A new laser-based sensor called LAMBDIS effectively detects buried objects while a vehicle is in motion, overcoming the challenge of existing technologies' sensitivity to environmental vibrations. It achieved comparable results to traditional laser Doppler vibrometers in laboratory and field tests.
Scientists have developed a new method to measure polarization using ultra-thin metasurface holograms. The technique uses overlapping holographic images to determine the amplitude contrast and phase difference between polarized light waves, enabling fast and compact devices for spectroscopy, sensing, and communications applications.
New optical security features use a two-piece metamaterial system to create difficult-to-replicate optical phenomena, making it harder to counterfeit money or intercept secure information. The approach offers improved forgery protection and can be used for various applications, including banknotes and identification cards.
A two-layer all-optical artificial neural network has been successfully demonstrated for complex classification tasks, outperforming computer-based neural networks. The researchers plan to expand this approach to large-scale optical deep neural networks for specific practical applications.
The new sensor uses metamaterials to eliminate the need for a dielectric filter, reducing size and energy consumption. It can detect gas concentrations with high sensitivity, using less energy than commercial systems, making it ideal for automotive, consumer electronics, and medical applications.
Researchers have developed a way to enhance the imaging speed of two-photon microscopy up to five times without sacrificing resolution. By combining compressive sensing with a faster scanning method, scientists can now observe biological phenomena that were previously too fleeting to image with current state-of-the-art microscopy.
Researchers have demonstrated a loophole-free Bell test with the measurement settings determined by remote cosmic photons, verifying the completeness of quantum mechanics with high-confidence probability. The experiment closed loopholes that had long confounded tests of quantum mechanics, providing new evidence of quantum interactions.
Researchers created a bio-inspired compound eye that can detect objects' 3D locations based on light intensity, similar to insects. The system allows for rapid detection and could be used in robots, self-driving cars, and UAVs.
The new self-calibrating endoscope produces 3D images of objects smaller than a single cell, opening new opportunities for medicine and research. The device measures just 200 microns across and enables minimally invasive access and high-contrast imaging.
Researchers developed a technique combining multiphoton microscopy with automated image analysis to distinguish between healthy and metastatic tissue without invasive biopsies or contrast dyes. The approach identified unique textural features in tissue that reflect cancer metastasis, allowing for early detection and improved treatment.
Researchers used Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between benign and cancerous thyroid cells, achieving 97 percent accuracy. The non-invasive technique could reduce the need for invasive procedures, minimizing surgical complications and healthcare costs.
A new imaging system cancels chromatic optical aberrations in individual eyes, allowing for precise assessment of vision and eye health. The technology provides the first objective measurement of longitudinal chromatic aberrations (LCA), which could lead to insights into visual halos, glare, and color perception.
Researchers have developed a new terahertz imaging technique that can detect subsurface insect damage in wood, allowing for early detection of infestations. The technique uses terahertz time-of-flight tomography to identify damage caused by insects like the typographer beetle, which infects spruce and other coniferous trees.
Researchers developed a laser-based airborne lidar system that measures atmospheric gases with high accuracy and resolution, helping scientists better understand their impact on the climate. The new system can provide detailed gas profiles, overcoming limitations of existing methods and enabling more accurate climate predictions.
Researchers developed new accelerometers to measure acceleration and vibration on trains, enabling real-time monitoring of track or train problems. The sensors use polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber and can detect frequencies double that of traditional accelerometers.
Researchers used an extremely bright mid-infrared laser to perform spectroscopic ellipsometry, capturing high-resolution spectral information in under a second. The new approach offers insights into quickly changing properties of samples and could improve manufacturing processes and scientific discoveries.
Scientists create miniature cone-shaped lenses, called axicons, using a new micro glass blowing method. The technique enables the production of robust and low-cost glass axicons with high performance vacuum packaging, suitable for integration into biomedical imaging instruments like optical coherence tomography.
A new standardized calibration method allows anyone to use a consumer camera for scientific purposes, including measuring pollution and water quality. The method, called SPECTACLE, was developed by researchers and enables users to upload calibration data from their cameras.
Researchers developed a mid-infrared picosecond laser-driven electron avalanche technique to detect electric charges and chemicals in air. They measured electron densities down to one part per quadrillion, equivalent to picking out one free electron from a million billion normal air molecules.
A new laser fabrication method called laser catapulting enables the creation of customized microlenses with varying shapes and optical properties. This technology has the potential to improve the performance of cameras, solar cells, and microscopes in various applications.
Researchers developed a new method for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using miniature quantum cascade lasers. The technique offers sensitive detection of low concentrations of VOCs, improving human health, industrial processes, and ambient air quality.
Researchers have developed a high-resolution imaging method that captures mid-infrared spectral images of fast events or dynamic processes. This technique could lead to higher resolution imaging of cancerous and normal tissue samples, improving the accuracy and speed of medical diagnostics.
Researchers have developed diode-based lidar instruments that can measure atmospheric water vapor, aerosols and temperature, filling gaps in US meteorological data. The instruments are operational and have provided accurate measurements with minimal error, paving the way for improved weather forecasting and climate modeling.
The new compact device can capture 30,000 sampling points with over 60 wavelengths, providing valuable insight into chemical makeup of scenes or samples. Researchers say it has the potential to increase crop production and inform disaster response using unmanned aerial vehicles.
Researchers developed an all-fiber device to generate quantum states necessary for quantum key distribution, switching polarization 1 billion times a second. The device is self-compensating and stable, making it suitable for a global quantum network that could protect sensitive data.
A new, portable 3D printed microscope provides high-resolution images of cells, potentially detecting diseases like diabetes and malaria. The instrument uses digital holographic microscopy with super-resolution techniques to achieve twice the resolution of traditional systems.
Researchers developed a capsule-shaped photoacoustic imaging endoscope to examine intestinal changes in Crohn's disease. The device can differentiate between inflammatory and fibrotic strictures, allowing for more targeted treatment and potentially reducing adverse effects. This technology could also provide real-time diagnostic inform...
Araceli Venegas-Gomez, a Ph.D. student at University of Strathclyde, has received the Milton and Rosalind Chang Pivoting Fellowship to become a global ambassador for quantum technologies. She aims to bridge gaps between academia and industry, promoting public understanding and support for optics and photonics.
Researchers have successfully 3D printed chalcogenide glass using a modified 3D printer, enabling the creation of complex optical components and fibers for low-cost sensors, telecommunications components, and biomedical devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for efficient manufacturing of infrared optical components at a low cost.
Researchers have achieved record-breaking accuracy with an optical clock, setting a new standard for cesium-referenced measurements. The high accuracy of optical clocks could support advances in timing systems used in navigation and communication systems, enabling more precise measurements of physical phenomena not yet fully understood.
Parvalbumin-containing cells have been found to regulate blood flow and volume in different brain regions, pulling back excess supply when activated. This discovery sheds new light on the role of these cells in neurovascular coupling and their potential involvement in neurological disorders.
Researchers developed new plastic films that deflect or trap heat with zero energy required. The versatile materials can be used to regulate the temperature of buildings and people, and have potential applications in wearable technologies and solar cells.
A team of researchers has demonstrated a novel approach for nanoscale imaging of amyloid structures using Thioflavin T, allowing for precise visualization of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. The technique enables the observation of amyloid fibrils assembling and disassembling in response to drugs.
Researchers developed a new 'multi-z' confocal microscopy system for imaging large groups of cells, enabling fast and detailed imaging across a wide field of view. The instrument captured cellular details at high speeds over a large 3D volume, providing unprecedented insights into how neurons interact during various behaviors.
Researchers repurposed an algorithm from Netflix's movie preference prediction competition to create a method for acquiring classical Raman spectroscopy images of biological tissues at unprecedented speeds. This advance could make the simple, label-free imaging method practical for tumor detection or tissue analysis.
Researchers developed a new imaging method, called compressed optical-streaking ultra-high-speed photography (COSUP), that can capture images at speeds of up to 1.5 million frames per second using standard sensors. COSUP has potential applications in biomedical research, movie production, and scientific research.
A new measurement technique called COSPLI enables researchers to map and measure large-scale photonic quantum correlation with single-photon sensitivity, a critical step towards making photon-based quantum computing practical. The method uses CCD cameras and suppresses noise to detect signals from individual photons.
Researchers have developed an integrated silicon photonic switch capable of processing 240 inputs and 240 outputs simultaneously, achieving the lowest signal loss ever reported. The device, measuring 4cm x 4cm, surpasses previous records by nearly doubling the size of existing silicon photonic switches.
Researchers develop AI algorithm to optimize traffic management in optical telecommunications networks, increasing efficiency by 30%. The new approach uses deep reinforcement learning and can learn autonomously without prior knowledge.
Researchers have found a way to exploit multicore fiber technology to solve the encryption problem in secure data transmission. The approach uses dedicated cores of a multicore fiber to avoid noise generated by core-to-core crosstalk, allowing for up to 341 QKD channels.
A team of researchers from Infinera achieved a record efficiency for data transfer in the MAREA transatlantic fiber optic cable, nearly doubling its capacity to 26.2 terabits per second. The method uses 16QAM modulation and extends record-setting capacity across longer distances without requiring new cables.
Thermally-painted metasurfaces yield perfect light absorbers that can be used for sensing, solar panels, anti-counterfeiting and stealth technologies. The technique creates a nanostructured surface that absorbs more than 99% of red light.
Researchers developed three techniques for laser colorization on metal, creating optical effects that change the color of the treated surface. The techniques can be used to produce colorful artwork on metals with high reproducibility and potential for mass production.
Researchers found that measuring the brightness of light alone is not enough to infer stratospheric aerosols, highlighting the need for an instrument with precise polarization measurements. A specialized Earth-orbiting instrument is necessary to obtain comprehensive information on aerosol properties and distribution.
A new, low-cost chip-based light-illuminating device enables fast and practical ghost imaging for applications like biomedical imaging and LIDAR. The device uses a compact optical phased array to generate random speckle patterns, allowing for higher sensitivity and faster imaging than traditional methods.
Researchers developed a compact, environmentally stable laser with an ultra-narrow linewidth of 20 hertz, suitable for improving GPS accuracy and detecting gravitational waves. The laser's stability is maintained through self-referencing temperature sensing, allowing precise correction signals to be applied.
Researchers developed a new approach to multicolor holography, encoding images onto thin waveguide structures that guide light. This method produces complex multicolor holographic images with no need for bulky lenses or prisms, making it suitable for portable devices like augmented reality glasses and smartphones.
Scientists have demonstrated a laser-based method to transmit sound waves over long distances without requiring any type of receiver, targeting individuals with precision. The technology uses the photoacoustic effect and can be scaled up for longer distances.
Researchers have developed tiny gears made of germanium that can generate a vortex of twisted light, enabling high-capacity data transmission with chip-based optical computing and communication. The new technology has the potential to boost the amount of data that can be transmitted using less light.
Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that can store more optical data in a smaller space than previously possible on-chip, improving upon the phase-change optical memory cell. The new approach enables storing information in 34 levels, equivalent to 5 bits, and could help meet the growing need for computer data storage.