University of Warsaw scientists create optical tornadoes in lowest-energy state
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 2
University of Warsaw scientists create optical tornadoes in lowest-energy state
5 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 2
Working with the Military University of Technology and France's Institut Pascal CNRS, the team used liquid-crystal torons in an optical microcavity and reported the results in Science Advances.
The approach produced coherent, laser-like light carrying orbital angular momentum without complex nanostructures, using a synthetic magnetic field created by spatially variable birefringence and tunable by external voltage.
Researchers say achieving these vortices in light's stable ground state could simplify miniature photonic sources and support more scalable optical communication and quantum-technology devices.
Beyond quantum communication, could these tiny light vortices be used as microscopic tweezers to manipulate individual cells for medical breakthroughs?
Can these self-forming light tornadoes outperform engineered nanostructures in the race for faster, more powerful quantum devices?
In 2026, researchers achieved a major breakthrough by embedding naturally formed torons—twisted defects in liquid crystals—inside an optical microcavity. This setup enhanced light-matter interaction, creating a synthetic magnetic field that caused photons to exhibit strong spin-orbit coupling. This effect inverted energy levels, making light with orbital angular momentum the system's lowest energy state, resulting in stable optical vortices. These ground-state vortices offer exceptional stability and energy efficiency. Additionally, the team demonstrated that applying an external electric voltage can control the toron size, allowing tunable vortex properties. Using self-organizing liquid crystals also avoids complex nanofabrication, enabling scalable and cost-effective photonic devices.