A WEIRD crystal whose surface changes shape when light shines on it has been
discovered by Japanese researchers. The change can be reversed by shining light
of a different colour on it—leading experts to believe it could be used to
redirect light in optical communications networks.
Masahiro Irie’s team at Kyushu University in Fukuoka found that light can
change the shape of the diarylethene crystals’ surface. Illuminating one face of
a smooth-surfaced, colourless crystal with ultraviolet light at a wavelength of
366 nanometres created a series of 5 to 10 steps. Each step was about 1
nanometre high, the…
