Light and movement in the nanoworld

Light can exert forces that have a significant impact on the nanoscale, enabling control of the mechanical movement of structures smaller than a human hair. This type of physics promises a variety of applications, from highly sensitive measurements to signal transduction in quantum communication. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light have now predicted how the transport of light and sound can also be controlled in this way. So-called 'topological boundary channels' promise novel signal transmission.