Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
Researchers at Penn have engineered a nanowire system that can combine two light waves to produce a third with a different frequency, using an optical cavity to amplify the intensity of the output. The system achieved high efficiency in mixing frequencies, enabling fundamental computation capabilities.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a novel scanning optical interferometry technique that enables the spatial mapping and visualization of high-order modes of Brownian motions. This breakthrough technology holds promise for multimodal sensing, signal processing, and computing applications.
Physicists at Australian National University have created a spiral laser beam that generates a stable vortex of polaritons, which are hybrid particles exhibiting both matter-like and light-like behavior. This achievement could enable the development of novel technology linking conventional electronics with photonics.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new laser system to create high-flux X-ray pulses, which will allow for more accurate measurements in various scientific fields. The new technology uses mid-infrared light and can produce up to 25 times higher X-ray flux than previous experiments.
Researchers sent twisted light beams across Vienna, encoding images and demonstrating increased data-carrying capacity. The technology could significantly increase data-rates in classical communication and make secret keys tougher to crack in quantum communication.
The ICESat-2 satellite will measure the elevation of Earth from space to track changes in ice-covered poles, forests and ocean surfaces. The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument will time how long light travels from the satellite's lasers to Earth's surface.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a unique microring laser cavity that can produce single-mode lasing even from conventional multi-mode laser cavities. This breakthrough holds implications for optical metrology, interferometry, data storage, spectroscopy, and communications.
Researchers at Optica have developed a hybrid approach that integrates laser-ablation propulsion with gas blasting nozzles, increasing thrust efficiency. This innovation enables supersonic speeds for launching small satellites and accelerating aircraft to Mach 10 and beyond.
Princeton engineers found that carefully restricting power delivery to certain areas within a laser can boost its output significantly. By targeting specific modes, they showed improvements in efficiency ranging from 100-fold to 10,000-fold, allowing for more control over frequency and spatial pattern of light emission.
Researchers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed a new compact high-power laser that can create ultrashort pulses. The laser generates powerful femtosecond pulses that can penetrate long distances, allowing for real-time atmospheric pollution detection using LIDAR technology.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis have confirmed a paradoxical laser effect, where energy loss can turn lasers on. By carefully tuning the amount of light lost through a chromium needle, they were able to switch the laser system on.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to reverse optical loss and increase laser intensity by modulating loss in the system. By adding loss to a laser system, they achieved energy gains and demonstrated new nonlinear phenomena.
Scientists have demonstrated a new type of mirror that reflects infrared light by using an unusual magnetic property of a non-metallic metamaterial. The nanoscale antennas on the surface capture and harness electromagnetic radiation, paving the way for exciting new applications in optoelectronic devices.
A novel strategy combining nanoparticle technology with FDA-approved photodynamic therapy has been developed to effectively kill deep-set cancer cells in vivo. The treatment uses low-power, deep-tissue-penetrating light to activate the cancer-killing drug, showing improved destruction of tumors with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
Astronomers develop a new laser-based technology called the green astro-comb to detect tiny Doppler shifts, helping identify habitable zone planets. The device will enable precise measurements of exoplanet gravity, allowing for better detection of rocky worlds like Earth.
Scientists at the Joint Quantum Institute use thermal light and cheap detectors to achieve sub-wavelength imaging, overcoming classical optical limitations. They observe an interference pattern with fringes as narrow as 30 nm, pushing the boundaries of extreme quantum coherence.
The NIST laser comb system creates high-definition 3D maps of surfaces from up to 10.5 meters away with sub-micrometer accuracy. This method is useful for precision machining, assembly, and forensic applications.
Physicists at Vienna University of Technology have developed an optical switch using spin-orbit coupling of light. By employing gold nanoparticles coupled to ultra-thin glass fibers, they can emit light into the fiber in a way that does not travel in both directions, but instead is directed either left or right.
Scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory and Joint Quantum Institute create a new type of qubit control that leverages its surroundings to maintain quantum integrity. By harnessing the environment's magnetic field, they enable efficient manipulation and readout of quantum states, paving the way for quantum computing advancements.
Researchers at EPFL propose a feasible experiment to show entanglement in the macroscopic realm, leveraging optomechanics and nanostructures. The experiment involves converting light into mechanical vibrations, which exhibit entangled behavior.
Scientists have created a method to switch on and off the spontaneous emission of light by quantum dots at will, with pulses as short as 200 picoseconds. This technique has potential applications in quantum information transmission and control.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to build MoS2 light emitters that can be tuned to different frequencies, essential for optoelectronic chips. This breakthrough could lead to more energy-efficient and flexible displays.
Researchers are studying nature's secrets to develop efficient light-based technologies. From seashells to spider wings, scientists are discovering inspiration in the natural world to create innovative solutions for energy, healthcare, and communications.
Researchers developed an optical method called iSCAT to detect individual proteins, such as those in cancers, using scattered light shadows. The method promises more sensitive diagnoses and sheds light on fundamental biochemical processes.
Researchers developed an adaptive optics microscope that can focus laser light through even the murkiest surroundings without a guide star. This innovation resolves points less than one thousandth of a millimeter across, enabling sharper images in biology and medicine.
Researchers developed a basic model circuit combining silver nanowire and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) that efficiently guides electricity and light along the same wire. The material enables strong light emission and efficient energy transfer, promising to improve mobile technology performance and efficiency.
Researchers cooled singly charged aluminum monohydride molecules from room temperature to 4 degrees Kelvin in a fraction of a second, stopping their rotation. This breakthrough technique could lead to new applications in ultracold quantum-controlled chemistry and fundamental constants testing.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute have successfully created a steady stream of photons emitted one at a time, enabling control over their direction. The breakthrough has significant implications for future quantum technologies, including encryption and complex calculations.
Researchers develop new quantum imaging technique that captures images without detecting light used to illuminate the object, using entangled photon pairs. This breakthrough enables imaging in low-light conditions and has potential applications in biological and medical imaging.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new optical amplifier design that combines plasmonics and optical microresonators to produce laser-like light emission. This breakthrough enables power-on-a-chip applications with improved speed performance and reduced energy consumption.
Researchers at Princeton University developed a laser-based method to measure blood sugar levels without needing frequent pricking. The technique uses mid-infrared light and is currently 84% accurate, with potential applications beyond glucose detection.
Researchers developed a technique to control and observe individual electrons in nanoscale defects, enabling the creation of quantum-state snapshots. This breakthrough contributes to quantum information processing and could accelerate development of quantum computing devices.
Researchers at NIST have created hydrogen-treated optical fibers that can transmit stable, high-power ultraviolet laser light for hundreds of hours. The fibers were infused with hydrogen gas and cured with ultraviolet light to reduce errors in logic operations in quantum computing experiments.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to control graphene's electrical conductivity using extremely short light pulses. By modulating electron concentration, they can alter graphene's photoconductive properties from semiconductor-like to metallike behavior.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created a technique for building materials using light, allowing for the production of metamaterials that can control light interactions. This breakthrough has significant potential applications in sensing and military stealth technology.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a breakthrough laser that uses an artificial atom to produce light, enabling the potential development of more powerful quantum computers. The new laser relies on superconducting electron pairs and has the ability to transmit information between quantum devices.
The Optical Society's new open-access journal Optica publishes highest-impact research in optics and photonics. Key findings include the development of self-cooling solar cells, observation of rotational Doppler shift in white light, and precision time measurement on a silicon chip.
Scientists at the University of Maryland have successfully created air waveguides that can guide light beams over long distances without loss of power. This breakthrough has significant implications for various applications, including long-range laser communications, pollution detection, and topographic mapping.
The new NIST technique uses broadband, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) to create high-resolution images of biological specimens. It achieves signals that are 10,000 times stronger than spontaneous Raman scattering and 100 times stronger than comparable coherent Raman instruments.
Researchers from NIST and Caltech have created an atomic clock using a microcomb, enabling precise frequency control and conversion to microwave frequencies. The new design has the potential to be integrated into portable tools for calibrating telecommunications systems and improving radar navigation and scientific instruments.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a tiny laser sensor that can detect minute concentrations of explosives, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate, an explosive favored by terrorists. The device has the potential to replace traditional bomb-screening methods and could also be used to detect unexploded land mines.
Researchers used an ultrafast optical laser and X-ray pulses to study the movement of electrons between atoms in exploding molecules. They observed that electrons can jump over surprisingly long distances, up to 10 times the length of the original molecule, shedding new light on microscopic dynamics.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to record near-field optical information in nanoantennas, enabling the creation of optofluidic channels without walls. This technology has potential applications for optical data storage and other photonic applications.
Researchers induce pseudogap state in material and subject it to laser pulses, inducing a temporary metallic state. The study provides new insight into superconductors and offers the possibility of controlling their characteristics through laser light.
Researchers at MIT have created a drone lighting system that automatically assumes the right positions for photographic lighting effects. The system uses an autonomous helicopter to produce rim lighting, adjusting in real-time to capture delicate edge effects.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a new holography technology based on nanoantennas, enabling dynamic and complex three-dimensional projections without replotted images. The technology has vast applications in security, medical, recreational, and scientific research.
Researchers developed nanojuice to improve non-invasive gut imaging, providing real-time views of the small intestine. This technique may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Researchers at UT Austin have created a nonlinear metasurface that can reflect radiation at twice the input light frequency, producing approximately 1 million times larger frequency-doubled output. The new metamaterial has potential applications in advanced laser systems for chemical sensing and biomedical research.
Researchers at TUM and UT Austin developed nonlinear mirrors that reflect frequency-doubled output using input light intensity as small as a laser pointer. The new materials produce approximately one million times higher intensity of frequency-doubled output compared to traditional materials.
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.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California detected a force of approximately 42 yoctonewtons using a unique optical trapping system and ultracold atoms. The detection surpassed the Standard Quantum Limit, achieving sensitivity consistent with theoretical predictions.
KIT scientists create a volume in which an object can be hidden from touching, similar to a pea under the mattress of a princess. The mechanical invisibility cloak is based on a metamaterial structure that directs forces away from the object, making it invisible to touch.
Researchers have discovered a new quantum mechanism that triggers the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies, enabling unprecedented efficiency. This breakthrough uses asymmetric 2D nanostructures to enhance light emission in a challenging spectral range.
Researchers at Princeton University have created a laser system that unexpectedly shuts off when more power is applied, offering new possibilities for controlling optical systems. This phenomenon is made possible by the careful distribution of energy loss within an overall system being amplified.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a system of coupled lasers that exhibit paradoxical behavior. By adding or reducing energy, the lasers can switch each other on or off, making them suitable for building logical circuits using light.
Researchers at the University of Bonn developed a novel camera system that can see around corners without mirrors, using diffusely reflected light to reconstruct object shapes. The system records time-resolved data from light echoes, which brings valuable information about object shape and appearance.
Researchers at EPFL create a novel method to design and optimize photonic crystal nanocavities, which can control the flow of light at the nanometer scale. The approach significantly speeds up the development of optical circuits, with quality factors exceeding one million.
A new type of sensor has been developed at the Vienna University of Technology using miniaturized laser technology, allowing for the analysis of liquids and gases. The sensor can measure the composition of liquids with an accuracy of 0.06%, opening up potential applications in chemical, biological, and medical analytics.
Researchers have developed two new wearable devices that use scattered light to monitor glucose concentration and dehydration levels. The devices also track pulse with reduced sensitivity to errors, making them suitable for health and fitness tracking. They are the first non-invasive devices to directly measure glucose concentration.
University of Michigan researchers have developed a polariton laser that can emit coherent light, works at room temperature, and requires significantly less power. The device is the most real-world ready of its kind and has potential applications in medical devices, treatments, and more.