Applied Optics
Articles tagged with Applied Optics
"Breaking the limits of OLED: Postech achieves low-votage freely color tunable ultra-pure laser emission"
Scientists discover surprising new way to control light
Aston University and STFC Hartree Center announce strategic partnership to advance neuromorphic computing in the UK
Powerful shrinking technique could enable devices that compute with light
Brighter, more stable red LEDs for next-generation micro-LED displays
The study demonstrates a significant improvement in red light emission from Eu-doped gallium nitride grown on a semipolar crystal plane. The approach selectively promotes the formation of highly efficient luminescent centers, resulting in brighter and more stable red LEDs for next-generation micro-LED displays.
Flexible neural sheet device reaches deep cortical regions without brain penetration
A team of researchers has developed a flexible neural sheet device that can record and stimulate neural activity across multiple sensory cortices in mice. The device, which is thinner than a human hair, is inserted into the epidural space to avoid brain penetration, allowing for wide-area coverage of the temporal and deep cortical areas.
Non-destructive homogeneity measurement for transparent cylindrical materials without slicing
A new method for measuring homogeneity in transparent cylindrical materials has been developed, allowing for non-destructive inspection without slicing. This approach significantly reduces costs and improves quality control, making it suitable for industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and medical imaging.
Wafer-level manufactured meta-aspheric lens enables ultracompact wide-FOV near-infrared imaging
A team of scientists developed a wafer-level-manufactured meta-aspheric lens that achieves simultaneous wide field-of-view, ultrathin form factor, and high imaging quality. The design enables compact near-infrared imaging systems with robust performance in eye tracking, blood vessel imaging, and computational pixel super-resolution tasks.
Fiber endoscopy: Physics-guided network erases honeycomb artifacts
A physics-guided neural network called SGARNet is developed to address challenges in lensless multi-core fiber imaging. It reveals the frequency-domain characteristic of honeycomb artifacts and introduces a SpectralGate module to selectively suppress artifact-related components, preserving useful image details.
Ultraviolet light that fits on a chip
The Harvard-led team demonstrates a micron-scale photonic device that generates two orders of magnitude more UV light on a chip than previous approaches. By converting red light to UV light through frequency upconversion, the researchers create high-power, low-loss, compact UV sources.
Curvature-optimized multilevel SERS substrates formed by femtosecond laser shaping based on electrons dynamics control
Researchers developed curvature-optimized multilevel SERS substrates using femtosecond laser shaping, exhibiting enhanced Raman signal intensity and uniformity. The substrate features triple cross-scale structures with flexible shape parameters, promoting dimensionally ordered hot spots for improved detection sensitivity.
MIT researchers find self-organizing “pencil beam” laser could help scientists design brain-targeted therapies
Researchers leveraged a surprise discovery to devise a new bioimaging method that captures 3D images of the human blood-brain barrier 25 times faster than existing technology. This technique enables scientists to test whether new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases reach their targets in the brain.
Double-slit experiment reveals hidden details between light and matter
Scientists successfully built the smallest X-ray interferometer to measure how X-rays interact with atomic nuclei. This breakthrough technology enables precise measurement of X-ray refraction and provides new avenues for research.
Ultra-thin optical film sharpens 3D printing precision
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.
How does electron structure impact light responses in moiré materials?
New research reveals that the organization of electrons within a material determines its response to light. The study shows that moiré superlattices can be engineered to exhibit unusual properties by controlling electron arrangement.
Scientists unlock new route to extreme light intensities
A team of physicists has discovered a way to boost the intensity of high-power laser light, opening up new possibilities for experiments in quantum electrodynamics. The breakthrough uses an unusual process to create extremely bright ultraviolet light, which can be focused into a tiny point creating immense energy concentration.
How can scientists visualize cellular life with greater precision?
Salk scientists and collaborators advance visualization technology using visible-spectrum antigen-stabilizable fluorescent nanobodies (VIS-Fbs), reducing background fluorescence by up to a hundredfold. The new probe enables high spatial and temporal precision, allowing for real-time tracking of dynamic changes in living models.
Millimeter-scale resolution in fiber-optic sensing: single-ended technique advances infrastructure monitoring
Researchers develop signal-processing method to suppress distortions, achieving 6mm spatial resolution in single-ended Brillouin sensing. This enables early detection of damage or abnormal conditions in aging infrastructure.
Aston University researcher helps solve a decades-old ultrafast lasers puzzle
Researchers have developed a unified mathematical model explaining two types of 'breathing' solitons in ultrafast lasers, overcoming decades-old puzzle. The new framework accurately predicts complex behaviors and reveals underlying mechanisms.
Ben-Gurion University researchers propose new way to secure optical communication using light itself
Researchers propose a new approach to secure optical communication by hiding information in the physical structure of light, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or decode. Computer simulations showed that the method can transmit information reliably without revealing it through changes in beam size or intensity.
Bright quantum light emission achieved at room temperature in 2D semiconductors
Researchers have successfully created a high-efficiency quantum light source that emits bright lights even at room temperature using 2D semiconductors. The achievement is made possible by confining excitons in a tiny region via nanohole-induced confinement and neutralizing excess charges.
An advance in single-chip, energy-efficient LEDs
Researchers at The University of Osaka developed a new LED structure that generates circularly polarized light from a single chip, reducing energy-conversion loss. This advancement could support smaller and more energy-efficient optical devices for next-generation technologies.
Making light spin with a gold nanorod
By striking a gold nanorod off-center with an electron beam, researchers created rotating circular polarization in light, a property useful for controlling information encoding and transmission. This simple approach could enable new ways to encode, route, and process information using light.
Laser optothermal nanobomb for efficient flattening of nanobubbles in van der Waals materials
Researchers have developed a novel all-optical method called laser optothermal nanobomb (LOTB) for efficient flattening of nanobubbles in 2D materials. The method leverages an optothermally induced phase transition and stress-pulling effect to remove gas from the bubbles, flattening the film without damaging its intrinsic properties.
Binder jetting additive manufacturing of high-performance silicon carbide optical mirrors via graphite addition method
Researchers developed a graphite addition method to fabricate high-performance silicon carbide optical mirrors. The approach reduces free silicon content by 18.18% and enhances overall performance.
A Bessel lens with a flat lens unveils technology that creates a nondiffracting bottle laser
Scientists at Chiba University developed a simple method to generate high-quality optical bottle beams that remain concentrated over long distances. The technique uses a binary axicon and a flat multilevel diffractive lens to create sharp light structures.
Racetrack-shaped lasers for bright, stable frequency combs
A new laser source generates a specific type of light source called a frequency comb in the mid-infrared region, paving the way for miniaturization. The device overcomes engineering challenges to produce bright, stable, and compact frequency combs.
Quantum entanglement on attosecond timescales
The study measures ultrafast electron dynamics in hydrogen molecules, observing oscillations in hole localization that depend on the delay between attosecond pulses. Entanglement occurs at the expense of electronic coherence in the remaining ion.
Tailoring sapphire–Invar welds using burst femtosecond laser
The study achieves stable welding between sapphire and Invar under non-optical-contact conditions, with a maximum shear strength of 11.73 MPa. High-speed imaging techniques reveal the coupling of linear absorption and nonlinear absorption at the interface, sustaining plasma and energy deposition.
How topological protection enables robust nanophotonic device fabrication
Researchers integrated topological photonics with nanoimprint lithography (NIL) to create a stable nanolaser. The work demonstrated type-III corner states and robustness against fabrication defects.
Quantum researchers engineer extremely precise phonon lasers
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 demonstrate integrated stabilized laser chips performing clock and quantum operations on a room temperature trapped ion qubit
Researchers from UCSB and UMass Amherst successfully integrated stabilized laser chips with a room temperature trapped ion qubit, enabling compact and portable quantum systems. This breakthrough paves the way for applications in quantum sensing, computing, and fundamental science.
New holographic data storage approach packs more data into the same space
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.
Tiny LED design could power next-generation technology
Researchers from The University of Osaka propose a compact LED design that directly emits circularly polarized light, potentially simplifying optical devices. The new design uses robust inorganic materials and achieves high levels of both efficiency and polarization degree.
Laser-etched ‘synthetic skin’ defies -50°c and weak sunlight to eliminate extreme ice
Researchers have created a dark, rubbery film that combines physical textures with light-absorbing nanotubes to keep surfaces ice-free at -50 °C. The film operates using a two-tier defense mechanism, providing both passive and active anti-de-icing capabilities.
Topology helps build more robust photonic networks
Researchers have shown that topology can guide multiple, information-carrying light signals through chip-based photonic communication systems, making them more powerful and reliable. This breakthrough could enable the creation of networks of chips that communicate using light while taking advantage of topology's robustness.
Nanoscale hotspots in OLEDs may shorten their lifespans in phones, TVs
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that nanoscale hotspots in OLEDs can flicker, affecting device lifespans. These hotspots can cause uneven current flow, leading to faster burnout and reduced device performance.
A clear roadmap for engineering combs of light
Engineers at Harvard create microcombs on photonic chips, enabling compact, programmable frequency combs for precision measurement and telecommunications applications. The breakthrough makes electro-optic microcombs more practical, energy efficient, and diverse.
1-MHz linewidth VCSELs for high-stability chip-scale atomic clocks
Researchers have developed a monolithically integrated VCSEL technology achieving linewidth compression to approximately 1 MHz, enabling stable single-mode operation for precision applications. The device demonstrated impressive performance in a cesium vapor-cell atomic clock, with a frequency stability of 1.89×10^−12 τ^−1 /^2.
How adding a microwave to a 3D printer makes flawless and heat-proof ceramics
Researchers used microwave-based 3D printing to create ceramic components with near-zero porosity and improved strength. The hybrid technique eliminates microscopic holes and traps gas bubbles, allowing for more bending force before breaking.
“Smart photonic healthcare devices” how light is transforming the future of healthcare
Recent advances in photonic nanomaterials and healthcare devices have led to the development of wearable and implantable medical devices. These devices utilize light for precise manipulation of cells and tissues, offering new possibilities for early disease detection, light-based therapies, and personalized precision medicine.
A dynamic twist of light’s ‘handedness’
The Harvard researchers' new device is elegantly designed to be tunable, with a bilayer design that becomes geometrically chiral and able to 'read' chiral light. By using the MEMS device to continuously vary the twist angle and interlayer spacing, the team showed they could tune the device's intrinsic ability to read different chiral l...
IEEE researchers achieve low-power ultrashort mid-IR pulse compression
A team of researchers from SASTRA Deemed University demonstrates a fiber-based method for compressing mid-infrared laser pulses into ultrashort, low-noise bursts efficiently. The system reduces input power from kilowatts to 80 watts, improving energy efficiency and thermal stability.
New photonic device, developed by MIT researchers, efficiently beams light into free space
MIT researchers have developed a new photonic device that efficiently beams light into free space, enabling advanced displays, high-speed optical communications, and larger-scale quantum computers. The device uses an array of microscopic structures to project detailed, full-color images and precisely control quantum bits, paving the wa...
New ‘vacuum ultraviolet’ laser may improve nanotechnology, power nuclear clocks
Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have demonstrated a new kind of vacuum ultraviolet laser that is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies. The device could enable scientists to observe phenomena currently out of reach, such as following fuel molecules in real time as they undergo combustion, spottin...
Ultrafast computers controlled by light: a new frontier opened by Politecnico di Milano and CNR
Researchers at Politecnico di Milano and CNR have developed a new ultrafast computer technology controlled by light, potentially hundreds of times faster than traditional electronics. The technology manipulates the state of electrons in matter using oscillating light, enabling operations at rates above 10 terahertz.
Sydney researchers build ultra-compact AI chip operating at speed of light
Scientists at the University of Sydney have developed an ultra-compact AI chip that harnesses the power of light to perform calculations, potentially lowering energy consumption and increasing speed. The prototype, built in-house, achieved 90-99% classification accuracy in image classification tasks.
Photonic chips advance real-time learning in spiking neural systems
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.
Trapping light on thermal photodetectors shatters speed records
Electrical engineers at Duke University have developed the fastest pyroelectric photodetector, capable of capturing light from the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The device requires no external power and operates at room temperature, making it suitable for on-chip applications and multispectral cameras.
Catching light in air: programmable Mie voids boost light matter interaction
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.
Ateneo spearheads int’l cooperation for photonics R&D in the Philippines
The Ateneo de Manila University's ROSES Lab is the country's first facility for designing Photonic Integrated Circuits and training PIC designers. The lab has over 85 scientific publications and support from various global partners, positioning it as a driver of international collaboration in photonics research and innovation.
Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed high-performing optical microresonators that can trap light and build up its intensity. By guiding light smoothly through the resonator, they dramatically reduced light loss, allowing photons to circulate longer and interact more strongly inside the device.
Microscopic mirrors for future quantum networks
The Harvard team developed a new microfabrication method to produce high-performance, curved optical mirrors with extremely smooth surfaces. The mirrors can control light at near-infrared wavelengths, enabling fast and efficient quantum networking.
Roberto Morandotti wins prestigious Max Born Award for pioneering research in quantum photonics
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.
Generating micro-combs of light
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have discovered a new way to generate ultra-precise, evenly spaced laser light combs on a photonic chip. This breakthrough could miniaturize optical platforms like spectroscopic sensors or communication systems.
Microscopic laser can halve a computer’s energy use
Researchers at Technical University of Denmark developed a groundbreaking nanolaser that can halve a computer's energy consumption. This technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including information technology and healthcare, by enabling ultra-small and energy-efficient lasers.
Could light-powered computers reduce AI’s energy use?
A new prototype device accelerates and reduces energy cost of AI computation by encoding data into light patterns, enabling faster and more efficient processing. This innovation aims to ease the energy bottleneck in AI technology, making it more sustainable and accessible for various applications.
“A new security technology that locks information with light color and distance” — unhackable metasurface holograms
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a secure hologram platform that stores information using the wavelength of light and spacing between metasurface layers. The technology enables information processing using light alone, without electrical power or electronic chips.
Queen Mary University of London developing handheld, AI-powered grape ripeness detector
The portable optical sensor uses machine learning to analyze spectral patterns and estimate grape ripeness directly on the vine. This technology promises significant business benefits for winemakers by providing non-destructive, real-time insight into grape ripeness, reducing labor and time required for sampling and analysis.