An international team of researchers is rethinking radiation physics to create super bright light sources that match modern performance but in a much smaller form factor. The new light sources utilize quasiparticles, and the researchers believe thanks to their flexibility and small form factor they could have a wide range of applications.
The findings come as a result of a joint venture between the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Portugal, the University of Rochester, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée in France. The findings, published in Nature Photonics, describe a new light source comprised of quasiparticles in plasmas. Quasiparticles are formed when large numbers of electrons move in sync. These particles are capable of withstanding immense forces and can move at any speed, including faster than light.
“The most fascinating aspect of quasiparticles is their ability to move in ways that would be disallowed by the laws of physics governing individual particles,” said John Palastro, a senior scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
By utilizing supercomputers available through the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, the researchers were able to run advanced computer simulations to study the quasiparticles. The quasiparticle light sources have numerous potential applications and could drive scientific advancements worldwide.
"The flexibility is enormous,” said Bernardo Malaca, the study’s primary author. “Even though each electron is performing relatively simple movements, the total radiation from all the electrons can mimic that of a particle moving faster than light or an oscillating particle, even though there isn’t a single electron locally that’s faster than light or an oscillating electron.”
What truly sets these light sources apart from existing ones is their size. Current advanced light sources, such as free electron lasers, are large and relatively scarce. Advanced light sources currently are impractical for most laboratories or hospitals. The theory proposed by the researchers could present an opportunity for widespread scientific advancements across the globe by creating a more practical advanced light source.