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Synthetic magnetic field directs photons

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A photonic crystal device that tames the flow of free-moving photons with synthetic magnetism could enable scientists to precisely steer light in any direction. The process breaks a key law of physics known as the time-reversal symmetry of light. Breaking that law introduces a charge on the photons that reacts to an effective magnetic field the way an electron would to a real magnetic field. The discovery could yield an entirely new class of devices that use light instead of electricity for applications ranging from accelerators and microscopes to speedier on-chip communications. ...Read full article

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    Published: January 2013
    Glossary
    backscatter
    Backscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the incident beam. This occurs when the incident radiation encounters a target or medium and is redirected back toward the source or in a direction opposite to the original path. Backscatter can be observed in various fields, including physics, acoustics, and remote sensing. Here are a couple of examples: Radiation physics: In the context of radiation, backscatter refers to...
    light
    Electromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 750 nm. In photonic applications light can be considered to cover the nonvisible portion of the spectrum which includes the ultraviolet and the infrared.
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
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