Create crystals that turn darkness into light

For the first time, scientists in Australia have created a nanocrystals that can bend light. This crystal is 500 times smaller than a human hair and is used to lay the foundation for ultra-light night vision goggles.

Instead of having to look at the night with bulky glasses like we are using today, people can dream of convenient and extremely compact glasses.

With the newly created crystal, one day can turn ordinary glass into night vision goggles. In other words, it has the ability to reverse the properties of sunglasses .

"Nano crystals are very small, they can be installed as a thin and light film into ordinary glasses, allowing people to see at night," said Dragomir Neshev from the National University. The Australian, also a leading researcher, said.

What scientists have done, is to create an extremely small crystal, which can deflect light through it. It is not just about coloring or polarizing light onto a crystal according to a level. This is the principle that polarized sunglasses are currently used. By bending the light so that it only moves on a flat surface (the Sun's rays are often chaotic), the crystal will cut harsh glare and give you a clear view in soft light.

The new crystal structure is really capable of changing light in three important ways: Light intensity, light shape, even the color of light.

This means that new crystals can convert light at very low levels (such as at night or dark areas) to high light so that people can see it.

Crystals help see objects in the dark in the process of finishing.(Photo: Night Vision Guys).

Members of the research team said that people should not be too excited about the news, because there is a long way to go before we can install these crystals into normal glasses.

Currently, the team has only done a small part of the crystal. While in order to see in the dark, they need to complete the entire sequence of crystals, to convert the light as detailed as possible. But the good news is that the first small piece of crystal is made, which can be used to attach to the glass. And it has shown superior advantages over other light bending materials.

"Our eyes can see objects only when there are visible spectral bands. If we create a sequence of other nanostructures on a flat surface like glass, we will eventually do the job. transforming invisible light into visible light , explains Mohsen Rahmani, one of the team members.

In addition to creating the next generation of night vision goggles, crystals are also used to twist all types of light in useful ways.

For example, holograms on bank notes to prove they are not counterfeited, can be created from these light-bending crystals. They are also used to create new holograms.

"The new invention has interesting applications in creating counterfeit devices for bank notes, creating visual cells for medical purposes. We will study to develop new uses for crystals , " Neshev said.

In the latest study, crystals have the ability to turn invisible light into visible light in a small range. Scientists have also performed calculations to show how this process takes place. There is a lot of work to be done but this is considered a promising first step for the research team.

"For the first time humans can achieve this spectacular achievement. Because creating nano semiconductors on a transparent material is extremely difficult. Research in the field has been carried out for a long time. "There are many positive ways to develop science, but still do not get many positive results. We hope the research team of the Australian National University will do something," an expert said.

The description of the study was published in Nano Letters and was presented at the Australian Institute during this week's Physics Conference in Brussels.