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Generating entangled photons with nonlinear metasurfaces

A new approach to generating quantum-entangled photon pairs uses nonlinear metasurfaces to enhance and tailor photon emissions. The researchers achieved a five-order-of-magnitude increase in the brightness of entangled photons, with a highly configurable platform that can control entanglement and direction.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 2, 2021
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Metasurfaces control polarized light at will

Researchers at Harvard SEAS have demonstrated a new way to control polarized light using metasurfaces, enabling holographic images with an unlimited number of polarization states and manipulation in virtually infinite directions. This advancement could lead to applications in imaging, microscopes, displays, and astronomy.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 13, 2021

Impenetrable optical OTP security platform

A POSTECH research team has developed an encrypted hologram printing platform that works in both natural light and laser light using the metasurface technology. The device can produce a holographic color image retaining specific polarization, setting it apart from previously reported holograms.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 11, 2021

Cascaded metasurfaces for dynamic control of THz wavefronts

Researchers developed a general framework for dynamic control of THz wavefronts using cascaded metasurfaces. By varying the polarization of a light beam with rotating multilayer metasurfaces, they demonstrated efficient redirection and manipulation of THz beams, overcoming limitations in local tuning.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJul 23, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New study presents transformative metasurface based on zerogap embedded template

Researchers at UNIST developed a novel metasurface with zerogap technology, enabling flexible and durable reconfigurable optics. The technique allows for high modulation depths and can be used in various applications such as electromagnetic wave shielding and polarization conversion.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateJul 6, 2021

New type of metasurface allows unprecedented laser control

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a single metasurface that can tune different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without additional optical components. This opens the door for lightweight and efficient optical systems for various applications.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 28, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Infrared imaging by ultrathin nanocrystal layers

Researchers demonstrate conversion of infrared images to visible using ultrathin and transparent semiconductor nanocrystals. The proposed metasurface-based IR imaging approach offers novel opportunities for compact night vision instruments and sensor devices.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJun 15, 2021

Suppressing meta-holographic artifacts by laser coherence tuning

A team of scientists has developed an efficient method to suppress meta-holographic artifacts while maintaining image quality. By fine-tuning the coherence of illumination using a degenerate cavity laser, they can reduce coherent artifacts and improve the spatial resolution of holographic images.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 26, 2021

Using micro-sized cut metal wires, Japanese team forges path to new uses for terahertz waves

Researchers successfully tested a reflectionless, highly refractive index metasurface made of micro-sized cut metal wires for use in terahertz waveband applications. The metasurface has a high refractive index and low reflection at 3.0 THz, enabling potential uses in 6G wireless communications and other commercial applications.

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalOptics Express·DateMay 13, 2021
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

A new way to make AR/VR glasses

University of Rochester researchers developed a novel technology using freeform optics and metasurfaces to deliver high-quality images with socially acceptable optics. The metaform component gathers visible light rays from all directions and redirects them directly into the human eye, achieving a significant improvement in image quality.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 3, 2021

Single metasurface for simultaneous detection of SAM and OAM

A team of scientists has developed a single spin-decoupled metasurface that can distinguish between spatial angular moment (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. The device exploits the geometric phase and dynamic phase to transform vortex beams into focusing patterns, enabling simultaneous detection of SAM and OAM.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateApr 19, 2021

Wearable sensors that detect gas leaks

Researchers at POSTECH developed an ultra-compact wearable gas sensor that detects toxic gases and displays a holographic alarm. The sensor uses metasurface technology to provide immediate visual notification without relying on external mechanical or electronic devices.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 16, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Efficient generations of complex vectorial optical fields with metasurfaces

Scientists develop a generic approach to generate arbitrary vectorial optical fields (VOFs) using metasurfaces, offering improved efficiency and control over polarization. They experimentally demonstrate the generation of VOFs in both far-field and near-field regimes with tailored wave fronts and inhomogeneous polarization distributions.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateApr 12, 2021

Silencing vibrations in the ground and sounds underwater

Researchers at POSTECH have designed a metasurface that can control acoustic and elastic waves, achieving underwater stealth capability untraceable by SONAR. The technology also enables drastic alteration of wave propagation through curved plates, such as vibrations.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateApr 6, 2021

Metasurfaces for manipulating terahertz waves

Recent advancements in metasurfaces for manipulating terahertz waves enable ultra-compact devices with unusual functionalities for applications such as imaging, encryption, and communications. Metasurfaces can locally control wavefronts at subwavelength resolution, making them ideal candidates for THz device miniaturization.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 22, 2021

Looking at optical Fano resonances under a new light

Researchers Adam Overvig and Andrea Alù show that strict periodicity is not required for Fano resonances, enabling novel properties in metasurfaces. They demonstrate a nonperiodic metasurface with perfect reflection and phase conjugation, opening up new applications in optics and beyond.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateMar 19, 2021

Light it up: uOttawa researchers demonstrate practical metal nanostructures

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have debunked the myth that metals are useless in photonics with their findings, recently published in Nature Communications. They demonstrated ultra-high-Q resonances in a metasurface comprised of metal nanoparticles embedded inside a flat glass substrate, showing metals can be useful in photonics.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 18, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Lithium niobate crystal film for integrated photonic applications

The article reviews progress in microstructure engineering and domain engineering of lithium niobate photonics, including photonic modulation and nonlinear photonics. High-efficiency wavelength converters using optical waveguides involve nonlinear integrated photonics.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 11, 2021

Information transition mechanisms of spatiotemporal metasurfaces

Researchers propose two information transition mechanisms for spatiotemporal metasurfaces: group extension and independent control of multiple harmonics. These mechanisms enable accurate manipulations of electromagnetic information and open up new possibilities for multitasking and wireless communications.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 11, 2021

Arbitrary polarization conversion dichroism metasurfaces for full Poincaré sphere polarizers

Scientists have proposed an effective approach to achieve full Poincaré sphere polarizers in one step using monolayer metasurfaces with arbitrary polarization conversion dichroism. The system can generate an arbitrarily polarized beam at any position on the Poincaré sphere, making it a monolithic arbitrary polarization generator.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMar 11, 2021

Super surfaces

The development of programmable metasurfaces at Princeton University has the potential to significantly increase data transmission rates in wireless systems. The technology uses terahertz waves to focus transmissions in specific directions, overcoming challenges such as obstacles and distance limitations. This breakthrough could enable...

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Electronics·DateJan 4, 2021
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Higher-resolution imaging of living, moving cells using plasmonic metasurfaces

Researchers from Kyushu University developed a technique that improves the resolution of fluorescence images of living cells using plasmonic metasurfaces. The metasurface, composed of self-assembled gold nanoparticles, enhances the focus of light-emitting molecules, resulting in high-resolution imaging capabilities.

SourceKyushu University·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·DateNov 6, 2020

True holographic movie is within grasp

A team at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has developed a system to produce true holographic three-dimensional images appearing mid-air, viewable from most angles in the room. The proof of concept uses metasurface materials that can manipulate light, allowing for a genuine holographic movie.

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 31, 2020
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Seeing the light: Researchers combine technologies for better light control

A new technology has been developed by Penn State researchers that enables better light control without requiring large materials and structures. This hybrid photonic architecture combines the best qualities of photonic integrated circuits and metasurfaces, paving the way for multifunctional devices with flexible access to free space.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 23, 2020

Liquid crystal integrated metalens for versatile color focus

Researchers developed a liquid crystal integrated metalens that can achieve both achromatic and chromatic focusing with a single device. The design overcomes the challenge of chromatic aberration, allowing for improved resolution in full-color and hyperspectral imaging.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJul 6, 2020

Ultra-thin camera lenses of the future could see the light of day

Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method for making metasurfaces, which can control light and create ultra-thin camera lenses. This breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in optical technology, including portable electronics, sensors, and space satellites.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalACS Photonics·DateJun 11, 2020

Metasurface opens world of polarization

Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences designed a metasurface that can continuously tune from linear to elliptical birefringence, opening up the entire space of polarization control with just one device.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 3, 2020
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Controlling angular dispersions in optical metasurfaces

Researchers from China established a general strategy to guide design of optical metasurfaces with fully controlled angular dispersions. They demonstrated the importance of near-field couplings and radiation patterns in determining these dispersions.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 26, 2020

Saturable plasmonic metasurfaces for laser mode locking

Researchers developed plasmonic metasurfaces that can be tuned with polarization light, providing efficient saturable absorption for ultrafast lasers. The metasurfaces achieved stable self-starting ultrashort laser pulse generation with a modulation depth of up to 60%, outperforming previous studies.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 25, 2020

Performing optical logic operations by a diffractive neural network

A diffractive neural network, implemented by a compound Huygens' metasurface, realizes all seven basic optical logic operations in a compact system using a plane wave as input signal. The design strategy features flexible modification and eliminates the need for precise control of input light.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 25, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New metasurface laser produces world's first super-chiral light

Researchers have demonstrated a new metasurface laser that produces 'super-chiral light' with ultra-high angular momentum, enabling control over optical communications and applications in industries like food, computer, and biomedical. The laser design allows for high power operation in a compact design.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 27, 2020
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

High-tech contact lenses correct color blindness

Scientists have created ultra-thin optical devices known as metasurfaces integrated into off-the-shelf contact lenses to correct deuteranomaly, a form of red-green color blindness. The new customizable contact lens can restore lost color contrast and improve color perception up to a factor of 10.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateMar 4, 2020

Setting up fundamental bases for information metasurface

A general information theory of metasurface has been proposed to analyze the relation between the information of metasurface and its far-field radiation pattern. The scientists found an upper bound of information contained in the radiation pattern of a metasurface, revealing theoretical upper limit of orthogonal radiation states.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateFeb 6, 2020

Space-time metasurface makes light reflect only in one direction

Researchers create a new type of optical metasurface that imposes phase modulation on reflected light, leading to unidirectional light propagation. The metasurface enables nonreciprocal light propagation in free space with unprecedented large temporal modulation frequency.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateDec 20, 2019
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Intelligent metasurface imager and recognizer

Researchers developed an AI-driven smart metasurface for joint control of EM waves on the physical level and digital pipeline, enabling real-time imaging and recognition of multiple non-cooperative people. The intelligent EM camera can be powered by Wi-Fi signals, allowing for hands-free monitoring without visible sensors.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateNov 6, 2019

Compute at the speed of light

A research team at the University of Delaware has designed an integrated photonics platform with a one-dimensional metalens and metasurfaces, limiting information loss and enabling high signal transmission. The device demonstrates functionalities of Fourier transformation and differentiation, critical techniques in physical sciences.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2019

Ultra-thin optical elements directly measure polarization

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.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateSep 12, 2019

Harnessing photonics for at-home disease detection

Researchers developed an ultra-thin optical chip that detects biomolecules in a sample and determines their location using metasurfaces. The technology uses image analysis to count biomolecules one by one and identify trends, demonstrating its potential for personalized medicine.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 2, 2019
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Engineered metasurfaces reflect waves in unusual directions

Scientists have developed new metasurfaces that can manipulate reflected light and sound waves with high efficiency. These artificial structures use periodic arrangements of meta-atoms to engineer the direction of reflected waves, breaking classical laws of reflection.

SourceAalto University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 16, 2019

Next-generation optics in just two minutes of cooking time

Researchers at EPFL have developed a method to create dielectric glass metasurfaces in just a few minutes, using dewetting to produce flexible and ultra-thin photonic circuits. This breakthrough enables the creation of highly sensitive sensors and flexible optics for various applications.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateFeb 11, 2019

What do we see in a mirror?

Aalto University scientists develop gradient metasurfaces that can appear 'bright' at one direction and 'dark' for the opposite direction, breaking conventional symmetric responses of mirrors. This innovation uses evanescent fields engineering to engineer contrast ratios in angle spectrum.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 21, 2018

New concept for tractor beam from Star Wars developed

Researchers at ITMO University propose a new approach to creating tractor beams using hyperbolic metasurfaces, which can capture particles and cells. The study shows that these materials have the potential for practical applications in experiments and traps.

SourceITMO University·JournalACS Photonics·DateNov 27, 2018
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Physicists discover new way of resonance tuning for nonlinear optics

Researchers from ITMO University and the Australian National University have discovered a new physics of high-Q resonances in asymmetric metasurfaces, governed by bound states in the continuum. This breakthrough enables the creation of thin, highly efficient sensors, lasers, and nonlinear radiation sources.

SourceITMO University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 14, 2018

Low bandwidth? Use more colors at once

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a method to produce multiple colors simultaneously on an electronic chip, enabling broader bandwidth for sensing and processing information. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in nanophotonics, bio-sensing, and imaging applications.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 16, 2018

Microscale IR spectroscopy enabled by phase change materials and metasurfaces

Researchers have developed miniaturized infrared filters using phase change materials and metasurfaces, enabling precise measurement of mid-infrared frequencies. These tiny filters can be integrated into smartphones, allowing for real-time monitoring of air quality, food freshness, and health conditions.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMay 11, 2018
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

A New Metasurface Model Shows Potential to Control Acoustic Wave Reflection

Researchers developed a nonlinear elastic metasurface that can convert a soundwave's fundamental frequency to its second harmonic, advancing noise control technologies. This concept could isolate low frequencies, making it easier to absorb them, and potentially lead to new acoustic devices like diodes and transistors.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateApr 3, 2018

Multifunctional metalens unlocks with light

Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a flat metalens that can resolve details smaller than a wavelength of light, generate optical vortices and holograms, and exhibit achromatic behavior in multiple colors.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 13, 2018

Basque researchers turn light upside down

Researchers created a hyperbolic metasurface using boron nitride that produces concave wavefronts with infrared light, revolutionizing the miniaturization of sensing and signal processing devices. The team overcame fabrication challenges to achieve precision structuring on the nanometer scale.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalScience·DateFeb 22, 2018

MEMS chips get metalenses

Researchers developed a device that combines metasurface lenses with MEMS technology, enabling fast scanning and beam steering. The integrated device can control the angular rotation of a flat lens and scan the focal spot by several degrees.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Photonics·DateFeb 20, 2018