The study confirms the existence of an Earth-sized planet orbiting Kepler-186, a temperate region where water could exist in liquid form. The team employed speckle imaging and adaptive optics to rule out background stars and stellar companions, allowing for the detection of Kepler-186f.
INRS has secured a $10 million grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to acquire cutting-edge biotech and nanophotonics equipment. The new laboratories will enable researchers to develop innovative materials and technologies, improving healthcare and information technology.
Researchers at Indiana University have developed a new technique that can detect microscopic changes in the retina caused by diabetes, which may indicate potential sight-threatening complications. The instrument uses adaptive optics to provide highly magnified retinal images and identify subtle changes in blood vessels.
A team of researchers in China has created a new artificial surface that can bend and focus electromagnetic waves like an antenna. The breakthrough, described as the first broadband transformation optics metasurface lens, may lead to flat or ultra-low profile antennas.
Researchers developed a new adaptive optics technology that rapidly corrects for light-bending distortions in microscopic images. The technique, inspired by astronomy and ophthalmology, brings into focus fine structures and subcellular organelles in nerve cells deep within living brain tissue.
Acoustic metadevices enable the dynamic alteration of three-dimensional colloidal crystals' geometry in real-time. Researchers have developed reconfigurable metamaterials with potential applications in optics and acoustics, such as beam deflectors and acoustic barriers.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a silicon chip that can bend light waves electronically, eliminating the need for bulky optics. This technology allows for rapid image projection with a single laser diode and no mechanically moving parts.
A team of scientists created wearable technology that helps surgeons visualize cancer cells by making them glow blue, reducing the need for follow-up surgeries and associated costs. The innovation uses a custom video display, head-mounted device, and targeted molecular agent to distinguish cancer cells from healthy tissue.
Researchers found that identical particles, such as bosons, exhibit overlapping patterns instead of interfering due to exchange effects. This challenges current understanding of quantum optics and has potential applications in precision tests.
Researchers have developed a new optical device that can measure blood coagulation parameters in near real time, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment of bleeding patients. The device uses laser speckle rheology to detect changes in blood sample patterns, providing insights into clotting time and fibrinogen concentration.
A UConn team developed a novel process creating monomodal mesoporous metal oxides with uniform pores, allowing targeted molecules to flow in and out of the material. This 'green' technology has significant applications in adsorption, sensors, optics, magnetic, and energy products.
A team of Belgian researchers successfully developed a stretchable optical interconnection that can be bent and stretched without losing its light-gathering ability. The new material consists of a transparent core surrounded by a lower refractive index layer, which traps light and causes it to propagate along its length.
The Optical Society (OSA) has announced the launch of a new open-access journal, Optica, which will publish original research articles and letters in all areas of optics and photonics. The first issue is set to be published in July, with a renowned editorial board led by professor Alex Gaeta.
Scientists at Rice University and Russia have calculated a road map for creating ultra-thin diamond films without high pressure. The 'phase diagram' outlines conditions necessary to turn stacked graphene sheets into flawless diamond lattices, with potential applications in nanocapacitors, electronics, and nano-optics.
Clemson professor Roger Stolen was selected to present at a special session titled "Pioneers of Fiber Optics" at SPIE Photonics WEST 2014. He is being honored for his pioneering work in nonlinear fiber optics, which has played an important role in modern high-capacity optical communication systems.
Researchers have developed new silk-coated diamond particles that can be injected into living cells to provide a novel technique for biological imaging and drug delivery. The silk coating enhances the brightness of the nanodiamonds while preserving their optical properties, making them safe for use in the body.
The mathematician's work has led to a better understanding of how fiber optics can be made more stable and robust. His research involves marrying mathematics and physics to study the behavior of solitary waves in various structures, including optical waveguide arrays and granular crystals.
Researchers found that fur coats and down feathers derive their insulating power from an optical mechanism involving the scattering of infrared light. This discovery could lead to improved building insulation and the development of new types of ultrathin insulation.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new method called direct measurement that can characterize high-dimensional quantum states in a single experiment with no post-processing. This technique offers an exciting alternative to quantum tomography and could be central in developing high-security quantum communication...
Researchers have developed a new holographic process that utilizes an image-stabilized X-ray camera to improve imaging efficiency and resolution. The method, which uses a Fresnel zone plate to increase brightness, enables the study of fast dynamic processes at the nanoscale.
The Gemini Planet Imager has captured its first light images, revolutionizing the field of exoplanet detection and study. The instrument's advanced adaptive optics system allows for direct imaging of faint planets, including those 1 million to 10 million times fainter than their host stars.
Transformation optics tackles challenges in plasmonic devices by transforming complex structures into canonical ones, facilitating accurate modeling and design. This enables the development of efficient light-harvesting nanostructures with strong near-field enhancements.
The article reviews alternative target-oriented invisibility strategy, referred to as an 'inverse design', which integrates the technical advantages of forward strategies. This approach uses anisotropic materials and non-superluminal propagation to provide cloaking performance with a relatively broad bandwidth.
A new hand-held optical device can scan a patient's entire retina in seconds, detecting early signs of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. This innovation enables primary care physicians to screen a wider population outside traditional specialist offices.
Astronomers have successfully imaged individual stars in a nearby binary star system using a new instrument that combines adaptive optics and interferometry.
The Center for Nano-Optics at Georgia State University aims to develop tools and instruments for nanoscale technology, with potential breakthroughs in biomedicine and computer processing. The center will focus on integrating spaser technology into transistors and developing nanoplasmonic metal funnels.
Researchers at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics have developed a system to precisely measure the duration of energetic electron pulses using laser fields. This allows for the investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms and molecules, providing insights into nature's smallest scales.
Researchers at EPFL have discovered a method to fit pulses together within optical fibers, increasing the capacity by up to ten times. This approach reduces the unused empty space for data in the fiber, enabling faster and more reliable data transmission.
NASA technologists aim to apply emerging atom-optics technology to map variations in Earth's gravity field with picometer-level sensitivity. The technology could chart changes in the gravitational field over time, providing valuable insights into climate change and water cycles.
The new journal will cover a range of topics including microscopic methods, optogenetics, and computational methods relevant to understanding brain function. It aims to foster greater awareness and interaction among the photonics, neuroscience, and clinical communities.
University of Helsinki researchers have developed photochemically active polymers that can switch from a trans conformation to a cis conformation using light. This phenomenon allows for the creation of complex patterns and designs in liquids, opening up new possibilities for materials science and optics.
Case Western Reserve University researchers aim to develop processes that can be used by industry to manufacture Janus particles, which could carry paired medicines or provide unique optics for displays. The engineers focus on creating high-yield nanomanufacturing with simple processes.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a compact, room-temperature terahertz source with an output power of 215 microwatts, paving the way for applications in homeland security, medical imaging and space research. The device, similar to a laser diode, operates at high power without cryogenic cooling.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a biological imaging system that can track blood flow in the lab and clinic using a webcam and laser pointer. The new system is significantly cheaper than existing equipment and has potential applications for imaging changes in tissues, including those outside the lab.
TNO researchers Alexander Toet and Maarten Hogervorst win the Rudolf Kingslake Medal for their work on statistical mapping approach for night-vision applications. The paper presents an overview of their progress in achieving color constancy and computational simplicity.
The University of Calgary has launched the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), a unit dedicated to research, training, and outreach in quantum science. The IQST will focus on key research themes such as quantum optics, quantum information, and nanotechnology, with a goal of advancing transformative technology.
The Journal of Medical Imaging will cover fundamental and translational research and applications focused on photonics in medical imaging. The journal will mirror the scope of the annual SPIE Medical Imaging symposium, covering topics such as imaging physics, tomographic reconstruction algorithms, image processing, and more.
Eye care professionals are adopting wavefront optics to correct subtle visual issues and monitor eye health. The technique, inspired by astronomy, offers new tools for assessing and correcting higher-order aberrations in the eye.
A team of astronomers has developed a new type of telescope camera that makes higher resolution images than ever before, capturing details as small as 0.02 arcseconds across. The new technology has enabled the observation of planetary formation processes and addressed longstanding questions about how planets form.
Scientists have developed a new technique to slow down light by embedding dye molecules in a liquid crystal matrix, allowing for more efficient sensing and interferometry applications. The method uses little power, operates at room temperature, and can measure extremely low speeds in just one second of measurement time.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have successfully levitated nanodiamonds in free space using a technique called laser trapping. The experiment enables the measurement of photoluminescence from defects inside the diamonds, which could lead to breakthroughs in quantum information and computing.
Researchers from UNIGE have successfully entangled two optic fibers populated by 500 photons, surviving on a macroscopic level. The phenomenon demonstrates that larger elements can retain their quantum properties, despite interactions with the surrounding environment.
Researchers have developed new techniques using lasers, LEDs, and optics to visualize and analyze the skin's structure and function. These methods hold promise for various medical applications, including burn treatment, cancer detection, and wound healing.
The PAPILLON technology developed by Disney Research enables video projection in small characters, allowing for highly expressive and interactive interactions. The system uses printed optics to direct light and can project complex images onto the eyes of characters.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method to trap light that could find applications in lasers, solar cells, and fiber optics. The phenomenon involves destructive interference from waves of opposite phases, blocking certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass through.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a low-cost fiber-optic pen that tracks brain activity in real-time while children with learning disabilities read and write. The device, which costs less than $100, allows scientists to study the neural connections involved in writing and reading.
Researchers have developed hand-held instruments powered by scavenged energy to analyze water quality and bridge safety in the field. The devices use sophisticated photonics systems to generate spectral signatures for identification, with potential applications including wearable biomedical monitors and tracking devices.
Researchers developed optics-based methods for determining viral load by counting individual virus particles, allowing for faster and cheaper testing. These new methods could conduct measurements in a medical office or hospital instead of a laboratory, providing rapid results and fast turnaround.
A new tool developed by UT Arlington physicist Samarendra Mohanty has the potential to map and track neuronal interactions in the brain. The fiber-optic, two-photon, optogenetic stimulator uses low-energy near-infrared light to precisely excite neurons, allowing researchers to understand how brain connections function.
Scientists at KIT successfully demonstrated a method to influence the propagation of heat around objects by using specially arranged materials. By creating an annular structure with copper and silicon, they can control how heat flows around hidden areas, making it ideal for applications such as microchips and machines.
Researchers have demonstrated that chaotic systems can store more light than ordered ones in optical cavities, with applications for quantum optics and solar cells. The study found a six-fold increase in energy storage in chaotic cavities, outperforming classical counterparts.
Multispectral photoacoustic imaging distinguishes between benign and malignant prostate tissue with a high degree of accuracy. The new technique, which combines laser optics and ultrasound imaging technologies, predicts 25 out of 26 benign tissues and 13 out of 16 malignant tissues correctly.
A new camera system uses low-power infrared laser light to gather high-resolution, 3D information about objects from up to a kilometer away. The system resolves depth on the millimeter scale over long distances, making it suitable for imaging man-made targets such as moving vehicles.
A Michigan Technological University lab has introduced a library of open-source, 3-D-printable optics components that significantly reduce costs. The study found cost reductions of over 97%, enabling a broader audience to participate in optical experimentation.
Researchers explore the potential of quasicrystals in fundamental optics research, offering opportunities for building smaller optical circuits and creating more efficient devices. Quasicrystals' unique properties make them an attractive area of study for applications in biosensing, solar cells, and spectroscopy.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a micro-endoscope that can resolve objects four times better than previous devices, enabling new methods in diverse fields. The so-called micro-endoscope is a significant step forward in high-resolution bio-imaging with potential applications in research and clinical practice.
The NASA grant will support the U.S. institutions in building lasers and monitoring equipment for calibrating the telescope's optics from around the globe. The Extreme Universe Space Observatory aims to discover the sources of ultra high-energy cosmic rays by observing their traces in the atmosphere.
Physicists at University of Rochester and University of Ottawa have made direct measurements of light's polarization states for the first time. This breakthrough overcomes key challenges to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, enabling faster quantum information processing.
The new device uses a polymer sheet with fluorescent particles to capture incoming light and channel it to an array of sensors. This allows for the creation of high-resolution images without any internal components or electronics. The technology has potential applications in user interface devices that can respond to gestures alone.
A new optical prescription for automobile side-view mirrors eliminates blind spots without distorting the perceived distance of cars approaching from behind. The design features a horizontally progressive mirror with three resolution zones, offering a greatly expanded field of view and reliable depth perception.