Now, scientists with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
have demonstrated the first technique that provides dynamic
control in real-time of the curved trajectories of Airy beams
over metallic surfaces. This development paves the way for fast-
as-light, ultra-compact communication systems and optoelectronic
devices,and could also stimulate revolutions in chemistry,
biology and medicine. The key to the success of this work was
their ability to directly couple free-space Airy beams – using a
standard tool of optics called a “grating coupler” – to quasi-
particles called surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Directing a
laser beam of light across the surface of a metal nanostructure
generates electronic surface waves – called plasmons – that roll
through the metal’s conduction electrons (those loosely attached
to molecules and atoms). The resulting interaction between
plasmons and photons creates SPPs. By directly coupling Airy
beams to SPPs, the researchers are able to manipulate light at
an extremely small sc