Chapter 9: How Do We Make Digital Light?

Gases, liquids and solids are not the only possibilities for states of matter, they aren't even the most common states. Plasma, from which stars are made, is much more dominant. The tremendous temperatures inside stars rips electrons from atoms forming gas-like plasma. What's more, there are many other states with exotic names like Fermionic condensates, superfluids and quantum spin liquids, which occur under a wealth of extreme conditions. Others states are commonplace in the world we inhabit and liquid crystals are one of them. This chapter takes a look at this odd state of matter and how it led to light emitting devices dominating our digital age.