What this work contributes
Identifies scattering patterns that can provide restoring forces and torques when an illuminated structure moves away from alignment. It connects nanoscale optical design to a macroscopic stability calculation.
Where the evidence stops
The proposal depends on externally supplied light and calculated optical response. It does not demonstrate self-powered levitation or stable flight of a manufactured macroscopic vehicle.
Keep the conditions with the result
- Measured / modeled quantity
- Calculated restoring forces, torques and dynamical stability
- Reported scale
- Millimeter-to-meter objects discussed as a design prospect; measured thrust not reported in the reviewed abstract.
- Conditions
- Modeled silicon resonators on silica under external illumination.
- Evidence context
- Theoretical result; independent experimental validation not established by this record.
- Design use
- Add alignment and attitude stability to the requirements for any optical propulsion concept.
- Review access
- Institutional abstract and DOI checked; full main article not reviewed.
Original source
Ognjen Ilic, Harry A. Atwater. Self-stabilizing photonic levitation and propulsion of nanostructured macroscopic objects. Nature Photonics 13, 289–295 (2019).
DOI: 10.1038/s41566-019-0373-y
How we use it
This record belongs to Photon momentum. Its evidence label describes the cited work, not the maturity of a Metric Flight device. Follow the original methods, corrections and conditions before transferring a result to a different geometry or scale.
Editorial note reviewed 19 October 2026. AI assisted research discovery and synthesis. Citation metadata and claims were checked against primary publication or institutional records; full-text access varies. Read the source for the complete method.