Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) will measure Earth's elevation with six beams, generating a more detailed portrait than the original ICESat. Scientists will track change, including melting glaciers and sea ice, using precise height measurements.
Researchers used high-powered lasers to create table-top supernovae, recreating the explosive events that occur when stars reignite or collapse. The experiments revealed irregular 'knotty' features and intense radio and X-ray emissions, confirming a theory about the interaction between magnetic fields and interstellar material.
A new laser sensing technology developed by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, can remotely sense objects across distances up to 30 feet, 10 times farther than current systems. This breakthrough technology has potential applications in self-driving cars, smartphones and interactive video games.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab discovered that certain requirements for laser pulses in emerging small-area particle accelerators can be significantly relaxed. This finding has the potential to bring about a new era of accelerators that would need just a few meters to accelerate particles to great speeds, rather than traditional accelerat...
A team of MIT researchers has successfully demonstrated a broadband wireless connection to the moon using a laser-based communication system, transmitting data at a rate of 622 megabits per second. The system, which uses multiple telescopes and amplification techniques to overcome atmospheric challenges, has the potential to enable lar...
Scientists at Vienna University of Technology create an 'optical synthesizer' that combines different frequencies to form a characteristic laser waveform, similar to music. This enables the creation of attosecond pulse radiation hundreds of times more intense than previous methods.
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a way to physically prove a 1934 theory that turned light into matter by smashing two particles of light together. The 'photon-photon collider' experiment uses existing technology to recreate a process important in the universe's first 100 seconds.
Researchers developed a new technology that can generate visible light deep within the body, activating drugs and destroying tumors. This approach could greatly expand photodynamic therapy's effectiveness, offering fewer side effects and precise targeting of cancer cells.
Researchers have developed a new concept for simplifying ultrafast lasers, enabling control over multiple parameters and excellent performance potential. The 'frequency domain optical parametric amplification' (FOPA) approach supersedes traditional time domain amplification schemes.
University of Central Florida physicists have developed a new ultrafast light source to observe electron motion in molecules, allowing scientists to understand how electrons interact with each other. This breakthrough may lead to improved efficiency in solar cells and unlock new rules for quantum mechanics.
Researchers developed a broadband imaging technique combining atomic force microscopy and infrared synchrotron light to study complex systems at the nanoscale. The new technique, SINS, enables in-depth investigation of liquid batteries, living cells, and novel materials.
Researchers have studied phytochromes, proteins that detect light and inform plant cells whether it is day or night. The discovery increases understanding of these proteins and may lead to new strategies for developing more efficient crops that can grow in low-light conditions.
Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have developed a new tool to investigate the chemistry of nature using ultrashort laser pulses. The tool allows for insights into electronic and structural dynamics of molecules and molecular complexes, revealing mechanisms of molecular processes on subpicosecond timescales.
Singlet oxygen modifies target molecules through precise location and monitoring its effects on HCN channels in open and closed states. The findings introduce a method for further exploration of singlet oxygen's role in biological processes, including memory, heart rate, pain sensation, and cancer development.
Researchers at KIT and EPFL demonstrated the use of miniaturized optical frequency comb sources for coherent data transmission in the terabit range, achieving a data rate of 1.44 terabits per second over 300 km.
Scientists at MIT and Harvard have developed a method to couple individual atoms with photons, enabling the creation of quantum switches that can transmit information. This technique allows for the scaling up of quantum computing processing available within small spaces.
Researchers developed an optical diode with nonreciprocal light transmission, eliminating backflow of light. The device enhances light transmission in one direction, leading to faster and cooler computers.
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism for using light to activate drug-delivering nanoparticles, providing precise control over the release of therapeutic substances. The method employs near-infrared light from a low-power laser to heat pockets of water within non-photo-responsive polymeric nanoparticles infused with drugs.
Researchers have developed perovskite solar cells that excel at absorbing and emitting light, with a remarkable 70% efficiency rate. These 'wonder cells' can also produce cheap lasers, opening up new applications in telecommunications and light-emitting devices.
A new system can monitor lubricating oils, hydraulic oils and other fluids in industrial installations without interruption, predicting the best time for an oil change. The compact sensor system uses optical methods to measure the oil's chemical makeup and particle loading, reducing environmental impact and unnecessary costs.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have developed a next-generation solar cell material that can also emit light, doubling its potential applications. The material, made from Perovskite, has been found to be highly luminescent and suitable for both solar energy conversion and light emission.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute discovered that imperfect nanostructures can be used to produce 'nanolasers', which is an ultimately compact and energy-efficient light source. The imperfections in photonic crystal membranes result in controlled reflections, amplifying light and enabling efficient laser production.
Researchers from the University of Michigan and Princeton have discovered a new kind of magnetic behavior that can help make nuclear fusion reactions more efficient. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in nuclear energy, as fusion generates helium without radioactive waste.
Scientists have observed phonon polaritons in van der Waals crystals, which can be tunable and long-lived, opening the door for innovative applications in nanoscale devices. The discovery uses infrared light to launch waves that travel across the crystal material, creating interference patterns.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute developed a new optomechanical method that achieves extreme precision in measuring radio waves by avoiding noise with laser light. The detector can operate at room temperature, reducing the need for expensive cooling measures.
ICFO researchers develop plasmonic nano-tweezers that trap and manipulate nano-scale objects without mechanical contact, enabling 3D displacement. This technique has potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.
Scientists used the world's most powerful X-ray laser to take snapshots of individual free molecules, overcoming hurdles in imaging single molecules. The technique enables the study of ultra-fast molecular dynamics with unprecedented precision and detail.
A team of researchers from the University at Buffalo and two Chinese universities has developed an optical nanocavity that boosts the amount of light ultrathin semiconductors absorb. The advancement could lead to more powerful photovoltaic cells, faster video cameras, and potentially aid in developing hydrogen fuel.
Researchers have developed a new optical device that can measure blood coagulation parameters in near real time, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment of bleeding patients. The device uses laser speckle rheology to detect changes in blood sample patterns, providing insights into clotting time and fibrinogen concentration.
Researchers developed a unique, compact imaging device to 'light up' malignant brain tumors using scorpion venom protein and a laser. The system consists of a special camera and an imaging agent that targets cancer cells, enabling neurosurgeons to remove more tumor and spare healthy tissue during surgery.
Researchers at Caltech have created a new laser that can carry vast amounts of information, increasing data transmission rates in optical-fiber networks. The high-coherence laser has a 20 times narrower range of frequencies than previous lasers, enabling faster and more efficient communication.
A team of Belgian researchers successfully developed a stretchable optical interconnection that can be bent and stretched without losing its light-gathering ability. The new material consists of a transparent core surrounded by a lower refractive index layer, which traps light and causes it to propagate along its length.
Researchers at NIST and JPL have designed a detector array that can extract more information than usual from single particles of light. The new device can record signal timing, enabling the use of pulse position modulation to encode multiple bits of information in space optical communications.
A team of scientists, led by Tom Murphy, found that the performance of laser-based reflectors on the Moon's surface is negatively affected during full moon nights due to accumulated moon dust and heating. The effect was later confirmed during a lunar eclipse in December 2010.
Scientists discovered that Amazon forest canopy greening during the dry season is not caused by biophysical changes, but rather by shadowing within the canopy and satellite observation artifacts. Correcting for this issue reveals a relatively constant greenness and canopy structure throughout the dry season.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a new type of laser that can detect very low concentrations of gases in exhaled breath and the atmosphere. The laser's high power and efficiency make it suitable for detecting gases such as methane and ethane, which are important in global warming.
A new approach to produce transparent projection screens has been developed by a MIT team, enabling wide viewing angle, scalability to large size, and low cost. The technology uses color-sensitive nanoparticles to create a material that lets most ambient light pass through while scattering specific colors for high-resolution images.
A team at TUM has developed a glass-based detector that accurately determines the form of light waves in individual femtosecond pulses. The new detector simplifies measurements of ultrafast physical processes and enables the generation of stable attosecond light flashes with controlled shape.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that modeling secondary light emission as Raman scattering can predict its dependence on laser power and wavelength, leading to improved biological and medical imaging modalities. This breakthrough has significant implications for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
Researchers have developed a new holographic process that utilizes an image-stabilized X-ray camera to improve imaging efficiency and resolution. The method, which uses a Fresnel zone plate to increase brightness, enables the study of fast dynamic processes at the nanoscale.
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive system to detect individual molecules using a 'golden trap' technique. By creating a customized environment with gold nanoparticles and DNA, they can capture and identify single molecules, opening up possibilities for early disease detection in medical diagnostics.
Researchers from the University of Houston have discovered a catalyst that can quickly generate hydrogen from water using sunlight, producing twice as much hydrogen as oxygen. The technology has potential as a clean and renewable source of energy, but its efficiency rate is still too low to be commercially viable at present.
Researchers at Purdue University and Macquarie University have developed a way to control the length of time light from luminescent nanocrystals lingers, exponentially boosting detection capabilities. This technology can identify thousands of different target molecules simultaneously, far surpassing current limits.
Pretreating intradermal vaccination with near-infrared laser light improves vaccine effectiveness by increasing immune system activity and survival rates in a mouse model. The treatment also increases antibody production and dendritic cell concentrations, indicating a safe alternative to chemical adjuvants.
Researchers at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics have developed a system to precisely measure the duration of energetic electron pulses using laser fields. This allows for the investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms and molecules, providing insights into nature's smallest scales.
Researchers used ultrashort laser pulses to study how bacteria and algae efficiently gather light, suggesting that quantum interactions play a subtle role in energy transfers. The exact mechanism remains unclear, but understanding the role of quantum coherence may help develop more efficient solar technologies.
Scientists have demonstrated laser action in semiconductor nanowires that emit light at technologically useful wavelengths and operate at room temperature. The nanowire lasers could represent the next step in developing smaller, faster, more energy-efficient sources of light for various applications.
A new method to detect and identify molecules has been discovered by Richard Martel's team, enabling the use of optical scanners to pinpoint particles. The technique uses nanoprobes composed of dye molecules aligned inside carbon nanotubes, which amplify Raman signals up to a million times stronger than other molecules.
Researchers have created a way to measure Bose-Einstein condensates, the coldest objects in the universe, by canceling out light damage. This allows for longer imaging and potentially indefinite measurement, enabling further study of BECs.
Researchers at UNL's Extreme Light Laboratory developed a novel method to generate research-quality X-rays using a 'tabletop' laser, increasing accessibility to the technology. The new device produces high-energy X-rays with potential applications in Homeland Security, medical imaging, and scientific research.
Researchers from HZDR simulated a plasma jet at high resolution, following the electrons in the jet. The simulation used enormous computing power to analyze billions of particles, enabling comparison with astronomical observations.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new hologram technology using tiny nanoantennas that can control light with unprecedented efficiency. The metasurface, thousands of V-shaped nanoantennas, enables the creation of ultra-efficient devices for sensing, displays and information processing.
Physicists at the University of Warsaw and Hanover demonstrate that experimentally available squeezed states are optimal for improving the precision of measurements in gravitational wave detectors. This breakthrough improves sensitivity by up to 30%, allowing for more accurate detection of subtle spacetime vibrations.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a technique to image individual carbon nanotubes, allowing for the characterization of their electronic and optical properties. This breakthrough enables the identification of specific species of nanotubes in functional devices, crucial for advancing nanotube technology.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed polymers that 'snap' when triggered by light, converting light energy into mechanical work. This phenomenon enables flexible devices with potential applications in robotics and biomedical engineering.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are developing a new method to deliver genes that allow expression of light-sensitive proteins, enabling optogenetic stimulation. This technique holds promise for treating neurological disorders and understanding brain function.
Physicists at NIST create a compact atomic clock design that relies on cold rubidium atoms, promising improved precision and stability. The new design has the potential to be smaller and more precise than existing chip-scale atomic clocks.
University of Helsinki researchers have developed photochemically active polymers that can switch from a trans conformation to a cis conformation using light. This phenomenon allows for the creation of complex patterns and designs in liquids, opening up new possibilities for materials science and optics.
Researchers have achieved a quadruple intensity increase in terahertz quantum cascade laser, producing one watt of radiation. The new design uses two symmetrical lasers joined together, increasing the number of emitted photons and efficiency.
A Sandia-led team has created a tunable plasmonic crystal that can transmit terahertz light at varying frequencies, increasing bandwidth in high-speed communication networks. The crystal's ability to direct light like a photonic crystal, combined with its sub-wavelength size, hybridizes the two concepts.