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Quantum shift shows itself in coupled light and matter

Researchers detect Bloch-Siegert shift in strongly coupled light and matter, a phenomenon previously speculated but never observed. The discovery could lead to a greater understanding of theoretical predictions in quantum phase transitions and the development of robust quantum bits for advanced computing.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 16, 2018

A new approach to ultrafast light pulses

Scientists at MIT and their collaborators have developed a new approach to ultrafast light pulses by coupling molecular aggregates with thin layers of metals like silver. This enhancement increases the material's response time tenfold, making it suitable for applications in photonic chips and signal processing.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2017

Tiny 'motors' are driven by light

A team at MIT has created a system that can manipulate particles ranging from molecules to bacteria-sized objects using ordinary light. The researchers engineered asymmetrical particles, called Janus particles, which respond to the orientation of the beam and create forces that set them spinning uniformly.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 30, 2017

A stream of superfluid light

Scientists have observed room-temperature superfluidity in light, a phenomenon previously only seen at extremely low temperatures. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new photonic devices with reduced losses and enhanced performance.

SourcePolytechnique Montréal·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 5, 2017

Biomanufacturing of CdS quantum dots

A team of Lehigh University engineers has developed a novel approach for the reproducible biosynthesis of extracellular, water-soluble quantum dots using bacteria and cadmium sulfide. This method reduces cost and environmental impact by utilizing an engineered strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to control particle size.

SourceLehigh University·JournalGreen Chemistry·DateJun 23, 2015

Solving molybdenum disulfide's 'thin' problem

Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully increased molybdenum disulfide's light emission by twelve times by combining nanotechnology, materials science, and plasmonics. This breakthrough enables the material to be used in light emitting diode technologies and has potential applications in solar cells and photodetectors.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 27, 2015

Looking into the light

Jon Schuller, UCSB assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is studying how light interacts with complex materials like plastics, which have unique optical properties. The research could lead to the development of new organic photonic devices with enhanced performance and low-cost semiconductors.

The power of light-matter coupling

Researchers study polaritons in organic molecules strongly coupled with photons, finding they can remain at lowest energy levels for an unusually long time. This phenomenon opens the door to novel applications, including modifying optical, electronic and chemical properties.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 5, 2015

Breakthrough lights up metamaterials

A City College of New York led-team successfully demonstrated enhancing light emission and capturing light from metamaterials with light emitting nanocrystals. The breakthrough could lead to practical applications in ultrafast LEDs, nanoscale lasers, and efficient single photon sources.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalOptica·DateJan 15, 2015

Two or one splashing? It's different!

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully observed the interaction of exactly two atoms in a light cage, contradicting the assumption that two atoms would behave differently from a single atom. The experiment reveals that backaction suppresses high light waves, limiting the emergence of photons.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 15, 2015

How to make the wonder material graphene superconducting

Scientists at the University of Vienna have unveiled the superconducting pairing mechanism in calcium-doped graphene using the Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) method. The findings reveal that calcium is the most promising candidate to induce superconductivity in graphene, with a critical temperature of about 1.5K.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 11, 2014

Chaos proves superior to order

Researchers have demonstrated that chaotic systems can store more light than ordered ones in optical cavities, with applications for quantum optics and solar cells. The study found a six-fold increase in energy storage in chaotic cavities, outperforming classical counterparts.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalNature Photonics·DateMay 7, 2013

Scientists shed light on glowing materials

Researchers mapped how light behaves in complex photonic materials, breaking the limit of light resolution at the nanoscale. They developed a new technique combining electronic excitation and optical detection to explore the inside of a photonic crystal, revealing new insights into light-matter interactions.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 20, 2012

Bending light with better precision

Researchers have created a technique to control the speed and direction of light using memory metamaterials, which can repeatedly change their properties. This innovation enables the manufacture of Gradient Index of Refraction (GRIN) devices for imaging and communication technologies with unprecedented precision.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 15, 2011

Penn researchers break light-matter coupling strength limit in nanoscale semiconductors

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have successfully increased light-matter coupling strength in nanoscale semiconductors, paving the way for designing faster and more efficient photonic devices. By fabricating structures with surface passivation techniques, they were able to overcome the limitation of bulk materials.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 15, 2011