Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
Researchers have developed a novel, non-invasive method to measure blood sugar levels using photoacoustic spectroscopy and infrared laser light. The technology has the potential to make diabetes management easier and more reliable without pricking or using test strips.
Researchers from the University of York and St Andrews have created a new structure called a quasi-random structure, which combines the advantages of quasi-crystals with periodic structures to achieve highly efficient broad-band light trapping in thin films.
MIT researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough by coupling photons and electrons in a topological insulator material for the first time. This novel approach enables the creation of materials whose electronic properties can be 'tuned' in real-time using precise laser beams.
Researchers at NIST developed a novel method for measuring laser power by reflecting light off a mirrored scale, simplifying calibration and enabling on-site measurements. The technique enables accurate and fast measurement of high-power lasers with reduced costs.
Theoretical physicists use numerical simulations to analyze the uniformity of irradiation at thermonuclear fusion reaction, with potential applications to the Orion facility's high-power laser beams. The approach demonstrates a reduction in non-uniformity by 50% and 35% for elliptical and circular intensity profiles respectively.
A UT Arlington professor is working on a new system that could be used in various communications and computer devices, using lasers on silicon chips to increase capacity and speed. The research aims to advance the use of lasers on silicon, which has the potential to lower energy consumption and improve data transfer rates.
Researchers have mapped and modeled EUV emission from a droplet-based plasma, uncovering a previously untapped source of extreme ultraviolet light. This discovery could improve the efficiency of semiconductor lithography, enabling the creation of smaller and more complex integrated circuits.
Researchers developed a pollutant detector using a narrow stream of unconfined water, which acts as a waveguide to channel fluorescent light signals. The device was highly sensitive, detecting pollutant levels even lower than EPA standards and distinguishing between harmless and hazardous bacteria.
Researchers at University of California, Santa Barbara, have devised a new method for creating high-power white light using a laser diode in combination with inorganic phosphors. The resulting lighting options are high in efficiency and have been shown to achieve a luminous flux comparable to current high-brightness white LEDs.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a biological imaging system that can track blood flow in the lab and clinic using a webcam and laser pointer. The new system is significantly cheaper than existing equipment and has potential applications for imaging changes in tissues, including those outside the lab.
Researchers at Caltech developed a miniature chip-based resonator that stabilizes electrical currents and optical signals, paving the way for improvements in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. The new technology uses an Archimedean spiral to minimize energy surges and improve frequency stability.
Researchers at Harvard University and MIT have successfully bound photons together to form a new type of matter, dubbed photonic molecules. This breakthrough challenges traditional understanding of light as massless particles that don't interact with each other.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed nano-antennas that can detect molecules resonating in the infrared spectrum. The antennas concentrate long-wavelength light into ultra-subwavelength volumes, enhancing detection of small materials with standard IR spectrometers.
A University of Calgary research team has developed a new approach to enhance quantum-based secure communication systems, overcoming a major vulnerability that threatened the security of QKD-secured networks. The new protocol allows for secure key distribution over long distances without compromising secrecy.
Scientists at DESY's FLASH facility have successfully created an X-ray laser based on a solid, enabling the analysis of sensitive samples without destruction. The method utilizes the principle of stimulated emission to overcome the Auger process, which previously hindered the creation of compact X-ray lasers.
Researchers at Helmholtz Association's HZB have identified a new area of application for X-rays in solid state physics, leveraging nonlinear physical effects. They observed the interaction between soft X-rays and solids, enabling enhanced color analysis and structural properties correlation.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a nanostructured hologram that controls the intensity, phase, and polarization of light rays. This innovation enables the creation of radially polarized beams, which are crucial for high-resolution lithography and particle manipulation.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have successfully levitated nanodiamonds in free space using a technique called laser trapping. The experiment enables the measurement of photoluminescence from defects inside the diamonds, which could lead to breakthroughs in quantum information and computing.
Researchers use nanoplasmonics to modulate light on the nanometer scale, but controlling the beam's direction is challenging. A bubble lens overcomes this issue by reconfiguring its location, size, and shape to focus or deflect the light beam.
Researchers at HZDR and University of Regensburg have developed a fast and reliable detector for terahertz pulses using graphene. The detector can measure the arrival time of light pulses with high accuracy, covering a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to far infrared.
A Caltech team has engineered a miniature silicon system to produce squeezed light, a type of ultraquiet light useful for precise measurements. The system, which reduces quantum fluctuations, enables the creation of precision microsensors capable of beating standard limits set by quantum mechanics.
Researchers developed a fluorescent caffeine detector that lights up like a traffic light to indicate the amount of caffeine in drinks. The sensor can help prevent caffeine overdoses and is useful for detecting pollution in natural water systems.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new platform that enables dramatic manipulation of organic molecules' emission by suspending them on top of a carefully designed planar slab with a periodic array of holes. This platform has important implications for applications such as bio-imaging, bio-molecular detection and the development of o...
Researchers developed a detector that can chemically identify single molecules using terahertz radiation, enabling 'molecular imaging' at scales similar to airport screenings. The technology, featured in Nano Letters, has the potential for fundamental studies and practical applications.
Researchers have discovered a quantum unit of photon absorption, dubbed 'AQ', that is general to all 2D semiconductors. This discovery could lead to exotic new optoelectronic and photonic technologies.
Researchers have successfully documented the atomic-level mechanism of oxide material switching, which occurs in two stages and proceeds in under a picosecond. This confirms that oxides can represent an exciting alternative to semi-conductors for faster, more energy-efficient electronics.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new method to measure the optical gain of MEH-PPV, a low-cost polymer that can amplify light. The new approach uses extremely short laser pulses, reducing thermal degradation and providing more accurate results.
Researchers detect single cancer marker protein and smaller molecules without labels, shattering previous records and advancing early disease diagnostics. The novel 'whispering gallery-mode biosensing' method enables real-time detection of proteins in blood serum within minutes.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a method to steer the radiation emitted by a random laser into a pre-determined direction. This breakthrough allows for the creation of a new type of light source with potentially useful applications.
Physicists at NIST create high-Q resonators in a minute, significantly reducing production time. The technique enables the mass production of compact frequency combs for various applications.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method to trap light that could find applications in lasers, solar cells, and fiber optics. The phenomenon involves destructive interference from waves of opposite phases, blocking certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass through.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have demonstrated recording and retrieval processes of five-dimensional digital data in nanostructured glass using femtosecond laser writing. The data storage allows for unprecedented parameters, including high data capacity and thermal stability.
Researchers have developed a new method to visualize material defects in thin-film solar cells using laser light, enabling the direct mapping of defect distributions. This breakthrough could lead to improved material quality and more efficient energy production by reducing temporary traps for charge carriers.
A new laser system can analyze reflected infrared light to determine a target's chemical composition, improving military surveillance capabilities. This technology could also enhance full-body airport screening.
Researchers use silver-based nanoprobes that reflect distinct optical fingerprints when light is shined on infected samples, detecting specific genetic materials taken from human samples. This technique has the potential to provide fast and reliable information about patients at the point of care.
Researchers have achieved entanglement between light and an optical atomic coherence composed of interacting atoms in two different states, paving the way for functional multi-node quantum networks. The state-insensitive trap allowed the researchers to generate photons at a rate of 5,000 per second, enabling deterministic entanglement.
Researchers at MIT's Media Lab have developed a new approach to generating holograms that could enable the creation of color holographic-video displays. The technique uses an optical chip, resembling a microscope slide, built for about $10, which can produce high-resolution video images up to 30 times per second.
Research by Jan Simek and team finds strategic placement of rock art to reveal a cosmological puzzle mapping the prehistoric people's universe. The 'upper world' features celestial bodies, while 'middle world' represents nature, and 'lower world' is associated with darkness and death.
Researchers have developed a color sensor method using luminous bacterial proteins to detect pharmaceutical residues and pollutants in water. The method uses a red and green fluorescent dye, with the dyes shining green when present and red when not present, making it suitable for detecting a wide range of substances.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen successfully teleported quantum information between two glass containers filled with billions of caesium gas atoms. The experiments demonstrated stable results every time, paving the way for future quantum communication networks.
Researchers used laser light pulses to study aerosol and cloud processes in atmospheric conditions. The results show that high-intensity laser pulses can increase the number of ice particles in cirrus clouds by up to a factor of 100 within seconds, intensifying their optical density and making them appear brighter.
Researchers from the University of Louisville have developed new materials and production methods for commercially feasible quantum dot LEDs, increasing efficiency and color range. The innovative inkjet printing technique enables mass production, making these green lighting devices potentially affordable.
Researchers at TUM developed a new laser technology that produces compact, efficient ultrashort pulses. The technology uses a 'rainbow' buffer to reshape continuous wave output into short intense pulses, enabling applications in biomedical imaging, material processing, and communications.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new technique that allows for rapid scanning of atmospheric gases, enabling faster and more accurate detection of greenhouse gases. This innovation has the potential to improve climate science by combining high-accuracy measurements from various platforms.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully developed a new type of laser that uses electricity instead of light, requiring significantly less energy to operate. The device produces a coherent beam of light and has potential applications in various fields, including optical communication and medical surgery.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have demonstrated nanoscale alloys that emit bright near-infrared light, which could be used for cancer detection and treatment. The findings have the potential to lead to new applications in health and energy fields.
Researchers at ETH Zurich successfully demonstrate the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect using microwave photons, showcasing a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics. The experiment offers new possibilities for characterizing radiation sources and may lead to practical applications in quantum communication and information processing.
Physicists develop a guide to calculate energy level changes in atoms under optical tweezers' influence. Fictitious magnetic fields are shown to produce equivalent effects as real external fields.
A new semiconductor device has been created that can emit two distinct colors, opening up the possibility of using LEDs universally for cheap and efficient lighting. The device is more energy efficient than traditional LEDs as it emits light in a narrower spectral line.
Researchers develop method to make germanium laser-compatible through high tensile strain, enabling faster data transfer via light. The new technique could increase computer performance and revolutionize computing chip design.
Researchers have developed a spray-on mixture of carbon nanotubes and ceramic that has unprecedented ability to resist damage while absorbing laser light. The composite absorbs 97.5% of the light and tolerates 15 kilowatts of laser power per square centimeter for 10 seconds.
Scientists developed tiny devices containing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to activate brain cells with light. Using these devices, mice were taught to poke their noses through a hole in a maze, triggering the system to release dopamine and associate rewards, revealing potential for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction.
McGill researchers demonstrate ability to modulate light using laser-pulse inputs to manipulate quantum mechanical state of semiconductor nanocrystals. This breakthrough could lead to the development of optical transistors, which would enable faster and more efficient data processing in telecommunications networks.
Researchers at WashU Medicine successfully manipulate immune cells using light to move them towards a beam of light, holding potential for controlling insulin secretion or heart rate. The study uses genetic engineering techniques to introduce a light-sensitive protein into immune cells, enabling them to sense and respond to light signals.
A new camera system uses low-power infrared laser light to gather high-resolution, 3D information about objects from up to a kilometer away. The system resolves depth on the millimeter scale over long distances, making it suitable for imaging man-made targets such as moving vehicles.
Scientists have successfully controlled the flow of electrons within layers of a superconductor using terahertz flashes. This technique enables precise switching on and off of superconductivity, paving the way for new applications in information processing.
For the first time, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have successfully enabled 'bulk' silicon to emit broad-spectrum, visible light. This breakthrough enables the use of elemental silicon in both electronic and photonic components, paving the way for more efficient and integrated devices.
New simulations uncover flaw in using hollow cones to guide energetic electrons to fuel pellets for laser-driven fusion. Researchers at Ohio State University found that thicker cones hinder the process due to neutralizing effect of free electrons in dense plasma.
A recent NIST test found that nearly 90% of green laser pointers and about 44% of red pointers tested were out of compliance with federal safety regulations. The tests also showed that many commercial laser pointers emit more visible power than allowed under the Code of Federal Regulations.
Weizmann Institute researchers found that measuring a single atom's spin can collapse its superposition into one state. By adjusting the polarization of the emitted photon, they demonstrate that observers can influence the spin collapse, suggesting an 'action-at-a-distance' effect.