Researchers at NIST have developed a novel method for generating superluminal light pulses through four-wave mixing, which can be used to improve communication timing and investigate quantum correlations. The technique introduces cleaner, less noisy pulses with increased speed, potentially enabling faster-than-light information transfer.
Scientists have extended the trapped particles' useful life more than tenfold by using a refined technique for trapping and manipulating nanoparticles. The new approach, which involves a control and feedback system that nudges the nanoparticle only when needed, increases the lifetime of the particle while reducing its tendency to wander.
Physicists create isolated attosecond pulses using a new method dubbed the "attosecond lighthouse" effect, which can help confirm theories of electron motion and yield insights into chemical reactions. The technique has several advantages over previous methods, including ease of implementation and minimal rotation required.
A new prototype technology demonstrates all three primary laser colors coming from one material. This breakthrough could lead to making products such as high-performance digital displays that employ a variety of laser colors.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and other institutions discovered that coupling two micro-lasers can lead to a total shutdown of light emission, defying the expectation that more energy would increase brightness
Researchers developed a new way to rapidly create single photons by exciting ultra-cold rubidium gas with lasers. This allows for the reliable production of single photons with well-known properties, important for various research areas including quantum information systems and studying dynamics and disorder in physical systems.
The NIST mini-sensor successfully measured alpha waves in the brain and signals resulting from hand stimulation, verifying its potential for biomedical applications. It may be useful in magnetoencephalography (MEG), a noninvasive procedure measuring magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.
The new laser design relies on a million rubidium atoms doing synchronized line dances to produce dim but brighter laser light. The superradiant laser's stability is less sensitive to mirror motion, making it potentially 1,000-fold more stable than conventional lasers.
Researchers created light at multiple frequencies by mixing high- and low-frequency lasers, producing new colors. The phenomenon has potential applications in increasing data transfer speed and communication.
Photoacoustic tomography allows scientists to see deep beneath the skin with high contrast, revealing tissue oxygen use and cancer biomarkers. The technique enables non-invasive imaging for breast cancer staging, early chemotherapy response monitoring, melanoma detection, and gastrointestinal tract visualization.
Researchers at MIT Media Lab have developed a new imaging system that can produce recognizable 3-D images of objects outside its line of sight by using femtosecond laser pulses and analyzing reflected light. The system has potential applications in emergency response, vehicle navigation, and medical devices.
Researchers at CU-Boulder and NIST used X-ray lasers to study magnetism in nickel and iron atoms, finding that each metal behaves differently. The findings could lead to optimized optical energy delivery for hard drive performance.
The Optics Express Focus Issue on Modular Ultrafast Lasers showcases state-of-the-art developments in femtosecond lasers, enabling new applications in biology, medicine, chemistry, and energy research. Key findings include the generation of broad-bandwidth frequency combs for precision metrology and spectroscopy.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new method to create three-dimensional patterns of silver dots using a femtosecond laser. This technique advances nanoscale metal lithography and enables the creation of bulk metamaterials with unique optical properties.
Researchers have developed an ultrafast method to track structural changes in solid materials during phase transitions. This technique sheds new light on vanadium dioxide's fast transformation between transparent and reflective phases. The study provides valuable insights into designing high-speed optical switches using this material.
Researchers at University of East Anglia will use a new ultrafast laser to study molecular energy transfer and design nanomachines and solar collectors. The equipment supports 2D electronic spectroscopy experiments to investigate the link between light-driven processes and molecular architecture.
UB researchers develop one-step method to fabricate rainbow-colored polymer with extraordinary properties, reflecting many different wavelengths of light. The material could form basis of handheld multispectral imaging devices for applications in home improvement and biomedical imaging.
A new technique, virtual ghost imaging (VGI), enables imaging even under adverse conditions by harnessing the properties of entangled photons. Researchers used a Bessel beam to create VGI images despite obstacles such as clouds, heat distortion, and offsets.
Researchers at NCAR are developing prototype devices that can almost instantly measure large areas of snow using light pulses, satellite signals, and other technologies. These devices have the potential to provide a global picture of snow depth and improve weather forecasts.
Researchers create comprehensive 3-D map of earthquake zone using LiDAR technology, revealing details of fault ruptures and deformation. The study provides insights into how earthquakes change the landscape, shedding light on minor faults that contribute to major earthquakes.
A NIST biophysicist and CU collaborator developed a microfluidic system that records biochemical reactions over milliseconds to seconds in living human cells modified as FRET sensors. The system measures sensor signals at two points in time at a rate of up to 15 cells per second, enabling the study of protein folding or neural activity.
A team of UC San Diego researchers created the smallest room-temperature nanolaser to date, as well as a highly efficient, thresholdless laser that funnels all its photons into lasing without waste. These breakthroughs could enable the development of future optical circuits packed onto tiny computer chips.
Researchers at DESY have successfully made atomic nuclei transparent using X-ray light, a crucial step towards developing quantum computers. This achievement demonstrates the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in atomic nuclei and has significant implications for the future of quantum computing.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed crystalline materials that allow optical fibers to have integrated, high-speed electronic functions. The breakthrough enables faster and more efficient technologies in telecommunications, laser technology, and remote-sensing devices.
Researchers at JILA have created the first 'frequency comb' in the extreme ultraviolet band of the spectrum, allowing for precise measurements and unlocking new scientific avenues. This breakthrough enables the development of 'nuclear clocks' and studies of previously unexplored behavior in atoms and molecules.
Rice University researchers have successfully observed superfluorescence in a solid-state material, creating a coherent burst of light. The team used high-intensity laser pulses and strong magnetic fields to create the conditions for this phenomenon, which occurs when electron-hole pairs cooperate.
Researchers created an atomic X-ray laser by removing electrons from neon gas atoms, creating a 'domino effect' that amplified the laser light. The new technology fulfills a 45-year-old prediction and could lead to breakthroughs in medicine, devices, and materials.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have created the shortest, purest X-ray laser pulses ever achieved, enabling ultrafast reactions to be seen in detail. This achievement fulfills a 1967 prediction and opens doors for new scientific discoveries.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method for cooling semiconductor membranes using lasers. By heating the material, they were able to cool its fluctuations to minus 269 degrees C.
Robert Alfano, CUNY Distinguished Professor of Science and Engineering at CCNY, receives the Britton Chance Biomedical Optics Award for developing non-invasive optical biopsy methods that provide molecular information on cancer cells. His techniques can eliminate wait times and reduce physical trauma of surgery.
A new genre of medical imaging technology uses optical techniques to peer below the skin and through muscle and bone, revealing body structures. Devices such as blood vessel mappers and cancer detectors are already in use or in development, providing non-invasive views for diagnosis and study.
The Earth's rotational axis fluctuates due to gravitational forces and atmospheric pressure. By building a ring laser at the Wettzell observatory, scientists have successfully captured these movements, corroborating Chandler and annual wobble measurements.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed nanoantennas that precisely manipulate light, allowing for the alteration of its phase and propagation direction. This enables potential applications in steering and shaping laser beams, nanocircuits for computers, and powerful lenses for microscopes.
Researchers developed a nanowire-based optical probe for single-cell endoscopy, overcoming the diffraction barrier in visible light microscopy. The endoscope can deliver genes, proteins, or therapeutic drugs into cells without damaging them.
A new technique developed by MIT researchers allows for the production of complex shapes on microchips, enabling further leaps in computational power. By combining interference patterns and photochromic materials, the technique can produce features one-eighth the size of traditional photolithography.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis successfully synthesized a chlorosome component, a giant assembly of pigment molecules, and studied its self-assembly properties. The findings suggest that synthetic pigments could be easier to incorporate into solar devices than biomimetics made of proteins.
A team from RIT and UB is simulating laser imaging for NASA's ICESat-2 mission to better interpret changes in polar ice. The technology will create three-dimensional renderings of ice sheets and glaciers, allowing scientists to measure annual changes in ice-sheet thickness with high accuracy.
Researchers have optimized a type of optical resonator to boost infrared signals to higher-energy ultraviolet beams using low-power nonlinear processes. This enables the creation of low-cost, wavelength-tunable ultraviolet sources with applications in chemical detection, medical imaging and fine lithography.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered that blocking small holes in a metal film enhances light transmission by up to 70%. The technique challenges common assumptions in optics and could have significant implications for ultrasensitive detectors. Further investigation is needed to apply this finding to various applications.
Researchers at Stanford University have created a single-mode light-emitting diode (LED) that is thousands of times more energy efficient than laser-based systems. The device can transmit data at 10 billion bits per second and operates at room temperature, making it a major step forward for on-chip computer data transmission.
Researchers suggest looking for artificial illumination on distant planets as they orbit their stars, which could provide a measurable signal. This technique relies on the assumption that intelligent life uses Earth-like technologies and could potentially spot alien cities using future generations of telescopes.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new material that absorbs a wide range of wavelengths, enabling more efficient solar cells. The innovative trapezoid shape could be replicated in semiconducting materials to lead to thinner, lower-cost, and more efficient solar technology.
NASA is studying three experimental methods for capturing and transporting particles using laser light, including optical vortex and solenoid beams. The goal is to develop a system that can collect extraterrestrial samples more efficiently and reduce mission costs.
Using metamaterials to collect and transmit single photons, researchers aim to encode complex information on individual particles of light. This technology could significantly improve data security for the military and other high-stakes applications.
Researchers at NIST have developed a compact laser frequency comb, the first to use a cavity made of fused silica. The micro-comb is about the size of a shoebox and relies on a low-power laser and the cavity's unusual properties. It has wide spacing between teeth, allowing scientists to easily measure and manipulate them.
A recent study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories found that diode lasers can produce high-quality white light comparable to LEDs, which may lead to new lighting technologies. The research used a test involving volunteers and different lighting sources, including LED bulbs, incandescent lights, and diode laser combinations.
Researchers have developed a compact Raman spectrograph that can monitor blood sugar levels without daily finger pricks. The new design is five to 20 times smaller than previous models, enabling the creation of portable devices that could also detect other disease markers and identify cancerous tissue.
A Purdue University and NIST team developed a microring resonator that converts continuous laser light into numerous ultrashort pulses, enabling applications in advanced sensors, communications systems, and laboratory instruments. The device uses nonlinear interaction to generate frequencies with equal spacing.
Scientists directly observe quantum-correlated particle-hole pairs in a one-dimensional optical lattice, allowing them to unravel a hidden order in the crystal. The work reveals fluctuations at absolute zero temperature and opens new ways to characterize novel quantum phases of matter.
Cornell researchers demonstrate ability to cloak a singular event in time using light and optical fibers. A brief bubble in the light flow conceals the fact that an event occurred, lasting only a fraction of a second.
Researchers at Duke University propose harnessing gold nanoparticles' unique optical properties to flag brain tumors. The team synthesized rod-shaped nanoparticles with varying sizes, which displayed different optical properties and could be tuned to scatter specific light frequencies.
Researchers at Yale University created two lasers that use short-range order to control light, producing brilliant colors like a bluebird's wings. The bio-inspired technology could lead to more efficient solar cells and long-lasting paint, with potential applications in cosmetics and textiles.
Researchers at Caltech have successfully cooled a miniature mechanical object to its lowest possible energy state using laser light, paving the way for the development of exquisitely sensitive detectors and quantum experiments. The achievement uses optical light to extract phonons from the system, creating an efficient optomechanical t...
Researchers from PTB and Hanover have created a novel laser cooling method using a single laser source to bring a magnesium ion to a standstill. This technique allows for more precise measurements of the fine-structure constant, potentially resolving contradictions in astronomical data comparisons.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new device that can trap tightly and efficiently, eliminating the problem of overheating in traditional optical tweezers. The new plasmonic nanotweezers use light from a laser to create strong forces on nanoscale particles.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a nanoscale nonlinear optical device that can be controlled electronically, offering potential applications in data communications and information processing. The device uses plasmonics to intensify light and produce a powerful electrical field.
A team of researchers has proposed a method to harness parabolic mirrors to drive solar-powered lasers, achieving an impressive 35% conversion rate. The new solar lasers would concentrate light with a small parabolic mirror, strike a ceramic disk, and emit laser light of a specific wavelength.
Researchers from Max Planck Society and Leibniz University Hannover have successfully applied the 'squeezed light' method to improve the sensitivity of the GEO600 gravitational wave detector. This new technology reduces shot noise by a factor of two, allowing for more accurate measurements of tiny changes in space-time.
Researchers achieve precise control over ultrashort light pulses, enabling the manipulation of electron motion in atoms and molecules. This breakthrough enables new tools for studying sub-atomic processes and understanding atomic interactions.
Researchers have measured the lifetime of an extremely stable energy level of magnesium atoms with great precision, achieving a record-breaking 2050 seconds. This is the longest lifetime ever measured in a laboratory and has significant implications for the development of ultra-precise atomic clocks.