NATURAL PHOTONICS

摘要

Optical tricks that have given butterflies, beetles and other creatures an evolutionary advantage are beginning to teach physicists a thing or two about advanced photonics The ability to manipulate and control light is one of the foremost goals of modern optics. However, it is also something that nature perfected a long time ago. About 500 million years ago an evolutionary "big bang" took place, when animal life began to rapidly diversify. This so-called Cambrian explosion is thought to have been triggered when the manipulation of light began to influence the survival of many animals. When it comes to highly advanced optical systems, it seems there is no more experienced an engineer than nature itself. It is little wonder, then, that the optical engineers of today have started to keep a curious eye on natural optical systems.These systems offer inspiration for new ideas in optical design and could provide shortcuts for developing advanced photonic systems, which one day may even be grown to order. Without doubt, uncovering nature's optical secrets has been, and will continue to be, a spectacular journey.