A new photonic chip developed by TDK Corporation has improved the efficiency of smart-glasses displays by switching laser colors faster and using less power. The chip's voltage-controlled design achieved a modulation bandwidth of 10 GHz, sufficient for 4K resolution, and reduced power consumption by over 75 percent.
Researchers used optical imaging to study changes in brain cells' metabolism and oxygen use in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. The study found altered mitochondrial metabolic activity and lower oxygen levels in the Alzheimer's model, indicating greater oxygen consumption.
Researchers used the SKA-Low prototype station AAVS3 to test a new antenna layout, the Vogel pattern, which reduces interference between neighbors. The results confirm a predicted sensitivity loss at 125 MHz, providing practical guidance for building and calibrating the actual stations.
A new system for anatomical guidance in ultrasound helps novice users locate the correct views more reliably during trauma examinations. The system combines a predictive anatomical model with real-time imaging and mixed-reality guidance to aid probe placement and movement.
A new noninvasive spectroscopy approach detects tissue changes in pelvic organ prolapse, enabling earlier detection and monitoring. The study reveals that Raman spectroscopy can analyze molecular composition without damaging tissue, providing valuable information on tissue health and disease progression.
M. Emre Celebi, a professor at the University of Central Arkansas, has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electronic Imaging, starting January 1, 2027. He brings expertise in artificial intelligence and image processing to the role, having previously served as an associate editor for the journal and other publications.
Researchers measured how skin pigmentation affects laser energy required to cause visible skin injury, finding that darker skin requires less energy to reach injury threshold. The study provides quantitative evidence to help improve future laser safety guidelines and support safer optics-based technologies.
A recent study shows how advanced optical imaging can reveal the metabolic activity of individual immune cells within a complex blood sample. Machine-learning algorithms were used to determine whether metabolic measurements alone could identify different immune-cell populations and detect immune activation.
Researchers developed a quantum light translator that preserves phase information through four-wave mixing, enabling secure communication networks and quantum computing. The study demonstrates strong phase preservation across a wide range of operating conditions, with correlations exceeding 0.95 in some cases.
Researchers used super-resolution microscopy to track cancer drug sunitinib inside living cells, revealing its impact on cellular systems. The study found that sunitinib triggers a cascading breakdown of the systems that power, organize, and sustain the cell, contributing to cell function loss and survival.
Researchers discovered HSV-1 rapidly rewires cellular metabolism, boosting energy production in infected neurons, but also leading to signs of stress, impaired mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. The study suggests lactate may help neurons adapt to viral infection, but this adaptation may come at a cost.
The new journal aims to include contributions from the quantum industry and explicitly address technological context, implementation challenges, and application pathways of reported work. Publishing with SPIE ensures researchers' work gains exceptional visibility and rigorous peer review.
The competition brings seven teams together to pitch optics and photonics technologies with cash prizes and industry mentorship. Previous winners include Max-IR Labs, Advanced Optronics, and Coalesenz.
Researchers developed realistic skin-like test models to reproduce a range of skin tones and simulate blood flow, helping device developers identify biases in light-based medical technologies. The models showed improved optical signals detection across different pigmentation levels.
Scientists create a hybrid system that combines the strengths of two materials to generate broad ranges of light frequencies on a chip. The device uses silicon nitride and silica, allowing for Raman lasing and optical frequency combs with high efficiency and power conversion.
A new imaging system links heart structure and electrical activity across the entire organ, revealing how scar tissue interferes with heartbeat. The technology identifies different tissue types based on light interaction and tracks electrical signals in real-time.
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 developed a programmable virtual metasurface that converts invisible infrared images into visible light while dynamically controlling focus. The system uses software-defined optical patterns and can be reconfigured in real time, offering a new approach for infrared imaging and wavefront control.
The SPIE Prism Awards honor exceptional new products making waves in the photonics industry. Finalists will be announced on November 4, 2026, with winners receiving promotion and recognition at SPIE Photonics West.
Researchers found that even small shifts between mirror segments can greatly affect the performance of image-processing techniques used to detect exoplanets. The study's findings highlight the importance of segment alignment stability for planet detection and provide valuable guidance for future instrument design.
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.
Researchers developed an all-optical artificial synapse that uses light to mimic neural learning and perform in-sensor image processing. The device shows paired-pulse facilitation and depression, allowing it to both enhance and suppress signals, a requirement for realistic neural behavior.
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.
A recent study combines quantum physics with a carefully designed metasurface to develop a compact terahertz detector that improves how THz radiation is captured and converted into an electrical signal. The device achieves significant sensitivity gains, up to 20-fold improvement over previously demonstrated photoelectric detectors.
Researchers developed a reconfigurable Ge-Si photodetector that achieves ultrahigh-speed data transmission up to 336 Gbps per wavelength using low-loss packaging. The system uses a dense network of fine metal interconnects, known as a redistribution layer (RDL), to connect components with high precision.
Researchers have successfully generated correlated photon pairs using sunlight as the sole pump source for spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The system, which eliminates the need for lasers and external power, achieves comparable ghost-imaging visibility to conventional laser-based systems. This breakthrough enables a fully passi...
A recent study introduces a practical framework for comparing AI-based anatomy segmentation models in the absence of expert reference annotations. The work focuses on chest CT scans from the National Lung Screening Trial dataset and evaluates how consistently different open-source models label anatomical structures. Key findings includ...
Researchers develop deep learning surrogate for simulating nonlinear optical physics in ultrafast laser systems. The model accelerates simulation by orders of magnitude while maintaining high fidelity, and enables integration with experimental laser control systems.
A study combines polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) with artificial intelligence to reveal subtle corneal changes that standard imaging often misses. The technique improves detection and classification of subclinical keratoconus, enabling earlier diagnosis and more precise care.
A study published in Biophotonics Discovery uses spectral-focusing coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy to image human white matter microstructure. The method enables automated measurement of axon size and myelin thickness, revealing new insights into brain connectivity and behavior.
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 developed a new source-detector configuration and layered tissue models to improve fNIRS data interpretation. The approach separated superficial and cerebral contributions with high accuracy, revealing dominant brain responses with minimal scalp influence.
A redesigned endoscope, called CAFE, offers a new way to detect early signs of ovarian cancer by combining high-resolution imaging with gentle cell collection. The device successfully imaged fallopian tube tissue and collected large numbers of epithelial cells, suggesting its potential for earlier disease detection.
Researchers demonstrate a route to generating twisted light beams by combining dielectric multilayers with patterned metallic surfaces. The approach converts surface-bound light waves into free-space beams with controlled angular momentum and polarization, avoiding limitations of earlier designs.
Researchers developed a compact optical wireless transmitter that combines high data rates with improved energy efficiency. The system uses a 5x5 array of lasers to transmit data in parallel, achieving aggregate data rates of up to 362.7 gigabits per second.
Researchers from the University of Twente are studying the optical properties of human milk to understand the causes of lactation insufficiency. The combined findings from two studies aid the development of light scattering based methods for human milk analysis, providing a powerful tool for research into lactation insufficiency.
Researchers demonstrate nanosecond optical switching using a liquid crystal droplet that redirects stored energy without electrical input. This method manipulates stored optical energy inside a resonant structure, enabling ultrafast light-by-light switching.
Scientists developed a photonic crystal light sail with high reflectivity and low mass, enabling faster travel across the solar system. The structure features a narrow photonic band gap centered at the propulsion wavelength, resulting in high reflectivity within that spectral window.
A single-layer dielectric metasurface uses Möbius-inspired polarization-path inversion to achieve versatile control of light in both forward and backward directions. The device encodes six independent optical channels, including three combinations of wavelength and polarization states.
A new platform with monolayer WS₂ on top of nanoscale air cavities demonstrates strong enhancement of light emission and nonlinear optical signals. The approach improves upon conventional dielectric nanoresonators by trapping light in air cavities, concentrating the optical field near the surface.
The semiconductor industry is shifting from compute to memory as ultra-large AI models demand higher performing chips. SK hynix is increasing bandwidth by a factor of 1.5x every two years, while GlobalFoundries uses AI to improve process control and manage diverse manufacturing processes.
Researchers developed an AI method to predict mastoidectomy shape before surgery, enabling better navigation and visualization for surgeons. The approach achieved a high Dice score of 0.72 compared to popular medical imaging models.
Researchers have developed a new way to generate acoustic frequency combs using phonon lasers, producing tunable comb teeth spanning from audible to ultrasonic frequencies. The breakthrough enables the creation of ultrabroadband acoustic frequency combs with thousands of evenly spaced frequencies.
Researchers demonstrate polarization-based microscopy as a tool for EDS diagnosis, detecting structural signatures in unstained biopsy samples. The study identifies five parameters that can differentiate classical from hypermobile EDS, reflecting variations in collagen organization.
A new hybrid optical system noninvasively tracks tissue water dynamics during hemodialysis, identifying early signs of patient instability. The system uses near-infrared spectroscopy to gather data on tissue water content and other physiological signals, providing a high-resolution portrait of the optical properties of tissue.
Researchers have developed a new hydrogel dish that sharpens embryo imaging, allowing for more accurate embryo selection in IVF. This breakthrough addresses a major challenge in the field, enabling embryologists to promote healthier growth without sacrificing visibility.
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.
A newly developed silicon spectrometer-on-a-chip achieves accurate, noise-resilient hyperspectral sensing by using a reconstructive method and artificial intelligence. The device is sensitive across a broad spectral range, including the crucial near-infrared spectrum, and can capture fleeting light–matter interactions.
Guosong Hong was honored with the inaugural award for his groundbreaking research on tissue clearing, a technology that makes organs visible to visible light. His work has far-reaching applications in noninvasive diagnostic imaging and clinical translation.