Optics
Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have developed a technique using intersecting laser beams to trap and charge single aerosol particles, observing their electrical changes in real time. This method, detailed in Physical Review Letters, mimics processes inside storm clouds and could uncover how lightning initiates. The glowing particles reveal electron loss and sudden charge bursts through a two-photon process.
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Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that the magnetic field of light plays a significant role in the Faraday Effect, challenging nearly 200 years of scientific understanding. Their findings show that this magnetic component contributes directly to how light interacts with materials. The research opens potential advances in optics and spintronics.