A 200-year-old physics experiment could help build future computers

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have discovered a simple way to create optical skyrmions—exotic light structures with potential applications in future computing, data storage, and communications. The method uses the Poisson spot, a two-hundred-year-old optical phenomenon: shine a laser at a tiny circular disc to produce stable, swirling patterns in light. ScienceDaily reports that the breakthrough is significant because it doesn't require expensive, specially engineered materials, suggesting that these advanced optical technologies might be far more accessible than previously thought.

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