Stirring of light!

Light must be converted into usable energy if it is to be used, for example, in televisions or solar cells. This can be a different colour of light or, in the case of solar cells, electrical energy. Yet how do you do this as efficiently as possible? In this FOM Programme researchers will 'stir' light waves through nanophotonic media to optimise the absorption and processing of light waves. The team is made up of theoretical, experimental and applied researchers from five Dutch universities and the FOM Institute AMOLF.

Programme leader Prof. Willem Vos (University of Twente) explains: "Our research is based on two surprising standpoints in optics. Firstly that the dispersion of light does not have to result in light being 'lost'. Our team has demonstrated that a dispersion lens focuses light better than a conventional lens. Therefore dispersion can even concentrate energy. Secondly, we can control the absorption of light. Absorption was always a difficult phenomenon, as the light particles were absorbed by a material at random moments. However, if you can specifically control this process you can make crafty use of it!"