Researchers develop a new industrial laser system to study cold atom dynamics in space. By doubling the frequencies of widely used telecommunications lasers, their design enables accurate measurements of subtle variations in the Earth's gravitational field.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated a sub-picosecond thin-disk laser oscillator achieving an average output power of 350 W, surpassing the previous record. The breakthrough enables efficient cooling and heating control, paving the way for even more powerful lasers with potential kilowatt-level output.
The new CHIMERA printer produces digital 3D holograms with unprecedented detail and realistic color, created using low-cost commercial lasers and high-speed printing. The printer can produce wide-field-of-view holograms with full parallax, ideal for applications such as museum displays and architectural models.
Researchers at the University of Seville have developed a procedure for producing boron carbide phase B6C, an ultra-resistant material with a hardness of 52 GPa and Young modulus of 600 GPa. The material is resistant to radioactivity and surpasses diamond in hardness.
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Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
Skoltech scientists have developed a method to control the nonlinear optical response of carbon nanotubes using electrochemical gating. This approach enables designing devices that can control the duration of laser pulses, opening up new possibilities for universal laser systems with controllable pulse duration.
Researchers developed a new laser-based system that uses speckle pattern analysis to detect fires in harsh environments. The system achieved an accuracy of 91 percent in tests at a waste plant in Denmark, offering a promising solution for fire detection in industrial settings.
Researchers have developed a laser prototype that nearly meets the stringent requirements for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. The laser system features a seed laser, YDFA amplifiers, and an optical reference cavity to improve spectral purity and stability.
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Researchers have created a new material using tellurium nanorods produced by naturally occurring bacteria, which can protect electronic devices against high-intensity bursts of light. The material has the potential to revolutionize high-speed optical networking and improve internet communications.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a compact, high-speed terahertz imaging system using direct emission of terahertz radiation from semiconductor chips. The device can quickly probe the identity and arrangement of molecules or expose structural damage to materials.
The researchers developed a universal beam shaping technique that spatially separates residual and extracted components in the Fourier plane using a virtual diagonal phase grating. This allows for highly uniform flattop beams with improved resolution and accuracy, suppressing edge ripples to 20 μm.
Biotechnologists and medical researchers at FAU have developed a miniaturized multi-photon microscope that can be used in endoscopes, illuminating the body's own molecules to enhance imaging. This technology offers high-resolution three-dimensional images of living tissue, supplementing or even making biopsies superfluous.
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Researchers at Osaka University have developed a glue-free bimorph deformable mirror that can be used in vacuum chambers. The new technology uses inorganic silver nanoparticles to bond PZT actuators to a mirror substrate, allowing for precise shape modification and high-precision optics.
A team of University of Central Florida researchers has developed the first supersymmetric laser array, which overcomes a long-standing problem in laser science. The findings have promising applications in various fields, including medicine, military, industry and communications.
Scientists at KIT integrate a microfluidic chamber into a 3D laser lithography device to produce multi-colored, fluorescent security features from seven different materials. The system enables precise production of three-dimensional microstructured security features for applications such as banknote and document counterfeiting.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have successfully created a chip-scale laser that emits light with a fundamental linewidth of less than 1 Hz, quiet enough to move demanding scientific applications to the chip scale. This breakthrough uses stimulated Brillouin scattering to produce extremely quiet light and has significant implications ...
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Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new laser-based system that can monitor radiation-induced changes continuously, providing more useful data much faster than traditional methods. This allows for detailed studies of the performance of materials in just hours, instead of months.
Researchers from INRS and University of Sussex create an AI-optimized photonic chip to customize the properties of broadband light sources, also known as supercontinuum. This innovation enables new imaging technologies and fundamental research into light-matter interactions.
A NASA team is experimenting with ultrafast lasers to weld dissimilar materials, including exotic glasses and metals. The goal is to develop new manufacturing techniques that could benefit spaceflight instruments.
The University of Texas at Austin will be a key player in LaserNetUS, a new national network of institutions operating high-intensity lasers. UT Austin's Texas Petawatt Laser will collaborate with leading optical and plasma physics scientists from around the US to advance research.
Michael Krainak, leader of NASA's Laser and Electro-Optics Branch, is recognized for his innovative approach to applying emerging technologies to agency-priority spaceflight needs. His work on optical communications, photonic integrated chips, and laser-based technologies has significant potential for breakthrough capabilities.
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Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a 'transistor' laser that can be manipulated at the nanoscale using an external voltage. This technology could lead to more accurate medical procedures and re-routing of fiber optic communication lines.
Researchers have detected extremely high-energy gamma rays from the microquasar SS 433, which is located 18,000 light years from Earth. This discovery sheds light on astrophysical processes and may offer insights into star systems in distant galaxies.
The W. M. Keck Observatory has received a NSF grant to develop the Keck All-Sky Precision Adaptive Optics (KAPA) system, which will deliver sharper images of the universe over nearly 100% of the night sky. KAPA aims to investigate modern astronomy's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and cosmology.
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
Researchers at ITMO University have developed a high-precision laser for measuring the distance between the Earth and Moon, achieving an accuracy of just a few millimeters. The new laser will be used in the GLONASS navigation system, allowing for real-time correction of satellite coordinates and improved navigation capabilities.
ICESat-2 successfully fired its laser for the first time, sending photons to measure Antarctic height and detecting small changes in planet's ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice. The mission will continue with procedures to optimize the instrument, aiming to start getting excellent science-quality data within a month after launch.
The Gemini Observatory will receive a $4 million NSF award to enhance its capabilities in multi-messenger astronomy, including the development of an advanced multi-conjugate adaptive optics system. This will enable the detection of transient phenomena and improve our understanding of the universe.
The optical society laser engineers have successfully designed and tested a high-resolution laser system for the GEDI mission, which will study Earth's forests and topography from the International Space Station. The laser systems must withstand heat and vibration for journey to and operation aboard ISS.
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Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Researchers have developed a new laser technique to bind aluminum with plastic in injection molding, creating stronger lightweight materials. The method uses continuous infrared lasers to pretreat aluminum sheets, improving adhesion strength and paving the way for more efficient vehicles.
Researchers at NIST have used LADAR to map distances to objects melting behind flames with precision of 30 micrometers or better. The method could help overcome challenges posed by structural fires.
A team of international researchers has developed a lasing system that produces phonons, the energy products of oscillation, or vibration. By tuning the system to create resonance, they can trigger mechanical movement that generates an acoustic wave. This breakthrough could lead to new medical and materials science applications.
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Researchers at Yale University have created a new type of silicon laser that uses sound waves to amplify light, enabling faster and more efficient data processing. The innovative design maximizes light amplification using a special structure developed in the Rakich lab.
Researchers at NIST developed a novel power meter called 'Smart Mirror' that measures laser power in real-time using radiation pressure. The device is compact, sensitive, and fast, enabling continuous measurement during welding and calibration processes.
Researchers embedded graphene in a photonic crystal to enhance its light-absorbing capabilities. By varying the external temperature, they can tune the material's optical characteristics, leading to potential applications in light sensors and ultra-fast lasers.
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Researchers develop powerful femtosecond light source for mid-infrared spectroscopy, enabling detection of organic molecules at low concentrations. The system uses coherent light to reveal molecular fingerprints and diagnose diseases like cancer at early stages.
Researchers used spectroscopic measurements to confirm S0-2 has no significant companion, simplifying the upcoming gravity test. The discovery sheds light on the formation of young stars near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
Engineers have created a laser-based wireless charging system that can safely charge smartphones sitting across a room. The system uses power from the laser to charge the smartphone via a thin power cell mounted on the back of the phone, with safety features such as a heatsink and guard beams to prevent overheating and accidental contact.
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Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
The Kodiak system has been officially baselined for NASA's Restore-L project, demonstrating an autonomous satellite-servicing capability. The system will provide real-time images and distance-ranging information to extend a satellite's lifespan.
Proton acceleration is hindered by magnetism, as electrons create a sheath field that accelerates protons at right-angles to the target. This effect, known as magnetic inhibition, progressively worsens at higher laser powers, reducing proton energies.
A new technique allows researchers to switch emission between long- and short-wavelength edges of photonic bandgap by applying a voltage of 20 V. This is achieved through modifying the dipole moment of cholesteric liquid crystals.
Researchers at Ural Federal University and Institute of Chemistry of Solids created a new compound that converts UV radiation into visible light. The compound has potential uses in medical and optical devices, as well as air pollution analysis.
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The W.M. Keck Observatory has received an NSF grant to upgrade its adaptive optics system, further advancing research on habitable exoplanets and supermassive black holes. The new system will deliver faster, more flexible real-time controller and better camera technology, improving image clarity.
Researchers have developed a method to detect hydrohalite, a substance that forms on treated icy roads and cannot be removed by conventional salting. Using Raman instruments fitted with lasers, trucks can identify the presence of hydrohalite and switch to alternative de-icers, making roads safer for users.
Researchers demonstrate fast and scalable holonomic quantum computation using Nitrogen-vacancy center electron spins in diamond, enabling high-fidelity operations with all-optical control. This work represents the first such achievement in solid-state quantum systems.
Researchers from the Naval Research Laboratory have created a new LiDAR system that can survey obscured ground using gated digital holography methods. This technology allows for 3D topography surveys through foliage or other obstacles, with potential applications in disaster relief and self-driving cars.
Researchers from Osaka University developed an optical system for full-field X-ray microscopes that eliminates chromatic aberrations, allowing for the resolution of 50-nm features with high stability. The system, featuring two monolithic imaging mirrors, has been applied in spectromicroscopy experiments and shows promise for various ap...
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Researchers at Bilkent University have designed the simplest experimental system to date, revealing that particles can form autocatalytic aggregates with rich complex behaviors. The study employs only two parameters: laser power and beam position, allowing for controlled emergence of complexity.
Researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem develop novel system combining lasers and bacteria to remotely map location of buried landmines. The system detects explosive vapors emitted by mines, which are then recorded and quantified from a remote location.
The LEMNOS system will provide speeds of at least 80 megabytes per second, far surpassing current systems that send 51 kilobytes of data per second. This enables high-definition video transmission and real-time scientific data exchange.
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Researchers at Oxford University have developed a system to transmit quantum keys, ensuring data security and detecting eavesdropping. The prototype uses movable mirrors and ultrafast LEDs to send secret pin-codes over short distances, improving the security of contactless transactions.
NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to establish a high-speed internet in space, enabling faster data rates and smaller communication systems. The technology has the potential to revolutionize space communications for missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
Two groups of researchers successfully created time crystals using theories developed at Princeton University, discovering the essential physics of their function. The creation builds on previous developments that challenged conventional understanding of complex systems in equilibrium.
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Scientists have developed a new technology that uses laser-generated bubbles to create 3D images in a liquid screen, allowing viewers to see the display from all angles. The bubbles are created using femtosecond laser pulses and can be colored by changing the illumination light.
Researchers propose eliminating most wires in data centers by using infrared free-space optics to transmit information. This technology enables fast data transfer rates with minimal interference and can accommodate thousands of servers on a single rack.
A team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed an on-chip sensor capable of detecting unprecedentedly small frequency changes, achieving record-high sensing precision with a small footprint that can be integrated with standard CMOS technology.
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A new crystal structure of organic-inorganic hybrid materials has been discovered, offering promise for the development of optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes and lasers. The material displays interesting optical properties, including high photo luminescence, making it a potential candidate for efficient light emission.
Physicists at NIST have combined two experimental atomic clocks based on ytterbium atoms to set a new world record for clock stability. The dual-clock design eliminates dead time and noise, resulting in a more powerful tool for precision tests and applications.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab created a single device that can act as both a laser and an anti-laser, enabling flexible operation in optical communication. The device uses parity-time symmetry to balance amplification and absorption, allowing for control over light behavior.
Photonics may provide solutions to NASA's pressing challenges in future spaceflight, including improved space communications and reducing mission payloads. Laser communications have the potential to increase data rates at least 10 to 100 times better than RF systems.
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Operation IceBridge is studying the effect of summer melt on Greenland's largest and fastest-melting glacier, Helheim Glacier. The team is observing changes in ice elevation between spring and late summer to understand the cumulative response to melting.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories describe a new way to build terahertz lasers that reduce power consumption and enable tighter beams. The device is an array of microfabricated lasers on a single chip, with phase-locking technology that recaptures lateral radiation, resulting in a tighter beam.