Light & life technology

Applications of light in everyday life

During the Baroque period, however, the sharp contrast between light and dark intensified this effect, pushing the boundaries of realism. Light is designed to guide the viewer’s gaze to the – usually dramatic – main event of the work.
According to Cristofaro, the pioneers in the use of artificial light in art made use of the audiovisual. Dadaists and Surrealists used the technology of cinema to produce works with a distinct narrative, with the possibility of thinking of the light emanated from the projectors as a plastic element.

Light and technology direction

Photonic technologies open the door to more affordable and non-polluting energy storage solutions, adding value in the fight against climate change and in the preservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The implementation of photonic biodetectors enables quick and easy-to-use diagnostics that will improve health and well-being and enable access to clean water and more efficient sanitation. The development of photonic actuators and sensors will improve industry production, and generate innovation chains in specific safety and environmental niches that will benefit more sustainable cities, communities and ecosystems. Furthermore, access to the digital revolution made possible by photonic technologies has the potential to democratize and generalize access to digital information, laying the foundations for a more egalitarian and just society. Light, in short, illuminates a path towards a more sustainable, dignified and just world.

Characteristics of light

As a wave, light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here we have not only visible light, but also infrared, ultraviolet rays or X-rays. The importance of the study of this phenomenon lies in the knowledge that it can provide us in its interaction with matter. «Thanks to the interaction of light with matter, the former can be captured and transmitted, as well as excite the electrons of the atoms that make up matter and make them escape,» explains Caterina Biscari, director of the ALBA Synchrotron. The light produced by this particle accelerator, in Biscari’s words, «is like a microscope that allows us to see matter and details that cannot be seen with visible light.»
Synchrotron light, which in its natural state is found in very strong magnetic fields, as in the stars, in a safe environment is very useful for applications as diverse as the study of proteins and drugs or the study of the materials that make up the artistic heritage, such as the stained glass windows of a cathedral, which contributes to its preservation in a decisive way. The ICFO, in particular, is working intensively on the development of new photonic materials, such as graphene, for all kinds of applications: «For cheap, transparent and flexible photovoltaic cells, which can be placed for example in windows or clothing,» explains Silvia Carrasco.

Applications of light in science

Electricity is the flow of energy from one place to another. It is a physical phenomenon caused by static or moving electric charges and their interaction. It is a clean, versatile type of energy with endless applications, which has not only emerged as the most widely used source of energy today but also represents the backbone of modern societies.
Without it, there would be no convenient lighting, no radio and television communications, no telephone services and people would have to do without electrical appliances that are already an indispensable part of homes. Electricity is a key factor in the home, as it is in the community and industry.
It is these reasons, among others, that justify the importance of the electronics and technology sector; an importance that is reflected in the employment sector and in the demand from companies, from different fields, for professionals with a very specific skills profile.