Recent advancements in quantum physics have led to a groundbreaking breakthrough involving topological insulators and light manipulation. Scientists have successfully employed topological insulators embedded in nanostructured resonators to generate both even and odd terahertz (THz) frequencies through high-order harmonic generation (HHG). This innovation marks a significant leap in the field of quantum optics and could revolutionize ultrafast electronics, wireless communication, and quantum computing.

Key Details of the Breakthrough

Scientists used split-ring resonators combined with materials like Bi2Se3 and van der Waals heterostructures to amplify incident light, enabling the observation of harmonic signals at both 6.4 THz (even) and 9.7 THz (odd) frequencies. This dual harmonic generation was previously thought impossible with conventional materials due to their symmetry constraints, which typically allowed only odd harmonics.

Significance and Future Potential

This development validates long-standing theoretical predictions and opens new avenues for creating compact and tunable terahertz sources—critical in medical imaging, high-speed data transfer, and quantum devices. The work also highlights how the unique surface states of topological insulators can break the symmetry limitations of traditional materials, thereby paving the way for quantum-enab

Posting in Science News carries with it the expectation of a link to a news article, which should have enough detail for a discussion. (More than what you’ve posted)

Somebody seems to have shot @Dirtbikesports , just as he or she was starting to tell us what all this paves the way for.

On 11/5/2025 at 9:49 AM, exchemist said:

Somebody seems to have shot @Dirtbikesports , just as he or she was starting to tell us what all this paves the way for.

And the murdering bastard had the audacity to hit SEND on the post. Pure evil.

12 minutes ago, Phi for All said:

And the murdering bastard had the audacity to hit SEND on the post. Pure evil.

😆

On 11/5/2025 at 2:17 PM, Dirtbikesports said:

both 6.4 THz (even) and 9.7 THz (odd) frequencies.

In exactly what way is 9,700,000,000,000 Hz an odd frequency ?

Oops did your AI actually say that ?

Edited November 6Nov 6 by studiot

14 hours ago, studiot said:

In exactly what way is 9,700,000,000,000 Hz an odd frequency ?

I’m guessing it’s even and odd harmonics, but they might not care if their goal was just to have their web address show up in the user profile. But I deleted it, since that constitutes advertising.

1 hour ago, swansont said:

I’m guessing it’s even and odd harmonics, but they might not care if their goal was just to have their web address show up in the user profile. But I deleted it, since that constitutes advertising.

Interesting thought, thanks.

However I'm not quite sure what both 64 and 97 could be harmonics of since 97 is a prime number.

8 hours ago, studiot said:

Interesting thought, thanks.

However I'm not quite sure what both 64 and 97 could be harmonics of since 97 is a prime number.

Depends on what it’s harmonic of, doesn’t it? The fundamental frequency might be e.g. 1 THz and these are the 64th and 97th harmonics. We used to get our clock microwave frequencies using a dielectric resonant oscillator fed with 100 MHz, and picking off the 68th harmonic (for Rb; 92nd for Cs. Then mix in whatever was needed to add or subtract to get to resonance)

15 minutes ago, swansont said:

Depends on what it’s harmonic of, doesn’t it? The fundamental frequency might be e.g. 1 THz and these are the 64th and 97th harmonics. We used to get our clock microwave frequencies using a dielectric resonant oscillator fed with 100 MHz, and picking off the 68th harmonic (for Rb; 92nd for Cs. Then mix in whatever was needed to add or subtract to get to resonance)

To meet the OP spec as 64th and 97th harmonics (6.4Thz and 9.7Thz) the fundamental would surely have to be 100Ghz ?

2 minutes ago, studiot said:

To meet the OP spec as 64th and 97th harmonics (6.4Thz and 9.7Thz) the fundamental would surely have to be 100Ghz ?

Right. ( I was looking at your numbers, not the OP)

What's a factor of 10 between friends ?

I only said 64 and 97 because 6.4 and 9.7 don't have any integer factors.

Anyway 0.1Thz =100Ghz is just about right for beefing up my wifi.

I re read the OP and in fact harmonics were mentioned.

My brain now tells me that this generation technique has been used in the past at much lower frequencies.

In fact I had a vanle af sig gen that worked that way to about 10 Mhz.

It may still be in my garage under a load of other junk.