Research using lasers and light-based technology. Covers electron control, metalens optics, mid-flight drone charging, and water purification.
Researchers have developed a high-speed encryption protocol using noisy light to secure information, promising unconditionally secure, fast, easy-to-manage, and cost-efficient security. The Northwestern method transmits encrypted data at 250 megabits per second, outpacing conventional cryptography and existing quantum methods.
The Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology will bring together researchers to develop new technology that enables scientists and physicians to see living cells in real-time. Applications of biophotonics include selectively treating tumors, sequencing DNA, and identifying single biomolecules within cells.
Researchers have isolated polyoxomolybdate molecules from molybdenum blue solutions and used laser light scattering to decipher their structure. The findings reveal hundreds of individual POM molecules forming stable, hollow spheres that remain suspended in solution.
Scientists at ONR have created a novel technique to hide information within the naturally occurring fluctuations of light polarization in optical fibers. The signal is modulated onto these variations, making it nearly impossible for unauthorized parties to intercept and decode the message.
Adaptive optics systems are expanding ground-based astronomy capabilities, enabling unprecedented views of the universe. The technology has already produced eightfold improvements in image quality at observatories like the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii.
Researchers have developed a synthetic guide star system that can correct for atmospheric turbulence in about three fifths of the sky, opening up a much larger portion of the heavens for study. The system uses laser beams to create artificial stars, providing high-quality images of planets, galaxies, and other objects.
A new counting method allows for the detection of semi-viable bacteria in cheese, which are active but no longer divide. This method is useful for following the ripening of cheese and yoghurt, as well as developing probiotic dairy products.
A research team led by Professor Timothy Zwier has demonstrated how laser light can be used to prompt large molecules to make alterations in their three-dimensional structure. By choosing different infrared wavelengths, the laser can selectively choose the molecule's new shape, favoring the formation of one conformation over another.
The technique uses optical coherence imaging to take real-time video of the insides of tumors, revealing their internal structure. This allows for interactive viewing of living tissues, such as tumors, and enables scientists to study how they behave in real time.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created atomic solitons, a type of 'atom wave' that can propagate without dispersing, in a narrow beam of light. This breakthrough has potential applications in ultra-high speed optical communication networks and extremely precise measurements using atom lasers.
Researchers may use a super-fast laser pulse to observe and control nuclear reactions, potentially slowing or accelerating fission. The lasetron concept could also briefly produce massive magnetic fields, opening new experiments in astrophysics.
Scientists have found organic compounds in deep space, a discovery that supports the hypothesis of complex organic compounds causing the Unidentified Infrared Bands. The study used a special laser to measure the spectrum of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in deep space.
A new ozone-monitoring technology, NEXLASER, is being developed to improve smog forecasting by providing continuous and affordable data in real-time. This innovation uses light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology to track ozone concentration, enabling researchers to better understand sources and sinks of air pollutants.
Researchers have developed the STED-4Pi-Microcope, which uses stimulated emission to narrow the focal spot of the fluorescence microscope, allowing for resolutions below 50 nm. This technique enables the imaging of features on a molecular level, advancing biological and medical research.
Researchers at University College London have developed a non-invasive method to detect breast cancer spread using white light. The technique involves feeding harmless light pulses through a thin fibre onto the tissue surface, which is then analysed on a portable computer to compare with previous examples of normal and cancerous tissue.
A UB team has demonstrated a breakthrough in three-photon pumped frequency upconversion, producing fluorescent emissions with higher energy than the laser's pumping photon. This process enables efficient light production for applications such as optical imaging, bioimaging, diagnostics and photodynamic therapy of deep tissue tumors.
Scientists at Ohio State University developed a plastic material that becomes highly magnetic when exposed to blue light, but loses some magnetism with green light. The technology has potential for future applications in magneto-optical systems for writing and erasing data from computer hard drives.
A new study from Ohio State University found that nearly a quarter of LASIK patients experience nighttime vision problems, including halos, starbursts, and glare. These symptoms may persist long after the eye heals and are linked to factors such as having had the surgery repeated or having flatter corneas at the outset.
A team led by Tom Murphy will use laser ranging and a large telescope to measure the moon's distance from Earth with accuracy of a millimeter. The project will also test Einstein's equivalence principle and the strength of gravitational interaction, providing insights into gravity's nature.
Engineers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a cost-effective method to speed up microchip communication by using light beams instead of metal wires. The new technology, known as silicon on sapphire, takes advantage of the unique properties of this material to reduce power consumption and increase data transfer speeds.
Scientists have created a novel crystal lattice with unprecedented optical properties, enabling the manipulation of light at higher frequencies. This breakthrough has potential applications in telecommunications and drug separation.
Scientists have created an atomic-resolution image of the three-dimensional intensity distribution of a strongly localized radiation field using a single calcium ion. This technology has far-reaching implications for quantum computing, as it enables the generation of light pulses containing exactly one quantum of light.
A study of 114 patients with primary head and neck cancers found that photodynamic therapy achieved an overall response rate of 91% after two years, with 85% showing complete tumor elimination. The treatment also produced high one- and two-year overall survival rates of 90% and 81%, respectively.
Scientists have successfully synchronized two independent femtosecond lasers to generate a single pulse of light exhibiting properties of both lasers. This breakthrough enables the creation of new shapes of light pulses that could not be achieved individually.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive optical technique to measure blood flow and oxygen consumption in the brain, allowing for simultaneous detection of both blood profusion and neural activity. This breakthrough could lead to new diagnostic, prognostic, and clinical applications.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have devised a method to stop light, utilizing the EIT phenomenon to slow down photons in a gas cell. This breakthrough could enable new applications for quantum computing and modern nonlinear optics.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a system to produce single photons 86% of the time, making it easier to detect intruders and ensure secure communications. This achievement takes cyberspace closer to quantum-secured information transfer.
A tiny gallium arsenide bar has been developed that can bend infrared beams with minimal loss of light, opening possibilities for more efficient lasers and photonic computing. The device uses a two-dimensional photonic crystal structure with strategically placed holes to filter out unwanted wavelengths.
Researchers at University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics successfully completed the first full-scale test of polarization smoothing on the world's most powerful laser, Omega. The technique generated 70% more fusion neutrons than without and moves closer to self-sustaining fusion.
The tiny Sandia laser can generate white light, replacing gas-filled fluorescent tubes in offices and homes, with a lifespan of five to ten times longer. The technology also aids in detecting bioweapons and E. coli bacteria, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 350 million tons per year.
A fiber-optic laser system, designed by Johns Hopkins University engineers, will be launched into space to gather data on air pollution and atmospheric changes. The device uses ultraviolet light to strike gas molecules, providing critical information about the health of the atmosphere.
Damodar Pai, John Yanus, and Milan Stolka developed a new photoconductor made from small molecules that turns light into an electrically charged template with near-perfect efficiency. Their innovation led to practical commercial devices for home and office use, making laser printers more durable and affordable.
Scientists are using lasers to detect gravitational waves, which could help study dark matter and unlock the universe's secrets. The technique involves splitting a laser beam into two halves and comparing them for minute movements caused by space stretching.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have successfully produced sub-picosecond pulses of synchrotron light, extending the spectral range from infrared to x-ray wavelengths. The technique enables scientists to capture atomic motion and chemical reactions on a timescale almost incomprehensibly short.
A biological microcavity laser, called a smart scalpel, can quickly identify abnormal protein content in tumor cells. This allows surgeons to accurately cut away malignant growths while minimizing healthy tissue removal.
A new diode laser technique developed by MGH dermatologist Eliot Battle successfully removes excessive hair from individuals with darker ethnic skin. The longer-wavelength laser light and slower pulse delivery reduce damage to the surrounding skin, enabling patients with darker skin tones to tolerate higher energy dosages.
Researchers at Oregon Stroke Center have successfully treated five stroke patients with laser clot-busting, achieving complete vessel re-opening in some cases. The study aims to examine the safety of the technique and explore its potential as a next wave of acute stroke treatment.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University successfully used a free-electron laser to remove a sugar-cube-sized amount of tissue from a brain tumor. The operation took place using infrared light tuned precisely at 6.45 microns, which works well due to its absorption by water and protein molecules.
A new liquid crystal film can protect against continuous glare and intense light, improving visibility for drivers and welders. The material reduces light intensity from 140 milliwatts to 5 microwatts, solving glare problems in optical sensors and communications systems.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new technique to accelerate ions, using a table-top laser instead of radio-frequency waves. The new technique accelerates ions in almost a million-times shorter distance than a cyclotron, potentially making ion accelerators more affordable and accessible for medical applications.
A new research method reveals that information can be stored on the surface of neurons with very high spatial density, similar to a CD-ROM. The method allows precise control over neurotransmitter release and discovered that modifications are highly restricted, enabling single synapses to store information separately.
Researchers developed a technique to follow electronic-structural rearrangements in molecules, enabling insights into molecular electronics and biological processes like vision and photosynthesis. This breakthrough uses femtosecond laser technology to distinguish atomic motions from electronic rearrangements.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute break Abbe's diffraction limit in focusing light microscopes using two laser beams and stimulated emission. The new microscope achieves sub-Abbe resolution, enabling imaging of intact transparent specimens in three dimensions.
Researchers at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have discovered that small lasers can produce tiny optical vortices, also known as whirlpools of light, which could be used to transmit information at high speeds over long distances. The findings have practical applications in improving optical fiber communications and may also be...
Gallium Nitride (GaN) systems enable smaller, brighter, longer-lasting light-emitting diodes with increased data storage-density. The Navy is interested in these blue-light emitters for microwave amplifiers and highly efficient white-light emitters.
Physicists at the University of Amsterdam have developed a new method for treating port wine birthmarks using a red laser light. The improved wavelength allows deeper blood vessels to be accessed without damaging surrounding skin tissue, leading to more effective treatment outcomes.
A new study from the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital found that Er:YAG laser treatment is as effective as CO2 laser for wrinkle removal but with fewer side effects. Patients experienced less skin reddening and faster recovery times with Er:YAG, which requires more passes to achieve similar results.
Scientists are using an old photographic technique to study nuclear physics and potentially develop a clean, long-term power source through thermonuclear fusion. The petawatt laser facility generates high-energy gamma rays that can be used to trigger tiny fusion reactions.
Researchers at NIST have demonstrated that three atom waves can be mixed together to produce a fourth matter wave, similar to combining optical laser beams. This breakthrough opens a new field of non-linear atom optics, which may lead to applications in amplifying matter waves and exploring quantum behavior.
German scientists have developed a laser that emits a continuous beam of matter waves, allowing for unprecedented control over atomic motion. The Munich atom laser opens new prospects in science and technology, including the precise deposition of atoms on surfaces and the creation of tiny nanostructures.
Physicists have successfully created an atom laser from a Bose-Einstein condensate using light manipulation, building on previous research funded by the Office of Naval Research. The NIST atom laser produces a highly directional beam with improved collimation compared to earlier experiments.
Researchers have created a laser without mirrors using powdered layers of zinc oxide and gallium nitride. The device amplifies light using a disordered structure, creating feedback to form lasing cavities and producing blue laser light.
The research team observed and recorded the relativistic motion of free electrons in electromagnetic fields, which confirms several predictions based on Einstein's theory of relativity. The discovery challenges a fundamental assumption about the Thomson cross section, a physical constant used in physics theories.
The INEEL Laser Ultrasonic Camera transforms sound waves into an image, revealing object thickness, stiffness and imperfections. The system's dynamic holographic image shows waves moving along the surface of the entire object in real-time.
Researchers capture first 'snapshots' of protein molecule converting light into chemical energy in under one billionth of a second. The breakthrough could lead to new optical computer mechanisms and insights into biomolecules.
Purdue researchers have developed a new method for measuring the velocity of moving objects using lasers and semiconductors. By using an electronic strobe to make light appear to stand still, they can capture cleaner signals from moving objects, resulting in more accurate measurements of speed.
IntraLase Corporation will develop ultrafast ophthalmic lasers for refractive and other surgical procedures, enhancing eye care with precise technology. The company combines U-M intellectual property with Escalon Medical's patents to bring innovative laser solutions to the medical field.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a technology that combines electronics and optics on a single chip, enabling the creation of miniaturized optical devices such as tiny lasers and implantable medical sensors. This breakthrough could simplify fiber optic communications and lead to more efficient and cost-effective systems.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Williams College a $143,912 grant to equip a new laser facility, bringing together four research labs and a student workspace. The new equipment will enable researchers to measure optical wavelengths accurately and support a broad range of research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
University of Delaware researchers have developed a silicon-based device that can convert some light into electricity using a germanium-carbon alloy. The device, which was tested with laser light, showed a conversion rate of 1.4 percent and demonstrated efficient rectification numbers. This breakthrough has the potential to bridge the ...