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Turning friction heat into a chemical cushion to shape flawless semiconductor crystals

The new method uses a chemical additive to create a sacrificial molecular cushion on the crystal surface, allowing for smoother cutting and reducing defects. This technique slashes subsurface crystal defects to a depth of only 70 nanometers, promising to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateSep 15, 2026

New device design could miniaturize photonics, quantum technologies

Researchers create powerful optical device with layered semiconductor and metasurface, enhancing nonlinear frequency conversion and enabling efficient light mixing and transformation. The device has potential applications in telecommunications, quantum communication, and photonic quantum computing.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2026

High-density integrated photonic convolution: a scalable spatiotemporal interleaving network

Researchers have developed a new photonic architecture that enables scalable spatiotemporal interleaving networks for high-density integrated photonic convolution. The SPIN (Spatiotemporal Photonic Interleaving Network) framework reduces waveguide complexity and increases programmability in wavelength-domain interleaving, enabling comp...

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2026

Solving complex optimization problems using optics

A new mathematical approach using optics helps computers solve larger, more complex optimization problems by reducing computational demands. The framework can be applied to various real-world challenges, including facility placement and data clustering, with potential benefits for a carbon-neutral future.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 29, 2026

192-dimensional photonic chip unlocks ultra-parallel optical computing with reconfigurable large kernels

The new photonic architecture harnesses three fundamental degrees of freedom: wavelength, mode, and polarization, achieving 192 parallel computing channels. The chip supports large, reconfigurable convolution kernels up to 13x13, capturing global structural contours while preserving fine details.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2026

Rayleigh-driven ethanol cluster inference based on non-contact optical sensing and deep learning

Researchers developed a non-contact optical sensing strategy to detect ethanol molecules in air using light-field distortions and deep learning. The system employs a graphene-based Fresnel lens to focus light through interference, capturing minute changes in the focal spot formed by the lens.

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Pixelated BIC metasurfaces for terahertz integrated sensing and imaging

Researchers propose a novel THz metasurface-enabled platform for integrated sensing and imaging, overcoming limitations of slow sequential data acquisition. The system achieves 100% binary image reconstruction with nanosecond-scale accuracy, enabling real-time applications in security, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical sectors.

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Could light-powered computers reduce AI’s energy use?

A new prototype device accelerates and reduces energy cost of AI computation by encoding data into light patterns, enabling faster and more efficient processing. This innovation aims to ease the energy bottleneck in AI technology, making it more sustainable and accessible for various applications.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 11, 2026

From light to logic

McMaster and Pittsburgh researchers have developed a soft material that can perform a NAND logic operation using only three beams of visible light. The breakthrough paves the way for autonomous systems with computation capabilities without traditional electronics.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 20, 2025

The playbook for perfect polaritons

Researchers at Columbia University have identified the rules for creating perfect polaritons, which are hybrid quasiparticles combining light and matter. The guiding rules include large optical absorption, low disorder, and inherent exciton delocalization, enabling polaritons to preserve coherence despite strong interactions and disorder.

SourceColumbia University·JournalChem·DateOct 10, 2025

Neuromorphic devices and machine learning combine to make brain-like devices possible

Researchers are combining machine learning algorithms with neuromorphic hardware to build brain-like devices that can learn from data and adapt in real-time. These devices have the potential to revolutionize industries such as manufacturing by enabling machines to sense their environment, adapt to new tasks, and make decisions without ...

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateAug 11, 2025

A technological breakthrough for ultra-fast and greener AI

Researchers from Université Laval designed an ultra-fast and greener optical chip that can transfer massive amounts of data at speeds of 1,000 gigabits per second while reducing energy consumption. This innovation uses the phase of light to add a new dimension to the signal, reaching unprecedented performance levels.

SourceUniversité Laval·JournalNature Photonics·DateJul 11, 2025

Boson sampling finds first practical applications in quantum AI

Researchers from OIST develop new quantum AI method for image recognition based on boson sampling, achieving highly accurate results without complex training. The approach uses a linear optical network and preserves information, outperforming classical methods in various datasets.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalOptica Quantum·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 24, 2025

New photon-avalanching nanoparticles could enable next-generation optical computers

Researchers developed new photon avalanching nanoparticles that exhibit high nonlinearities, overcoming challenges in realizing intrinsic optical bistability at the nanoscale. The breakthrough paves the way for fabricating optical memory and transistors on a nanometer scale comparable to current microelectronics.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2025

Large-scale programmable logic array achieves complex computations

Researchers developed a large-scale optical programmable logic array that can execute complex models like Conway's Game of Life, marking a significant advancement in optical computing. The array uses parallel spectrum modulation to achieve an 8-input system, significantly expanding the capabilities of optical logic operations.

Solving computationally hard problems with 3D integrated photonics

Researchers have developed a reconfigurable three-dimensional integrated photonic processor specifically designed to tackle the subset sum problem, a classic NP-complete challenge. The processor operates by allowing photons in a light beam to explore all possible paths simultaneously, providing answers in parallel and demonstrating hig...

A multi-level breakthrough in optical computing

Researchers from Pitt, UC Santa Barbara, University of Cagliari, and Institute of Science Tokyo have developed a new method for photonic in-memory computing that combines non-volatility, multibit storage, high switching speed, low switching energy, and high endurance in a single platform.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Photonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2024

Paralleled and multiplexed all-optical logic operation

Researchers developed a novel optical computation architecture called diffraction casting, which leverages spatial parallelism of light to perform computations. This method overcomes limitations of previous techniques by using wave optics, enabling scalable and parallel logic operations with high flexibility and integration capability.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2024

Logic with light

Researchers at the University of Tokyo introduce a new optical computing scheme called diffraction casting, which improves upon existing methods. The system uses light waves to perform logic operations and has shown promise in running complex calculations, including those used in machine learning.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 3, 2024

Orbital-angular-momentum-encoded diffractive networks for object classification tasks

Researchers developed three diffractive deep neural networks using orbital angular momentum to recognize objects in images, achieving accuracy comparable to wavelength and polarization-based models. The technology has potential for real-time processing applications like image recognition and data-intensive tasks.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateNov 27, 2023

Exploiting nonlinear scattering medium for optical encryption, computation, and machine learning

Researchers have discovered a way to utilize nonlinear scattering media for optical computing and machine learning. They created a novel theoretical framework involving third-order tensors, which can represent the complex relationships between input and output signals. This breakthrough has potential applications in real-world settings...

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2023

New approach to developing efficient, high-precision 3D light shapers

Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateApr 21, 2023

Optical computing for object classification through diffusive random media

Diffractive deep neural networks enable objects to be classified through unknown random diffusers, offering high speed, parallelism and low power consumption. The single-pixel broadband diffractive network achieved a blind testing accuracy of 87.74% in recognizing handwritten digits.