Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
Scientists developed a new method to increase PL quantum yield of perovskites from 2.5% to 71.54% by adding water, maintaining luminescence in various solvents and exhibiting excellent ambient and thermal stability.
Scientists at Tohoku University have created a white powder that luminesces when heated, allowing for the potential monitoring of internal body temperature. The powder, made of zirconia, can be injected into the body and then illuminated with a near-infrared laser to induce luminescence.
Researchers have discovered a material that emits light in the near-infrared portion of the spectrum when heated, defying Planck's Law. This 'super-Planckian' radiation is generated by a three-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal and has potential applications in energy harvesting, military tracking, and optical physics.
Researchers have created a nanoscale laser made of gold and zinc oxide, which can precisely localize and amplify incident laser light. The hybrid nanomaterial has the potential to be used as ultrafast optical switches or transistors in future optical computers.
Researchers have developed a chip-based device that can shape and steer blue light with no moving parts, paving the way for miniaturized optical systems in augmented reality and other applications. The device's silicon nitride platform enables reconfigurable lenses to create arbitrary 3D light patterns.
Scientists demonstrate multi-nanosecond lasing at room temperature using novel direct-indirect semiconductor heterostructures. The novel material structure and high-quality cavity contribute to a low lasing threshold of just 6uJ/cm^2.
Researchers from China and Australia introduce the O-FIB technique, enabling high-resolution nano-writing in solid materials. The method uses far-field-induced near-field breakdown for direct nanowriting, achieving resolutions as low as sub-20 nm.
Researchers use SLAC's X-ray laser to film iodine molecules reacting to two photons of light, capturing detailed snapshots of atomic vibrations and unexpected phenomena. The technique yields new insights into molecular behavior and fills a gap in previous methods.
The new mirrors use a bimetallic effect to create precise actuation, reducing light loss and increasing detection capabilities. The technology is useful for next-generation detectors and allows the detection of new sources of gravitational waves.
Researchers in Japan have developed a low-noise fiber link to connect high-precision clocks, enabling the creation of powerful networks for applications like earthquake detection and communication systems. The system uses a cascaded link with ultralow-noise laser repeater stations to minimize noise and stabilize the laser signal.
A new low-cost approach detects building deformations with extreme precision, measuring small displacements from 10 meters away. The method uses a camera-based system that can be attached after construction and operates in real-time to detect fast deformations.
Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Tsinghua University develop a new technology called opto-thermoelectric pulling (OTEP) to achieve the optical pulling of light-absorbing particles. This technique uses directional optical heating to create an asymmetric thermoelectric field, allowing for the trapping of particles a...
A team of researchers has created a novel photoacoustic imaging method that can penetrate up to 3.4 cm into deep tissues using a nickel-based nanoparticle contrast agent. This advancement enables the visualization of deep organs without causing harm or using ionizing radiation, paving the way for improved clinical diagnosis and practices.
Researchers have developed a novel planar chiral mirror that preserves the spin of light upon reflection, overcoming limitations of traditional mirrors. This innovation has potential applications in quantum information processing and quantum optics.
Researchers developed a new investigation method to study electrocatalytic water splitting on gold surfaces with high spatial resolution. The study found that surfaces with nanometer-scale protrusions split water more efficiently than flat surfaces.
Researchers at HKUST have successfully grown III-V lasers directly on industry-standard silicon wafers without buffers, paving the way for efficient light interfacing and integrated Si-based photonic devices.
Researchers have created a hydrogel that responds to optical stimuli and modifies the stimulus in response, trapping light within regions of the material. The discovery opens new pathways toward creating devices that aren't reliant on human control.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have developed a 3D imaging system that uses light's quantum properties to create images 40,000 times crisper than current technologies. The system, which employs Quantum Parametric Mode Sorting (QPMS), reduces single-photon noise by exponentially cleaning up noisy images.
Engineers at MIT developed a small, mirrored chip that helps produce dark-field images without expensive components. The chip can be added to standard microscopes or hand-held microscopes to visualize difficult-to-image biological organisms.
Researchers used lidar technology to study the ancient Maya road, revealing over 8,000 tree-shrouded structures along its 100-kilometer length. The road connected two cities, Cobá and Yaxuná, and was built to incorporate preexisting settlements, suggesting a geo-political motivation.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a trick to precisely control photons, the basic particles of light. This breakthrough enables the creation of light-based chips that could deliver far greater computational power than electronic chips.
Researchers have developed a new type of birefringent modification using ultrafast laser direct writing in silica glass, enabling ultra-low loss spatially variant birefringent optical elements. These elements can be used for high power lasers, visible and UV light sources, and even multiplexed data storage.
A team of European scientists developed a micro-particle size analyser using AI and consumer electronics. The device measures particle size with precision comparable to commercial light-based analysers, but is much smaller, lighter, and cheaper.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have found a way to manipulate laser light using inexpensive crystals, known as perovskites. The discovery could help drive down costs in various industries by offering an alternative to expensive Faraday rotators.
Researchers from NTU Singapore and the University of Leeds create a 'topological' laser that can route light particles around corners and cope with defects in its manufacture. This innovation has the potential to improve the performance of laser systems and enable more efficient production using existing semiconductor technologies.
Researchers found that plants' lateral roots know where to find water early on, guiding growth towards nutrient-rich areas. This flexible response enables plants to react to environments with fluctuating resources.
A breakthrough in controlling terahertz quantum cascade lasers enables the transmission of data at rates of 100 gigabits per second. The innovation uses acoustic waves to modulate the lasers, overcoming previous limitations and paving the way for ultra-fast wireless links and satellite communications.
Scientists from FEFU and colleagues developed a resonant lattice laser that controls the near- and mid-IR radiation properties of mercury telluride QDs, overcoming fundamental physical limitations. This enables the creation of ultra-compact bright sources for quantum computers and advanced sensors.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have demonstrated the backflow of optical light propagating forward, a phenomenon predicted over 50 years ago. This discovery could aid in probing the atmosphere by emitting laser beams and detecting signals moving backward toward the source.
Scientists have created a novel material that can change its refractive index in response to low-intensity laser light, enabling the manipulation of light beams and creation of optical logic gates. This breakthrough could lead to the development of soft, circuitry-free robots driven by light from the sun.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a method to grow nanosized semiconductors on a gold surface using a gold butterfly-shaped nanostructure. The approach uses localized heat to trigger hydrothermal synthesis, enabling precise control over semiconductor formation.
Researchers have developed a novel technology that enables the communication between light beams through solid matter, paving the way for a new form of computing. The innovative material, resembling raspberry Jell-O, incorporates light-responsive molecules that can contain and transmit information between filaments of laser light.
Researchers developed a technique to quickly and sensitively characterize defects in 2D materials using laser light combined with second harmonic generation and dark field imaging. This method provides three times the brightness of standard bright field imaging, revealing grain boundaries and edges of semiconducting 2D materials.
A team from TU Wien, MPI Garching, and LMU Munich has developed a new method to measure the shape of light pulses using tiny silicon oxide crystals. This allows for precise information about the interaction of light and matter, enabling applications such as characterizing novel materials and detecting diseases.
Researchers have developed a new camera capable of taking up to 1 trillion pictures per second of transparent objects, such as cells and shockwaves. The camera technology combines high-speed photography with phase-contrast microscopy, allowing for real-time imaging of ultrafast phenomena in transparent materials.
Researchers at Nagoya University have successfully designed a laser diode that emits deep-ultraviolet light at a record-breaking wavelength of 271.8 nanometers. This achievement overcomes previous limitations and enables new applications in healthcare, such as disinfection and treating skin conditions like psoriasis.
Researchers developed a nondestructive optical technique to determine cement setting times and assess hydration processes in real-time. The method combines laser-based technology with an optical model to calculate dynamic behavior, providing accurate calculations for initial and final setting times.
Researchers from Yokohama National University have developed a new method using slow light to create a compact and non-mechanical LiDAR sensor. This technology has the potential to improve the performance of LiDAR sensors in various fields, including autonomous vehicles, robots, and drones.
Researchers have discovered that organic LEDs (OLEDs) exhibit regions of reduced brightness known as 'switched-back' effects, despite increased applied current. This phenomenon is attributed to negative differential resistance induced by nonlinear electrothermal feedback, which can lead to unstable operation and device breakdown.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have created an optical resonator system that can turn transparency on and off, allowing for control over a process called electromagnetically induced transparency. This technology has far-reaching implications for applications such as quantum computing, communications, and more.
Researchers have successfully created optical supramolecules using tightly bound optical solitons in lasers, mimicking natural molecular systems. This breakthrough enables the storage and manipulation of encoded information within these complex arrays.
Physicists have developed a novel detector that precisely determines the oscillation profile of light waves, enabling research on dynamic processes at molecular levels. The new technique allows for real-time investigation of molecule responses to intense light fields.
Researchers at OIST developed a light-based device that detects biological substances in materials, surpassing current industry-standard biosensors' sensitivity and precision. The tool creates high-resolution images of individual nanoparticles, paving the way for studying molecular events on the surface.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new method for generating nuclear fusion power using ultra-intense laser light, which improves upon current 'fast ignition' methods. This approach shows promise for achieving consistent nuclear fusion and potentially cheaper and emission-free energy production.
Researchers developed a mechanoluminescent material that can visualize pressure application locations for up to three days. The material uses defects in its structure to store energy, which is released as light when pressure is applied or infrared radiation is used.
A new type of metalens made from a dielectric-metal composite film can overcome diffraction limits, paving the way for high-resolution nanoscale optical technologies and sensors. The ultra-high resolution is achieved through an unusual behavior of the material in optical and infrared ranges.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a way to prolong hot carrier lifetime in 2D perovskite solar materials, potentially increasing solar energy efficiency. The approach involves tuning the structure of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites to suppress hot carrier cooling mechanisms.
Researchers have developed a noncontact laser ultrasound technique that generates and detects sound waves on the skin surface using eye- and skin-safe lasers. This method produces images with centimeter depths, comparable to clinical ultrasound, and shows sensitivity to tissue features currently detected by conventional ultrasound.
MIT engineers develop new laser ultrasound technique that remotely images inside a person, eliminating the need for direct contact. The method uses sound waves generated by a laser to create images comparable to conventional ultrasound, with potential applications in imaging infants, burn victims, and accident survivors.
Researchers at NIST have developed methods to measure the efficiency of five single-photon detectors, which are used in various applications such as optical communications and astrophysics. The study provides a tool for verifying future detection standards and aims to improve accuracy and reliability in these devices.
The NIST study suggests a new definition for the optical watt based on radiation force and speed, offering a more precise, less expensive and more portable method for measuring light power. The proposed approach also simplifies calculations of mass and force, making it simpler as a primary standard.
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.
Researchers have designed a silicon-based chip-integrated light source that can transform infrared wavelengths into visible wavelengths, enabling highly miniaturized photonic instrumentation. The new optical parametric oscillator (OPO) light source simultaneously generates near-infrared wavelengths for telecommunication applications.
Phytochromes can sense light intensity, duration, color, and day length by measuring the proportions of their inactive and active forms. Researchers have overcome a major hurdle to defining the transition between these states, allowing for atomic-resolution molecular movies of the process.
Researchers create non-contact and non-invasive technique to measure temperature transients in time and thermal images in space at terahertz frequencies. The smallest gold particles converted laser light to heat with the highest efficiency, approximately 90%, making this method promising for biomedical applications.
Researchers have developed a novel 'quantum expander' to improve signal-to-noise ratio at kilohertz frequencies in gravitational-wave observatories. This innovative approach squeezes quantum uncertainty of laser light inside optical resonators, expanding detection bandwidth.
Professor Andrea Armani's team has developed a new laser technology that uses surface Raman lasers with monolayer coatings of siloxane molecules, resulting in improved power consumption and reduced toxicity. This breakthrough has significant implications for applications in communications, diagnostics, and defense.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have invented a method called XLEAP to observe electron movements in chemical processes that take place in billionths of a billionth of a second. This technology will provide sharp views of electrons, driving crucial aspects of life and enabling breakthrough studies.
Researchers found that the retina can receive energy from infrared light at a lower threshold, allowing for improved sensitivity in microperimetry devices. This discovery has the potential to detect functional retinal changes, such as age-related macular degeneration, earlier and better.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have successfully developed a method to generate laser light in Colloidal Quantum Dots using an electric field, reducing the energy threshold by around 10%. This breakthrough brings the prospect of CQD lasers, which could enable low-cost and small-sized lasers with various applications.