Plasmonic metafibers electro-optic modulators
New plasmonic metafiber EOMs integrate devices on optical fiber facets, eliminating coupling complexity and reducing losses. The modulation speed reaches up to 1000 MHz with a bias voltage of ±9 V.
Fiber Optics
Articles tagged with Fiber Optics
Researchers achieve high-speed super-resolution imaging with a large field of view
The new microscope uses structured illumination and optical fibers to achieve fast super-resolution imaging over a wide field of view, enabling the study of individual cell responses to various drugs. The system can image multiple cells simultaneously with high resolution, providing statistical information about cell response.
Photonic skin sensing network for cardiovascular health monitoring
Researchers propose a spatiotemporal hemodynamic monitoring technique using skin-like microfiber Bragg grating group for real-time monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral resistance, and vascular elasticity. The device can detect subtle physiological signals and presents the dynamics of the systemic cardiovascular system.
Telecommunications cable used to track sea ice extent in the Arctic
Scientists used distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on a 37.4-kilometer-long fiber optic cable to track sea ice formation and retreat with fine spatiotemporal detail, revealing rapid changes up to 10 kilometers in less than a day. The technique offers improved resolution compared to satellite images.
Technology advance could expand the reach of 3D nanoprinting
Researchers develop low-cost 3D nanoprinting system with nanometer-level accuracy for printing microlenses, metamaterials, and micro-optical devices. The system uses a two-step absorption process and integrated fiber-coupled laser diode, making it accessible to scientists beyond optical experts.
Automated medical imaging framework revolutionizes schistosomiasis diagnosis
Researchers developed an innovative optical tool, the Schistoscope, to capture microscopy images of urine samples for efficient detection of Schistosoma haematobium eggs. A two-stage diagnostic framework using deep learning accurately identified and counted eggs in field settings with high sensitivity, specificity, and precision.
Fiber optic cables detect and characterize earthquakes
A team of scientists at Caltech used a section of fiber optic cable to measure the intricate details of a magnitude 6 earthquake, pinpointing four individual asperities that led to the rupture. The study demonstrates the potential of distributed acoustic sensing technology to improve our understanding of earthquake physics.
Two types of ultrafast mode-locking operations generation from an Er-doped fiber laser based on germanene nanosheets
Using Germanene, researchers have developed two new methods for generating ultrafast mode-locking operations in fiber lasers. These methods utilize the material's fast carrier relaxation time and large nonlinear absorption coefficient to produce femtosecond pulses and higher energy noise-like pulses.
Politecnico di Milano experimenting with fibre optics against water wastage
Researchers at Politecnico di Milano used fibre optic sensors to monitor water pipelines and detected pressure anomalies caused by water leaks. The study's results confirm the possibility of identifying and localizing small water leaks, offering a potential solution to global water wastage.
Shrinking light: Nanoscale optical breakthrough
Researchers have made groundbreaking progress in confining light to subnanometer scales using a novel waveguiding scheme. The approach generates an astonishingly efficient and confined optical field with applications in light-matter interactions, super-resolution nanoscopy, and ultrasensitive detection.
Single-end hybrid Rayleigh Brillouin and Raman distributed fibre-optic sensing system
A new hybrid Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing (DFOS) system simultaneously measures temperature, strain, and vibration along a single fiber. The system integrates Rayleigh Brillouin and Raman scattering schemes to reduce complexity and increase accuracy.
Researchers demonstrate first visible wavelength femtosecond fiber laser
The team's breakthrough enables the production of bright visible-wavelength pulses in the femtosecond range directly with fiber lasers. This advance has significant implications for various fields, including high-precision ablation of biological tissues, two-photon excitation microscopy, and material processing.
High-power optical continuous-wave waveguiding in a silica micro/nanofibre
Researchers have achieved high-power optical continuous-wave waveguiding in silica micro/nanofibers, with a reported power of up to 13W, significantly higher than previous records. The MNF remained optically transmissive and showed no significant degradation even at elevated powers.
Insert an ID card into hair-thin optical fiber with femtosecond laser direct-writing fiber Bragg grating array
Fiber sensing scientists from Shenzhen University have developed an encrypted fiber optic tag that can be used for all-optical labeling and recognition of optical transmission channels. The team proposed a method using fiber Bragg grating arrays prepared by femtosecond laser direct writing to flexibly store different coding sequences.
Limiting loss in leaky fibers
Researchers have figured out why some air-filled fibre designs work so much more efficiently than others. Dr Leah Murphy and Emeritus Professor David Bird from the University of Bath developed a theoretical understanding of the relationship between fibre structure and leakage loss.
Chip-based dispersion compensation for faster fibre internet
SUTD researchers created a CMOS-compatible, slow-light-based transmission grating device for high-speed data dispersion compensation. The devices achieved minimal loss and improved error correction performance, paving the way for on-chip integration in transceivers.
Fiber optic smart pants offer a low-cost way to monitor movements
New smart pants based on fiber optic sensors can track various types of physical activities in the clinic or at home, detecting signs of distress. The sensing approach achieved 100% accuracy in classifying activities and has several advantages, including low-cost and reliability.
Researchers demonstrate noise-free communication with structured light
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have outlined a new optical communication protocol that exploits spatial patterns of light for multi-dimensional encoding without recognizing them. This approach results in over 50 vectorial patterns of light being sent virtually noise-free across a turbulent atmosphere.
Shrinking endoscopes with meta-optical fibers
Researchers have developed a novel technique to reduce rigid tip length in endoscopes using flat meta-optics. The new design enables full-color imaging with a wide field of view, long depth of field, and short rigid tip length, opening up new possibilities for minimally invasive operations and experimental surgeries.
World’s first demonstration of terahertz signal transparent relay and switching
Researchers developed a system to transmit high-capacity terahertz-wave signals to different locations using direct terahertz-optical conversion and fiber-wireless technology, achieving 32 Gb/s capacity. The system overcomes radio communications limitations in the terahertz band, expanding communication coverage.
Unsupervised learning-based full-color biological imaging through optical fiber
Researchers have developed an unsupervised learning-based optical fiber imaging system that can recover high-fidelity images from degraded or scrambled speckle patterns without paired labeling. The system, named Restore-CycleGAN-GALOF, achieves nearly artifact-free and robust full-color image transport through a meter-long optical fibe...
Multifunctional interface enables manipulation of light waves in free space
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a multifunctional interface between photonic integrated circuits and free space, allowing for simultaneous manipulation of multiple light beams. The device operates with high accuracy and reliability, enabling applications in quantum computing, sensing, imaging, energy, and more.
High-power, high-energy, all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator
Researchers have developed an all-fiber Mamyshev oscillator that produces high-energy ultrafast pulses, exceeding previous records. The device achieves a single pulse energy of 153 nJ and average power of 3.4 W with sub-100 fs pulse widths.
World’s first standard cladding diameter 19-core optical fiber with record transmission capacity
Researchers have created a 19-core optical fiber with a standard cladding diameter, achieving a record transmission capacity of 1.7 petabits per second over 63.5 km. This design uses randomly coupled multi-core fibers and MIMO digital signal processing to minimize power consumption.
Tracking whales as they cruise the Arctic
Scientists have successfully tracked fin whales using fibre-optic cables in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The system, called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), allows for simultaneous location and tracking of whales over an 1800 km² area with relatively low infrastructure investment.
New approach to developing efficient, high-precision 3D light shapers
Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.
Long-distance quantum teleportation enabled by multiplexed quantum memories
Researchers at ICFO have successfully teleported quantum information over 1km using a multiplexed quantum memory. The technique enables fast and reliable quantum communication over long distances, with potential applications in secure telecommunications.
Using optics to trace the flow of microplastics in oceans
Researchers from China and Singapore study the radiative properties of polyamide-12, a common marine microplastic pollutant. They found that most of the incident radiation is scattered by PA12 particles, affecting ocean light transmission and marine ecology.
High-performance detectors to combat spies
A team from UNIGE and ID Quantique has developed single-photon detectors that can generate secret keys at a rate of 64 megabits per second, overcoming current limitations. This innovation enables ultra-secure data transfer for banks, healthcare systems, governments, and the military.
γ-MnO2 dual-core, pair-hole fiber for ultrafast photonics
The γ-MnO2 dual-core pair-hole fiber enables the production of an all-fiber mode-locked laser with a pulse width of about 1 ps and a repetition frequency of about 600 MHz. This fabrication scheme offers good stability and is suitable for combining other novel materials with specialty fibers, expanding ultrafast optics and sensing appli...
Hotter than infinity – light pulses can behave like an exotic gas
Researchers at the Universities of Jena and Central Florida have created a photon gas that exhibits behavior similar to a conventional gas, with particles moving at different speeds but maintaining a mean velocity defined by temperature. This phenomenon, known as negative temperature, can be cooled or heated, allowing for the creation ...
Metasurface enters laser fiber cavity for spatiotemporal mode control
Direct incorporation of a metasurface in a laser cavity enables spatiotemporally modulated laser pulses. Giant nonlinear saturable absorption allows pulsed laser generation via Q-switching process.
Novel optical and fMRI platform identifies brain regions that control large-scale brain network
Researchers have developed a novel experimental platform that combines optical and fMRI techniques to study large-scale brain networks. The platform identified the anterior insular cortex as a key player in controlling the Default Mode Brain Network, which is active during daydreaming, memory retrieval, and envisioning the future.
Fiber sensing scientists invent 3D printed fiber microprobe for measuring in vivo biomechanical properties of tissue and even single cell
Researchers at Shenzhen University have developed a compact fiber optical nanomechanical probe (FONP) to measure in vivo biomechanical properties of tissue and even single cells. The high-precision mechanical sensing system enables accurate measurements with spring constants as low as 2.1 nanonewtons.
Researchers find distortion-free forms of structured light
Researchers from University of the Witwatersrand developed a new approach to studying complex light in complex systems. They found distortion-free forms of structured light that emerge undistorted from noisy channels, unlike other forms of structured light which become unrecognizable. This breakthrough has the potential to pave the wa...
Distortion-free structured light
Scientists develop eigenmodes of structured light that remain undistorted even in turbulent channels, enabling robust transmission through noisy media. This breakthrough paves the way for future work in quantum light communication and imaging through complex systems.
Entangled atoms across the Innsbruck quantum network
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully entangled two trapped ions separated by 230 meters, using photons transmitted through an optical fiber cable. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of trapped ions as a platform for building future quantum networks and distributed computing systems.
Efficient calibration of wavelength-dependent transmission through optical multimode fiber
The study demonstrates a parametric dispersion model and computational methods to efficiently calibrate the fiber's multispectral transmission matrix, reducing the need for dense spectral measurements. This enables precise control over wavelength-dependent light transmission in multimode fibers.
Nearly 50-meter laser experiment sets record in University of Maryland hallway
Researchers at the University of Maryland successfully guided a 45-meter-long beam of light through an unremarkable hallway, pushing the limits of an innovative technique. The team utilized ultra-short laser pulses to create a plasma that heated air, forming a high-density core and enabling efficient light delivery.
Scientists perform real-time environmental sensing over 524 kilometers of live aerial fiber
Researchers successfully tested a real-time coherent transceiver prototype for continuous sensing over a 524-km long aerial fiber network. The approach uses information extracted from coherent digital signal processing to monitor polarization changes, enabling environmental and network sensing.
Nearly 50-meter laser experiment sets record in University of Maryland hallway
Researchers at UMD successfully guided light in a 45-meter-long air waveguide, creating a high-density core to guide a laser. The technique utilizes ultra-short laser pulses to create a plasma that heats the air, expanding it and leaving a low-density path behind.
Researchers demonstrate co-propagation of quantum and classical signals
A new study shows that a quantum data channel and classical optical signals can co-propagate in the same fiber with low error rates, reducing the cost of implementing quantum key distribution. Researchers tested a commercial multiplexed QKD system on a wavelength-division multiplexing link and achieved a total data rate of 6 Tb/s.
Building a better biopsy
A new biopsy procedure is developed with a multispectral confocal endomicroscope to aid in lung tissue imaging. The system allows for simultaneous imaging of multiple fluorescent dyes, enabling unique identification and spectral unmixing.
Eavesdropping on the Earth itself
A team of researchers has developed a system that uses fibre-optic cables to detect and measure acoustic signals from the ocean, including whale vocalizations, ship traffic, earthquakes, and distant storms. This technology has the potential to create a global real-time monitoring network for Ocean-Earth sciences.
The optical fiber that keeps data safe even after being twisted or bent
Physicists at the University of Bath developed an optical fiber that uses topology to enhance its robustness, protecting light from environmental disorder. This design allows for scalable structure preservation over long distances, making it suitable for future quantum networks.
Dawn of solid-state quantum networks
Researchers demonstrated high-visibility quantum interference between two independent semiconductor quantum dots, an important step toward scalable quantum networks. The observed interference visibility is up to 93%, paving the way for solid-state quantum networks with distances over 300 km.
Signal processing algorithms improved turbulence in free-space optic tests
New signal-processing algorithms have been shown to help mitigate the impact of turbulence in free-space optical experiments. The researchers achieved record results using commercially available photonic lanterns and a spatial light modulator to emulate turbulence.
Soft robot detects damage, heals itself
Researchers create a soft robot that can detect damage and heal itself using stretchable fiber-optic sensors and polyurethane urea elastomer. The SHeaLDS technology provides a damage-resistant robot that can self-heal from cuts, and the researchers plan to integrate it with machine learning algorithms for more tasks.
Photonics chip allows light amplification
A new study developed a traveling-wave amplifier based on a photonic integrated circuit operating in the continuous regime, providing 7 dB net gain on-chip and 2 dB net gain fiber-to-fiber. This achievement enables unlimited application areas for LiDAR and other optical sensing applications.
Optically analyzing local brain environment: Astrocytes' acid response in epileptic mice
Researchers at Tohoku University used fiber photometry to analyze astrocytes' activity and found an acid response linked to intensified epileptic seizures. This breakthrough may lead to new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy, stroke, trauma-induced brain injury, and memory enhancement in dementia treatment.
Achieving a quantum fiber
ICFO researchers successfully demonstrate transport of two-photon quantum states through a phase-separated Anderson localization optical fiber, showing maintained spatial anti-correlation. The phase-separated fiber enables efficient transmission of quantum information via Corning's optical fiber.
World's first demonstration of optical transmission and switching of 15-mode multiplexed signals on a field-deployed multi-mode fiber network
Scientists successfully transmit and switch 15-mode multiplexed signals over a 6.1 km long multi-mode fiber ring in Italy, demonstrating a new approach to increasing fiber network capacity. This achievement is significant for future communication systems beyond 5G.
A new optical inversion strategy for unscrambling light propagation through multimode optical fibers
Researchers propose a passive optical device, called an optical inverter, to undo the effects of multimode optical fibers on spatial information. The inverter can achieve single-shot wide-field imaging and super-resolution imaging through MMFs, enabling potential applications in micro-endoscopes and optical microscopy.
1.53 petabit per second transmission in 55-mode fiber with standard cladding diameter
Researchers demonstrate world's first 55-mode transmission at 1.53 petabits per second, outperforming previous records by three times in spectral efficiency. The technology holds promise for future high-capacity backbone networks and the development of Beyond 5G infrastructure.
Silicon photonic MEMS take a step forward
Researchers have demonstrated a power-efficient component for demultiplexing operation using silicon photonic MEMS, enabling efficient wavelength demultiplexing for fiber-optic communications. The compact footprint of the add-drop filter allows fast operation compared to established MEMS products.
Higher speeds in free-space optical communications in the midinfrared band
Researchers developed high-capacity free-space optical links using unipolar quantum optoelectronic devices, achieving unprecedented data rates of up to 30 Gbit/s at 31-meter distances. The system's performance is resistant to weather conditions and showcases potential for fast, long-range optical links.
Deep learning with light
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method that uses optics to accelerate machine-learning computations on low-power devices. By encoding model components onto light waves, data can be transmitted rapidly and computations performed quickly, leading to over a hundredfold improvement in energy efficiency.
Researchers fabricate tiny multi-component beam shaper directly onto optical fiber
The researchers used a 3D laser printing approach to create high-quality, complex polymer optical devices directly on the end of an optical fiber. The device turns normal laser light into a twisted Bessel beam with low diffraction and can be used for applications like STED microscopy and particle manipulation.
Ahead of the curve: an optical fiber sensor for measuring deviations in the spine
Researchers developed a novel three-core optical fiber sensor to accurately measure both the magnitude and direction of spine curvature. The sensor offers advantages like low cost, high sensitivity, and small size, making it a promising tool for doctors to diagnose problems in spine curvature.
Queen Mary researchers create the first single-crystal organometallic perovskite optical fibers
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have invented a new application of perovskites as single-crystal optical fibers with exceptional stability, efficiency, and durability. These high-performance fibers could revolutionize broadband delivery, improve medical imaging, and even enable solar-powered clothing.