Researchers affiliated with ETH Zurich have developed a novel pixel capable of both emitting and measuring light, a significant advancement over traditional pixels that typically serve only one function—either illuminating a display or capturing light in a camera sensor.
Led by David Norris, a professor at ETH Zurich’s Optical Materials Engineering Laboratory, the team has combined these two functionalities into a single pixel. This innovation opens up possibilities for new technologies, including two-way screens that can capture and display images, holographic displays, optical communication systems, and applications in quantum information processing.
Fourier Pixels and Their Functionality
The research is detailed in the article titled “Fourier pixels for bidirectional light control,” published in Nature. The researchers employed a technique that measures light wave interference patterns across a metallic surface. This method allows them to create what they term Fourier pixels, which can detect and generate the amplitude, phase, and polarization of optical fields.
The concept of the Fourier transform, a mathematical technique that decomposes functions into their constituent frequencies, is central to this development. In this context, a Fourier pixel represents the spatial frequency of light rather than merely the brightness at a specific point in an image.
Technical Insights and Future Applications
According to Sander Vonk, a post-doctoral researcher involved in the project, “Thanks to the fact that the relevant surface profiles of the pixels can be determined using Fourier analysis, we can combine the control and analysis of amplitude, phase, and polarization on a single pixel.” This capability is expected to enhance the functionality of display technologies.
In the near future, Norris anticipates integrating these Fourier pixels into a matrix format, paving the way for more advanced camera displays. The collaborative effort also includes contributions from researchers Yannik M. Glauser, David B. Seda, Hannah Niese, Boris de Jong, Matthieu F. Bidaut, Daniel Petter, Erwan Bossavit, Gabriel Nagamine, and Nolan Lassaline.
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