Scientists discover mechanism to store light

the_technocrat

Physicists at the Bhavnagar University in Gujarat, India, have discovered a way to trap, store, and release laser light in a fluid on command. The fluid operates at room temperature, and is controlled with magnetic fields.

[blockquote][The scientists] coated micron-size magnetite spheres with oleic acid and dispersed them through a ferrofluid, which is a suspension of much smaller magnetic nanoparticles (in this case held in kerosene). When an external magnetic field was applied to the fluid, which was held in a glass cell, laser light passing through the medium was trapped inside. Photons escaped when the field was switched off. [/blockquote]

Could this be a solution for an optical storage medium, to complement an optical processor?

primesuspect

This is actually very cool news. As Thrax said: I can't believe no one is talking about this.

the_technocrat

I'm talking about it. :P

Thrax

I caught this yesterday on a science website I frequent; this is so cool.

Leonardo

I can't believe no one is talking about this.

Are we sure this isn't another 'cold fusion' or Korean cloning adventure? (no, I have not read the article)

Vintage86

Does that mean it's possible to store sunlight and use it as energy or use it like a lightblub?

primesuspect

The problem with using it as energy is that the energy required to make the device operate would be higher than any energy stored and output by a device using said technology.

From what I understand, pretty powerful magnets (and thus - a lot of electricty) are required to make this technique work.

the_technocrat

I'm sure you could store sunlight and release it later, but it sounds like it's basically an optical capacitor, so might not work like a light bulb. Maybe a better solution for that problem is the new thin-film cheapo solar film + battery + multiple-wavelength LEDs.