The photonic opal – the jewel in the crown of optical information processing

Abstract

Photons have many advantages over electrons as carriers of information. They are faster and can convey huge amounts of data with low power losses. A new class of materials called photonic crystals have the potential to steer light in the same way as electrons are manipulated in semiconductor chips. Fabricating these devices is proving extremely challenging. Nevertheless, an ingenious chemical approach is being exploited by research groups such as that of Geoffrey Ozin at the University of Toronto, which may not only contribute to the development of the all-optical computer but also stimulate the expansion of a new field of materials science. Nina Hall discusses Professor Ozin’s contribution.