Detected strange light waves never known

A previously unknown type of light wave has just been discovered by scientists, based on the pioneering work of a 19th-century Scottish scientist.

The theory of light waves was proposed by many scientists hundreds of years ago. Among them is Isaac Newton's "Light particle theory" (17th century), that the light stream is the flow of matter particles ; Christiaan Huygens's "light wave theory" (17th century) argued that the stream of light was the propagation of waves.

The new Dyakonov-Voigt light wave phenomenon offers useful applications, such as improving the biosensor used to screen blood samples or develop more efficient data-transmission fiber optic circuits - (Photos : Petr Kratochvil).

Meanwhile, "The theory of horizontal light wave" by Thomas Young (1817) suggested that light waves are horizontal waves, not longitudinal waves that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of propagation, not the direction of propagation.

Then, in 1865, James Clerk Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism reaffirmed the wave properties of light that light was only a separate case of electromagnetic waves . Subsequent experiments on electromagnetic waves were somewhat based on this theory and confirmed its accuracy.

Based on the work of James Clerk Maxwell, scientists and engineers from Edinburgh University (Scotland) and Pennsylvania State University (USA) recently discovered a new light wave (named Dyakonov- Voigt) by analyzing how light travels as a wave when interacting with some natural or artificial crystals.

The team found that the Dyakonov-Voigt wave was created in a specific area where crystals are in contact with another material, such as oil or water. These waves can only be produced using certain crystals of optical properties depending on the direction in which light passes through them.

The unique properties of Dyakonov-Voigt waves are determined by mathematical models combining the equations built by James Clerk Maxwell. The team found that the Dyakonov-Voigt waves diminished as they left the contact area. This process is called light decay and only goes in one direction. Other "surface waves" decay faster and travel in many directions.

Dr. Tom Mackay (mathematics department of the University of Edinburgh), said the Dyakonov-Voigt wave represents a step forward in our understanding of how light interacts with complex materials and provides an opportunity for a Technological series of future advances.