Photonic crystals shine on

The ability of photonic crystals to act as perfect reflectors and to slow light down could lead to all-optical components and single-photon logic, as Thomas Krauss explains. Pioneers are always intrigued by uncharted territory - by the 'white spots' on the map. There are few white spots left on our geography maps, but science is full of unexplored areas. Indeed, the more we find out about how the world works, the more white spots we discoverexclamation A good example of this is our ability to control light, which travels at the fastest speed possible and therefore tends not to interact with the materials it passes through. This lack of interaction lies at the heart of the Internet revolution, since it allows us to send vast amounts of data down optical fibres in the form of optical pulses. But it also makes it difficult to control the way light interacts with either itself or with other matter. However, imagine the possibilities that would open up if we could control how light propagates - it could lead to everything from more efficient light sources to optical switches that consume much less power than their electronic counterparts. (U.K.)