The Optica Board of Directors has elected 116 members from 23 countries as 2027 Fellows for their outstanding contributions to optics and photonics. The new Fellows will be honored at Optica conferences and events throughout 2027.
Researchers developed a hybrid photonic platform that integrates quantum emitters with photonic devices, enabling deterministic interactions between photons and diamond-based qubits. The platform, combining gallium phosphide with diamond, could help make quantum networks more practical by providing a way to connect quantum devices over...
A chip-scale optical ring-laser gyroscope has been developed to measure rotation as slow as 37 degrees per hour, approaching Earth's rotation rate. The device's sensitivity is nearly 2,000-fold improved over previous silicon nitride Brillouin gyroscopes, making it suitable for applications such as aircraft navigation and spacecraft.
Researchers developed a new model that accounts for age-related changes in color vision, guiding lighting designs that make it easier for older adults to perceive colors. The model estimated how easily a person would distinguish similar colors based on illumination light's spectrum and age-adjusted sensitivities of the eye's three cone...
Researchers Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries in optogenetics. Their work established the use of light-sensitive proteins to control specific cells with light, enabling precise optical control of neurons.
A new computational model accounts for individual differences in human color vision, revealing why modern display colors can vary across viewers. The model suggests that adjusting the primary colors of a display can improve color consistency for a wider range of people.
Optica has elected three new board members, Peter J. Delfyett, Sterling Backus and Frédérique Vanholsbeeck, who will bring their expertise and leadership to the organization. Delfyett, a renowned ultrafast optics expert, will serve as 2027 Optica Vice President.
The Optica Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 Prizes & Fellowships, recognizing individuals who are making meaningful contributions to the field of optics and photonics. The award winners include researchers and innovators who are working on ultrafast lasers, quantum optics, and biomedical optics, among other areas.
Researchers developed a compact, handheld mid-infrared imaging spectrometer that produces high-resolution chemical maps without stains or labels. The device holds promise for various applications, including clinical diagnosis and forensic analysis, by providing label-free chemical imaging.
Researchers have developed a vehicle-mounted spectroscopy system that can reliably detect methane in real time while driving. The system uses mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy to detect gases and can be used to locate hidden methane emissions across large areas.
A tiny optical imaging probe designed for optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging inside blood vessels in the brain has been developed. The probe can acquire full 360-degree images by using a tiny piezoelectric actuator to rotate an optical lens, eliminating rotational distortion.
More than 400 executives and policymakers will attend the forum to examine opportunities and challenges shaping the global photonics industry. The event features keynote presentations from industry leaders and a celebration of the 2026 Optica i4 Prize winners.
Kartik Srinivasan has been appointed as the new editor-in-chief of Optica Quantum, bringing extensive expertise in quantum photonics and a distinguished record of scientific leadership. He will work to support the journal's success and serve its community with an exceptional editorial board and support team.
Researchers developed a full-color near-eye display using stacked holographic gratings, improving brightness and power efficiency. The new design enables lightweight, energy-efficient augmented reality glasses with clear virtual images in bright environments.
Scientists have demonstrated that quantum entanglement between photons can be generated directly from sunlight, opening the possibility of more energy-efficient and accessible quantum technologies. The researchers achieved an entanglement rate of about 94% similarity to a perfectly entangled state.
Researchers developed an infrared spectroscopy system that can rapidly detect chemical aerosols from a distance using common surfaces like traffic signs and tree trunks. The method eliminates the need for mirrors, making it practical for real-world applications.
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.
Researchers have developed a high-resolution light-sheet imaging system that can capture seizure propagation in the brain of larval zebrafish in 3D. The system allows for rapid volumetric imaging with real-time correction of aberrations, providing new insights into seizure mechanisms and brain function.
Researchers have developed a new ultra-low-light ghost imaging technique that achieves megapixel radiology with extremely low X-ray photon consumption. This approach has the potential to make medical X-ray diagnostics less risky and more accessible, especially for children, pregnant patients, and people needing frequent scans.
Researchers have created a special flat lens that shapes light into an optical needle, allowing for deeper imaging while maintaining high resolution. This innovation combines with optical coherence tomography (OCT) to extend imaging depth by a factor of nine without requiring a complicated redesign.
Researchers developed light-transmitting hydrogel fibers to detect early breast cancer in narrow ducts. The soft fibers guide visible and near-infrared light with low optical loss, retaining optical properties over time.
Researchers developed a chip-based metasurface biosensor to detect traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers at extremely low levels. The technology could help doctors make faster diagnoses after head injuries, guiding treatment decisions.
Researchers developed a new lidar system that simultaneously measures distance, velocity and surface material properties in a scene. The system uses polarization information to extract this data with high precision and accuracy.
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.
Tahiyat Rahman, a physics Ph.D. holder, will work on policy investing in workforce and training for quantum technologies and materials manufacturing. As a Congressional Fellow, they aim to build public consensus around science policy.
Researchers have developed a tiny sensor that can measure forces and twisting motions using light, enabling robots and medical devices to 'feel' what they are touching. The new sensor could make delicate medical procedures more controlled and reduce the risk of accidental damage.
Researchers developed tiny flexible lasers that can measure forces inside living cells, enabling insights into biological processes such as early development and tumor progression. The micro-lasers exhibit mechanical stiffness similar to living cells and can measure forces up to 50 nanonewtons.
A new ultra-thin optical film improves the quality of light used in LCD resin-based 3D printers, ensuring precise details and reducing printing errors. The film's design enhances collimation and uniformity, paving the way for affordable industrial or medical-grade products.
Researchers have developed a new microscopy method that uses polarized light and a magnetic field to detect malaria parasites in blood. The method provides quantitative information and can be used for faster and more objective detection of malaria.
A new single-chip camera captures ultraviolet, near-infrared and visible images using a compact design inspired by the multiwavelength vision capability of the mantis shrimp. The camera helps surgeons identify cancer-linked lymph nodes during surgery, making cancer treatment safer and less invasive.
The award recognizes the book's significant contributions to research, teaching, business, and industry in the field of optics and photonics. The authors, Thomas Luhmann, Stuart Robson, Stephen Kyle, and Jan Böhm, are renowned experts in photogrammetry and 3D imaging.
Researchers developed a new imaging technique that captures both intensity and phase changes of an object in a single measurement. This allows scientists to observe ultrafast phenomena with unprecedented detail and speed, enabling the study of materials, biological processes, and high-power laser technologies.
A new method creates flexible microsupercapacitors on vegetable-tanned leather using a CO2 laser, enabling eco-friendly and durable energy storage. The technology has potential applications in wearable electronics, smart clothing, and skin-mounted sensors.
Researchers developed an intelligent monitoring pipe combining optical sensing and machine learning to monitor and predict 3D soil settlement. The system provides precision 3D measurements, capturing dynamic changes in soft or unstable soils like loess.
Researchers from NIST and University of Colorado, Boulder, have demonstrated highly stabilized fiber links for quantum networking. They achieved nanometer precision stabilization while separating the classical light from the quantum signal, enabling the transmission of quantum information reliably.
Researchers developed a holographic data storage approach that combines amplitude, phase, and polarization to store more data in the same space. The new method increases information density while simplifying readout, making it suitable for smaller data centers and faster data processing.
Researchers developed photonic computing chips that enable fast, all-optical learning and decision making, overcoming key limitations for photonic spiking neural systems. The new chips could improve autonomous driving technologies and enable robotic systems that learn through real-world interactions.
Researchers developed a new method for extracting spectral information from OCT images and combining it with AI to identify lipid-rich plaques. The approach shows strong classification performance and can highlight suspicious regions throughout the image.
Researchers developed a highly sensitive light-based sensor that can detect extremely low concentrations of cancer biomarkers in the blood. The sensor combines nanostructures made of DNA with quantum dots to detect faint biomarker signals, holding promise for early cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment options.
Scientists have developed a new optical device that can generate both electric and magnetic vortex-ring-like light patterns, known as skyrmions. The device uses a nonlinear metasurface to achieve the first experimental demonstration of skyrmions that can be switched between electric and magnetic modes in toroidal terahertz light pulses.
Researchers develop a new fabrication approach to produce multi-element optical components for super-resolution imaging, enabling customized imaging systems. The technique uses consumer-grade 3D printers and low-cost materials, producing high-performance lenses at a cost of less than $1 each.
Researchers developed a new compact Raman imaging system that can differentiate between tumor and normal tissue, offering a promising route to earlier cancer detection. The system uses special SERS nanoparticles to detect faint signals from tumor markers, highlighting spots likely to contain tumor tissue.
Researchers developed a precision magnetometer based on magneto-optic material that changes optical properties in response to a magnetic field. The device can detect magnetic fields comparable to those of high-performance cryogenic magnetometers, but with minimal size, weight and power consumption.
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.
The MiniVolt microscope enables recording of both rapid electrical spikes and smaller sub-threshold voltage changes in freely moving animals. This allows for a more complete view of how brain cells process information during natural behavior, leading to potential new treatments for neurological disorders.
The Optica Board of Directors elected 121 members from 23 countries to the Society's 2026 Fellow Class. The new Fellows were recognized for their innovative work advancing the science of light, including semiconductor spectroscopy, broadband plasmonics, and digital holography.
Four industry luminaries will discuss the use of AI-driven network architectures, advances in optical technologies for hyperscale datacenters, and laser-based communications between satellites. The talks highlight innovations in hardware solutions to meet increasing performance demands necessary for AI, datacenters and networks.
A new metasurface design improves the brightness and image quality of augmented reality (AR) glasses by reducing light loss and preserving shape. The technology has potential applications beyond AR, such as automotive and aerospace head-up displays.
Researchers developed a new spectral shaper technology that can precisely control 10,000 individual lines of light, improving signal fidelity and enabling faster data transfer in various fields. This advancement could aid in the detection of Earth-like planets by making tiny stellar wobbles easier to measure.