Nonlinear Optics
Articles tagged with Nonlinear Optics
Putting neural networks to work in nonlinear optics
A Bessel lens with a flat lens unveils technology that creates a nondiffracting bottle laser
Scientists at Chiba University developed a simple method to generate high-quality optical bottle beams that remain concentrated over long distances. The technique uses a binary axicon and a flat multilevel diffractive lens to create sharp light structures.
Racetrack-shaped lasers for bright, stable frequency combs
A new laser source generates a specific type of light source called a frequency comb in the mid-infrared region, paving the way for miniaturization. The device overcomes engineering challenges to produce bright, stable, and compact frequency combs.
Quantum entanglement on attosecond timescales
The study measures ultrafast electron dynamics in hydrogen molecules, observing oscillations in hole localization that depend on the delay between attosecond pulses. Entanglement occurs at the expense of electronic coherence in the remaining ion.
Topological solitons power a chip-scale frequency comb source
Researchers create a new way to generate optical frequency combs at the chip scale, utilizing robust light pulses called topological solitons. This advance promises to make frequency combs more practical and easier to use outside the laboratory.
A clear roadmap for engineering combs of light
Engineers at Harvard create microcombs on photonic chips, enabling compact, programmable frequency combs for precision measurement and telecommunications applications. The breakthrough makes electro-optic microcombs more practical, energy efficient, and diverse.
A dynamic twist of light’s ‘handedness’
The Harvard researchers' new device is elegantly designed to be tunable, with a bilayer design that becomes geometrically chiral and able to 'read' chiral light. By using the MEMS device to continuously vary the twist angle and interlayer spacing, the team showed they could tune the device's intrinsic ability to read different chiral l...
IEEE researchers achieve low-power ultrashort mid-IR pulse compression
A team of researchers from SASTRA Deemed University demonstrates a fiber-based method for compressing mid-infrared laser pulses into ultrashort, low-noise bursts efficiently. The system reduces input power from kilowatts to 80 watts, improving energy efficiency and thermal stability.
Generating micro-combs of light
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have discovered a new way to generate ultra-precise, evenly spaced laser light combs on a photonic chip. This breakthrough could miniaturize optical platforms like spectroscopic sensors or communication systems.
Pioneering second-order nonlinear vibrational nanoscopy for interfacial molecular systems beyond the diffraction limit
Researchers overcome spatial resolution limit of sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy by utilizing plasmonic near-field confinement. This breakthrough enables direct visualization of nanoscale orientation heterogeneity in interfacial molecular domains.
Swiss X-ray laser reveals the hidden dance of electrons
Scientists at SwissFEL have developed a technique known as X-ray four-wave mixing, allowing them to access coherences in matter for the first time. This breakthrough has the potential to illuminate how quantum information is stored and lost, ultimately aiding the design of more error-tolerant quantum devices.
Elegant solution for measuring ultrashort laser pulses discovered
Researchers at Lund University have developed a compact and elegant way to stretch ultrafast laser pulses using a diffraction grating, allowing for precise control over pulse duration. This enables full characterization in a single shot, without the need for pre-compensation optical elements.
Light for future optical technologies: Successful conclusion of the TRR 142 Collaborative Research Centre
Researchers at Paderborn University and TU Dortmund University have developed materials smaller than the wavelength of light and precisely manipulated photons. They created quantum light sources for quantum computing and ultra-fast communication, as well as low-temperature electronics to control quantum experiments.
Observing nanoscale dynamics with soft X-rays
Researchers at the Max Born Institute developed a laboratory-scale soft-X-ray instrument to study ultrafast processes of emergent textures in magnetic materials. They observed nanoscale magnetic maze domains and discovered complex reorganization patterns on picosecond to nanosecond timescales.
Massively parallel implementation of nonlinear functions using an optical processor
UCLA researchers create optical processor that performs massive parallel computation of nonlinear functions, executed rapidly and simultaneously at extreme spatial density. The study demonstrates the use of diffractive optical processors to approximate arbitrary sets of bandlimited nonlinear functions.
Successful measurement of ultrafast electric fields: development of a diamond nonlinear probe
Scientists have successfully measured ultrafast electric fields using a diamond nonlinear probe, achieving femtosecond temporal and nanometer spatial resolution. This breakthrough enables the detection of local electric field dynamics near surfaces with unprecedented precision.
Watching bandgaps in motion - attosecond interferometry of solids
Using extreme ultraviolet high-harmonic interferometry, researchers tracked changes in the electronic bandgap of silica glass and magnesium oxide under strong laser excitation. The study found a shrinking bandgap in silica and a widening bandgap in magnesium oxide.
Pushing boundaries in ultrafast magnetization switching
Researchers discovered that ultrafast magnetization switching proceeds with a speed of about 2000 meters per second, not uniformly throughout the material. A moving boundary propagates through the film, sweeping through the entire layer in roughly 4.5 ps.
Enhanced magnetic second-harmonic generation in an ultra-compact plasmonic nanocavity
Researchers create subwavelength dimer-on-film nanocavities to excite magnetic dipole resonance, enabling Lorentz-force-driven second-harmonic generation with high efficiency. The approach breaks conventional design paradigms and offers a new framework for studying magnetic field-related nonlinear optical processes.
Strong-confinement low-index-rib-loaded waveguide structure for etchless thin-film integrated photonics
A strong-confinement low-index rib-loaded waveguide structure enables efficient light propagation and high electro-optic coupling in TE polarization, opening up new ways for fast proof-of-concept demonstration. The structure achieved a 3-dB bandwidth beyond 110 GHz and a voltage-length product of 2.26 V·cm.
Reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry optics with patterned ferroelectric nematics
Researchers developed reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry optics using patterned ferroelectric nematics, enabling dynamic control over nonlinear phase shifts. The approach offers unprecedented flexibility for advanced optical processing, adaptive optics, and quantum information technologies.
Observation of nonlinear edge states in an interacting atomic trimer array
Researchers study impact of interactions on population distribution in topological trimer array, observing formation of nonlinear edge states. They extend domain of nonlinear topological photonics to ultracold atomic systems.
Butterfly wings inspire solution to impossible problem
Researchers have developed a patterned layer of material that can dynamically tune advanced optical processes at visible wavelengths. The breakthrough enables adaptive camouflage, biosensing, and quantum light engines, leveraging the unique properties of van der Waals materials.
Generation of femtosecond polygonal optical vortices from a mode-locked quasi-frequency-degenerate laser
Researchers have developed a method to generate femtosecond polygonal optical vortices with square, pentagonal, and hexagonal intensity distributions. The technique utilizes a passive mode-locked solid-state Yb:KGW oscillator at quasi-frequency-degenerate state, delivering high-power FPOVs with excellent power stability.
Digital to analog in one smooth step
The new Harvard device can turn purely digital electronic inputs into analog optical signals at high speeds, addressing the bottleneck of computing and data interconnects. It has the potential to enable advances in microwave photonics and emerging optical computing approaches.
Ten thousand molecules in time – Generation and control of collective vibrations in a liquid
Scientists generate collective molecular vibrations in a liquid by placing an electron ultrafast. These vibrations govern the electric behavior of the liquid and can be tuned to adapt its properties. The study reveals new insights into polar liquids' dynamics.
Phoenix: New open-source program for quantum physics
Researchers developed an open-source software tool, Phoenix, to simulate light behavior in quantum systems, solving wave equations in record time without high-performance computing expertise. The program is up to a thousand times faster and 99.8% more energy-efficient than conventional tools.
TFLN-based RGB multiplexer for energy-efficient laser beam scanning
Researchers have developed a new RGB multiplexer based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) that enables faster and more energy-efficient light modulation for laser beam scanning systems. The multiplexer successfully combined red, green, and blue laser beams, generating mixed colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, and even white light.
Bagged: Skyrmions
A team of researchers developed a reliable method to create donut-like, topologically rich spin textures called skyrmion bags in thin ferromagnetic films. The success rate of generating such textures using single laser pulses is significantly higher than magnetic-field-driven approaches.
Could metasurfaces be the next quantum information processors?
Researchers create metasurfaces to control photons and entangle them for quantum computing and sensing. The discovery could lead to miniaturized optical setups with improved stability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness.
Researchers demonstrated how optical fibers can make computers ultra-fast
A research team from Tampere University and Université Marie et Louis Pasteur has demonstrated a novel way to process information using light and optical fibers. The study used femtosecond laser pulses and an optical fiber to mimic the processing of artificial intelligence, achieving accuracy of over 91% in under one picosecond.
Ultra-thin lenses that make infrared light visible
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method for fabricating ultra-thin metalenses using lithium niobate nanostructures. These devices can convert infrared light to visible radiation, enabling new applications in security, microscopy, and electronics.
Ballistic electrons chart a new course for next-gen terahertz devices
Researchers propose a new method for manipulating light using the geometry of matter, generating second-harmonic signals at much lower intensities than traditional methods. The team's design guidelines offer practical solutions for building nanoscale terahertz devices without applied voltage.
Nonlinearity of optoacoustic signals and a new contrast mechanism for imaging.
Researchers have identified nonlinearity in optoacoustic signals and a new contrast mechanism that significantly improves tissue characterization. The method uses thermally excited nonlinear susceptibility to offer novel imaging capabilities.
A compact, mid-infrared pulse generator
Physicists at Harvard SEAS have created a compact, on-chip mid-infrared pulse generator that can emit short bursts of light without external components. This device has the potential to speed up gas sensor development and create new medical imaging tools.
Light that spirals like a nautilus shell
Harvard physicists develop an optical vortex beam that twists and changes shape, resembling spiral shapes found in nature. The 'optical rotatum' has potential applications in controlling small particles and micro-manipulation, and its creation is made possible with a single liquid crystal display.
Coherence synthesis in nonlinear optics
A new study introduces a method to actively shape and control spatial coherence in nonlinear optics, allowing for the transfer of coherence patterns between different spectral ranges. This approach enables innovative applications in imaging, security, and biomedical diagnostics.
Doubling down on metasurfaces
A new bilayer metasurface, made of two stacked layers of titanium dioxide nanostructures, has been created by Harvard researchers. This device can precisely control the behavior of light, including polarization, and opens up a new avenue for metasurfaces.
Coherence synthesis in nonlinear optics
A new study introduces a method to synthesize spatial coherence during nonlinear interactions, allowing for the transfer of coherence patterns between different spectral ranges. This approach enables advanced imaging techniques such as infrared imaging for medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
Harnessing device architecture for enhanced terahertz harmonic generation
Researchers have developed novel strategies to enhance THz nonlinearities in graphene-based structures, increasing third harmonic generation up to 30 times. A multilayered design and metasurface substrates were used to amplify the THz field, leading to a two-order magnitude increase in efficiency.
Harnessing electromagnetic waves and quantum materials to improve wireless communication technologies
A team of researchers from the University of Ottawa has developed innovative methods to enhance frequency conversion of terahertz (THz) waves in graphene-based structures, unlocking new potential for faster, more efficient technologies in wireless communication and signal processing. These advancements hold great promise for wireless c...
Discovering quasiparticles ejected from color centers in diamond crystals
Scientists have created extremely thin sheets of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond crystals, which exhibit exceptional sensitivity to environmental variations. The findings reveal the emergence of Fröhlich polarons, previously thought not to exist in diamonds, opening up new prospects for quantum sensing.
New 'chiral vortex' of light reveals molecular mirror images
A new structure of light has been discovered that can accurately measure chirality in molecules, a property of asymmetry important in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. This 'chiral vortex' provides an accurate and robust form of measurement, allowing for the detection of chiral biomarkers.
Innovative perovskite waveguides with edge lasing effect
Scientists have created perovskite crystals with predefined shapes to serve as waveguides, couplers, and modulators in integrated photonic circuits. The edge lasing effect is associated with exciton-polariton condensates, which exhibit nonlinear effects, enabling applications in quantum computing.
Engineers bring efficient optical neural networks into focus
EPFL researchers have created an energy-efficient method for nonlinear computations using scattered light from low-power lasers. The new approach is scalable and up to 1,000 times more power-efficient than state-of-the-art digital networks, making it suitable for realizing optical neural networks.
Light-induced Meissner effect in optically driven YBa2Cu3O6.48
Researchers have discovered that photo-excited YBa2Cu3O6.48 expels a static magnetic field from its interior, comparable to equilibrium superconductivity. This finding suggests that tailored light pulses can be used to synchronize fluctuating states and restore superconducting order at higher temperatures.
Innovative method enhances brillouin optical fiber sensing for infrastructure monitoring
Researchers developed a novel method to estimate modulation amplitude and determine spatial resolution in Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) without costly equipment. This innovation simplifies the process, reducing costs and enhancing convenience.
A liquid crystal source of photon pairs
Scientists have demonstrated spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a liquid crystal, creating entangled photon pairs with high efficiency. The discovery enables flexible and electric-field-tunable quantum light sources.
Good vibrations: New tech may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices
Researchers at the University of Arizona and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new class of synthetic materials that enable giant nonlinear interactions between phonons. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more efficient wireless devices, such as smartphones or other data transmitters.
Shining a light on the hidden properties of quantum materials
Researchers at UC San Diego used terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to observe anomalous terahertz light amplification in Ta2NiSe5, uncovering its exciton condensate properties. This technique may allow for the discovery of new light-induced phenomena and their potential applications in entangled light sources.
Bridging light and electrons
Researchers at EPFL and Max Planck Institute have successfully bridged the gap between light and electrons using a transmission electron microscope. They achieved this by generating dissipative Kerr solitons that interact with free electrons, allowing for ultrafast modulation of electron beams.
Study paves way for development of advanced quantum networks
Researchers at UNICAMP developed a new technology to create bridges between superconducting circuits and optical fibers, enabling efficient transmission of information in the electromagnetic spectrum. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of advanced quantum networks with potential applications in computing and communicat...
Photo-induced superconductivity on a chip
Researchers have successfully integrated photo-induced superconductivity on a chip using non-linear THz spectroscopy. The electrical response of K3C60 exhibits non-linear behavior, validating previous observations and providing new insights into the physics of this material.
A new way to create germ-killing light
Researchers at Osaka University have created a new optical device that generates deep-UV light using second harmonic generation, killing germs while remaining harmless to humans. The device is more efficient and compact than previous options, paving the way for commercial applications.
A nanocrystal shines on and off indefinitely
Researchers have developed a fully photostable and photoswitchable nanoparticle that can be controlled indefinitely using near-infrared light. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize fields such as optical memory, super-resolution microscopy, and bioimaging.
γ-MnO2 dual-core, pair-hole fiber for ultrafast photonics
The γ-MnO2 dual-core pair-hole fiber enables the production of an all-fiber mode-locked laser with a pulse width of about 1 ps and a repetition frequency of about 600 MHz. This fabrication scheme offers good stability and is suitable for combining other novel materials with specialty fibers, expanding ultrafast optics and sensing appli...
Finely-tuned quantum dots enhance nonlinear optics
Researchers have discovered a way to fine-tune quantum dots to enhance their nonlinear optical properties, allowing for tighter control over light emission frequency and brightness. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in optoelectronic devices such as LEDs and light-based computer circuits.
A novel, space-time coding antenna developed at CityU promotes 6G and secure wireless communications
A new space-time coding antenna developed at City University of Hong Kong enables manipulation of beam direction, frequency, and amplitude for improved user flexibility in 6G wireless communications. The antenna relies on software control and combines research advances in leaky-wave antennas and space-time coding techniques.
A dual boost for optical delay scanning
Researchers at ETH Zurich introduce a novel single-cavity architecture for a dual-comb laser, enabling fast and precise scanning of optical delays. The system achieves high precision (2-fs) and stability (up to 500 Hz) for an optical delay of 12.5 ns, opening up new possibilities for practical applications.