With more and more research being carried out in the field of photonics, it is not too far-fetched to imagine that the field will take over quite a number of applications across various areas of study. What is photonics used for? Some of the popular or emerging applications of photonics are listed below.
Nanophotonics is a field of study that is part of nanotechnology where the behaviour of light is studied on a nanometer scale. Nanophotonics also studies the behaviour of nanometer-scale objects as they interact with light. Nanophotonic solar cells, microscopy, spectroscopy, and cancer treatment are some of the examples of nanophotonics. With the amalgamation of nanophotonics and artificial intelligence, it is possible for AI-based models to learn from datasets and be trained faster.
The AR/VR devices of today are clunky and are not really appealing to those who are looking to make use of the technology to build immersive and interactive environments. With photonics, it is possible to control light and to create photorealistic images that are sharper and are visually aesthetic. The device that enables this in AR/VR technology is known as Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and these are so thin that they can easily be mounted on headsets or glasses.
Optic fiber communication is something that we are slowly getting accustomed to. It is a faster way of communication where optic fiber cables are used to transmit data. Data packets are sent across in the form of infrared light and have very minimal rates of interference and packet drops due to attenuation. They do not come cheap though and as copper-wire-based communication networks are already in place, it is quite the task to replace them with fiber-optic channels.
- Sensing, displays, and imaging
Sensors in consumer electronics and in various other applications can be optimized with the use of photonics. Using photonics, it is possible to build sensors that can work for larger areas while being compact and energy-efficient. Optical sensors convert light into electronic signals and can measure light, temperature, velocity, vibrations, and create electricity. Printers, scanners, barcode scanners, and other equipment that produce inputs and outputs have been greatly benefitted due to the use of light for their operations. Billboards that make use of photonics may be capable of generating or recreating high-quality, lifelike images with great resolution.
With the development of hardware that can use light instead of electronic signals, it is possible to improve the design and development of computers. Through the use of light for communication, it is possible to build efficient systems that are capable of processing large amounts of data in very short periods of time. However, the ability to process the data carried by light-based components is dependent on the ability of the hardware to actually make use of the data efficiently.
- High-quality manufacturing
With the precision of lasers, it is possible to manufacture products that are of greater quality than ones that are manufactured using traditional methods. It also allows for greater flexibility and customization capabilities when it comes to product design and manufacture. Clean-energy, efficiency and high-quality products are the results of implementing photonics in manufacturing.
Light detection and ranging is a technique used to measure distances by targeting an object with lasers. The time taken to hit an object and return to the source is used to calculate the distance. It can be used in generating high-resolution maps, seismology, and geology, among others.
It seems that we have come full circle. From having created complex machinery that works on various principles to building devices that make use of one of the most fundamental phenomena in the universe, our technological advancements can probably be seen as a gigantic jigsaw puzzle coming together one piece at a time.
