportunities to develop light-guiding-light technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1902872117
Entities
People
- Amos Meeks
- Andy Tran
- Ankita Shastri
- Anna C. Balazs
- Anna V. Shneidman
- Derek R. Morim
- Fariha Mahmood
- Joanna Aizenberg
- Kalaichelvi Saravanamuttu
- Victor V Yashin
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Harvard University
- McMaster University
- University of Pittsburgh