Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
Researchers use a tightly focused, low-power laser beam to optically scan the area and identify target locations by minute changes in scattered light. This technique solves the 'needle in a haystack' problem of nanoscale microscopy, finding nanoscale objects with precision.
Edo Waks and Ian Spielman, JQI fellows, receive PECASE awards for innovative research in nanophotonics and quantum simulation. The prestigious award recognizes their commitment to scientific leadership and community outreach.
Scientists have observed relativistic transparency in plasma, allowing it to act as a fast optical switch. This phenomenon enables the flow of light through previously opaque material in less than a tenth of a picosecond.
Duke University engineers have designed and demonstrated microscopically small lasers integrated with thin film-light guides on silicon that could replace copper in a host of electronic products. The new approach solves some of the unanswered riddles facing scientists trying to create and control light at such a miniscule scale.
Research highlights include colorful connections in the brain, disease-detecting lights for osteoporosis monitoring, and direct laser cooling of molecules. New techniques like Raman spectroscopy and two-photon microscopy are also being showcased.
Scientists at UC Irvine have designed a new device using spatial frequency domain imaging to image cancerous lesions and monitor the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for skin cancer. The device, which uses an array of LEDs, can provide detailed images of the biochemistry of tissue, enabling targeted treatment.
Scientists have developed an improved laser-based technique to detect traces of key molecules in a gas, including greenhouse gases and pollutants. The new technology can identify a wider variety of molecules with lower concentration levels than before, making it suitable for applications such as breath analysis and atmospheric monitoring.
Researchers at Queen's University have discovered the molecular cooperation that enables light-controlled drug release and shape changes in glass and plastic. The findings could one day be used to facilitate medicinal drug distribution by allowing doctors to control the time and rate at which drugs are delivered into the body.
Researchers have developed nano-sized optical gyroscopes that can fit on the head of a pin, improving rotation rates and accuracy in smartphones and medical equipment. These devices will enable enhanced tracking capabilities, including GPS system improvements and navigation for small capsules within the body.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have invented a method to change the color of single photons in a fiber optic cable, enabling faster data transfer and more secure communication. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize quantum computing and internet security.
Researchers have successfully slipped silver nanoparticles cloaked in HIV protein into the nucleus of cells, where they can detect subtle light signals and deliver payloads. This innovation has potential implications for disease treatment and basic scientific research.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a nano antenna that can concentrate light by a factor of 1,000. By measuring the electrical current flowing between two gold tips separated by a nanoscale gap, they were able to determine the amplification of light intensity in the gap.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Physics of Light create device generating true random numbers using vacuum fluctuations, crucial for secure encryption and economic simulations. The device exploits quantum mechanics' inherent randomness to produce unpredictable outcomes.
Researchers have created a new mid-infrared supercontinuum laser that can blind heat-seeking missiles from a distance of 1.8 miles away, providing a promising solution for helicopter protection in combat zones. The technology is being commercialized through Omni Sciences, Inc., which has received $1 million in grants from the Army and ...
Physicists at NIST developed a new sensor to detect forces at the scale of yoctonewtons using trapped ions. The sensor achieved a measurement speed of 390 yoctonewtons in one second, outperforming previous records by an order of magnitude.
Researchers at NIST have created an optical Schrödinger's cat by detecting three photons simultaneously, a state predicted in quantum optics for years. This achievement enhances prospects for manipulating light to improve measurement techniques and contribute to quantum computing and communications.
Researchers at NIST create a laser power detector coated with the world's darkest material, a forest of carbon nanotubes that reflects almost no light. The new detector will be used for precision measurements in advanced technologies like optical communications and solar energy conversion.
Researchers at University of Rochester developed a unique light-controlled membrane that can block gas flow when ultraviolet light is applied and allow it to flow when purple light is used. This innovation has potential applications in controlled drug delivery and industrial processing tasks.
JILA's technique uses infrared laser light to quickly and precisely heat 'nano bathtubs'—tiny sample containers—for microscopy studies of single molecules and nanoparticles. The new method enables fast, noncontact heating of very small samples, enabling new experiments with single molecules.
Scientists have engineered a variant of fluorescent protein from reef coral to observe protein movement in live cells. The newly created mIrisFP has excellent properties as a genetically encoded marker protein, enabling the study of dynamical processes within live cells at high spatial resolution.
Researchers used an XFEL to probe nitrogen gas at up to 8 keV, a record-high X-ray energy. The study revealed the interaction between nitrogen gas and the XFEL beam, including electron dynamics and space charge effects. Understanding these dynamics will change our understanding of chemistry, physics, and materials science.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes establish a connection between brain circuits and Parkinson's disease symptoms, identifying a potential treatment strategy. By activating specific pathways, they can mimic Parkinson's-like symptoms and even restore motor function in mice with dopamine deficiency.
Researchers have created a nano-sized light mill motor that can control rotational speed and direction by tuning incident light waves. The motor's power density is high, and it can be used to drive micro-scale objects, enabling new applications in nanotechnology and biology.
Scientists measure delay of tens of attoseconds between light pulse and electron emission, challenging existing models. The findings have important implications for simulating electronic properties of materials.
Researchers used ultra-short time measurement technology to test the assumption that electrons leave atoms immediately after photon impact. They found a small but measurable time delay of about twenty attoseconds, indicating electrons 'hesitate' before leaving.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine used a laser beam to activate a protein that makes a cluster of fruit fly cells behave like a school of fish, following the lead of one stimulated with light. This study holds potential importance for understanding embryonic development and tumor metastasis.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a way to control the curvature of Airy beams, which can be used to sort molecules according to size or quality. This technology has immediate applications in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Researchers at NIST and JILA developed a new type of pulsed laser that excels at not producing light, generating sustained streams of dark pulses. These ultrashort pulses are suitable for measurements on short timescales and may be useful in signal processing.
A new concept of optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) based on a chaotic light correlation method has been developed, achieving distance-independent resolutions of up to 25 km. This technique uses broadband chaotic light generated from a laser diode to improve the accuracy of fiber fault location.
Researchers will present advances in laser cooling, 3D laser inscribing, and ultra-short light pulses at the CLEO/QELS conference. The Linac Coherent Light Source, producing short X-ray pulses millions of times brighter than others, has enabled scientists to probe matter at atomic scale.
Research in unconventional polarization states of light has the potential to affect a broad range of disciplines. Beams with certain geometrical symmetries can create small focal regions of axially polarized light, essential for interacting with nanostructures and coupling to fields tightly confined to metal surfaces.
The US Department of Energy has granted approval for the second X-ray laser facility at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, building on the success of the first hard X-ray laser. The new facility will provide improved control over the X-ray beam and enable multiple research groups to work simultaneously.
Dr. Rashid Zia's cutting-edge research aims to enhance higher order emission processes in lanthanide ions, improving Air Force mission and commercial technologies. His work has the potential to impact industries such as color television, fluorescent lighting, and solid-state laser systems.
Researchers have created nanoscale cantilevers that can image individual proteins as they function on cell surfaces without causing damage. The new detection mechanism enables high-resolution imaging in a liquid environment, paving the way for studying biological systems and complex nanostructures.
Researchers investigating lunar reflector performance report decreased signal strength during full moon, suggesting dust may be a culprit. The issue arises from uneven heating of glass cubes left behind by Apollo astronauts, which distorts the shape of reflected laser pulses.
The Optical Dynamic Detection (ODD) solution uses precise laser pulses to detect explosive materials, providing greater accuracy than spectroscopy-based methods. By amplifying return signals and reducing background noise, ODD helps identify threats more effectively.
Physicists at the University of Maryland have developed a novel approach to manipulate quantum bits using an optical frequency comb. The technique allows for the creation of coherent pairs of frequencies, reducing the need for physically adjusting components and increasing the versatility of qubit manipulation.
Princeton engineers developed a technique to clarify images using rays of light scattered by clouds, human tissue, or murky water. The method, known as stochastic resonance, can potentially improve signal technologies such as sonograms, radar systems, and night vision goggles.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck successfully created a single-atom laser, demonstrating both classical and quantum mechanical properties. The experiment showed that by tuning the coupling between the atom and cavity mode, stimulated emission could be achieved despite the atom's weak amplification ability.
Materials with 7-fold rotation symmetry have not yet been observed in nature, but researchers have discovered the reason why. The density of flower-shaped nuclei plays a crucial role in determining the rotation symmetry of colloidal particles, explaining why materials with certain symmetries are rare in nature.
Researchers developed tiny gold-coated particles that can be implanted into cells, enabling remote disease diagnosis and tracking through laser-induced vibrations of proteins. These probes use different vibrational frequencies to detect disease progression.
Researchers successfully controlled x-ray pulses using laser light, enabling new possibilities for quantum information storage and processing. This breakthrough has the potential to shape x-ray pulses on a femtosecond time scale.
Dr. Jacob Scheuer's new invention transmits binary lock-and-key information in light pulses, ensuring secure communication without eavesdropping. The system uses a special laser to send different signals that can be distinguished by the sender and receiver but appear identical to an attacker.
Researchers at the University of Florida have successfully ignited nanoparticles using a weak laser, with potential applications in cancer treatment, explosives, and precise lithography. The discovery could lead to more efficient and environmentally friendly technologies in various industries.
The laser has become a crucial tool in modern chemistry, used to study climate change, ultrafast chemical reactions, and disease-related proteins. Scientists are developing new laser-based systems for detecting nerve agents and diagnosing hard-to-treat diseases.
Home-use IPL systems emit lower fluence rates and have physical safety features to minimize optical hazard. NPL's research confirms their safety, building on earlier work on dosimetry needs for salon-based devices.
The device can measure a high capacity waveform up to 10,000 times faster than existing technologies, overcoming limitations of amplitude and phase measurement. This enables the packing of more information into optical signals, paving the way for ultra-high-speed communications and LiDAR systems.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in developing practical phonon lasers, which could enable new medical imaging devices and precision measurement tools. Two separate teams, one in the US and the UK, have reported advancements in phonon laser development, using different approaches to overcome technical challenges.
University of Colorado at Boulder physicists Margaret Murnane and Henry Kapteyn have made breakthroughs in building a tabletop X-ray laser that can provide super-high resolution imaging. This technology has the potential to improve medical diagnoses, such as detecting small cancers, by thousands of times.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a system using gold nanoparticles that can kill cancer cells by targeting their nuclei, preventing cell division and inducing apoptosis. This breakthrough offers a promising treatment for cancers in areas inaccessible to traditional laser-based therapies.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have successfully stacked up to two photons on top of one another using quantum entanglement, enabling the creation of various quantum states of light. This achievement brings physicists closer to developing new capabilities in measurement instruments, computers, and secure communication systems.
Researchers at MIT have successfully built a germanium laser that can emit wavelengths useful for optical communications. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of light-based computers that could process data more efficiently than current electrical systems.
Researchers create a high-speed optical system using multi-element transmitters and receivers for secure, low-interference communications in restricted areas like hospitals and aircraft. The system can transmit at gigabit per second speeds over gigahertz bands.
Researchers at the University of Utah have found that natural cavities in polymers can act like mirrors in light-emitting materials, generating 'random' lasers. This discovery could lead to new applications in cancer diagnosis and other fields.
A team of physicists from Bristol, Glasgow and Southampton universities have successfully created knots in optical vortices using holograms designed with knot theory. This new research demonstrates the physical application of an abstract branch of mathematics previously considered impossible to apply.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed compact mid-infrared laser diodes that generate more light than heat, achieving efficiencies of 53 percent. This breakthrough paves the way for applications such as remote sensing and hazardous chemical detection.
Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools that can reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. These 'super silencers' exert exquisite control over the timing of shutdown, allowing researchers to study neural circuits and potentially treat disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and ...
Researchers at Washington University have developed a sensor that can detect and measure single nanoparticles using an ultra-high-Q microresonator. The sensor exploits the phenomenon of whispering-gallery mode resonance, where the light wave interacts with the particle on the ring's surface.
Researchers discover ultrafast population switching of quantum dots in a structured vacuum, enabling photonic computers that are hundreds of times faster than electronic counterparts. The breakthrough could lead to compact computers without heat dissipation issues.
Researchers from Harvard University and their international team have developed compact, multibeam lasers that can emit multiple wavelengths in the infrared spectrum. This adaptable technology has potential use in applications such as remote chemical sensing, optical wireless, and interferometry.