"Unveiling the Potential of Photonic Time Crystals in Optics"

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to modulate the refractive index fast enough to generate photonic time crystals (PTCs) in the near-visible part of the spectrum. PTCs are materials in which the refractive index rises and falls rapidly in time, similar to how photonic crystals oscillate periodically in space. This breakthrough in sustaining PTCs in the optical domain could have significant implications for the science of light and enable disruptive applications in the future.