Core Insights - Chinese scientists have made significant progress in the field of nanoscale light manipulation, achieving efficient excitation and path separation of nanoscale optical signals on chips, laying a solid foundation for the development of smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient next-generation photonic chips [1][2] Group 1: Research Achievements - Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National Center for Nanoscience have successfully published their findings in the journal Nature Photonics [1] - The study addresses the core bottleneck in developing next-generation information technology, which is the precise control of light propagation at the nanoscale [1] Group 2: Technical Innovations - The research highlights the importance of polarized surface plasmon polaritons, which can compress optical energy at the nanoscale, as a key tool for creating ultra-compact photonic devices [1] - High-order hyperbolic phonon polaritons have a stronger ability to confine light fields compared to ordinary polaritons, making them particularly suitable for manufacturing more compact nanoscale devices [1] Group 3: Methodology - The researchers proposed a "two-step" excitation strategy to overcome the high excitation threshold of high-order polaritons: first, using a specially designed metallic antenna to convert a standard laser into a fundamental mode of nanoscale light wave; second, allowing this light wave to pass through a smooth gold boundary to scatter and convert it into the desired high-order light wave [1] Group 4: Practical Applications - The method enables long-distance, low-loss transmission of high-order light waves at room temperature and allows for routing of optical signals at the nanoscale through clever structural design [2]