Researchers created a lensless camera by connecting a digital sensor to a plexiglass window, which acts as a makeshift lens. The system can capture recognizable images with computer algorithms decoding the pixelated data. This innovation opens up possibilities for various applications, including augmented reality goggles and biometric ...
MIT researchers developed novel optics that capture images based on the timing of reflecting light inside the optics. This allows for new capabilities in time- or depth-sensitive cameras, such as capturing a trillion-frame-per-second video. The new optics architecture includes semireflective parallel mirrors that reduce focal length by...
Researchers at Samara University developed an ultralight diffraction optic that weighs just 5 grams, compared to a massive system of lenses and mirrors weighing 500 grams. The new technology enables high-resolution images with comparable quality to consumer cameras and mobile phones.
Researchers at NIST have used LADAR to map distances to objects melting behind flames with precision of 30 micrometers or better. The method could help overcome challenges posed by structural fires.
Researchers at MIT have designed an optical filter on a chip that can process optical signals from across an extremely wide spectrum of light. The technology offers greater precision and flexibility for designing photonic devices, studying photons, and other applications.
Researchers have developed a new class of endoscopic imaging catheters that overcome the limitations of current systems, achieving higher resolution and functionality. The nano-optic endoscope incorporates metalenses into its design, enabling high-resolution imaging at extended depth of focus without complex optical components.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny synthetic material that can mix two laser pulses to produce 11 new colors, offering potential applications in fields such as archaeology, extraterrestrial life detection, and fiber-optics communication. The metamaterial's efficiency is currently low, but further work aim...
A team of mathematical physicists has developed a new theoretical calculation that predicts new possible states for quantum particles that have received a photon. These states are distinct from conventional coherent states and can be applied to various models satisfying shape-invariance conditions.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed carbon nanotube optics for optical-based quantum cryptography and quantum computing. The team's work involves integrating nanotubes into photonic cavities to manipulate light-emission properties and creating single-photon emitters for quantum info-processing.
The study finds that both state and non-state actors face similar decisions when it comes to claiming credit for cyberattacks, but their strategies diverge due to different optics. The researchers highlight the importance of understanding how attackers' motives and identity can be revealed through credit claims.
Colorado State University biomedical engineer Jesse Wilson is proposing a radical new imaging technology that could diagnose mitochondrial defects in an instant. His technology aims to create a cost-effective, non-invasive way to diagnose mitochondrial diseases, which affect about 1 in 5,000 children and are often fatal.
Researchers have developed a forming technology that allows for the structuring of quartz glass like a polymer, opening up new opportunities for the glass processing industry and various fields such as optics, data technology, and medical engineering. The process involves mixing small glass particles with a liquid polymer and then hard...
Researchers have developed a step-by-step method to design with freeform surfaces, eliminating much of the guesswork. This new approach enables designers to predict which freeform surfaces will work best for a given configuration, reducing trial and error and increasing efficiency.
The new approach uses flat, artificial material composed of nanostructured optical elements to control and detect mid-IR waves, enabling cheaper, flatter, and more efficient detectors for night vision, biomedical sensing, and free-space communication. The devices can transmit up to 80% of mid-IR light with high efficiency and are made ...
A team of scientists, led by Nobel laureate Eric Betzig, have developed a new microscope that captures real-time, incredibly detailed images and 3D videos of biology. The microscope uses adaptive optics and lattice light-sheet to study cellular and sub-cellular life on whole living organisms.
A new technique allows for the assembly of optical and electronic components on separate layers of silicon, enabling the use of modern transistor technologies. This breakthrough increases the speed and reduces the power consumption of chips, which is crucial as transistors continue to rise in count.
Scientists have developed a new microscope that can capture unprecedented 3-D detail of cells in their natural state, overcoming previous limitations. The technology combines adaptive optics and lattice light sheet microscopy to create high-resolution images of cellular dynamics.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a novel type of opal formed by brown algae, exhibiting iridescence due to self-assembled oil droplet nanostructures. The seaweed's chloroplasts-containing cells can switch on and off this dynamic self-assembly, creating changing opals that react to sunlight.
Researchers have successfully entangled 20 calcium atoms in an ion trap experiment, demonstrating controlled multi-particle entanglement between neighboring groups of particles. The achievement holds significant promise for practical applications such as quantum simulations and information processing.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method to create high-quality imaging lenses quickly using a 3D printer. The customized optical component can be printed in about four hours and has smooth surface quality, paving the way for applications in optics, vision correction, and disease diagnosis.
Engineers are conducting final testing at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems to ensure the observatory is ready for space. The science payload has already undergone rigorous testing, and the integrated spacecraft and sunshield will soon undergo their own launch environment tests.
Researchers developed a holographic heads-up display that increases the size of the displayed image, allowing drivers and pilots to see information without shifting their gaze. The technology uses holographic optical elements to redirect light and create a larger eye box, making it easier to view critical data.
Researchers developed low-cost, 3D printed hyperspectral imagers for drones, making them accessible for land and ocean mapping. The imagers provide data on terrain features and ocean color, with improved sensitivity in development.
Researchers have reported significant advancements in measuring blood flow velocity in deep tissues using a handheld ultrasound probe. The new technique, known as photoacoustic flowmetry, has the potential to bring diagnostic capabilities closer to clinical use.
Researchers at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics have successfully observed non-linear interaction of an attosecond pulse with electrons in one of the inner orbital shells around the atomic nucleus. This breakthrough was made possible by the development of a novel source of attosecond pulses.
A team of MSU scientists developed a method to create two beams of entangled photons, measuring the delay between them. They achieved a narrow peak in the sum frequency signal with a width of 90 femtoseconds, setting a new record for entanglement correlation precision.
Researchers developed a device that combines metasurface lenses with MEMS technology, enabling fast scanning and beam steering. The integrated device can control the angular rotation of a flat lens and scan the focal spot by several degrees.
Researchers designed an LED-based train headlight that reduces energy consumption and emits less CO2. The new design uses precisely positioned high-efficiency LEDs to create a bright beam while minimizing electricity use.
Researchers from the University of Central Florida and Technion-Israel have developed a nonmagnetic topological insulator laser, improving efficiency, beam quality, and resilience. This breakthrough technology has potential applications in various fields, including science and technology.
Scientists at the University of Washington created a hybrid optics system combining ultrathin metalenses with computational processing to produce high-efficiency full-color images. This innovation overcomes the narrow wavelength range limitation of traditional metalenses, enabling improved image quality and resolution in various applic...
Scientists at the University of Waterloo have captured the first images of ultrafast photons that are energy-time entangled, enabling direct applications for quantum cryptography and communication protocols. This technique will allow for establishing highly secure communication channels over long distances.
Researchers at Kyoto University and University of Tokyo have developed a new method for light detection in nuclear magnetic resonance, promising higher sensitivity for MRI. The 'up-convertion' technology converts radio-frequency signals into optical ones using an elastic membrane and optics.
Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered a topological wave in a randomly arranged material, defying traditional expectations. The finding offers new insights into collective motion and could have implications for electronics and optics.
The special section on OCT published by SPIE Journal of Biomedical Optics highlights its continued relevance in medicine and biology. New opportunities emerge in areas like gastroenterology, dermatology, and oncology.
Researchers successfully identified pulmonary metastases in a patient with osteosarcoma, making it easier to locate tumors for resection. The technique utilizes targeted fluorescence and binds to specific molecular markers, allowing for the detection of small or hard-to-locate nodules.
Researchers at NRL have developed a method to reduce optical losses in hexagonal boron nitride devices, enabling more efficient lasers and nanoscale optics. This breakthrough has significant applications for ultra-high resolution microscopes, solar energy harvesting, optical computing, and targeted medical therapies.
The W.M. Keck Observatory has received an NSF grant to upgrade its adaptive optics system, further advancing research on habitable exoplanets and supermassive black holes. The new system will deliver faster, more flexible real-time controller and better camera technology, improving image clarity.
Researchers used adaptive optics technology to examine microscopic structures of the eye in living patients, obtaining high-resolution images of damaged photoreceptors. This study may lead to a deeper understanding of solar retinopathy and potentially develop new treatments.
Paolo Falcaro and his team will analyze mechanisms and parameters related to the formation, control, and properties of MOFs. Their goal is to develop microfilms and microstructures with precisely aligned pores for smart components like microchips and sensors.
By forcing light to go through a smaller gap, researchers have increased its intensity and allowed photons to interact more strongly over a short distance. This technology brings optical processing closer to electrical transistors, potentially solving the problem of nonlinear optics and enabling faster, more efficient computers.
Scientists create 3D metamaterials that twist when compressed using computer simulations and laser microprinting. The material can respond in a chiral way, challenging classical solid mechanics, and could have applications in space missions, optics, and prosthetics.
INRS professor Jinyang Liang has designed an ultrafast, highly sensitive imaging microscope to study living animals. The new technology bridges the gap between biomedical, physics, and engineering fields.
Researchers develop a new spectrometer to analyze single living cells in situ, providing mechanical and chemical maps of the system. The study reveals that oncogene expression causes significant softening in cells, making them more invasive.
Researchers at ITMO University developed a system to measure red blood cell velocity using high-speed video recording. The system provides accurate data for diagnosing vascular conditions and assessing therapy efficiency, offering a reliable tool for disease pattern recognition.
A new handheld spectrometer, compatible with smartphones, can acquire spectral images of everyday objects and biological samples. It has potential applications in remote medical diagnosis and environmental monitoring, and its compact design makes it easy to use.
The TUM Nano-CT system produces images with resolutions up to 100 nanometers, allowing investigation of individual muscle strands in velvet worm legs. The device has potential applications in biomedical research and medicine, enabling non-destructive examination of tissue samples and clarification of tumor malignancy.
INRS professors François Légaré and Federico Rosei have been elected OSA Fellows for their groundbreaking work in ultrafast molecular imaging and photonic materials development. The distinction reflects their leadership, publication record, and significant impact on optics and photonics research.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed an optical diagnostic that can quantify the formation of soot in combusting fuel sprays, enabling engine developers to design advanced combustion strategies for cleaner engines. The device uses a custom engineered diffuser to emit light rays with the same brightness over a spec...
Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing a highly compact infrared microbolometer camera called ComCAM to study near primitive objects. The device has the potential to assist in the redirection or possible destruction of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
Researchers at University of Innsbruck have successfully levitated nanomagnets using quantum physics, exhibiting stability and entanglement properties. This breakthrough defies the classic Earnshaw theorem and opens new avenues for studying exotic quantum phenomena.
A proposed NASA mission employs lobster-eye optics to locate the source of gravitational waves, a key feature in understanding cosmic ripples. The Transient Astrophysics Observatory on the International Space Station aims to characterize and alert other observatories to these events.
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully tested its optics alignment using a unique 'selfie' photo. The image verified the line of sight for the telescope's cryogenic testing configuration.
A collaboration between University of Central Florida and Yale has discovered novel optical behaviors in laser cavities, providing a unique window into fundamental physics. The research demonstrates the role of gain clamping in governing optical responses and reveals fundamental aspects of causality's limits.
A new framework allows physicians to tailor radiation dose to achieve optimal image quality for pediatric patients. The framework considers the interdependency of quality, dose, and size, providing a basis for optimizing individual scan parameters.
The study describes a method for measuring potential energy surfaces of atoms near optical nanofibers, facilitating quantum memories and components. It enables controlled interactions between lasers and atoms or materials, crucial for unconditionally secure communications and quantum computing.
The five sunshield layers of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have been fully installed, providing precise temperature control for the telescope's infrared sensors. The layers work together to reduce temperatures by approximately 570 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring optimal performance for observing distant objects in the universe.
Hybrid materials combining organic and inorganic components show promise for various applications, including optics and biomedicine. The materials display enhanced photophysical properties, such as anisotropic response to polarized light and artificial antenna effects.
Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a method to generate ultra-focused electromagnetic fields, enabling precise devices for microscopy and other applications. The new scheme utilizes a cylinder reflecting electromagnetic waves to create focused pulses with adjustable frequency.
A team from HZB and EMPA successfully realized direct electron beam writing of silver nanocrystals using Electron-Beam-Induced Deposition. This breakthrough enables the creation of complex features onto a substrate in a single step, promising applications in nano-optics and information technology.
Researchers have developed a new technology to create inexpensive full-color 2-D and 3-D holograms that are far more realistic, brighter and can be viewed at wider angles than current holograms. The applications for this technology could be wide-ranging, from currency and identification badges to amusement rides and advertisements.