Solid light


Solid light, often referred to in media as "hard light" or "hard-light", is a hypothetical material, made of light in a solidified state. Theoretically, it is possible to make such a material, and there are claims this material was already made, including claims from MIT and Harvard.

Theory

In theory, photons, the particles that form electromagnetic radiation including light, could be attracted in a nonlinear medium. In test, a laser beam fired into an extremely cold cloud of rubidium slowed down the photons and made them act as a single entity.

Fiction

Solid light appears in many video game franchises, including Halo, Portal, Destiny, Mass Effect and Overwatch.
Probably the most prominent examples of solid light are the holograms and holodecks from and it's and. Ranging from city-sized holographic environments and realistic, edible, nutritious food, to entire The Doctor |holographic people, with observed-sentience and individual personalities. The widespread use of holograms and replicated materials makes it the most widely known and advanced form of solid light represented in fiction.
In "Red Dwarf" the character Rimmer is a hologram who obtains a hard light drive, allowing him to touch and feel while being almost indestructible. In Steven Universe, the Gems are a fictional alien race consisting of magical gemstones that project humanoid physical bodies made of solid light. In the webseries RWBY, the character Velvet Scarlatina uses a handheld camera to 3D print photographed weapons, made out of hard-light Dust. In DC Comics's Green Lantern, the various Lantern Corps use solid light constructs. It is also portrayed in The Lightbringer series by fantasy author Brent Weeks and in Dr. Strange.