A major challenge in realizing practical photonic computers has been managing the loss of microscopic light signals on computer chips. Reliable photonic devices require materials that can block stray light from all directions - specifically, isotropic bandgap materials - to maintain signal integrity.
Traditional approaches have relied on quasicrystals, whose ordered but non-repetitive structures only partially solve the need for uniform light isolation. Quasicrystals either block light from limited angles or attenuate it insufficiently from all directions, leaving the search open for more effective solutions.
The NYU team has created gyromorphs - structures combining properties of both liquids and crystals. These metamaterials demonstrate improved performance for omnidirectional light blocking, surpassing quasicrystals and other previous designs. According to lead researcher Stefano Martiniani, "Gyromorphs are unlike any known structure in that their unique makeup gives rise to better isotropic bandgap materials than is possible with current approaches."
The group developed an algorithm that designs disordered yet functional arrangements, revealing a new type of correlated disorder. As explained by Mathias Casiulis, the lead author, "The result was a new class of materials - gyromorphs - that reconcile seemingly incompatible features." These gyromorphs do not repeat patterns like crystals, yet display liquid-like randomness combined with large-scale regularity. This configuration allows for bandgaps that prevent light penetration from any direction.
The research, also involving Aaron Shih and supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, highlights gyromorphs as a critical advancement for future light-based computer chips.
Research Report:Gyromorphs: A New Class of Functional Disordered Materials
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