Trinity Physicists Uncover New Way to Turn Light into Usable Energy
Breakthrough Links Photon Behaviour with Heat-Engine Physics
Physicists at Trinity College Dublin say fresh insights into how light behaves could open a new pathway towards tackling one of science's oldest problems: converting heat into usable energy.
Their theoretical breakthrough, now set for experimental testing, may shape the design of specialized devices capable of capturing more energy from sunlight—as well as from lamps and LEDs—and converting it into practical work.
The research has been published in Physical Review A.
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How Confined Light Changes Energy Behaviour
It focuses on what happens when photons, the particles of light, are confined within microscopic optical structures. Under these conditions, light can undergo a form of condensation, causing photons to act collectively rather than independently, concentrating energy into a narrow, highly intense beam of a single, exceptionally pure colour—much like a laser.
Although this effect has been observed experimentally, it has so far required energy that is already highly concentrated, such as that delivered by a laser. The new theoretical analysis suggests, however, that the same outcome could be achieved using more diffuse energy sources, including sunlight, lamps and LEDs.
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Linking Light Condensation to Heat Engine Physics
The study's senior author, Paul Eastham, Naughton Associate Professor in the School of Physics at Trinity College Dublin, explained that the team modelled devices capable of trapping light within a very small region of space.
"We found that their behaviour is closely linked to the fundamental principles of heat engines—systems that convert disordered energy, or 'heat' into useful work," he said.
"In this sense, the same physical laws that constrain steam engines and power stations also govern whether photons will condense," Eastham added.
Potential Impact on Future Optical and Energy Technologies
"Beyond its conceptual interest, this research could shape the future design of optical technologies that control light energy at the quantum level, from solar cells to radiation-powered microscopic engines."
These findings suggest a possible bridge between traditional thermodynamics and next generation optical energy systems.
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Turning Light into 'Useful' Energy
LuÃsa Toledo Tude, first author of the study and a physicist at Trinity College Dublin, explained that the central objective of these optical devices would be to produce "useful" energy, delivered as laser-like light.
This form of energy is comparatively straightforward to convert into other usable forms, opening the door to practical applications.
Potential applications highlighted included:
- Enhancing solar cells to generate electricity more efficiently
- Converting diffuse light into concentrated, usable energy
- Powering microscopic or radiation-driven engines
Health, energy use and environmental implications
Laboratory Testing and Next Steps
She emphasized that laboratory testing is the next crucial step and cautioned against excessive speculation at this stage.
Nonetheless, she described the prospect of using this approach to extract more usable energy from light and put it to work across countless applications as genuinely exciting.
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