Researchers at ETH Zurich created pixels that both emit and analyze light, enabling combined camera‑display functions. The team, led by Prof. David Norris, used surface‑plasmon polaritons and nanometer‑precise sculpted surfaces to steer intensity, phase and polarization. Their prototype displayed a 1 mm‑tall “E” using the new Fourier pixels. The device integrates emission and sensing at the micron scale, a capability previously limited to separate chips.

The approach relies on interference of surface waves: incoming light converts to a surface plasmon, travels across the pixel, then scatters back as free‑space radiation. By applying mathematical Fourier analysis the researchers calculate the surface profile required for any target image, while the same structure can retrieve phase and polarization of incoming light. The work appears in Nature.

Norris envisions scaling the design to arrays of thousands of pixels, which could perform on‑chip image processing without external CPUs. Such “bidirectional pixels” may simplify optical communication hardware, enable compact AR/VR headsets, and reduce component count in smartphones. A patent filing tied to the project has already earned a nomination for this year’s Spark Award, marking a rare university‑industry crossover for industry.