The Optica i4 Prize honors individuals and organizations with outstanding achievements in innovation, integrity, inclusion, and impact. This year's recipients are Lumentum President and CEO Michael Hurlston and company TRUMPF, recognized for their contributions to the global optics and photonics industry.
The system addresses limitations of high numerical aperture objectives by combining a learned titanium dioxide meta-optic with a neural reconstruction network. This co-designed computational microscopy system improves imaging depth and resolves structures throughout thick biological specimens in a single shot.
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart developed an interactively addressable organic metadevice that uses electrically switchable materials to dynamically control light. The platform enables every metasurface pixel to be electronically controlled independently, allowing user commands to be translated into dynamic holographic images.
Researchers developed microneedles that guide and scatter light to improve photodynamic therapy's reach in deep tissue. The technology could simplify treatment and enhance precision for skin cancer patients. Further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness in real-world conditions.
Researchers introduce bilayer and multilayer nonlocal flat optics, enabling control of optical modes through interlayer spacing, lateral displacement, and lattice mismatch. This emerging field provides routes to high-Q resonances, slow light, and enhanced nonlinear optical interactions.
Researchers used structured light from quantum optics to transform Boehm's brushes into brighter patterns, improving their detectability. This technique may help diagnose retinal diseases like macular degeneration.
A new study from Houston Methodist introduces a promising noninvasive imaging technique that can help doctors accurately diagnose papillary thyroid cancer. The approach, second harmonic generation microscopy, uses light to examine changes in collagen, which may signal if a thyroid nodule is cancerous.
Researchers developed a laser Speckle-based Curvature Optical Metrology (SCOM) instrument to measure two-dimensional surface curvature of X-ray mirrors. The system offers a compact, flexible alternative to traditional height-based interferometric methods.
The winning research article integrates evolutionary algorithms with nonlinear laser dynamics to establish a novel framework for programmable photonic states. It has strong implications for optical information processing and next-generation communication technologies.
The 2025 Editor-in-Chief Choice Award recognizes exceptional original research article and review paper publications in the journal Advanced Photonics. The award honors innovative research in all areas of optics and photonics, including fundamental and applied research.
A novel solar-thermal desalination process produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and chemical additives. The technology leverages the 'coffee ring' effect to extract salts from seawater, producing nearly 100% of the salts in solid form.
The SPIE Scholarship Program provides support to 85 students studying optics, photonics, or related fields with scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $11,000. The program aims to build a sustainable photonics industry through high-impact support for students and emerging leaders.
The São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Nonlinear and Quantum Photonics will bring together leading global specialists in nanophotonics, nonlinear optics, and quantum optics. The event will provide two weeks of intensive learning on key topics including quantum optics and information.
Murnane recognized for pioneering ultrafast laser technology and XUV science, as well as exceptional mentorship and leadership. She has made seminal contributions to the field of optics with over 25 years of international leadership.
Researchers at the University of Rochester developed a solar-thermal desalination process that produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and requiring no chemical additives. The technology extracts nearly 100% of salts in solid form, producing table salt and precious minerals like lithium.
Researchers develop a novel adhesive based on liquid-like chalcogenide glass, enabling seamless bonding of high-index optical components and improving transmission and power delivery. The new material achieves significant enhancements in laser power delivery and durability under high-power conditions.
The convergence of AI and metaphotonics enables the design and integration of ultra-thin, flat optical devices that can bend, focus, and filter light. This technology has the potential to solve real-world hardware limitations, including shrinking cameras and enabling autonomous systems.
A team of researchers developed a practical method to align lobster-eye X-ray optics for space telescopes, enabling the detection of distant gamma-ray bursts with high accuracy. The approach was tested on a prototype structure and achieved precise alignment within five arcminutes.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a squeezed phonon laser that precisely controls individual particles of vibration or sound, allowing for accurate measurements of gravity and other forces. This technology has the potential to create more accurate, 'unjammable' navigation systems without relying on satellites.
Researchers developed a multilayer grating solution to enhance RIXS efficiency in the tender X-ray range, reducing acquisition time from hours to minutes. The new spectrometer covers both soft and tender X-ray regions, offering improved performance for studying 4d transition metal materials.
Roberto Morandotti, a world-renowned physicist at INRS, has received the Max Born Award for his breakthroughs in integrated quantum photonics, nonlinear optics, and ultrafast lasers. His work bridges quantum theory with experimental innovation, enabling next-generation optical and quantum technologies.
A team of scientists experimentally demonstrated deterministic entanglement-assisted quantum communication over 20.121 km in fiber channels, outperforming classical communication in metropolitan areas. They proposed an improved continuous-variable dense coding scheme to enhance transmission efficiency and reduce excess noise.
Researchers successfully decode 10 weak classical signals simultaneously using continuous-variable quantum dense coding in 20-km fiber channels. The channel capacity of deterministic entanglement-assisted quantum communication is increased compared to classical communication with coherent state.
SPIE becomes a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Publishers Compact, committing to help create a sustainable future. The organization's research and publications already align with several of the UN's 17 sustainability goals.
Researchers at the University of Rochester create a new process to turn ordinary metal tubes unsinkable by etching micro- and nano-pits on their surface, making them superhydrophobic. The tubes stay afloat in water, even when damaged or submerged for extended periods.
A team from Harvard and University of Lisbon found that silica, a low-refractive index material, can be used for making metasurfaces despite long-held assumptions. They discovered that by carefully considering the geometry of each nanopillar, silica behaves as a metasurface, enabling efficient design of devices with relaxed feature sizes.
Dr. Michael Davis, an astrophysicist at Southwest Research Institute, has been recognized by SPIE as a Fellow for his work on space instruments and UV imaging. He is the optics and detector scientist for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Juno mission to Jupiter.
Uriel Levy has been appointed as the inaugural editor-in-chief of SPIE's Advanced Quantum Catalyst journal, which will serve as a premier venue for real-world quantum applications. The journal aims to bridge the gap in quantum research publishing landscape by emphasizing implementation, integration, and cross-disciplinary applications.
Researchers from the UJI Optics Group have developed a new method to correct image aberrations in single-pixel microscopy using a deformable lens. This approach combines an adaptive lens with a sensor-less method that evaluates image sharpness directly from the data, producing sharper images close to the physical resolution limit witho...
Researchers develop actively tunable metasurface using tungsten disulfide, allowing for control of light at the nanoscale. The device uses excitons to manipulate red light, enabling applications in optics and photonics.
The Advanced Photonics Young Innovator Award honors outstanding papers published in SPIE-CLP's journal over the past five years. Seven recipients are celebrated for their diverse range of innovative research, which shapes the future of optics and photonics.
Stanford engineers develop an AI framework called MetaChat, which rapidly accelerates metasurface design using computational tools and self-reflective AI assistants. This enables rapid solving of optics-related problems, such as designing metal lenses that can focus different wavelengths of light.
Liu's project aims to translate optoretinography into a sensitive clinical biomarker for retinal disease assessment. The fellowship supports interdisciplinary problem-driven research and translation of new technologies into clinical practice.
Antoine Browaeys, a pioneer in quantum physics, has been recognized for his groundbreaking research on neutral atom arrays and their application to controlled quantum simulation of many-body physics. This platform holds great promise for the future of quantum technologies.
Moore is recognized for his distinguished leadership in academia, government and professional societies, as well as his pioneering contributions to gradient-index optics. He has received numerous awards, including election to the National Academy of Engineering and Optica's Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award.
Researchers created a novel alignment method, DIANA, for high-efficiency X-ray optics by combining laser-interferometric tilt/yaw correction with Vernier/moiré-based lateral/rotational alignment. This technique enables precise stacking of X-ray Fresnel zone plates with sub-30-nanometer precision and addresses key challenges in FZP stac...
A research team has achieved a major breakthrough in non-Hermitian photonics by realizing the transition from bound states in continuum (BICs) to exceptional points (EPs) in metasurfaces. This discovery verifies core theory and provides a new perspective on unique physical properties of non-Hermitian systems.
Scientists have developed a new type of metasurface that combines waveguide physics with planar design to achieve precise control over light at the nanoscale. The metasurfaces produce photonic flatbands across wide angles while preserving ultrahigh quality factors, enabling efficient trapping of light and strong interactions with matter.
A new 3D imaging technique combines intensity diffraction tomography with adaptive optics to track subcellular structures over extended periods. This approach achieves high spatiotemporal resolution and molecular specificity, enabling the study of cellular dynamics.
Researchers developed reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry optics using patterned ferroelectric nematics, enabling dynamic control over nonlinear phase shifts. The approach offers unprecedented flexibility for advanced optical processing, adaptive optics, and quantum information technologies.
Researchers have demonstrated a portable, noninvasive technology that can detect metabolic changes linked to Alzheimer's disease by measuring cytochrome c oxidase activity. The study found that including oxCCO measures improved the ability of the brain-monitoring tool to capture clinically relevant brain changes.
Researchers have developed a new approach to manufacturing multicolour lenses using metamaterials, overcoming major limitations of metalenses. The design enables polarisation independence and scalability through mature semiconductor nanofabrication platforms.
The article discusses the progress of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) over 30 years, highlighting its high throughput and 3D patterning capabilities. NIL is becoming a key technology for fabricating emerging devices, including metalenses in smartphone cameras and automotive lidar.
Scientists developed a new 4D optical coherence tomography technique that measures airway wall elasticity in under 42 seconds, enabling detailed assessment of respiratory tissue mechanics. This faster approach may help diagnose and monitor upper airway disorders, assess injury, and guide treatment decisions.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new type of solar thermoelectric generator that can harness thermal energy in addition to sunlight. The device is 15 times more efficient than current state-of-the-art devices, making it a promising source of renewable energy.
Cara Green joins Optica Foundation with over a decade of fundraising experience, focusing on student development and community partnerships. The Optica Foundation supports innovative programs for the next generation of optics leaders.
Researchers develop compact, noninvasive imaging system combining LC-OCT and Raman microspectroscopy to examine skin cancer structures and chemical composition. The AI model achieves high classification accuracy for basal cell carcinoma and other types, offering new insights into cancer development and behavior.
A compact all-solid-state CW SLM laser with high frequency stability was developed using iodine-based frequency locking, advancing its application in atmospheric remote sensing and environmental monitoring. The laser achieves long-term frequency stability with a drift of 4 MHz over a continuous 7-hour period.
Researchers have designed a thermal management scheme to efficiently cool high heat flux switch chips in co-packaged optics (CPO), addressing signal crosstalk and temperature homogeneity issues. The solution can be applied to CPOs with data rates of up to 51.2 Tbit/s, releasing the performance potential of this technology.
A research team in China proposed an assessment framework that integrates water quality and ecological indicators to shape a clinical diagnosis paradigm. The framework enhances the ability of evaluating water ecological health by incorporating assessments of trophic status, water clarity, and ecosystem resilience.
Researchers have developed a model that uses terahertz scattering to identify structural tissue changes in diseases like cancer and burn injuries. The approach shows promise for early detection and characterization of disease-related tissue features.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method for fabricating ultra-thin metalenses using lithium niobate nanostructures. These devices can convert infrared light to visible radiation, enabling new applications in security, microscopy, and electronics.
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking adaptive optics system that removes blur from images of the Sun's corona, revealing clearest images to date. The technology has produced remarkable observations of fine-structure in the corona, including raindrops and turbulent internal flows.
Scientists at Linköping University have made a significant breakthrough in creating controllable flat optics using nanostructures on a flat surface. By precisely controlling the distance between antennas, they achieved up to tenfold improvement in performance, opening up new avenues for applications such as video holograms and biomedic...
A team of scientists has achieved full polarization control of photons through photonic molecules consisting of two 1D photonic crystal nanobeam cavities. The coupling between PMs is influenced by air gap d and relative displacement s, allowing for high controllability. This breakthrough enables direct control of the local optical fiel...
This special issue highlights cutting-edge developments in subwavelength optics, including nonlinear meta-devices, chiral optical signals, and hybrid-layer data storage. Researchers explore new phenomena at the subwavelength scale, enabling enhanced imaging, sensing, and communication capabilities.
The Photonics M3 conference focuses on manufacturing, manipulation, and measurement of photonic devices. Key topics include information optics, biomedical optics, meta optics, and advanced optical fabrication. The conference will be held at Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center in Bali, Indonesia.
Researchers deployed fiber optics to detect seismic signals of crevasses opening on a Swiss glacier, confirming the technology's potential in monitoring glacier stability. The team detected 951 icequakes with strong oscillations after the arrival of seismic surface waves.
Scientists investigate whether living neurons can transport light through their axons, which would significantly change current models of the nervous system. If successful, it could have major implications for treating brain diseases and healing the brain.