Sensitive yet tough: tiny chip-scale photonic devices are now a reality

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-sensitive-tough-photonic-devices-reality.html

"precise, powerful, easier/ cheaper production at scale... devices sensitive enough to detect tiny changes prone to breakdown with even small manufacturing imperfections, overcome using subwavelength phase singularity where light's intensity drops to 0 while phase continues full cycle... 2 gold nanorod layers (in rows slightly twisted relative to each other) sandwiching thin-layer polymer in between, bottom embedded in polymer/ top exposed to air, sensing molecules... adjusting space between layers controls light interactions"

Related: Powerful form of quantum interference between phonons for sensors, quantum computers
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1094309