Lightbased

Lightbased is a contemporary term used to describe technologies and applications that rely on light as the primary functional medium. The concept spans photonics, optical communications, sensing, and light-driven energy and medical applications. The term is often written as light-based in hyphenated form, but "lightbased" is sometimes used in branding or shorthand.

Core areas include fiber-optic communication, laser-based materials processing, solar photovoltaic systems, LED and laser lighting, optical sensing and imaging, LIDAR and other light-based ranging, and light-based therapies in medicine, such as photodynamic therapy and optogenetics.

Underlying principles involve manipulation of light’s properties—wavelength, phase, coherence, and polarization—to transmit information or perform work. Devices such as optical fibers, waveguides, photodetectors, modulators, and coherent light sources are central to lightbased systems. Integration with electronics and control software is common.

Advantages include high bandwidth or energy efficiency, low electromagnetic interference, and compact form factors in some applications. Limitations include sensitivity to misalignment, environmental conditions (dust, fog, ambient light), chromatic dispersion, and higher component costs.

History and development: The field grew from mid-20th century advances in lasers and photonics and expanded in the rise of fiber-optic networks, solar technology, and imaging. Contemporary research focuses on integrated photonics, quantum communication, and bio-light therapies.

See also: Photonics, Optoelectronics, Fiber optics, Solar photovoltaics, LIDAR, Optogenetics.