A Fiber Frozen at -196°C Unlocks a New Way To Store Light

Researchers in Germany cooled liquid-core optical fibers to -196°C, freezing the core while still guiding light.

The frozen core dramatically strengthens light-sound coupling, boosting optoacoustic interaction by more than 1,000 times.

The team demonstrated optoacoustic memory using Brillouin-Mandelstam scattering in the new fiber platform.

The advance could reduce energy needs and improve photonic computing, information processing, and sensing.