Building New Materials With Light 27
ckwu writes "Since the 1970s, physicists have used laser beams to trap and study small objects, from cells down to individual atoms. Now, electrical engineers at the University of Southern California have developed a simple optical system that assembles hundreds of nanoparticles into two-dimensional structures using a single laser beam and a silicon photonic crystal. This compact optical trap fits on a small chip and could eventually help researchers make materials for new types of sensors, optical devices, and chemical filters."
Oh geez (Score:3, Funny)
Strength of materials analysis (Score:5, Funny)
Structures made of light are less sturdy than those made of straw, or bricks, nevertheless they are immune to being blown down with mere huffing and puffing.