Solid State Physics and Chameleon Color Changes

[Shahzad Raza]

TL;DR

can we relate nanocrystals role in chameleon color changing to solid state physics conceptually ?

Some days ago I was studying the phenomenon of color changing in chameleons so the question that arose in my mind that whether we can relate this to solid state physics too, besides optics and biophysics? As there is the role of nanocrystals that are present inside iridophores, in adjusting the light wavelength, by adjusting the spacing between them. So, would it be correct to relate them?

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, I think researchers have been looking at iridophores and tunable photonic crystals.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4366488/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

and work by Yablonovitch: Photonic Crystal and Bandgap Research

Yablonovitch coined the term photonic crystal and built the first three-dimensional structure with a full photonic bandgap—nicknamed “Yablonovite.” This discovery demonstrated that light could be controlled in solids much as electrons are in semiconductors, opening an entire field of photonic band engineering. The concept underpins optical fibers, LEDs, and laser technologies used in telecommunications and medicine.