Main points
- Researchers have confirmed the existence of “dark spots” in light waves that can travel faster than light.
- These points do not transfer energy or information, so their motion does not violate the principles of the theory of relativity.
A phenomenon faster than photons: experimental confirmation of a half-century-old theory / Collage 24 Channel/Unsplash
For decades, the postulate of the speed of light as an absolute limit remained an unshakable pillar of physics. However, recent tests have revealed specific structures capable of outpacing light waves, confirming conjectures that were previously considered only a bold mathematical hypothesis.
What overtook the light?
A research team from the Technion Institute of Technology in Israel has published the results of their work, which became an unprecedented achievement in the field of electron microscopy. Scientists managed for the first time to directly measure the so-called “dark spots” inside light waves. This allowed to confirm the theoretical prediction, put forward back in the 1970s, according to which the speed of these objects can exceed the speed of light, writes Phys.org.
These mysterious dark spots are actually tiny holes in the wave structure, which scientists call vortices. In fact, they are just empty space without light. Similar phenomena are common in nature: they can be seen in ocean waves, air currents, or even in a cup of coffee when the drink is stirred.
Although it sounds unusual – like a whirlpool in a river suddenly starting to overtake the current of the water in which it originated – this effect is quite real. Until now, this claim was based solely on mathematical calculations, but now a team of researchers has provided experimental confirmation.
Why does this happen and does it violate the laws of physics?
A natural question arises: how is this possible, if Albert Einstein established the speed of light in a vacuum as the absolute limit of the universe? The answer lies in the very nature of vortices. The theory of relativity imposes restrictions only on physical matter that has mass, as well as on signals that transmit energy or information.
The light vortices discovered at the Technion have no mass, do not carry energy, and do not serve as a channel for transmitting data. Therefore, their ultrafast motion does not violate fundamental principles of physics. In fact, these objects are “null points” or nodes of light waves where the amplitude drops to zero, forming zones of complete darkness within the light field, the team of authors notes in the journal Nature.
How did you find out about this?
To conduct the experiment, the team developed a unique system at the Technion's Center for Electron Microscopy. They combined laser facilities with advanced opto-mechanical equipment in a specialized electron microscope, which allowed them to achieve record-breaking temporal and spatial resolution.
The measurements themselves were made in hexagonal boron nitride, a material prepared by Professor Hanan Herzig Sheinfuchs of Bar-Ilan University. In this material, light waves are transformed into special “light-sound” states known as polaritons. They travel about 100 times slower than light in a vacuum. It is within such slowed-down waves that light vortices can make jumps, exceeding the speed of light.
Professor Ido Kaminer noted that this discovery highlights universal laws of nature common to all types of waves – from sound and liquids to complex superconducting systems. The new technique, based on electron interferometry, significantly improves the clarity of images and becomes a powerful tool for studying nanoscale phenomena in materials.
Further prospects
Researchers believe that these innovative microscopy techniques will provide insight into hidden processes in physics, chemistry, and biology, revealing for the first time the behavior of nature at its most elusive moments.
Observing the rapid movement of light vortices opens the way to new technologies for encoding quantum information, developing optics based on nanostructures, and deeper research into superconductivity.