Lasers have been at the heart of cutting-edge science and technology for decades. From high-speed internet to precision medical equipment, their applications seem limitless.
But just when we thought we had a solid grasp on how lasers work, researchers have uncovered something truly unexpected: self-generating swirls of energy within laser beams, resembling smoke rings.
These swirling rings, known as spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOVs), aren’t just fascinating to look at—they have the potential to revolutionize everything from microscopy and optical computing to telecommunications and particle physics.
According to a new study from the University of Maryland, STOVs appear to be a fundamental but previously overlooked feature of laser beams, capable of controlling the flow of energy within the light itself.
A Hidden Phenomenon, Finally Revealed
For years, scientists studying lasers have noticed odd energy flows that didn’t quite fit traditional models. But they never had a name for them—until now.
“Lasers have been researched for decades, but it turns out that STOVs were under our noses the whole time,” says Howard Milchberg, senior author of the study.
“This is a robust, spontaneous feature that’s always there. This phenomenon underlies so much that’s been done in our field for the past 30-some years.“
What makes STOVs remarkable is how they move with the laser beam rather than remaining static, unlike previously known optical vortices.
They act almost like an autonomous force within the light, looping energy through the ring’s core and back around the outside.
Why This Discovery Challenges What We Thought We Knew
We often think of laser beams as narrow, focused streams of light, and for the most part, that’s true.
But one well-documented behavior of certain lasers is their ability to self-focus—becoming more intense rather than spreading out.
This self-focusing behavior is exactly what allowed researchers to discover STOVs.
They’re not just an odd byproduct of laser physics; they actively control how energy moves within the beam.
What’s even more striking is that this discovery challenges a long-standing assumption about optical vortices.
Scientists have used a different type of vortex, known as orbital angular momentum (OAM) vortices, for decades to improve optical computing and fiber-optic communications.
However, unlike STOVs, OAM vortices rotate around a fixed axis—they don’t move dynamically with the beam itself.
This means STOVs could offer entirely new ways to manipulate light, something researchers hadn’t even considered before.
What This Means for the Future
Right now, the full implications of STOVs are still being explored. But one thing is clear: their ability to influence laser energy flow could open up a range of new applications.
“The smoke ring vortices we discovered may have even broader applications than previously known optical vortices, because they are time dynamic, meaning that they move along with the beam instead of remaining stationary,” says study co-author Nihal Jhajj.
One potential use? Controlling and manipulating particles moving near the speed of light.
This could have major implications for particle physics, next-gen laser propulsion systems, and high-speed optical data processing.
A New Era for Laser Science?
At the moment, scientists are only beginning to understand what STOVs can do.
But given their potential to shape and direct laser energy, they could revolutionize how we use lasers in everything from medical imaging to ultra-fast data transfer.
“A STOV is not just a spectator to the laser beam, like an angel’s halo,” Milchberg explains.
“It is more like an electrified angel’s halo, with energy shooting back and forth between the halo and the angel’s head.“
This poetic analogy underscores how deeply integrated STOVs are in laser behavior—they aren’t just an effect of the beam; they’re an active participant in its function.
What Comes Next?
While STOVs are still a relatively new discovery, researchers believe they could lead to significant advancements in multiple fields.
Better microscopes, faster optical computing, and even new ways of transmitting information through light could all stem from this breakthrough.
For now, one thing is certain: lasers just became even more fascinating.
