New Technology For Converting a Metal To a Semiconductor With a Laser 42
rtoz writes "Researchers at MIT have succeeded in producing and measuring a coupling of photons and electrons on the surface of an unusual type of material called a topological insulator. This type of coupling had been predicted by theorists, but never observed. The researchers suggest that this finding could lead to the creation of materials whose electronic properties could be 'tuned' in real time simply by shining precise laser beams at them. This work opens up a new avenue for optical manipulation of quantum states of matter. Their findings suggest that it's possible to alter the electronic properties of a material — for example, changing it from a conductor to a semiconductor — just by changing the laser beam's polarization. For example, a property called a bandgap — a crucial characteristic for materials used in computer chips and solar cells — can be altered by shining a polarized laser beam at the material."
Re:photoelectric effect (Score:5, Informative)
no, this is not the photoelectric effect. the "bandgap" is range of energy levels where no electron exists. Thisproperty separates insulators, semiconductors and conductors. They are altering the bandgap with polarization of light