Photonic Crystal Generates VUV Light at Wavelengths Suitable for Spectroscopy

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a tabletop device that efficiently generates circularly polarized vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light using an ultrathin film with nanoscale perforations. VUV wavelengths, which can be absorbed by air but can pass through a vacuum, are useful for chemical and physical analyses, especially VUV wavelengths in the region of around 120 to 200 nm. Circularly polarized light in the VUV region is important for probing the structural and electronic properties of matter. Moreover, a circularly polarized VUV coherent light enables scientists to observe the dynamics of biomolecules and electron spins in solids. The researchers demonstrated a solid-based method for the direct generation of...