Overcoming the limits of resolution
Stefan Hell's STED microscope enables nanoscale imaging, achieving resolutions up to 10-12 times higher than the diffraction limit. This breakthrough allows for non-invasive imaging of cells' inner structures.
Laser Light
Articles tagged with Laser Light
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UC Santa Cruz researchers achieve atomic spectroscopy on a chip
Researchers at UCSC have achieved atomic spectroscopy on a chip, enabling compact and portable applications in laser frequency stabilization and quantum information processing. The technology has potential implications for gas detection sensors and quantum optics experiments.
NIST atom interferometry displays new quantum tricks
Physicists at NIST recreate the historic double-slit experiment with atoms, demonstrating wave-particle duality and a novel technique for quantum computing. The researchers trap ultracold rubidium atoms in two overlapping lattices, creating a strobe-like effect that can be controlled.
Nanocomposite labeled cancer cells can be targeted and destroyed using lasers
Researchers have developed a nanocomposite particle that can target and destroy melanoma cancer cells using laser irradiation. The technology utilizes selectively absorbing metallic clusters to enhance light absorption within labeled cells, causing damage without affecting surrounding tissue.
'Tunable' network features coordinated frequency combs
A super stable fiber-optic network that can be tuned across a range of frequencies has been demonstrated at NIST. The network simplifies accurate comparisons of atomic clocks operating at different frequencies and locations, with potential applications in remote sensing and secure communications.
Terahertz imaging goes the distance
Scientists have successfully demonstrated a novel terahertz (THz) imaging technique that can capture high-quality images of objects from distances of up to 25 meters. The approach utilizes a quantum cascade laser and detector, which are designed to minimize water absorption in the THz spectrum.
Revamped experiment could detect elusive particle, physicists say
Physicists at the University of Florida propose a redesign to improve the detection of axions, a candidate for dark matter. The new design uses Fabry-Perot cavities to produce more photons, increasing the experiment's sensitivity by a factor of 10 compared to solar-based experiments.
Quantum dot lasers -- 1 dot makes all the difference
Researchers have built micrometer-sized solid-state lasers where a single quantum dot plays a dominant role in device performance. Correctly tuned, these microlasers switch on at energies in the sub-microwatt range, enabling highly efficient optical devices for telecommunications and computing.
Mass weddings -- NIST's new efficient 2-photon source
Physicists at NIST have devised a system to generate paired photons with great efficiency over a wide range of energy, reducing noise from extraneous photons. The new microstructured optical fiber increases light intensity, making pair production more likely.
Structural basis for photoswitching in fluorescent proteins brought into focus
Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered the structural basis for photoswitching in fluorescent proteins, allowing for control over light emission. The study revealed that inserting a single oxygen atom can delay the switch-on time from five minutes to 65 hours, enabling more precise studies within cells.
Laser goes tubing for faster body-fluid tests
Researchers at the University of Rochester have created a laser-based technique that measures multiple chemicals in body fluids in under 60 seconds, offering non-destructive and fast testing capabilities. The technique uses Raman spectroscopy and low-refractive-index tubes to improve signal strength and accuracy.
Physicists shine a light, produce startling liquid jet
Researchers at University of Chicago and Bordeaux use laser beams to generate bulk flow in fluids, a phenomenon known as radiation pressure. The technique may offer a new twist to microfluidics, allowing for rapid adjustments and more efficient chemical reactions.
2-photon absorbing molecules fabricate polymer features just 65 nanometers wide
Researchers have developed new two-photon absorbing molecules that enable the creation of polymer features as small as 65 nanometers wide using simplified lithography techniques. This breakthrough reduces the cost and complexity of fabricating nanoscale electronic and photonic devices.
Research project could help create computers that run on light
Physicists at the University of Bath are developing attosecond technology to create continuous series of light pulses that could enable precise control over electric fields. This could lead to the development of photonics-based devices, such as photonic computers, with potentially groundbreaking capabilities.
A single-photon server with just one atom
Researchers have developed a system that uses a single trapped atom to generate high-quality single photons, which can be controlled and made indistinguishable for quantum computing. The 'single-photon server' has the potential to revolutionize quantum information processing by enabling deterministic atom-photon entanglement experiments.
Holographic images use shimmer to show cellular response to anticancer drug
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a digital holographic imaging system that uses laser light to observe the effects of an anticancer drug on living tissue. The system detects changes in organelle motion within cancer cells, resulting in reduced shimmer and improved diagnostic capabilities.
Photodynamic therapy as alternative therapy for periodontal diseases may be beneficial
Researchers found that photodynamic therapy (PDT) was an effective method to minimize destruction of periodontal tissue and provided improved dentin hypersensitivity. PDT may be a preferable alternative to antibiotic therapy, which is becoming increasingly important due to rising antibiotic resistance.
New technique by CU-Boulder researchers opens door to tabletop X-ray laser
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new technique to generate laser-like X-ray beams, which could improve medical imaging resolution by a thousand times. The technique uses a powerful laser to pluck an electron from an atom and then slam it back into the same atom, generating a weak but directed beam of X-rays.
Physics graduate student creates graphene resonator
A Cornell graduate student has created a graphene resonator, a single sheet of carbon atoms just one atom thick that can be used to weigh tiny masses or measure pressure. The material is also stiff and ultrathin, making it suitable for other experiments that require a thin and light membrane.
Molecules under the hammer
Dutch researcher Rajesh S. Pillai developed a new method to visualize the microstructure of food and lipid droplets in cells using short infrared laser pulses. This technique has high promise for research into fat storage and diseases related to disrupted lipid metabolism.
Researchers create new super-thin laser mirror
The new high-performance mirror, called the high-index contrast sub-wavelength grating (HCG), packs the same reflective punch as current mirrors but is at least 20 times thinner. This characteristic presents critical advantages for today's ever smaller integrated optical devices.
First 2-D Pictures of a 'frequency comb' transform it into a brush
Researchers at NIST have taken the first two-dimensional pictures of a frequency comb, revealing colors and intensity of all lightwaves simultaneously. The technique transforms the comb into a twodimensional brush, enabling scientists to measure and manipulate optical frequencies in a massively parallel manner.
In tiny supercooled clouds, physicists exchange light and matter
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully stopped, store, and revive a light pulse in two separate locations using supercooled sodium clouds. This technique enables precise control over optical information and has potential applications in quantum information processing and cryptography.
Nanomachine of the future captures great scientist's bold vision
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have created a nanomachine that traps molecules as they move in a specific direction, powered by light. This breakthrough builds on previous work and could lead to lasers moving objects remotely using molecular force.
Researchers observe superradiance in a free electron laser
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully generated extremely short light pulses using a new technique that could be used in the next generation of light source facilities. The team observed superradiance, a phenomenon where light intensity grows as it interacts with an electron beam.
MU scientists discover way to order polar molecules in crystals
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have developed a method to align polar molecules in crystals, which could lead to faster and more efficient microchips. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce energy costs and create new technologies that make computers cooler.
NIST laser-based method cleans up grubby nanotubes
Researchers at NIST and NREL demonstrate a simple laser-based method for purifying raw nanotube materials, significantly reducing impurities. The technique uses carefully calibrated laser pulses to react with contaminants, resulting in cleaner samples that can be used in various applications.
Laser experiments reveal strange properties of superfluids
Using laser light as a substitute for superfluids, the team observed unusual behavior of particles, including shock waves and interactions that had not been considered before. This new technique has the potential to advance our understanding of condensed matter physics and lead to breakthroughs in sensor technology and atomic trapping.
A laser uncovers the logic of the stomata function
Scientists discovered that stomata open independently of neighboring stoma behavior, optimizing water loss and CO2 acquisition. The laser study found that phototropin1 release triggers stomatal opening, influenced by light-induced changes in the cell interior.
New technique studies how plastic solar cells turn sunlight into electricity
A new analytical technique developed by Penn State researcher John B. Asbury could lead to the development of cheaper and more efficient solar cells. The technique uses infrared spectroscopy to study light-sensitive organic materials, providing information about electron movement within a film of carbon-based materials.
UCF researcher's 3-D Digital Storage System could hold a library on 1 disc
A new technology allows users to record and store massive amounts of data onto a single disc, such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's entire collection or 500 movies, maintaining excellent quality without damage. The UCF team's Two-Photon 3-D Optical Data Storage system uses lasers to compact information onto a DVD.
Weighty viruses
Researchers in Taiwan create a new method to accurately analyze the masses of individual, intact viruses using a miniaturized ion trap. They achieve a margin of error of ±1% by employing a gentle ionization technique and a specially designed cylindrical ion trap.
Strontium atomic clock demonstrates super-fine 'ticks'
Scientists at JILA have developed an ultra-stable laser system to manipulate strontium atoms, producing the most precise 'ticks' ever recorded in an optical atomic clock. This achievement enables improved time-keeping, precision measurements of high frequencies, and quantum computing using neutral atoms.
'Tornadoes' are transferred from light to sodium atoms
Researchers at NIST successfully transferred orbital angular momentum from light to sodium atoms, demonstrating control over the state of an atom. This breakthrough enables manipulation of Bose-Einstein condensates and potentially quantum information systems.
Free-electron laser shines at over 14 kilowatts in the infrared
The Free-Electron Laser produced a 14.2 kilowatt beam of laser light at an infrared wavelength of 1.61 microns, shattering another power record. This achievement supports the Navy's vision for a high-power FEL as part of a ship-based weapon system.
A boost for solar cells with photon fusion
Researchers develop innovative process to combine low-energy photons in sunlight into higher-energy shortwave photons, boosting solar cells' efficiency. This breakthrough could enable the use of previously lost light energy, leading to a significant increase in solar cell efficiency.
NRC team uses new Quantum Technology to control molecules
Researchers at NRC Canada use laser pulses to control chemical reactions by tilting molecular landscapes. This method has implications for quantum information and optical microscopy of live cells.
German researchers develop first non-invasive test to measure skin aging
Researchers in Germany have developed a new, non-invasive technique to measure skin aging using a laser-based method. The technique measures collagen and elastin levels by a single factor, providing a quantitative assessment of skin health.
Breakthrough in computer chip design eliminates wires in data transmission
Researchers at Intel and the University of California, Santa Barbara have created a new hybrid computer chip that uses lasers to transmit data, promising faster data transfer rates. The development paves the way for future optical communications at low cost.
UC Santa Barbara and Intel develop world's first Hybrid Silicon Laser
Researchers from UCSB and Intel built the world's first Hybrid Silicon Laser using standard silicon manufacturing processes, combining Indium Phosphide for light emission and silicon for light routing. This breakthrough addresses the last major barrier to producing low-cost, high-bandwidth silicon photonics devices.
Doctors cut repeat LASIK visits dramatically
A new formula developed by doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center reduces farsightedness among LASIK patients, making it more likely to get vision right the first time. The formula takes into account various imperfections in the eye that were not previously known to exist.
Gold nanoparticles prove to be hot stuff
Researchers at JILA demonstrated that gold nanoparticles can be trapped and detected six times more easily than polystyrene particles of similar size. However, the high heating effect could damage molecules under study, limiting their use in temperature-sensitive experiments.
Microcapsules open in tumor cells
Researchers have created a method to release substances into tumor cells using microcapsules and laser light, which could lead to more targeted cancer treatments. The technique involves heating the polymer shell of the capsule with infrared laser light, causing it to open and releasing its contents.
Research paper illuminates how light pushes atoms
Kurt Gibble's paper analyzes the speed of an atom after absorbing a photon of light and shows that photons in narrow laser beams deliver less momentum than those in wide beams. This discovery has implications for atomic clocks, which use microwaves to achieve high accuracy, potentially allowing them to be even more precise.
Purdue creates new low-cost system to detect bacteria
Researchers at Purdue University developed a new low-cost system that analyzes scattered laser light to quickly identify bacteria. The technique uses a petri dish containing bacterial colonies growing in a nutrient medium, projecting the scattered light pattern onto a screen behind the petri dish.
Scientists at the University of the Basque Country succeed in cooling solid material with laser
Researchers have achieved net optical cooling of erbium-doped materials using laser radiation, overcoming technical difficulties associated with this phenomenon. This breakthrough enables the development of new devices such as high-power optical fibre lasers and medical diagnostic techniques.
Laser tweezers sort atoms
Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully sorted atoms using laser tweezers, a crucial step towards creating a quantum computer. By precisely controlling the position of individual atoms, they can perform simple quantum calculations and pave the way for more complex computations.
Researchers at UCLA engineering announce breakthrough in silicon photonics devices
Researchers at UCLA Engineering have developed a novel approach to silicon devices that combines light amplification with a photovoltaic effect, enabling the generation of power normally wasted as heat. This breakthrough has significant implications for the photonics industry and the traditional stronghold of semiconductors.
USC/Duke team lets there be leisurely light
The USC/Duke team has made significant improvements in controlling light pulses, achieving a slowdown of up to 20-fold increase over previous methods. By using a simple optical fiber and exploiting the Brillouin effect, they can potentially accommodate higher data rates and enable more efficient processing with photonics.
Growing glowing nanowires to light up the nanoworld
NIST researchers have successfully grown gallium nitride alloy nanowires with intense ultraviolet and visible light emission. The wires' high light output and defect-free structure enable reliable room-temperature measurements, while their versatility makes them suitable for various devices, including sensors and transistors.
Researchers achieve long-sought goal of using lasers to break specific molecular bonds
Scientists have developed a technique using lasers to strip hydrogen from silicon surfaces, promising to improve the quality of computer chips and solar cells. This method, which can be applied at low temperatures, offers potential applications in the manufacture of faster transistors and more precise control over nanoscale structures.
New laser technique that strips hydrogen from silicon surfaces
Researchers have developed a new laser technique that removes hydrogen from silicon surfaces at room temperature, allowing for the growth of silicon devices at lower temperatures. This breakthrough could enable faster and more precise manufacturing of microelectronic devices.
Light's most exotic trick yet: So fast it goes … backwards?
Physicist Robert Boyd has successfully demonstrated negative-speed pulses of light, where a pulse travels backwards within an optical fiber. The researchers used erbium-doped fibers to slow down and speed up the light pulse, creating a 'hump' shape with leading and trailing edges.
Laser trapping of erbium may lead to novel devices
Researchers at NIST have successfully trapped erbium atoms using laser cooling, enabling the creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate and producing single photons with potential uses in telecommunications. The technique holds promise for developing novel devices and applications in quantum computing and materials science.
Paint-on laser could rescue computer chip industry
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has developed a new paint-on laser technology using colloidal quantum dots. This innovation could help alleviate the interconnect bottleneck in computer chip industry, which is expected to reach its capacity around 2010.
Laser wave steers electrons in chemical bonds
A Dutch-German research team has successfully controlled a chemical reaction by steering the motion of electrons with ultrashort laser pulses. The team used phase-controlled laser pulses to manipulate the timing of electron motion, leading to a preferential emission of deuterium ions and atoms in specific directions.
Free-electron laser targets fat
Researchers used human fat and pig skin to test infrared laser light, finding three wavelengths that preferentially heated fat. The results provide a proof of principle for using lasers to target sebaceous glands, potentially replacing Accutane for acne treatment.
Sea coral's trick helps scientists tag proteins
Scientists have developed a new fluorescent tag called Dendra that allows for precise labeling and tracking of proteins in living cells. This innovation enables researchers to study protein and organelle dynamics, cell migration, inflammation, and other biological processes with unprecedented accuracy.
New process builds electronic function into optical fiber
A team from Penn State University and the University of Southampton has developed a new way to combine semiconductor devices with microstructured optical fibers. The resulting ability to generate and manipulate signals inside optical fibers could have applications in fields such as medicine, computing, and remote sensing devices.
'Frequency comb' spectroscopy proves to be powerful chemical analysis tool
Physicists at JILA have developed a highly sensitive tool for real-time analysis of atoms and molecules, offering unprecedented capabilities in chemistry laboratories, environmental monitoring, security, and medical offices. The technology uses an ultrafast laser-based frequency comb to precisely measure light absorption signatures, en...