Newly-Developed Optical Device Mimics Black and White Gravitational Holes

In general relativity, a gravitational white hole is a hypothetical region of space that cannot be entered from outside. It is the reverse of a black hole from which light and information cannot escape. Researchers from the University of Southampton, Nanyang Technological University and Texas A&M University have created an optical device exhibiting intriguing similarities to these objects. The device will either totally absorb (optical black hole) or totally reject (optical white hole) light of any wavelength, depending on its polarization.

In general relativity, a gravitational white hole is a hypothetical region of space that cannot be entered from outside. It is the reverse of a black hole from which light and information cannot escape. Researchers from the University of Southampton, Nanyang Technological University and Texas A&M University have created an optical device exhibiting intriguing similarities to these objects. The device will either totally absorb (optical black hole) or totally reject (optical white hole) light of any wavelength, depending on its polarization.