Articles tagged with Applied Optics
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.
A research team developed a zero-dimensional hybrid metal halide that exhibits reversible fluorescence switching under pressure and solvent stimulation. The material can be toggled between non-emissive and highly emissive states, paving the way for multifunctional optical applications.
Hu's work spans harmful algal blooms, oil spills, coastal water quality, and floating macroalgae with impacts at local, regional, national, and global scales. His discovery of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has profound ecological, economic, and public health implications.
A team from Harvard and University of Lisbon found that silica, a low-refractive index material, can be used for making metasurfaces despite long-held assumptions. They discovered that by carefully considering the geometry of each nanopillar, silica behaves as a metasurface, enabling efficient design of devices with relaxed feature sizes.
Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University create a new machining method that combines laser and magnetic fields to machine advanced materials like high-entropy alloys. The dual-field approach produces smoother surfaces, reduced damage, and improved material removal rates.
Researchers introduce a novel calculation approach to achieve high-quality holographic imaging in vehicle head-up displays. The 'zoom lens' method reduces computation time by 58% and eliminates zero-padding, enabling seamless virtual and physical reality.
A new terahertz spectroscopy system combines high spectral resolution with micrometer-level spatial resolution, enabling the study of complex light-matter interactions. The system achieved a spatial resolution of 20 µm and a spectral resolution of up to 100 MHz.
A research team led by NTU Singapore has recorded a tiny mechanical twitch in living human and rodent eyes when rod photoreceptors detect light. This breakthrough could provide a new non-invasive way to assess retinal health and diagnose blinding eye diseases earlier.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new technique to convert low-energy light into high-energy LEDs, improving the ability to upconvert green light to blue or ultraviolet light. The method uses plasmonics to boost upconversion on a thin metal film, reducing the power needed by 19 times compared to previous setups.
Researchers developed a V-band ultra-fast tunable thin film lithium niobate Fourier-domain mode-locked optoelectronic oscillator to generate LCMW with low phase noise and large TBWP. The FDML OEO achieved record-breaking high radiofrequency oscillations up to 65 GHz.
Scientists have developed a platform for generating and detecting ultrashort UV-C laser pulses using atomically-thin semiconductors. The system demonstrates a free-space communication system and has the potential to unlock new opportunities in non-line-of-sight communication systems.
The Advanced Photonics Young Innovator Award honors outstanding papers published in SPIE-CLP's journal over the past five years. Seven recipients are celebrated for their diverse range of innovative research, which shapes the future of optics and photonics.
Researchers from HKUST developed a germanium-ion-implanted silicon waveguide photodiode that achieves high responsivity and ultra-low optical loss, significantly enhancing the performance of on-chip light monitoring. The device is well-suited for integration into photonic circuits without disturbing primary signal flow.
Researchers at CU Boulder have introduced a solution to improving desalination plant performance by observing in real-time membrane fouling using SRS. The technique helps maximize filtration efficiency and reduce energy use, making it crucial for ensuring global access to clean water.
Scientists have developed a new approach to analyzing polarization data, offering a more accurate understanding of complex materials. The elliptical vectorial metrics model simplifies the interpretation of polarization information, improving biomedical imaging and material design.
A newly developed wearable sensor uses polarized light to improve photoplethysmography (PPG) signal accuracy across different skin tones. The device splits light into two channels, detecting co-polarized and cross-polarized signals to filter out superficial scattering and capture stronger signals from deeper tissue.
Liu's project aims to translate optoretinography into a sensitive clinical biomarker for retinal disease assessment. The fellowship supports interdisciplinary problem-driven research and translation of new technologies into clinical practice.
Researchers have demonstrated how controlling the structure of photons in space and time enables tailored quantum states for next-generation communication, sensing, and imaging. This breakthrough offers new pathways for high-capacity quantum communication and advanced technologies.
Research reveals AI's potential to harness structured light for optical communications, microscopy, and computing. Complex patterns in structured light enable natural robustness and vast encoding possibilities.
Researchers proposed ACAL system for fabricating micro ring-shaped metasurface unit cells on highly curved substrates, demonstrating extended depth of focus and robustness against defocus. The method improved minimum annular feature size by over 10 times compared to conventional methods.
Researchers have demonstrated single-shot tensor computing at the speed of light, a breakthrough step towards next-generation AI hardware. This method uses optical computation to perform complex tensor operations, enabling fast and low-power processing.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new microscope that can detect signals over an intensity range 14 times wider than conventional microscopes, enabling label-free observations of cells and particles.
A new study uses X-ray microcomputed tomography to image and analyze 3D chaotic microcavities without harming them. The team found that distorted shapes lead to Arnold diffusion, confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction about 3D chaotic light dynamics.
Scientists at Max Born Institute and DESY develop a plasma lens that focuses attosecond pulses, improving the study of ultrafast electron dynamics. The technique offers high transmission rates and allows for focusing light across different colors.
A new technology developed by Fibarcode uses photonic fibers to create unique codes that can be scanned to verify a garment's fabric content and designer labels. The technology has the potential to increase recycling rates and prevent counterfeiting.
Researchers develop Controllable Spiral Magnetorheological Finishing (CSMRF) to eliminate mid-spatial-frequency ripple errors in sub-aperture polishing. This method integrates adaptive path spacing and spatially varying tool influence function, achieving effective control over targeted error distributions.
The University of Michigan's three-year project, ORACLE, harnesses laser links for power and momentum transfer, enabling satellites to move without fuel. This innovation aims to transform constellations into dynamic, interconnected systems, improving sustainability and resilience.
A new platform allows researchers to study the forces that bind tiny objects together, revealing insights into self-assembly processes and fundamental forces in nature. The platform uses gold flakes in a salt solution, with light bouncing back and forth through nanometre-sized cavities to display colors.
Researchers develop novel dual-laser method to create adaptive, shape-locking devices. The material integrates a shape-memory polymer skeleton with magnetic microcapsules, allowing for 'writing' and 'bending' of instructions and shapes in situ.
Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University create a new method for fabricating ultra-uniform surface structures with features as small as 46 nanometers. The technique uses a carefully tuned femtosecond laser under water immersion, overcoming the challenge of creating uniform nanostructures smaller than 100 nanometers.
Researchers at Aalto University have successfully connected a time crystal to an external system, enabling the development of highly accurate sensors and memory systems for quantum computers. This breakthrough could significantly boost the power of quantum computing by harnessing the unique properties of time crystals.
Researchers review approaches to overcome THz endoscopy limitations in medical diagnostics, discussing advantages and drawbacks of notable systems. Notable examples highlight the potential of THz endoscopy in medical applications, despite challenges related to commercial endoscope availability.
Scientists develop a method for multi-dimensional holographic multiplexing and encryption using full-modulation dielectric geometric-phase metasurfaces. This enables accurate high-capacity information integration with low crosstalk and ideal energy uniformity.
Researchers discovered how individual MXene flakes behave at the single-flake level, revealing changes in conductivity and optical response. The new spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry technique allowed for non-destructive measurements of individual MXene flakes, providing fundamental knowledge needed to design smarter technologies.
The team developed a new method to produce ultrafast squeezed light, which can fluctuate between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the position of fused silica relative to the split beam. This breakthrough could lead to more secure communication and advance fields like quantum sensing, chemistry, and biology.
A new photodiode design using germanium-ion-implanted silicon overcomes trade-offs in existing power monitors for on-chip light monitoring, enabling faster processing speeds and higher energy efficiency. The device demonstrates high responsivity and low dark current, making it suitable for integration into photonic circuits.
Researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a binder-free method for 3D printing silica glass using light to trigger a chemical reaction. This breakthrough enables custom, high-performance glass components that were previously impossible to manufacture.
A novel metasurface design using vanadium dioxide enables fast, energy-efficient modulation of terahertz waves. This allows for real-time holographic encryption and decoding, with applications in secure communication, medical imaging, and more.
A new paper in Science reports proven quantum advantage, where entangled light lets researchers learn a system's noise with very few measurements. The experiment cuts the number of measurements needed by an enormous factor, from 20 million years to just 15 minutes.
Researchers developed an electrically tunable metasurface for THz holographic devices, leveraging VO2's reversible transition to minimize energy consumption and response time. The microladder design enables real-time operation, fast switching times, and robust performance.
A team of scientists developed a multispectral dynamic regulator based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) for tunable control in visible and mid-infrared bands. The device achieves dynamic color-thermal camouflage, mitigating interference from additional heat sources and enhancing performance across diverse environments.
A new fast-hyperspectral imaging remote sensing technique enables precise imaging and quantification of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from marine vessels. The system achieves accurate plume categorization, outline identification, and detailed observation of trace gas distribution.
A team from the University of Seville recreated La Pileta Cave's morphology and rock art using LiDAR technology. The research provides new tools for understanding and preserving cultural heritage, including accurate 3D models and immersive educational experiences.
Scientists at the University of Gothenburg have developed the smallest on-chip motor in history, capable of fitting inside a human hair. The new motor uses laser light to set gears in motion, enabling microscopic machines that can control light and manipulate small particles.
Researchers developed a photonic-acoustic analysis scheme that integrates dual optical combs, multi-sensor parallel processing and electronic signal processing for unparalleled capabilities in sound detection, localization and recognition.
Researchers developed an all-flexible, self-cleaning smart window that fine-tunes solar gain in real time and protects against environmental contaminants. The device's multifunctionality could accelerate green building development and address climate change concerns.
Researchers mapped key aspects of electron pulses that can generate laser-like X-ray pulses, improving access to XFELs. The technique enables studying molecule behavior in detail and advancing fields like chemistry and medicine.
Researchers developed a plasmonic meta-RTWO with ultrahigh phase accuracy and figure of merit (FOM), overcoming traditional designs' limitations. The technology enables applications such as real-time calibration of antenna arrays in 6G massive MIMO systems and subpicosecond synchronization for terahertz quantum communication.
Researchers at Politecnico di Milano developed photonic chips for training physical neural networks, eliminating digitisation requirements. This allows for faster, more robust, and efficient network training using light signals.
Reconstructive spectrometers combine miniaturized encoding hardware and computational reconstruction algorithms for high-fidelity spectral analysis. The field has seen significant advancements, enabling real-time spectral analysis in diverse environments, with applications ranging from healthcare to consumer electronics.
A team of scientists developed a method to precisely control Dirac plasmon polaritons in two-dimensional materials, opening new possibilities for advanced nanophotonic technologies. By adjusting the spacing between coupled nanostructures, they increased the polariton wavevector by up to 20% and extended the attenuation length by more t...
A new computational enhancement to structured illumination microscopy improves 3D imaging clarity and stability, addressing challenges of uniform illumination patterns in cells. Principal component analysis is used to uncover underlying order from complex signals, enabling more adaptive and robust reconstruction.
Researchers developed a stable Chichibabin diradicaloid with high luminescence and photothermal conversion efficiency, enabling precise near-infrared imaging-guided tumor ablation. Its water-soluble nanoparticles showed excellent NIR imaging performance and achieved high photothermal conversion efficiency.
The new Harvard device can turn purely digital electronic inputs into analog optical signals at high speeds, addressing the bottleneck of computing and data interconnects. It has the potential to enable advances in microwave photonics and emerging optical computing approaches.
Researchers at Umea University have demonstrated a custom-built laser facility generating ultrashort laser pulses with extreme peak power and precisely controlled waveforms. The Light Wave Synthesizer 100 (LWS100) spans 11 meters in length, capable of producing 100 terawatts for a few millionth of a billionth of a second.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new type of solar thermoelectric generator that can harness thermal energy in addition to sunlight. The device is 15 times more efficient than current state-of-the-art devices, making it a promising source of renewable energy.
Scientists have engineered a chip that converts between terahertz and optical signals, enabling bi-directional communication and sensing. The device generates THz electric fields up to 100 times stronger than previous chips, with increased bandwidth and minimal energy loss.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel nanodevice that manipulates light using sound waves, enabling precise control over color and intensity. This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields, including computer displays, virtual reality, and optical communications.
Researchers have developed a new RGB multiplexer based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) that enables faster and more energy-efficient light modulation for laser beam scanning systems. The multiplexer successfully combined red, green, and blue laser beams, generating mixed colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, and even white light.
Researchers developed a new 3D printing method that creates strong, high-quality silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic parts at lower temperatures. The method uses vat-polymerization and adds silica to improve material quality, resulting in comparable strength to ceramics sintered at higher temperatures.