A surprising physics breakthrough hints at next-gen lasers, unlocking new ways to control light in stable, efficient systems.
Light is typically known to travel in straight lines, but scientists at University of Warsaw have now found a way to make it twist and spiral like a tiny tornado. These structures, called optical vortices or “optical tornadoes,” are swirling patterns of light created inside microscopic systems. The new study demonstrates a simple and scalable method using liquid crystals.
The research team drew inspiration from quantum physics, where electrons occupy specific energy levels within atoms. Instead of trapping electrons, they applied a similar concept to photons. Using liquid crystals, which behave like both liquids and solids due to their ordered internal structure, the scientists created tiny formations called torons. These are tightly twisted, ring-like spirals that act as microscopic traps for light.
Trapping light was only the first step. To make it spiral, the researchers introduced a synthetic magnetic field. Unlike real magnetic fields, which do not affect light in the same way they influence charged particles, this artificial effect was engineered using birefringence, a property where light travels differently depending on its polarization. By carefully varying this property across the material, the team caused light to bend and move in circular paths, mimicking how electrons behave in magnetic fields.
To enhance and stabilize the effect, the system was placed inside an optical microcavity made of reflective surfaces that bounce light back and forth. This confinement increased the interaction time and strengthened the swirling motion. The researchers could also adjust the system using external voltage, tuning the behavior of the trapped light.
A major breakthrough was achieving this swirling motion in the ground state, the lowest and most stable energy level. By adding a laser dye, the team demonstrated that the system could produce coherent laser light that both rotates and maintains a precise energy and direction.
This discovery opens the door to simpler ways of creating advanced light structures, with potential applications in compact lasers, optical communications, quantum technologies, and microscopic manipulation tools.
