Fantastical knot-like structures of light could soon be created in the lab thanks to calculations made by physicists in the US, Poland and Spain. They have discovered a new family of solutions to Maxwell's equations that are knots of light that do not disperse or lose their specific topological properties as they propagate. The researchers say such knots, if made for real, could be used to trap atoms or create similar knots in plasmas or quantum fluids.
Physicists tie light into knots
Trefoil knot of light
physicists in the US, Poland and Spain. They have discovered a new family of solutions to Maxwell's
equations that are knots of light that do not disperse or lose their specific topological properties as they
propagate. The researchers say such knots, if made for real, could be used to trap atoms or create
similar knots in plasmas or quantum fluids.
Physicists tie light into knots
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