Can we "freeze" light? | Prof. Daniele Faccio | TEDxHeriotWattUniversity

Setting off on a quest to understanding light, Prof. Daniele Faccio's research revolves around using light to mimic black hole physics, the interplay between space and time, as well as the study of new technologies that capture images of light in flight. Recently, he's been working on a new generation of cameras that is set to change the way in which we see the world; they see the weakest streams of light, and capture images at such high speed that they can freeze light in motion.
Daniele Faccio is a professor at Heriot-Watt University. He has worked for a number of years in the optical telecommunications industry (Pirelli Labs and Corning 2001-2004) and has worked as a visiting scientist/professor at a number of Universities over the past years (MIT, Boston - 2003, FORTH Laser Institute, Crete -2008, 2010) and was Adjunct Professor at the University of Insubria, Como, Italy from 2004 to 2010. He joined Heriot-Watt University in November 2010 and is currently leading the Extreme Light group.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@georgegalamb7523]

After reading the title, I was expecting frozen light being captured/stored in ice crystals.-(which is , of course, impossible). But instead, he showed us how current photographic technology is able to freeze-frame in basic visual details each step by step micro-moment of traveling light millisecond by millisecond at a time. Which would be more interesting, if we could zoom in on a microscopic level and literally see the freeze-framed laser/light/photon image's at their smallest elementary-particle level with clear details.

[@Likexner]

We will never see that, the particles dont wanna be seen

[@joshuahowson22]

Great info.

[@tomkreimes3819]

This is fantastic! I enjoyed the analogies comparing it to Animal Sonar. Can we finally use this technology to prove wave-particle motion? The wave part of the theory is solid and has remained unchallenged. The dual slit experiments have always been elusive and remain theoretical. Can you reproduce the Daul slot experiment and support the duality nature of light? That would be cool!

[@michaelarbach]

PLEASE - I am dying to find out.. If you point the laser directly into the camera, will the camera capture the light from a distance before the photons reach the camera? I would love to see this camera measure directional/inward/outward light speeds, as well as measuring light speed through different vacuums, gases, and/or atmospheres. I would also love to see photons being captured going through "two slits" (during an observer effect test). Could you achieve the same visual effect by filling the room with light fog? Thank you to anyone involved in this amazing project!

[@quaidsix8761]

I know this is an old video but I would love to see what a magnet would do to the travel, as light exists in the em spectrum.

[@GeekyStuffVerified]

How come this only have 8k views?

[@sarahwinterbottom6266]

As this camera is so very good at picking up individual photons I am thinking of night vision in colour and also using this in astronomy for picking up the faintest light from the early universe,,

[@MrBensella]

now do the double slit experiment and maby understanding bether how particle act as wave

[@GenshinPlayerBR]

I wonder in how many years this kind of technology will be available for everyone with an affordable price. I'd love to make some experiences in hyper slow motion! 😁

[@Hannah-jq9hh]

How would this technology achieve more than what X-rays and ultrasound technology have achieved so far?

[@MrOvergryph]

7:51

[@avgandy]

the big question is how can the military use this to kill , the behind walls part is a start ,

[@shidiskas]

why you think this way? maybe military can use it to save their lives...

[@36and95]

Monika Edyta Pietrzyk yeah, by torturing people then killing them

[@thomashan4963]

Can you freeze light? Easy! Go to 8:10 and pause the video.

[@TanTan-ni4mg]

this isnt "freezing" light. this is taking a photo of a photon. holding a picture of something doesnt make me a time traveler. seriously misleading.

[@hasan3545]

light is made up of particles, what he is saying is that we are essentially holding the position of a light particle in a given time frame (which is basically "freezing" the position of a photon). "freezing light" is the same as saying "freezing sound", you cant do it because well....how do u freeze a probability wave? get what im saying?

[@kreaturen]

I came here for light-sabers... Greatly disappointed!!! 😤 Nah, just kidding, cool technology! 👍

[@irlserver42]

This guy uses a lot of words to say very, very, very, very little. The signal to noise ratio here is near-zero.

[@AerodynAndTechnFan]

Speed of light : ~300 000 km per second , not 300 mm per second

[@zaccrisp9988]

you'll find that 300 million metres per second is the same as 300 thousand kilometres per second

[@GaryFerrao]

He meant ~300 Mm per second.

[@kidink0djillwill]

Hope u learnt unit conversion since the time you posted this comment