Physicists Catch Light in 'Imaginary Time' in Scientific First

[Judi Lynn]

Physics
30 June 2025
ByMike



(agsandrew/Getty Images Pro/Canva)
For the first time, researchers have seen how light behaves during a mysterious phenomenon called 'imaginary time'.

When you shine light through almost any transparent material, the gridlock of electromagnetic fields that make up the atomic alleys and side streets will add a significant amount of time to each photon's commute.

This delay can tell physicists a lot about how light scatters, revealing details about the matrix of material the photons must navigate. Yet until now, one trick up the theorist's sleeve for measuring light's journey – invoking imaginary time – has not been fully understood in practical terms.

An experiment conducted by University of Maryland physicists Isabella Giovannelli and Steven Anlage has now revealed precisely what pulses of microwave radiation (a type of light that exists outside the visible spectrum) do while experiencing imaginary time inside a roundabout of cables.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/physicists-catch-light-in-imaginary-time-in-scientific-first