Enabling video-like 3D holographics, the development in future can replace video conferences for providing a real-life virtual experience. In midst of the pandemic when most of us were confined to our homes with very little or no interaction with other people, online meetups and video conferences rescued us to maintain that longing ‘human-to-human’ connection. As this form of virtual communication is now here to stay, an even more realistic model can be implemented such as holographic technology. But it hasn’t been fully explored yet; just limited to the realms of sci-fi movies. [2]

Figure 1. Electrically Switchable Nanoantennas Enable Dynamic Holographic Tech

Figure 1 shows Video conferencing played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic and is set to dominate many meetings in the future. To realize the true feeling of a face-to-face dialog, three dimensional video is required and yet the holographic technology is still missing. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart in Germany have now introduced a completely new approach to realize such dynamic holographic displays, based on electrically switchable plasmonic nanoantennas made from conductive metallic polymers. This key element provides the missing technology to enable holographic displays at video rate, which would enable virtual conferences with a "real-life" feeling. The paper detailing this work has been published in the journal Science on 29 October 2021. [1]

Conductive functional polymers as suitable switchable material

For several years, researchers had created metasurfaces that generate static 3-dimensional holograms. However, their components, or nanoantennas, consisted of metals such as gold or aluminum that could not be switched like common liquid crystal materials. After searching for several years for the right material, PhD student Julian Karst and nanophotonics expert Dr. Mario Hentschel from the group of Prof. Harald Giessen, together with polymer chemist Prof. Sabine Ludwigs and her team, identified electrically conducting polymers as possible candidates for switchable plasmonics. Sabine Ludwigs contributed her expertise on electrochemical switching of such functional polymers, which was at the focus of the 2000 Chemistry Nobel Prize. [3]

Holograms that create impressive 3D still images are well known. Dynamic holograms that can be switched at video rates using data from high-speed Internet connections have never been possible. Previously, the limiting factor was display resolution. Holographic images require a resolution of 50,000 dpi (pixels per inch). This is 100 times the best smartphone display. For such resolutions, the pixel size should be reduced to 0.5 micrometer (1/1000 millimeter). However, current LCD technology does not allow such small pixels and is limited to pixel sizes of a few micrometers. [4]

References:

1. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-electrically-switchable-nanoantennas-enable-holographic.html
2. https://www.electronicsforu.com/special/editor-choice/electrically-switchable-nanoantennas-enable-dynamic-holographic-tech
3. https://scitechdaily.com/electrically-switchable-nanoantennas-developed-for-holographic-video-technology/
4. https://californianewstimes.com/electrically-switchable-nanoantennas-developed-for-holographic-video-technology/599210/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Electrically Switchable Nanoantennas Enable Dynamic Holographic Tech, pp. 84