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JILA's superradiant laser may one day boost atomic clocks

The superradiant laser uses synchronized emissions of light from strontium atoms to improve atomic clock performance and create precise 'rulers' for space science. The laser's output is expected to be less sensitive to noise, making it sharper as a precision tool.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 14, 2016

Filming light and electrons coupled together as they travel under cover

Researchers have developed an ultrafast technique to film the propagation of guided light and read its spatial profile across a multilayered structure. This breakthrough enables the design and control of confined plasmonic fields, crucial for future optoelectronic devices.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 11, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Noise-canceling optics

A team led by Caltech's Changhuei Yang and Edward Zhou developed a device that selectively cancels scattered light, revealing dimly reflective objects. The technology, termed 'coherence gated negation,' has potential applications in satellite exploration and biomedical imaging.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalOptica·DateOct 10, 2016

UCLA physicists demonstrate method to study atoms critical to medicine

Researchers have successfully cooled rubidium atoms to nearly absolute zero using a multicolored laser, paving the way for studying chemical reactions in medicine and biology. The technique involves using pairs of photons to mimic high-energy ultraviolet light, overcoming previous difficulties in generating such photons.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPhysical Review X·DateOct 10, 2016

Metamaterial uses light to control its motion

Scientists at the University of California - San Diego designed a device that harnesses light to manipulate its mechanical properties. The device oscillates indefinitely using energy absorbed from light, enabling new applications in GPS, computers, and other devices.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 10, 2016

First quantum photonic circuit with an electrically driven light source

Researchers have successfully integrated a complete quantum optical structure on a chip using carbon nanotubes as single-photon sources. This achievement fulfills one condition for the use of photonic circuits in optical quantum computers and opens up new possibilities for ultrafast calculation and secure data encryption.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 6, 2016

Motion-directed robots on a micro scale

Researchers created simple microswimmers with a phototaxis system, enabling them to move towards darker areas. By using a laser-generated light field with saw-tooth profiles, the microswimmers can be steered reliably over long distances.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 4, 2016
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.

How to control polarization of light

Physicists at Lomonosov Moscow State University have successfully controlled the polarization of light, reducing its speed by up to 10 times. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of spatial light modulators, which could enable faster and more efficient data processing in photonic computers.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalPhysical Review Applied·DateOct 3, 2016

UMD physicists discover 'smoke rings' made of laser light

Researchers have discovered 'spatiotemporal optical vortices,' or STOVs, which are 3-D ring structures generated by high-intensity lasers. These structures have the potential to manipulate particles moving at the speed of light and may be useful for designing powerful microscopes and more efficient telecommunication lines.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPhysical Review X·DateSep 9, 2016
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

UTA researchers' papers find concept of using light to image, potentially treat PTSD

Researchers at UTA have discovered a potential non-invasive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using near-infrared light. The study, published in Nature's Scientific Reports, found that shining near-infrared light on the brain increases production of cytochrome-c-oxidase, a protein that stimulates blood flow.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 6, 2016

Electrons at the speed limit

Researchers at ETH Zurich have investigated how electrons respond to extremely fast electric fields, reaching speeds of up to petahertz. They observed that the absorption of diamond varied characteristically following the rhythm of the oscillating electric field, confirming the dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateAug 26, 2016

Crystal unclear: Why might this uncanny crystal change laser design?

Researchers at NIST and Shandong University have found a way to grow large crystals that could revolutionize laser technology. The microcrystals outperform conventional crystals in some ways, but their performance challenges scientific theory.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 26, 2016
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

NIST's compact gyroscope may turn heads

The NIST team has demonstrated a compact atomic gyroscope design that can measure rotation and acceleration with high accuracy. The device uses a cloud of laser-cooled atoms to simulate rotations, generating interference bands to detect the rotation rate and axis.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 23, 2016

Natural scale caterpillar soft robot is powered and controlled with light

A team of researchers at the University of Warsaw has developed a bioinspired micro-robot capable of mimicking caterpillar gaits in natural scale. The robot harvests energy from green light and can travel on flat surfaces, climb slopes, squeeze through narrow slits, and transport loads.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateAug 18, 2016

Wi-fi from lasers

KAUST researchers develop a nanocrystalline material that rapidly converts blue light into white light, enabling data speeds of up to 2 GB/s. This innovation has the potential to replace traditional LEDs for energy-efficient lighting and enable new applications like VLC.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalACS Photonics·DateAug 14, 2016
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Scientists count microscopic particles without microscope

Scientists from Russia and Australia have developed a simple new way to count microscopic particles in optical materials using laser diffraction. This method allows for the structure and shape of any optical material to be determined without expensive electron or atomic-force microscopy.

SourceITMO University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 9, 2016

Prototype chip could help make quantum computing practical

Researchers from MIT and Lincoln Laboratory have developed a prototype chip that can trap ions in an electric field with built-in optics, enabling the miniaturization of qubit technology. This breakthrough could lead to practical quantum computers by scaling up trapped-ion quantum information processing.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 8, 2016

From unconventional laser beams to a more robust imaging wave

Researchers have developed a more robust imaging wave using unconventional laser beams, allowing for the detection of objects at greater distances. The technology has the potential to be used for Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies to detect chemical, biological, and explosive materials without damaging human tissue.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalOptica·DateAug 5, 2016

New metamaterials can change properties with a flick of a light-switch

Scientists design metamaterials that can block or transmit specific wavelengths of light at the command of light pulses, enabling new optical device applications. The new switchable materials have potential to create ultra-thin metasurface lenses and other flat optical components.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 2, 2016
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

NASA's new CO2 sounder nearly ready for prime time

The CO2 Sounder Lidar is a strong contender for the ASCENDS mission, which aims to measure global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The instrument uses advanced technologies, including a highly sensitive solid-state detector and a rapidly tuning laser system, to achieve unprecedented precision and resolution.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 2, 2016

Beating the heat a challenge at the nanoscale

Rice University scientists detect thermal boundary that hinders ultracold experiments, requiring clever measurement techniques to overcome. The researchers found that cooling substrates reduced temperature increases, but thermal boundary resistance remained a major issue.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 28, 2016

New noninvasive imaging method for showing oxygen in tissue

A team of scientists developed a new approach to visualize oxygen in tissue, using optoacoustic methods and a novel algorithm that corrects for light propagation effects. This non-invasive imaging method achieves high accuracy and resolution, enabling the study of various medical conditions such as tumor growth and metabolism.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 28, 2016

Vortex laser offers hope for Moore's Law

A new light-based communication tool can carry data in a swift, circular motion, potentially solving an approaching data bottleneck. The optics advancement could become a central component of next generation computers designed to handle society's growing demand for information sharing.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalScience·DateJul 28, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Making terahertz lasers more powerful

Researchers have developed a new type of terahertz quantum cascade laser that can produce a record output power of up to 230 milliwatts in continuous wave mode. This breakthrough has significant implications for various applications, including spectroscopy, medical imaging, and remote sensing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateJul 26, 2016

New detector overcomes key challenge in using light for wireless communications

Researchers from Facebook's Connectivity Lab have demonstrated a new approach for detecting optical communication signals, overcoming the primary challenge of precisely pointing a small laser beam at a tiny light detector. The new technology uses fluorescent materials to collect and concentrate light onto a photodetector, achieving dat...

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateJul 19, 2016

Supercomputers fire lasers to shoot gamma ray beam

Researchers have successfully created a controlled beam of ultra-energized photons, or gamma rays, from a laser using simulations on the Lonestar and Stampede supercomputers. The breakthrough has potential applications in fields such as cancer treatment, cargo screening, and fundamental science studies.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 11, 2016

A sharper focus for plasmonic lasers

Plasmonic lasers use metal films to confine light energy and have potential applications in integrated optics and ultrafast digital processing. The researchers developed a scheme that emits radiation at extremely long wavelengths with a narrow beam divergence angle of just 4 degrees, the narrowest achieved for such terahertz lasers.

SourceLehigh University·JournalOptica·DateJul 6, 2016
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.

A little impurity makes nanolasers shine: ANU media release

Researchers at The Australian National University have improved the performance of tiny lasers by adding impurities, increasing light emission efficiency. The discovery could lead to development of low-cost biomedical sensors, quantum computing, and a faster internet.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 4, 2016
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Superheroes are real

Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University demonstrated the effect of all-optical switching between streams of photons using non-linear metamaterials, which can manipulate photons in a new way. This breakthrough could lead to faster data transfer and high-speed communication technologies.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 23, 2016

Russian physicists create a high-precision 'quantum ruler'

Physicists from Russia and France have devised a method to create a quantum entangled state, enabling precise measurement of large distances. This technique could improve the accuracy of optical interferometers used in gravitational wave detection.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 23, 2016

Airplanes make clouds brighter

Scientists found that contrails formed within existing high clouds increase cloud reflectivity, a key factor in climate regulation. This discovery offers insights into aviation's influence on climate, particularly in mid-latitude regions.

SourceStockholm University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 22, 2016

A new trick for controlling emission direction in microlasers

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to control the direction of light emission in microlasers using an exceptional point. By exploiting this physical phenomenon, they can create consistently directed photons, which is crucial for reliable photonic signals and applications.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2016
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.

Yale scientists amplify light using sound on a silicon chip

A Yale team has developed a new waveguide system that harnesses the interaction of light and sound waves to boost light intensity on a silicon microchip, solving a long-standing problem in hybrid technologies. The breakthrough enables precise control over the interaction, leading to potential commercial applications in fiber-optic comm...

SourceYale University·JournalNature Photonics·DateJun 13, 2016
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Light: Information's new friend

African researchers have made a breakthrough in optical communication by demonstrating a significant increase in the amount of information that can be packed into light. The team used over 100 patterns of light, exploiting three degrees of freedom to achieve this result, which could potentially increase bandwidth by 100 times.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 10, 2016

It's not an illusion: Transforming infrared into visible light

Researchers developed a compound that transforms near-infrared light into broadband white-light, emitting directional and high-quality light suitable for microscopes and projection systems. The material is cheap, readily available, and easily scalable, opening up new routes for advanced directed illumination technologies.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJun 9, 2016

Kansas State University researchers invent, patent new class of lasers

Researchers at Kansas State University have developed a new class of fiber-based lasers that can produce high-intensity light without requiring large amounts of power. The lasers use gas molecules to emit light and are portable, making them suitable for applications such as measuring distances and detecting gases in the atmosphere.

SourceKansas State University·DateJun 8, 2016

Tiny lasers enable next-gen microprocessors to run faster, less power-hungry

Scientists have successfully integrated tiny high-performance lasers directly onto silicon wafers, overcoming a decades-old semiconductor industry challenge. This breakthrough enables faster and more energy-efficient data transmission, paving the way for on-chip integration of photonics with electronics.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 2, 2016
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.

Attosecond physics: Attosecond camera for nanostructures

Physicists observe nanoscale light-matter phenomenon lasting only attoseconds, studying collective electron motions and near fields in gold nanoneedles. The development enables precise characterization of near-field vibrations, paving the way for complex studies of light-matter interactions in metals.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 31, 2016

Heme, a poisonous nutrient, tracked by 'Green Lantern' sensor

For the first known time, researchers have tracked heme movement inside cells, revealing it is not always static. Labile heme serves as a nutrient and needs to be carefully trafficked through the cell to stay available.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 30, 2016

Engineers discover a new gatekeeper for light

Engineers have found a way to control light waves using a non-periodic material structure. This breakthrough opens up opportunities for faster-switching transistors and white light lasers, enabling devices to selectively block or allow specific wavelengths of light

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 26, 2016

Light can 'heal' defects in new solar cell materials

Researchers at MIT have discovered a process to remove defects in new solar cell materials using intense light, improving their efficiency and consistency. The technique, called photo-induced cleaning, uses illumination to migrate ions that sweep away most of the defects in the material.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 24, 2016
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.

Attosecond physics: A switch for light-wave electronics

Scientists have developed a novel method to study the dynamics of electrons in solids when exposed to ultrafast light pulses. This breakthrough enables the precise optimization of energy transfer between light and matter, paving the way for faster electronic signal processing and potentially accelerating data processing to its limits.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature·DateMay 23, 2016

Two types of RGB laser light sources successfully demonstrated

Two new RGB laser light source modules developed by Osaka University and Shimadzu Corporation show superior performance in miniaturization, energy-saving, and color gamut compared to LEDs. The modules have potential applications in small electronic devices, large video systems, and projection mapping.

SourceOsaka University·DateMay 12, 2016

A quasiparticle collider

Researchers create quasiparticles, directly observe collision events using laser pulses, and shed light on quasiparticles and many-body excitations in condensed matter systems. The findings demonstrate that basic collider concepts from particle physics can be transferred to solid-state research.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature·DateMay 11, 2016
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Rice experts unveil submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier

Rice experts unveil a submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier that generates infrared light and boosts the output of one light by capturing energy from a second light. The innovation is a single nanoparticle serving as an optical parametric amplifier, with potential applications in chemical sensing and molecular imaging.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 9, 2016

Getting a better measure of spin with diamond

A novel system uses thin slivers of diamond to measure electron beam polarization with unprecedented accuracy. The diamond-based detector provides direct and accurate measurements, overcoming previous uncertainties caused by laser beam distortions.

SourceDOE/Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMay 5, 2016
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.