Building robust optical structures made of darkness

https://phys.org/news/2023-06-robust-optical-darkness.html

"metasurfaces... dark regions electromagnetic fields (optical singularities)... metasurfaces of titanium dioxide nanopillars... optical traps capture atoms, simplify optical architecture atomic physics labs... compact, lightweight...trapping atoms, precise imaging reference positions... withstand wide range perturbations... shining light through metasurface and focusing lens produce unwavering polarization singularity surrounded by light points... remote sensing and precision measurement"

Related:

Reviewing recent advances in metasurface design with intelligent optimization methods

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-advances-metasurface-intelligent-optimization-methods.html

Scientists trap light inside a magnet

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-scientists-magnet.html