Is it possible to trap light?
Scientists have developed various techniques for capturing light waves.
Asked by: Charlie Mack, Uckfield
Perhaps the most spectacular technique was perfected by Prof Lene Hau and colleagues at Harvard University. In 2007 they trapped light inside a cloud of ultra-cold sodium atoms, turned it into a pulse of atoms and then reversed the process – the light reappearing and moving off from its new location.
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Authors
Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University.
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