Nanoengineers realize an on-chip excitonic hyperlens

When light passes through materials, it typically changes direction and bends in predictable ways. This change in direction, known as refraction, is caused by a change in the speed of light as it enters a new medium. In some rare cases, however, light bends differently, specifically in the opposite direction, and this is known as negative refraction. This unusual change in direction can be leveraged to develop a wide range of advanced technologies, including advanced imaging systems and small optical devices.