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Making the switch to polarization diversity

Researchers develop integrated optical switch using polarization diversity, reducing size and cost of traditional switches. The new device features a single 8x8 grid with unique port assignments, allowing simultaneous management of both polarizations of light.

SourceOptica·DateJan 31, 2017

New hardware to expand fast fiber-to-the-home

Researchers from University College London have developed a new optical receiver that simplifies the design and reduces costs, enabling faster fiber-to-the-home broadband technology. The novel receiver can support speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, making it futureproof against growing data demands.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of Lightwave Technology·DateFeb 14, 2016

Water heals a bioplastic

A team of researchers developed a self-healing bioplastic from squid proteins, which can be repaired with warm water. The material exhibits improved durability for applications such as medical implants and fiber-optic cables.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 1, 2015

Rodeo in liquid crystal

Researchers successfully created and controlled defect pairs in liquid crystals using optical tweezers. This achievement opens the door to controlling light flow using specific frequencies in liquid crystal photonic microdevices, with potential applications in photonics.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMar 31, 2015

Breakthrough in nonlinear optics research

Researchers at the University of Sydney developed a method to selectively enhance or inhibit optical nonlinearities in photonic chips, which can be useful for both hindering and helping signal processing applications. This breakthrough uses a grating structure on chip scale devices to control optical nonlinearity.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 4, 2015

Untangling how cables coil

Engineers at MIT and Columbia University developed a method to predict cable coil patterns using laboratory experiments, computer-graphics technology, and theoretical analyses. The research aims to help design better deployment strategies for fiber-optic cables and prevent transmission glitches and data loss.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 3, 2014

Predicting landslides with light

Researchers in Italy have developed a new technology using distributed optical fiber sensors to monitor soil slopes and detect the onset of landslides. This innovation can help mitigate devastating losses of life and property by providing early warnings, making it an entirely new tool for landslide risk monitoring.

SourceOptica·DateSep 29, 2014

Quantitative volumetric analysis of the optic radiation in the normal human brain

Researchers from Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze the optic radiation in 13 healthy volunteers. The study found that the optic radiation fiber tract volume was approximately 0.16% and fractional anisotropy value was about 0.53, enabling accurate detection of probability pathways.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateAug 4, 2014

Hollow optical fibers for UV light

Researchers have developed a new type of optical fiber that can guide UV laser light without being damaged. The fiber has a hollow core with a diameter of 20 µm, which allows for single-mode transmission and reduces loss. This breakthrough enables new applications in precision spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and process plasmas.

Flipping the switch

Physicists at Harvard University have successfully created quantum switches that can be turned on and off using a single photon. This technological achievement could lead to the creation of highly secure quantum networks, enabling perfectly secure communications over long distances.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateApr 18, 2014