On: ‘A Swiss cheese-like material’ that can solve equa...

[amelius]

> but if you want to change the shape of the room, for example, you will have to make a new kernel.

So you can't iteratively improve your room, unless you don't mind fabricating all the kernels.

[jarfil → amelius]

> Scaling down the concept to the scale where it could operate on light waves and be placed on a microchip

> “We could use the technology behind rewritable CDs to make new Swiss cheese patterns as they’re needed,”

Could be not much different from compiling and running stuff on an FPGA.

[sbzodnsbd → jarfil]

Assuming these structures can be changed like an FPGA.

It’s not obvious how you can change the microstructure of a material to something you like in minutes.

[lostmsu → sbzodnsbd]

Well, there are CD-RWs

[sbzodnsbd → lostmsu]

For a 2D structure, maybe. What is the depth of the feature though? I saw those pictures as light shining along the plane, not across it (am I wrong?). If it’s across it’s not obvious that CDRW’s features are deep enough and the “empty” space transparent enough.

How about 3D micro-structures? It’s hard enough to make a one off 3D structure reproducible, never mind a changeable one.

[romwell → sbzodnsbd]

>How about 3D micro-structures? It’s hard enough to make a one off 3D structure reproducible

Well, there are 3D printers :)

[sbzodnsbd → romwell]

Disclaimer: I find this super cool. I love analog solutions to engineering problems.

This is about optical wavelength length scales -> feature sizes << 1500nm for infrared

3D printers’ feature sizes work for giga hertz waves (as a guestimate) assuming:

- The features can be printed - 3D have limitations after all.

- the materials that can be 3D printed are optically suitable.