A NEW type of nanoscale optical fibre is showing promise in applications such as light-based computing and chemical sensing.
Optical fibres transmit light through an inner core surrounded by cladding. But the new fibres have an ultrathin silica core with the atmosphere acting as the cladding. These fibres are so fine that they are thinner than the wavelengths of light they carry.
The core material must be very smooth to create a consistent boundary between silica and the atmosphere, as rough edges scatter a light wave. To ensure a regular surface, Eric Mazur of Harvard University stretched glass through a…
