University of Michigan Develops Semiconductor Device Using Laser Light to Direct Electrons
Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a semiconductor device that uses laser light to direct electron movement without the need for an electric field. This innovation, described as an 'electron lighthouse,' allows for precise control of electron flow through a semiconductor, a phenomenon not previously observed. The device was developed to explore fundamental physics and could eventually enhance technologies that integrate optics and electronics, such as advanced sensing, imaging, and telecommunications. The research, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, demonstrated that two different colors of light can organize electron flow, with the direction of the current being adjustable by rotating the polarization of the optical fields. 
