Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology and
Institute of Photonic Sciences have developed a method to generate
circularly polarized light from the ultimate symmetrical structure:
the sphere. Their approach involves breaking the inherent symmetry
of the sphere by electron beam excitation, which allows for
precisely controlling the phase and polarization of the emitted
light. This method can be used to encode information in the phase
and polarization direction of circularly polarized light, enabling
novel quantum communication and encryption
technologies.
Squaring the circle—Breaking the symmetry of a sphere to
control the polarization of light
