The Journal of the Optical Society of America B will make its content freely available worldwide if institutional subscribers meet a target. This move aims to balance author fees with community-driven open access options.
Scientists create flexible surface plasmonic waveguides that maintain efficient signal transmission even when stretched, bent, or twisted. The new design enables wearable materials to seamlessly integrate advanced sensing and communication functions.
Researchers have created a chip-based device that can split phonons, enabling the connection of different quantum systems via phonons. This device could help link superconducting qubits with spin-based systems, supporting advances in computing and secure communication.
Researchers developed a new laser-based technique that targets pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) while leaving healthy tissue intact. The technique uses a mid-infrared laser at a wavelength strongly absorbed by collagen fibers to ablate cancerous tissue, improving efficiency compared to non-resonant wavelengths.
Researchers developed a chip-based quantum random number generator that generates unpredictable numbers at 3 gigabits per second, fast enough to support large-scale data centers' security needs. The device overcomes challenges of noise interference with an optical amplifier and dual-photodiode design.
Researchers developed a flexible optical touch sensor that can pinpoint pressure strength and location with high sensitivity. The sensor uses multiple optical channels to detect pressure in more than one spot, enabling smart interfaces and devices.
The PANORAMA microscope overcomes challenges of traditional microscopes by capturing submicron details across an area roughly the size of a U.S. dime without moving the sample. It produces gigapixel-scale images with high resolution, ideal for medical pathology and industrial inspection.
Researchers have developed a high-performance mid-infrared imaging system without lenses, capturing clear pictures over large distances and in low light. The system uses an optical pinhole inside a nonlinear crystal to form an image, which is then converted into visible light, allowing for distortion-free and large-depth imaging.
Researchers have developed a motion-compensation method that allows single-pixel imaging to capture sharp images of complex dynamic scenes. The new approach improves image quality and video smoothness in various scenarios, including surveillance and medical diagnostics.
Using a laser-induced technique, researchers have created highly transparent and ultra-smooth 3D microphotonic devices with a record length-to-thickness ratio. The new photonic origami method enables tiny, yet complex optical devices for next-generation data processing, sensing, and experimental physics applications.
Researchers developed a high-speed 3D imaging microscope that can capture detailed cell dynamics of an entire small whole organism at once. The new system, M25, extends classical multifocus microscopy to study development, locomotion, and neuroscience in real time.
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 developed a low-cost visual microphone that listens with light instead of sound, capturing tiny vibrations on surfaces caused by sound waves and turning them into audible signals. The system uses single-pixel imaging to detect sound and can recover high-quality audio using everyday objects like paper cards and leaves.
Researchers have developed a noninvasive method for visualizing stents through skin using photoacoustic microscopy, potentially reducing the need for surgical access and X-ray exposure. The technique uses sound waves generated by light absorption to create high-resolution images of stents in various conditions.
A new mouse study uses advanced OCT imaging to reveal the fallopian tube's pumping mechanism in transporting preimplantation embryos towards the uterus. The study sheds light on the biological mechanisms underlying reproductive challenges like infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive cuff-free blood pressure monitoring technology using speckle contrast optical spectroscopy, showing improved accuracy compared to traditional photoplethysmography methods. The technology measures blood flow and volume information simultaneously, enabling simultaneous measurements of cardiovascu...
Researchers developed a multispectral terahertz optoacoustic system to measure blood sodium levels in real time, non-invasively and accurately. The system overcomes challenges of detecting molecules and penetrating tissue layers using optoacoustic detection.
The latest issue of Optica Quantum features research on cryogenic photonic links for superconducting qubits, spatio-spectral quantum state estimation of photon pairs from optical fiber, and quantum optical reservoir computing powered by boson sampling. These studies demonstrate breakthroughs in measuring and optimizing quantum states, ...
A multi-institutional group of researchers demonstrates reliable transfer of ultrastable optical signals through deployed multicore fiber alongside simulated telecom traffic. The achievement achieves a fractional frequency instability of just 3 × 10⁻¹⁹ over nearly 3 hours, suitable for demanding timekeeping and scientific measurements.
Damien Bérubé and Swati Narasimhan, two Ph.D. students, will serve as special legislative assistants to support U.S. Congress with their technical backgrounds. Their research focuses on exotic materials, quantum computers, lithium-ion batteries, and energy efficiency.
A new technology enables early and precise disease detection by capturing brain activity with an extremely thin, flexible imager smaller than an eyelash. The device can image mouse brain tissue for structural and functional imaging of brain activity.
Researchers have developed a 3D micro-printed sensor that uses whispering-gallery-mode microlasers to detect biomarkers with attogram per milliliter sensitivity. The sensors' unique Limacon-shaped design improves efficiency and enables on-chip integration, making them suitable for high-performance lab-on-a-chip devices.
A new imaging system can capture high-quality still images of rotating objects in real-time, enabling early detection of wear or damage. The system uses a single-pixel detector and structured illumination to overcome challenges of traditional cameras.
Researchers have developed a new portable Raman analyzer that can accurately measure very low concentrations of hydrogen gas in ambient air. The instrument can detect hydrogen leaks from a distance, making it a crucial tool for ensuring safety and minimizing losses in industrial settings.
Researchers develop a new coronagraph that can detect exoplanets obscured by light from their parent stars, providing insights into the possibility of life beyond Earth. The device uses spatial mode sorters to isolate and eliminate starlight, capturing images of exoplanets with unprecedented sensitivity.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive method to visualize the internal details of the mouse cochlea with micron-level spatial resolution using terahertz imaging. This technique has the potential to lead to a new diagnostic method for ear diseases and enable on-site diagnosis of hearing impairments.
The event will feature major announcements in AI-driven networking, 1.6T advancements, quantum technologies, and next-gen optical innovations. Over 13,500 attendees are expected, with nearly 100 California-based companies participating.
Researchers have developed a new low-energy membrane photonic device that enables high-speed data transmission with minimal power consumption. The device was integrated into an optical link on a silicon wafer and demonstrated the ability to transmit 50- and 64-Gbit/s non-return-to-zero signals with just 0.14 or 0.26 pJ/bit of energy.
OFC 2025 features live, multi-vendor interoperability demonstrations from Ethernet Alliance, OIF and Open ROADM MSA. The event highlights advancements in open, standards-based networking solutions, including SDN-integrated demonstrations and energy-efficient interfaces.
Researchers used terahertz spectroscopy to study agave plants' ability to retain water in dry environments. They found that agaves store water in a specialized leaf structure and fructans act like molecular sponges to retain moisture. This discovery could lead to better farming practices and drought-resistant crops
Researchers have developed a high-speed, energy-efficient electro-optic switch with low crosstalk and broad bandwidth. The switch uses a scalable process and consists of four Mach-Zehnder interferometer structures formed by silicon nitride waveguides.
The researchers used high-speed laser writing to create lines spaced just 100 nm apart on a glass substrate, achieving super-resolution 3D direct laser writing. They overcame the challenge of intense laser light causing unwanted exposure in nearby areas by using a unique dual-beam optical setup and special photoresist.
Researchers develop dual-stage E+S-band bismuth-doped fiber amplifier for next-generation optical communication systems. The device achieves unprecedented broad bandwidth, high gain and low noise, making it suitable for boosting optical signals.
A new single-photon time-of-flight LiDAR system can acquire high-resolution 3D images of objects or scenes up to 1 kilometer away, offering improved surveillance and monitoring capabilities. The system uses a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector and achieves a higher spatial resolution than previous systems.
A new optical encryption system uses holograms and neural networks to encode information, making it virtually unbreakable. The system achieves an exceptional level of encryption by utilizing a neural network to generate the decryption key.
Researchers developed a simple and sensitive optical fiber sensor for real-time detection of extremely low levels of arsenic in water. The sensor can detect arsenic levels as low as 0.09 ppb and provides analysis within just 0.5 seconds, making it a powerful tool for monitoring and ensuring safer water quality.
Researchers developed a fast and scalable programmable photonic latch, enabling temporary data storage in optical processing systems. This technology could enhance AI operations by storing and retrieving data at high speeds.
Researchers developed a fast and accurate flexible optical skin that can read Braille. The sensor combines speed with accuracy, paving the way to improved accessibility for people with blindness.
Researchers developed tapered polymer optical fibers that can deliver light to the brain, enabling more efficient and effective optogenetics experiments. The fibers reduce tissue inflammation and increase the volume of illuminated brain tissue compared to standard optical fibers.
Researchers used 3D printing to make headlight lenses, achieving exceptional precision and surface quality while reducing costs and production speeds. The study compared 3D printing with traditional methods like CNC machining and reverse engineering, finding that 3D printing outperformed them in efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Researchers developed a software tool called clipping spline to visualize complex structures in 3D images. The tool provides unprecedented capabilities to analyze 4D OCT images of embryonic mouse heart development, revealing unseen dynamics and processes.
Scientists have created a new method for quickly detecting and identifying very low concentrations of gases, offering promise for real-time monitoring in environmental, health, and industrial applications. The approach uses a coherent control strategy to enhance the sensitivity of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy.
Researchers developed a laser-based artificial neuron that emulates biological graded neuron functions, achieving a signal processing speed of 10 GBaud. This enables fast AI decision-making in time-critical applications with high accuracy.
Researchers developed a compact hyperspectral Raman imaging lidar system for remote detection and identification of plastics. The system can identify plastics from 6 meters away with high accuracy, offering a valuable tool for monitoring and analysis of oceanic plastic pollution.
A team of researchers has created a compact and low-cost device that generates twisting light beams with orbital angular momentum, enhancing the capacity and reliability of future wireless systems. The device achieves high out-of-band suppression, exceeding 30 dB, reducing interference and ensuring clean signal transmission.
A prototype mobile all-light communication network has been demonstrated, enabling reliable two-way data transmission across moving nodes on drones, vehicles, and ships. The system uses different light sources to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and dynamically aligns optical paths between moving nodes.
Optical spring tracking reduces noise and improves signal clarity for gravitational-wave detectors, enabling scientists to observe distant cosmic events more effectively. The technique has the potential to expand our understanding of black holes and neutron stars as they merge.
Scientists have created a method to recover and reuse quantum dots used in microscopic lasers, enabling the sustainable management of these valuable materials. The new recycling technique has been successfully tested on defective samples, resulting in the recovery of 85% of the quantum dots with minimal loss.
Researchers have found that under certain conditions, a laser beam can act like an opaque object and cast a shadow. The discovery challenges traditional understanding of shadows and opens new possibilities for technologies controlling light.
Researchers have developed a new ultrafast laser platform that generates ultra-broadband ultraviolet (UV) frequency combs with an unprecedented one million comb lines. This achievement provides exceptional spectral resolution and could enhance high-resolution atomic and molecular spectroscopy. The new approach also produces extremely a...