Five IIT researchers receive Proof-of-Concept grants to develop innovative health technologies, including a smart microscope and edible pills. These projects aim to tackle cancer, dyslexia, and diagnostics with cutting-edge technologies like quantum computing and near-infrared photonic chips.
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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 from TU Delft and Radboud University discovered CuInP₂S₆ (CIPS), a two-dimensional ferroelectric material, can control the pathway and properties of blue and ultraviolet light. CIPS shows giant birefringence in the blue-UV range, making it a potential game-changer for photonics applications.
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.
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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.
A new system developed by Penn researchers allows light to be guided through tiny crystals with minimal scattering or reflection. This breakthrough paves the way for more efficient and controllable photonic chips, enabling faster data transmission and reduced errors.
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.
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A new strategy is used to enable efficient carrier injection, effective thermal management, and strong optical confinement in colloidal quantum dot films. This leads to population inversion, confirming the achievement of electrically pumped surface-emitting amplified spontaneous emission.
Researchers discovered a new way to enhance light emission in nanoparticles, leading to the visualization of infrared radiation. The technique, which involves simultaneous excitation with two near-infrared beams, could have applications in microscopy and photonic technologies.
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 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.
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This book presents innovative nanomaterials for efficient pollutant removal from wastewater, reducing energy consumption and promoting eco-friendly treatment outcomes. It explores emerging trends and future directions in nanotechnology-based purification, providing practical insights for researchers and professionals.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin develop a method to harness structural colour using microfabrication technique, enabling ultra-sensitive materials for environmental sensing and biomedical diagnostics. The breakthrough also paves the way for next-generation medical sensors that can track biochemical changes in real-time.
Researchers create metasurfaces to control photons and entangle them for quantum computing and sensing. The discovery could lead to miniaturized optical setups with improved stability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness.
Researchers developed a novel fabrication method for thin-film temperature sensors that operate across an exceptionally wide temperature range, from –50 °C to 950 °C. The technique eliminates the need for complex protective layers, making it faster and cheaper to produce sensors.
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A new laser machining method enables high-precision patterned laser micro-grooving with root mean square errors below 0.5 μm. This technique allows for rapid and scalable manufacturing of custom microstructures, advancing applications in microfluidic devices, sensors, and heat dissipation systems.
Researchers have discovered that breaking a material's inversion symmetry can lead to striking quadratic responses between current and voltage. This phenomenon, known as nonlinear transport, has significant implications for the development of next-generation spintronics and wireless radio-frequency rectification devices.
Dr. Charles Roques-Carmes has been recognized for his groundbreaking research in nanophotonics, advancing areas such as metalenses and photonic machine learning. His work has led to transformative technologies and deepened fundamental understanding in the field of photonics.
Researchers from Illinois Grainger College of Engineering have developed a simple method to realize asymmetric couplings in integrated photonics. They successfully demonstrated giant optical isolation and discovered photonic gyration, which could lead to new insights into topological physics.
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Researchers have developed a new method to 3D-print glass structures with nanoscale precision, achieving nearly 100% reflectance in the visible spectrum. This breakthrough opens up a broader role for glass in nanophotonics, including wearable optics, integrated displays, and sensors.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain proteins that reflect cell origin and physiological state, making them valuable disease indicators. Label-free detection methods, such as nanophotonic sensing, offer a promising alternative to traditional protein assays.
Researchers have developed a single-layer antireflective coating using polycrystalline silicon nanostructures that sharply reduces sunlight reflection across a wide range of wavelengths and angles. The coating achieves unprecedented results for a single-layer design, setting a new standard for solar cells.
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The team demonstrated the existence of skyrmion bags of light on a metal layer, which exhibit extraordinary properties. By varying the degree to which the light fields were twisted relative to one another, researchers can manipulate light fields in a targeted manner.
This review explores the recent advancements in intelligent photonics, integrating deep learning and nanophotonics for fast, energy-efficient computing and sensing applications. It highlights key challenges and opportunities for real-world adoption, including optical neural networks and sensing-computing integration.
Scientists investigate whether living neurons can transport light through their axons, which would significantly change current models of the nervous system. If successful, it could have major implications for treating brain diseases and healing the brain.
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A new amplifier developed by Chalmers University of Technology can transmit ten times more data per second than current systems, holding significant potential for various critical laser systems, including medical diagnostics and treatment. The amplifier's large bandwidth enables precise analyses and imaging of tissues and organs.
Researchers have developed an on-chip twisted moiré photonic crystal sensor that can simultaneously measure wavelength, polarization, and perform hyperspectral imaging. The device uses MEMS technology to control the twist and distance between layers in real time.
Researchers at Harvard created a new type of interferometer that can modulate aspects of light in one compact package, enabling precise control over light's frequency and intensity. This breakthrough has the potential to be used in advanced nanophotonic sensors or on-chip quantum computing.
Researchers have made significant progress in nonlinear meta-devices, which can enhance nonlinear optical responses at the nanoscale. These devices can boost efficiency without phase-matching, leading to applications such as second-harmonic generation and harmonic imaging.
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Recent research progress in optical nanotweezers based on dielectric resonant structures has been reviewed, highlighting various excitation methods and techniques for electromagnetic field hotspot creation. The technologies have shown promise in biochemistry and cell detection applications with minimized thermal effects.
Researchers have created a new imaging technique that uses the nanostructures found on butterfly wings to analyze cancerous tissues, providing a simpler and more accessible tool for cancer diagnosis. The method has shown comparable results to conventional staining methods and advanced imaging techniques, offering a stain-free alternative.
Naomi Halas' work has pioneered new insights into how light and matter interact at the smallest scales, leading to discoveries in biomedical applications such as cancer therapy and water purification. Her research on plasmonic catalysts could dramatically reduce energy required for chemical reactions.
Scientists have discovered luminescent nanocrystals that can quickly toggle between light and dark states, enabling faster and more efficient computing. This breakthrough could advance artificial intelligence and information technologies by reducing energy consumption and improving data processing.
A new technology developed by researchers from UPV, BUPT, CAS Institute, Air Force Early Warning Academy and University of Ottawa improves the accuracy of radars and LiDAR systems by up to 14 times, enabling faster and more accurate navigation in autonomous vehicles and detailed environmental studies.
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Optical cooling has been elusive due to challenges in reaching high emission efficiency, but researchers shed light on the phenomenon using a stable 'dots-in-crystal' material. The study demonstrated true optical cooling with a theoretical cooling limit of approximately 10 K from room temperature.
The inaugural workshop at Rice University's Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences brought together leading experts to explore advancements in cutting-edge imaging techniques. The event integrated diverse imaging modalities to uncover new insights into biological and materials systems.
Researchers developed a tiny device that creates radially polarized photons at room temperature, improving the efficiency of devices using structured light. The breakthrough enables advancements in communication and optical technology, paving the way for new possibilities in secure communication and quantum applications.
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Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new theory that explains how light and matter interact at the quantum level. The theory enables scientists to precisely define the shape of a single photon for the first time.
A €9.3 million project will develop AI-powered nanoparticles with complex shapes to specifically bind to biological targets, reducing trial and error in design. The technology has potential applications in disease treatment and advanced communication systems.
Osaka University researchers develop a new method for long-range enhancement of fluorescence and Raman signals using Ag nanoislands protected with column-structured silica layers. This leads to an astonishing ten-million-fold increase in signal strength, making it ideal for sensitive biosensing applications.
Compressed Ultra-Compact Femtosecond Photography (CUF) uses a super-dispersive metalens to capture transient events in a single image, overcoming conventional CUP technology's limitations. The system achieves ultrafast imaging at hundreds of trillions of frames per second with improved compactness and reliability.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a Janus metasurface capable of controlling asymmetric light transmission, enabling the creation of two independent optical systems with a single device. This technology also enables optical encryption by generating different images depending on the direction and polarization state of incoming light.
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Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have successfully combined nonlinear and high-index nanophotonics in a single nanoobject, creating a disk-like structure with unique optical properties. The discovery has great potential for developing efficient and compact nonlinear optical devices.
Researchers have developed a new engineering approach to on-chip light sources, enabling the widespread adoption of photonic chips in consumer electronics. The innovation involves growing high-quality multi-quantum well nanowires using a novel facet engineering approach, which enables precise control over the diameter and length of the...
Researchers developed a new 2D quantum sensing chip using hexagonal boron nitride that can simultaneously detect temperature anomalies and magnetic fields in any direction. The chip is significantly thinner than current quantum technology for magnetometry, enabling cheaper and more versatile sensors.
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Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed a compact, high-efficiency metasurface-enabled solenoid beam that can draw particles toward it. The technology has the potential to reduce pain and trauma associated with current biopsy methods.
The team achieves nanofabrication of nanostructures buried deep inside silicon wafers, enabling sub-wavelength and multi-dimensional control directly inside the material. The breakthrough opens up new possibilities for developing nano-scale systems with unique architectures.
Researchers have developed a new way to measure incredibly minute forces at the nanoscale in water, pushing the boundaries of what scientists know about the microscopic world. The technique, known as super-resolved photonic force microscopy (SRPFM), can detect forces as small as 108.2 attonewtons.
Scientists developed a miniaturized micro-spectrometer to detect multiple toxic and greenhouse gases, offering increased control over individual exposure. The technology uses machine learning and metasurface spectral filter arrays to create a compact sensor that can be integrated into wearable devices.
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Researchers at TMOS have developed a new infrared filter thinner than cling wrap, which can be integrated into everyday eyewear, allowing users to view both visible and infrared light spectra. This breakthrough miniaturizes night vision technology, opening up new applications in safety, surveillance, and biology.
A team at Pohang University of Science & Technology has developed a novel stretchable photonic device that can control light wavelengths in all directions. The device leverages structural colors produced through the interaction of light with microscopic nanostructures, allowing for vivid and diverse color displays.
A new, tuneable edge-detecting filter for flat-optic imaging systems can switch between an image of an object's outline and a detailed infrared image, enabling precise crop management and habitat restoration. The filter is compact, lightweight, and can be mass-manufactured.
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Researchers have developed a method to 3D print silica glass micro-optics on the tips of optic fibers, creating structures 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. This breakthrough enables more sensitive remote sensors for environment and healthcare applications, as well as innovations in pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Engineers at Stanford University have developed a prototype augmented reality headset that uses holographic imaging to overlay full-color, 3D moving images on the lenses of regular glasses. The new approach delivers a visually satisfying 3D viewing experience in a compact and comfortable form factor suitable for all-day wear.
Researchers at Penn State have made light effectively experience a magnetic field within a photonic crystal structure. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient lasers and other photonic technologies by increasing the interaction between light and matter.
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The researchers achieved 20-level intermediate states of phase change materials using a micron-scale laser writing system. This allows for the demonstration of ultra-high flexibility in phase modulation and potential applications in neuromorphic photonics, optical computing, and reconfigurable metasurfaces.
Researchers at Duke University have determined the theoretical fundamental limit for how much electromagnetic energy a transparent material with a given thickness can absorb. This finding has practical implications for applications such as stealth technology and wireless communications.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have devised a technique for mass-producing large-area metalenses tailored for use in the ultraviolet region. The breakthrough enables control over optical properties of UV rays, sparking interest in potential advancements for medical devices and wearable technology.
Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology developed angle-dependent holograms using metasurface technology, allowing for diverse images based on viewing angles. The holographic display demonstrates an extensive viewing angle of 70 degrees, enabling observers to perceive the three-dimensional image from various directions.
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Researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem have successfully integrated single-photon sources onto tiny chips at room temperature using a hybrid metal-dielectric bullseye antenna. This innovation enables efficient back-excitation and front coupling of emission to optical fibers or low numerical aperture optics, promising advanceme...