The shape of light: “something that hasn’t been seen before in physics”
A new quantum theory explaining how light and matter interact has also provided the first ever depiction of the shape of a single light particle, a photon.
Understanding these fundamental aspects of photon-matter interactions could open up new possibilities in quantum physics and material science. It could pave the way for new and improved nanophotonic technologies, pathogen detection or controlled chemical reactions.
“The geometry and optical properties of the environment has profound consequences for how photons are emitted, including defining the photons shape, colour, and even how likely it is to exist,” adds co-author Angela Demetriadou.
The researchers from the University of Birmingham explored how photons are emitted by atoms or molecules and are shaped by their environment.
They produced a theoretical model which groups into distinct sets the infinite possibilities of how light can interact. The model describes the interactions between the photon and its source, as well as how the energy from the interaction travels into the distance.
