A groundbreaking advancement in the field of optical communications has emerged from the laboratories of the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with Hanyang University in South Korea. This new discovery leverages a subtle yet fundamental force of nature, known as the van der Waals force, to generate what researchers are calling “light twisters.” These twisters are essentially spiral-shaped beams of light—optical vortices—that promise to revolutionize the way information is transmitted through light-based communication technologies. The implications of this finding could be profound, enabling faster, more secure, and more affordable data transmission on the scale of future global networks.
Traditional optical communication relies heavily on fiber optic cables that guide light pulses to deliver data across vast distances. However, the challenge has always been how to encode more information within the constraints of existing technology without dramatically increasing the cost and complexity of the systems. The University of Melbourne research team has uncovered a way to manipulate circularly polarized light as it passes through ultra-thin, layered crystals held together by van der Waals forces, generating an optical vortex—or a spiral whirlpool of photons that spins as it travels. This technique introduces an entirely new dimension for encoding information, promising a significant leap forward in data capacity.
Van der Waals materials consist of atomically thin layers that adhere via the van der Waals force—a phenomenon well-known for its delicate yet persistent holding power, famously responsible for phenomena such as spiders adhering to ceilings. These tiny forces are strong enough to maintain the layered structure of materials but weak enough to allow easy restructuring and manipulation at the atomic scale. By employing such materials, the research team was able to experiment with light-matter interactions at unprecedentedly thin scales, working within crystals thinner than a human hair, enabling the creation of novel optical effects without the need for bulky equipment.
The research revealed that when circularly polarized light—with photons spinning uniformly in one direction—passes through these layered van der Waals materials, the spin of the light flips. More importantly, the light simultaneously acquires a spiraling twist, effectively turning into an optical vortex. This conversion of spin angular momentum into orbital angular momentum, known as spin-orbit coupling, is key to producing the vortex effect. Until now, realizing such transformations required complex and large-scale optical devices, making wide-scale application impractical. Demonstrating this experimentally at the nanoscale marks a significant breakthrough for the field.
This experimental achievement was led by PhD students Sujeong Byun, under Dr. Sejeong Kim at the University of Melbourne, and Jaegang Jo, supervised by Associate Professor Haejun Chung at Hanyang University. Their collaborative efforts in optics, materials science, and physics fused to harness the unique properties of van der Waals heterostructures for twisting light. The results, published in the prestigious journal Light: Science and Applications, open the door to miniaturized optical devices capable of executing complex transformations of light on a chip-scale platform.
One of the most exciting aspects of generating optical vortices through this method lies in the potential for massively enhanced information encoding. Unlike traditional binary encoding methods, optical vortices can encode data using the “twists” of light beams themselves. This means that each photon could carry multiple bits of information simultaneously, dramatically increasing bandwidth without requiring additional physical channels. Ms. Byun likened this increase in data-carrying capacity to adding extra lanes to a data highway, exponentially amplifying throughput while maintaining system simplicity.
The global context amplifies the importance of this innovation. The market for optical communication systems is forecasted to nearly double, growing from approximately US$15.53 billion in 2024 to an estimated US$29.52 billion by 2032. Industry-wide, there is intense pressure to overcome bottlenecks related to speed, capacity, and security. The advent of on-chip light twisters could catalyze the development of optical networks far surpassing current limitations. Encoding multiple bits per photon through controlled angular momentum states could yield networks with up to 50 times the data capacity presently achievable.
Besides improving bandwidth, the ability to manipulate light’s angular momentum characteristics holds promise for secure communication channels. Different twist states of light can serve as independent information carriers, making interceptions or data breaches significantly more difficult. This intrinsic property offers an additional security dimension beyond traditional encryption methods—one deeply rooted in the physical characteristics of photons themselves. The optical vortices generated by van der Waals materials can thus safeguard data from a fundamentally new angle.
Importantly, the research team’s approach offers scalability and integration potential. By fabricating tiny devices that fit on the scale of microchips, these newly developed light twisters can be embedded into existing fiber optic infrastructure and communication hardware. This contrasts with earlier approaches that required elaborate and costly optical components. Their method makes it feasible to imagine future satellite communication systems and data centers equipped with compact, affordable devices that vastly improve performance metrics.
Technically, the spin-orbit coupling effect in these van der Waals materials has hitherto been a theoretical possibility speculated by researchers. This study represents the first experimental verification of the phenomenon. The team’s optics lab performed meticulous measurements to demonstrate how the directionality of light’s spin flips upon transmission through the material, while concurrently generating the orbital angular momentum that manifests as the spiral twist. The precise control and observation of these effects elucidate new pathways for photonics research and applications.
Moreover, the interdisciplinary expertise harnessed in this project reflects the complexity and promise of modern photonics research. The seamless integration of knowledge across materials science, condensed matter physics, and optical engineering was critical to overcoming technical challenges. Collaborations between Australian and South Korean institutions highlight the global nature of cutting-edge research and the shared pursuit of next-generation technologies. This synergy will likely continue to drive innovations that could transform telecommunications and beyond.
Looking forward, the research team is actively investigating ways to embed this technology within existing communication networks and to scale the system for real-world deployment. Challenges include ensuring compatibility with current fiber optic standards and optimizing the fabrication of van der Waals layered devices for reliable manufacturability. Continued experimentation is expected to refine the control capabilities over light twisting, leading to novel photonic devices with multifaceted applications ranging from quantum computing to advanced sensors.
In summary, the creation of optical vortices via spin-orbit coupling effects in van der Waals materials represents a pivotal step toward ultrafast, high-capacity, and secure optical communications. The fusion of fundamental physics with cutting-edge materials engineering has yielded a technology that not only pushes the boundaries of how light can be manipulated but also sets the stage for next-generation networks that could handle the ever-growing data demands of the digital age. As the team advances toward practical implementation, this innovation stands as a beacon of transformative potential for the global telecommunications industry.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Spin-orbit coupling in van der Waals materials for optical vortex generation
News Publication Date: 18-Aug-2025
Web References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-025-01926-7
References:
Byun, S., Jo, J., Kim, S., Chung, H. (2025). Spin-orbit coupling in van der Waals materials for optical vortex generation. Light: Science & Applications. DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-01926-7
Image Credits: Seok Woo Yun
Keywords:
Photonics, Information Science, Technology, Optics, Light Matter Interactions, Spin Manipulation, Photonic Crystals, Quantum Computing, Materials Science
