Articles tagged with Infrared Radiation
A new analytical technique developed by Penn State researcher John B. Asbury could lead to the development of cheaper and more efficient solar cells. The technique uses infrared spectroscopy to study light-sensitive organic materials, providing information about electron movement within a film of carbon-based materials.
The AKARI satellite's far-infrared survey has provided unprecedented views of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy orbiting our own. The images reveal copious star formation activity across the galaxy, with many stars currently being formed, indicating a 'star burst'.
A team of astronomers has measured the temperature variation across the surface of a giant gas planet, Upsilon Andromeda b, for the first time. The study reveals that the planet's hot side reaches temperatures of 2,550 degrees Fahrenheit, while its dark side is frigid.
Researchers in Germany have developed a new, non-invasive technique to measure skin aging using a laser-based method. The technique measures collagen and elastin levels by a single factor, providing a quantitative assessment of skin health.
A new type of diode laser, called quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), may revolutionize aircraft protection by emitting high-power light at specific wavelengths. The QCLs can operate at room temperature and have a power conversion efficiency of 10 percent, making them ideal for widespread use in infrared countermeasure systems.
Researchers at NIST have created LEDs that emit light in a specific direction, increasing brightness by up to 41% compared to conventional designs. The novel nanostructure may be cheaper and more effective for biomedical imaging applications.
A team of researchers created a broadband light amplifier on a silicon chip, enabling amplification over a broad range of wavelengths. The device uses four-wave mixing and has potential applications in repeaters, routers, and signal regeneration for fiber-optic communications.
Researchers at Kent State University develop negative index materials, rewriting the laws of optics and enabling super-resolution lenses, non-destructive optical tweezers, and more. The five-year project aims to create NIMs for visible light spectrum.
Researchers found that magnesiowüstite, a common mineral in the lower mantle, absorbs infrared light when compressed to extreme pressures. This suggests that radiation may not play a significant role in heat flow near Earth's core.
Researchers used terahertz light to examine excised breast tissue and determine if removed margins were clear of cancer, with promising results. This technology has the potential to eliminate the need for multiple surgeries and tissue samples.
A Cornell University study reveals that galaxies in the early universe tend to cluster near large clumps of dark matter. The research uses data from the Spitzer Wide-area InfraRed Extragalactic survey and confirms that ultraluminous infrared galaxies are precursors to galaxy clusters.
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has developed a new paint-on laser technology using colloidal quantum dots. This innovation could help alleviate the interconnect bottleneck in computer chip industry, which is expected to reach its capacity around 2010.
Physicists at JILA have developed a highly sensitive tool for real-time analysis of atoms and molecules, offering unprecedented capabilities in chemistry laboratories, environmental monitoring, security, and medical offices. The technology uses an ultrafast laser-based frequency comb to precisely measure light absorption signatures, en...
Scientists at NIST have developed an improved LIDAR system using a frequency comb to measure distance and vibration with high precision. The system resolves common problems with signal noise and dispersion, enabling accurate measurements of up to 1 kilometer away.
ICESat measures polar ice sheets, clouds, mountains, and forests with three lasers, enabling scientists to see objects in three dimensions. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument has fired its one billionth shot, collecting detailed information on the vertical structure of the Earth system.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of medical imaging technique that uses gold nanorods to detect tiny structures in the bloodstream. The nanorods yield images nearly 60 times brighter than conventional fluorescent dyes, making them ideal for early detection of cancer.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a way to make quantum dots produce broad-spectrum white light, similar to sunlight. The discovery uses 'magic-sized' nanocrystals that emit light without chemical treatment, offering a potential sustainable alternative to traditional lighting.
The Penn theorists describe how nanoscale particles of certain materials can work as circuit elements, enabling faster computer processors and exotic applications. The technology could also enable the creation of biological circuits and couple electronic signals to individual molecules.
The researchers have developed two rapid-solution synthesis methods that can produce robust, water-dispersible quantum dots for bioimaging and organically soluble quantum dots ready for sequestration into a polymer host. The new synthesis methods are scalable and can be used to produce large quantities of quantum dots.
The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution's Deep Scope expedition has made several groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of ultra-violet light sensitivity in a deep-sea crab. The team also captured new video footage of a large, recently discovered squid species that appears to be attracted to bioluminescent displays.
The South African Large Telescope (SALT) has achieved 'first light' with its full array of mirrors and imaging camera, SALTICAM. This milestone marks the beginning of its scientific observations, which will explore distant galaxies, asteroids, and comets.
Astronomers have conducted the most detailed survey of the Milky Way's inner regions to date, revealing a long stellar bar spanning 27,000 light years. The bar is oriented at about a 45-degree angle relative to the galaxy's center, providing new insights into the galaxy's structure and evolution.
Researchers have created a high-resolution ultraviolet light source that enables precise energy level measurements of specific atoms, timing of chemical reactions, and nanometer-scale object dimensions.
Researchers using Cassini-Huygens Spacecraft measured Titan's temperature, winds, and chemical composition, finding methane abundance and seasonal changes comparable to Earth's. The study suggests Titan's organic chemistry is an analog of early terrestrial processes, potentially hinting at the moon's habitability.
Duke physicists create an all-optical switch using laser light and rubidium vapor, which can control stronger light beams with much weaker signals. This breakthrough could improve high-speed telecommunications networks by reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency.
Researchers have directly measured light from two confirmed extrasolar planets, HD 209458b and TrES-1, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The gas giants, similar to Jupiter, orbit close to their stars and radiate strongly in the infrared, with temperatures reaching up to 1,574 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Cornell University-led team has discovered a mysterious population of distant galaxies radiating in the infrared spectrum with hundreds of times more power than our Milky Way galaxy. The galaxies are thought to be ultraluminous infrared galaxies powered by massive starbursts or active galactic nuclei, and their discovery is published...
Researchers from NASA's Langley Research Center and Goddard Space Flight Center studied tropical convective clouds in Florida to classify ice crystals, which can help predict next winter's snowstorm. They hope to contribute to improving weather and climate models by accounting for clouds' role in atmospheric conditions.
Researchers found a new strain of Acaryochloris that uses infrared light for oxygen-evolving photosynthesis, opening up new habitats for oxygen production. The discovery reveals 'gene-jumping' between cyanobacteria and proteobacteria, rewriting the evolutionary timeline.
The Wide Field Camera (WFCAM) is the world's most powerful infrared survey camera, detecting objects one hundred times fainter than existing surveys. It has captured stunning images of the Orion nebula, revealing thousands of young stars and dramatic clouds of gas and dust.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has developed a compact, all-optical switch on silicon that can control light signals in real-time. This innovation paves the way for high-speed optical routing in fiber-optic communications, eliminating the need for conversion between electrical and optical signals.
Scientists developed a new near-field microscope that excites local lattice vibrations in polar crystals, allowing for nanoscale mapping of crystal quality. The technique reaches a 100-fold higher resolution compared to conventional infrared microscopes and enables non-destructive chemical analysis, nanoscopic sensors, and optical data...
A new workholding technology uses light-activated adhesive to hold and release workpieces, offering an alternative to mechanical clamping. The technology has a yield strength of over 5500 pounds per square inch and can be used with a wide variety of workpieces.
Researchers have successfully bridged the 'Kuzyk quantum gap' in molecular nonlinear optics, creating a new hybrid material that can harness light's power. This innovation could lead to faster internet speeds and more efficient communication systems.
Despite their limited light sensitivity, nocturnal bees learn and remember visual landmarks around the nest entrance before foraging. These bees use these landmarks to orient themselves upon return, showcasing impressive navigational abilities.
Researchers have created a smart window coating that reflects infrared light when temperatures rise above 29 degrees Celsius, reducing unwanted heat. This intelligent glass can help reduce energy consumption and provide cooler conditions for occupants.
A team of researchers will use advanced imaging systems to study deep-sea animals, behaviors, and phenomena in the Gulf of Mexico. The expedition aims to discover new life forms and understand the unique uses of light in the dark deep sea.
The Gemini South telescope has been coated with a silver layer to reduce thermal emissivity, allowing for deeper views of star formation, galaxies, and black holes. This results in improved detection capabilities for objects obscured by heat radiating from the telescope.
The NCAR instrument provides unprecedented views of the solar corona's magnetic structures, enabling scientists to analyze magnetism in the corona and relate it to emerging features like prominences and coronal mass ejections. This data will aid space weather forecasters in predicting solar storms that can impact Earth's infrastructure.
Physicists at Lehigh University achieve supercontinuum generation in nonlinear fibers using photonic crystal fibers. The phenomenon generates a rainbow of colors when infrared light waves are converted to visible lightwaves.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully produced infrared light from carbon nanotubes by applying electrical voltages. The discovery paves the way for potential applications in lighting and flat-panel displays due to the exceptional mechanical strength of carbon nanotubes.
Cornell University and Caltech researchers will develop the world's most sensitive sub-millimeter telescope in the Atacama Desert, capable of probing star formation during galaxy formation. The telescope's high sensitivity will enable studies of large-scale universe structure and hidden planets in circumstellar disks.
Astronomers have discovered the nearest and youngest star with a visible disk of dust that may be a nursery for planets. The dim red dwarf star AU Mic is about half the mass of the sun but only 12 million years old, and its dusty debris disk stretches around 210 astronomical units from the central star.
A NIST scientist has demonstrated efficient production of single photons at the highest temperatures reported for a photon source. The advance is a step toward practical, ultrasecure quantum communications and useful for certain types of metrology.
The new SPEAR3 facility at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory offers cutting-edge x-ray science capabilities, including higher resolution and brightness for studying smaller objects. Researchers can utilize the facility to advance fields like structural biology, materials science, and chemistry.
The team discovered LBV 1806-20, a massive star at least 150 times larger than the sun, with estimated age of less than 2 million years. The star's enormous size is attributed to shock-induced star formation, while its location in a rare cluster of stars raises further questions about its origins.
Researchers are working on a method to accurately estimate coral reef health from sensors on airplanes and satellites. By analyzing light reflectance from corals, scientists can detect early signs of disease and stress, providing valuable insights into marine ecosystem health.
The University of Florida researchers have created photon sieves for visible light, which can sharpen the focus quality of a beam and reduce the amount of light that gets through a metal plate. This technology has the potential to change the way we think about optics and enable more life-like qualities in systems.
A team led by Reinhard Genzel reports detecting powerful infrared flares from a region just outside the supermassive black hole, indicating rapid rotation. The observed signals suggest that the black hole's fundamental orbital time is about half of the maximum spin allowed by general relativity.
Astronomers detect near-infrared flares from hot gas falling into the black hole, revealing its rapid rotation and chaotic environment. The findings provide unprecedented information about what happens just outside the event horizon.
PNNL scientists create a device that detects sarin and other nerve agents using infrared spectrometry. They also mimic the mineralization process to produce replicas with pores and channels, which could increase industrial yields. Additionally, researchers use midge genomes to identify pollutants in water and develop an integrated mode...
Researchers have developed doped liquid crystals that allow for real-time holography with significantly improved optical properties. These materials can be used in various applications, including focusing optical telescopes and creating real-time holographic movies, due to their high sensitivity to light.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that by coating a nickel mesh with molecules of fat, they can control the amount of light passing through using heat. This phenomenon, known as surface plasmons, allows for precise control over light transmission, enabling new applications in optoelectronics and lab tests.
The US Navy is developing a powerful free-electron laser that can transmit infrared light for use in ship-defense systems. The laser has the capability of generating extremely short pulses, sub-picosecond pulses, and breaking records for tunable high-average power lasers.
Astronomers have discovered seven planet-forming disks, extending up to 100 times larger than previously seen disks, around infant stars in the constellations Orion and Perseus. These discoveries suggest that planets may form at much greater distances from stars, making them easier to detect.
Researchers have designed a new optical microprobe to detect subsurface organ abnormalities, providing a new capability for endoscopy procedures. The device uses tiny electrically activated artificial muscle fibers to scan internal organ surfaces and penetrate beneath the surface.
The Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2Mass) has completed its vast archive of images and data, featuring five million images, now available online. The survey revealed new class of stars, brown dwarfs, a more complete understanding of the Milky Way's structure, and a detailed database of asteroids.
The UKIRT's new UIST instrument allows astronomers to study galaxies in exquisite detail using infrared spectroscopy and imaging. The instrument's 'image slicer' feature enables the creation of detailed spectra across complex objects, revolutionizing observations at UKIRT.
Researchers are developing innovative devices that promise to simplify blood glucose monitoring, reducing the risk of complications such as blindness and kidney disease. A symposium will showcase advancements in noninvasive and minimally invasive blood glucose monitoring, including a 'smart tattoo' that glows to reveal glucose levels.
Researchers create near-field infrared microscope to visualize crystal vibrations in the nanometre range. The technique uses infrared light to enhance signal intensity at the tip of a scanning probe needle, revealing phonon resonance in silicon carbide crystals 200-fold brighter than gold.