Phototonic Lattice, 1998
By interlocking tiny slivers of silicon into a lattice that, under a microscope, appears to be formed by toy Lincoln Logs, scientists at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories believe they have solved a major technical problem: how to bend light easily and cheaply without leaking it, no matter how many twists or turns are needed for optical communications or (potentially) optical computers. The lattice, dubbed a photonic crystal (crystals have regularly repeating internal structures), now works in the infrared range (approximately 10-micron wavelengths). This achievement is of military and commercial interest because the technique can be used to enhance or better transmit infrared images. The photonic lattice created at Sandia National Laboratories acts like a crystal in guiding light because of its tiny, regularly placed silicon logs. The logs are microns wide. Control of different wavelengths is achieved by changing the lattice dimensions.
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