Optical Properties
Articles tagged with Optical Properties
Good vibrations for quantum communications
Scientists have successfully demonstrated atomic spin qubit interaction with a single-quantum sound wave, opening up new possibilities for quantum information storage and sensing applications. The experiment uses phonons to interact with atomic defects in diamond, enabling precise measurement of forces and temperatures.
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...
Microscopic mirrors for future quantum networks
The Harvard team developed a new microfabrication method to produce high-performance, curved optical mirrors with extremely smooth surfaces. The mirrors can control light at near-infrared wavelengths, enabling fast and efficient quantum networking.
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.
Seeing the unseen: Scientists demonstrate dual-mode color generation from invisible light
Researchers develop a rigid organic crystal that emits red light under UV irradiation through excimer formation and generates green light through second harmonic generation under near-infrared exposure. The dual-mode optical behavior operates independently within the same crystal without interference.
Reshaping gold leads to new electronic and optical properties
By changing the physical structure of gold, researchers can drastically change its interaction with light, leading to enhanced electronic behavior and improved absorption of light energy. This study demonstrates the potential of nanoporous gold as a new design parameter for engineering materials in advanced technologies.
An unexpected breakthrough in flat optics
A team from Harvard and University of Lisbon found that silica, a low-refractive index material, can be used for making metasurfaces despite long-held assumptions. They discovered that by carefully considering the geometry of each nanopillar, silica behaves as a metasurface, enabling efficient design of devices with relaxed feature sizes.
Researchers from the UJI Optics Group correct image aberrations in real time in single-pixel microscopy using a deformable lens
Researchers from the UJI Optics Group have developed a new method to correct image aberrations in single-pixel microscopy using a deformable lens. This approach combines an adaptive lens with a sensor-less method that evaluates image sharpness directly from the data, producing sharper images close to the physical resolution limit witho...
The world’s first room temperature continuous-wave UV-B laser diode on a sapphire substrate
Researchers at Meijo University have developed the world's first continuous-wave UV-B semiconductor laser diode operating at room temperature on a low-cost sapphire substrate. The achievement advances compact, energy-efficient UV light sources for various applications.
Kono awarded American Physical Society’s Isakson Prize
Kono recognized for his contributions to optical physics, light-condensed matter interactions and photonic applications of nanosystems. His research explores how light interacts with materials at the nanoscale, potentially leading to new technologies in electronics and quantum communication.
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.
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.
New technique can dramatically improve laser linewidth
Researchers at Macquarie University developed a new technique to narrow laser linewidth by factors exceeding 10,000 using diamond crystals and Raman scattering. This breakthrough could revolutionize quantum computing, atomic clocks, and gravitational wave detection with improved spectral purity.
Near-perfect defects in 2D material could serve as quantum bits
Scientists at Rice University have developed a scalable method to create high-performance single-photon emitters in carbon-doped hexagonal boron nitride, paving the way for practical quantum light sources. The findings overcome long-standing challenges in the field and set a new benchmark for qubit production.
The invisible order sets the fluctuation in the terahertz region of glass
Researchers identified a direct correlation between the emergence of boson peak (BP) and first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) using heterogeneous elasticity theory. This suggests that FSDP is a determining factor in the vibrational behavior of glasses within the THz band.
Interdisciplinary collaboration unlocks new insights into quantum physics
Researchers have developed a new technique called electro-optic sampling that uses ultrashort laser pulses to probe electric fields in crystals. This allows for the accurate capture of molecular spectra and detection of faint signals, providing profound insights into quantum physics.
Rice scientists uncover quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles
Researchers create 3D photonic-crystal cavity to study ultrastrong coupling between light and matter, enabling faster and more energy-efficient quantum computing and communication technologies. The study paves the way for hyperefficient quantum processors, high-speed data transmission and next-generation sensors.
Scientists create a ‘brilliantly luminous’ nanoscale chemical tool
Researchers developed fluorescent polyionic nanoclays that can be customized for medical imaging, sensor technology, and environmental protection. These tiny clay-based materials exhibit high brightness and versatility, enabling precise tuning of optical properties.
Do neurons transmit light?
Scientists investigate whether living neurons can transport light through their axons, which would significantly change current models of the nervous system. If successful, it could have major implications for treating brain diseases and healing the brain.
Scientists observe exotic quantum phase once thought impossible
Researchers have directly observed a superradiant phase transition (SRPT) in a magnetic crystal, overcoming a long-standing limitation in theoretical physics. The phenomenon occurs when two groups of quantum particles fluctuate collectively without external triggers, forming a new state of matter with unique properties.
Microscopy reveals signs of life in earth's extremes, boosting search for alien life
Researchers used video microscopy to explore extreme field sites on Earth, finding signs of microbial life in hot deserts, Arctic ice, and alkaline springs. The study highlights digital holographic microscopy as a tool for detecting life in space samples.
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.
Twisting atomically thin materials could advance quantum computers
Scientists at the University of Rochester have discovered a way to create artificial atoms within twisted monolayers of molybdenum diselenide, retaining information when activated by light. This breakthrough could lead to new types of quantum devices, such as memory or nodes in a quantum network.
Identifying organic–inorganic interaction sites toward emission enhancement in non-hydrogen-bonded hybrid perovskite via pressure engineering
Researchers discovered that the spatial arrangement of nearest Br-N atomic pairs is the major factor on organic-inorganic interactions, leading to emission enhancement under high pressure. The study provides valuable guidance for designing materials with targeted optical properties.
Light-powered breakthrough enables precision tuning of quantum dots
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new technique to tune the optical properties of quantum dots using light, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. This method allows for precise control over the bandgap, enabling the creation of high-quality perovskite quantum dots for optoelectronic devices.
New laparoscopic imaging technique accurately maps biological tissue for minimally invasive surgery
A new laparoscopic imaging technique uses stereo depth estimation and speckle-illumination SFDI to accurately map the optical properties of biological tissue. The device provides detailed optical property maps, enabling surgeons to identify critical tumor margins and improve clinical outcomes.
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...
Scientists learn how to make nanotubes that point in one direction
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new technique to grow arrayed tungsten disulfide nanotubes with aligned orientations. This breakthrough resolves the issue of jumbled orientations in collected amounts of nanotubes, enabling the exploration of exotic electric and optoelectronic properties.
KTU scientists developed a nanolaser: silver nanocubes enable light generation
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have developed a unique nanolaser that uses silver nanocubes to generate and amplify light. The laser's operating principle resembles a hall of mirrors, allowing efficient light generation in an optically active medium.
Novel quantum materials in the spotlight
German physicist Christian Schneider has been awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant to study the optical properties of two-dimensional materials. His team plans to develop experimental set-ups to investigate the unique properties of these materials, which could lead to new applications in quantum technologies.
Enhanced wavelength conversion to advance quantum information networks
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University develop a novel method for broadband frequency conversion using X-cut thin film lithium niobate, achieving a bandwidth of up to 13 nanometers. This breakthrough enables on-chip tunable frequency conversion, opening the door to enhanced quantum light sources and larger capacity multiplexing.
AI speeds up the discovery of energy and quantum materials.
Researchers developed a new AI model that predicts optical properties across a wide range of light frequencies using only a material's crystal structure as input. This enables highly precise predictions, making it suitable for screening materials for high-performance solar cells and detecting quantum materials.
New method improves understanding of light-wave propagation in anisotropic materials
Researchers have developed a new technique to study anisotropic materials, capturing full complexity of light behavior in these materials. The method revealed detailed insights into how light scatters differently along various directions within materials, allowing retrieval of scattering tensor coefficients.
Unique nanodisk pushing photonic research forward
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have successfully combined nonlinear and high-index nanophotonics in a single nanoobject, creating a disk-like structure with unique optical properties. The discovery has great potential for developing efficient and compact nonlinear optical devices.
New technology uses light to engrave erasable 3D images
Researchers at Dartmouth College developed a technique using light to imprint 2D and 3D images inside any polymer containing a photosensitive chemical additive. The technology enables the creation of erasable 3D displays with high resolution, applicable in surgeries, architectural designs, education, and art.
Precise stirring conditions key to optimizing nanostructure synthesis
Researchers found that controlling oxygen intake by adjusting stirring rates produces stable fluorescent silver nanoclusters. The study enhances understanding of nanostructure properties, paving the way for tailored nanomaterials with broader applications.
Paving the way to extremely fast, compact computer memory
The layered multiferroic material nickel iodide (NiI2) has been found to have greater magnetoelectric coupling than any known material of its kind, making it a prime candidate for technology advances. This property could enable the creation of magnetic computer memories that are compact, energy-efficient and can be stored and retrieved...
SLAC’s high-speed electron camera uncovers a new ‘light-twisting’ behavior in an ultrathin material
Researchers discovered a promising approach to manipulating light in an ultrathin material that could be useful for devices like LEDs and medical imaging. The study used SLAC's world-leading instrument to visualize the electric and magnetic fields of terahertz pulses, indicating circular polarization in the material.
Can large-area, three-dimensional metamaterials revolutionize optical sensing?
Researchers developed a 3D metamaterial capable of detecting polarization and direction of light, overcoming limitations of conventional optical devices. The breakthrough technology utilizes pi-shaped metal nanostructures with numerical aperture-detector polarimetry to analyze light distribution.
The nanotechnological revolution requires standardized ‘screws’ – here is a way to measure them
Scientists at the University of Bath discovered a new nonlinear optical property that measures the twist in tiny particles, similar to viruses and bacteria. This finding enables real-time particle size analysis and has significant implications for various fields like display technology, chemical catalysis, and medicine.
Purdue researchers’ crystal engineering modifies 2D metal halide perovskites into 1D nanowires
The Purdue method creates layered perovskite nanowires with exceptionally well-defined and flexible cavities that exhibit unusual optical properties. These nanowires show promising applications in nanophotonics and nanoelectronics, including anisotropic emission polarization and efficient light amplification.
Unveiling novel energy phenomena from light exposure on layered materials
A recent study reveals that layered materials composed of low-dimensional structures exhibit new properties when exposed to light. The researchers found that electrons can transfer between layers and convert energy into thermal energy, facilitating fast thermal conversion.
Innovative sensing platform unlocks ultrahigh sensitivity in conventional sensors
Researchers have developed a novel sensing platform that boosts the sensitivity of conventional optical sensors using exceptional points (EPs), allowing for improved environmental detection and biomedical imaging. The new EP-enhanced sensing platform enables ultrahigh sensitivity without complex modifications to the sensor.
Rice research shows promise for advancing quantum networks
Rice University engineers have demonstrated a way to control the optical properties of T centers, paving the way toward leveraging these point defects for building quantum nodes. By embedding a T center in a photonic integrated circuit, they increased the collection efficiency for single photon emission by two orders of magnitude.
Metamaterials and AI converge, igniting innovative breakthroughs
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs by harnessing AI in metamaterials research, leading to faster device development and more precise data analysis. This convergence of AI and metaphotonics has the potential to transform various domains, including diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and security.
Spontaneous curvature the key to shape-shifting nanomaterials
Scientists have identified spontaneous curvature as the factor determining how ultra-thin materials transform into useful tubes, twists, and helices. This process mimics nature's design and could lead to breakthroughs in creating chiral materials with exceptional properties.
Accurate and inexpensive approach for optical biopsy
Researchers developed a novel machine learning-based approach to analyze diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data, achieving higher accuracies and speeds than existing methods. The 'wavelength-independent regressor' model overcomes use-error limitations by incorporating diverse datasets, making it suitable for clinical settings.
Nanoscale manipulation of exciton–trion interconversion in a MoSe2 monolayer via tip-enhanced cavity-spectroscopy
Researchers have developed a novel 'nano active control platform' to control excitons and trions, providing valuable insights into the optical properties of two-dimensional semiconductors. The breakthrough discovery enables real-time analysis of nano-light properties with exceptional spatial resolution.
Hacking DNA to make next-gen materials
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a universal method for producing functional 3D metallic and semiconductor nanostructures using DNA. The new method produces robust nanostructures from multiple material classes, opening opportunities for 3D nanoscale manufacturing.
TU Graz researchers optimize 3D printing of optically active nanostructures
Researchers at TU Graz have made a breakthrough in manufacturing complex, free-standing 3D nanoarchitectures with precise shapes and sizes. They achieved this by precisely simulating the required optical properties in advance and completely removing chemical impurities, enabling new optical effects and application concepts.
Laser-driving a 2D material
Researchers at Columbia University paired laser light with crystal lattice vibrations to boost the nonlinear optical properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a stable 2D material. The team achieved over a 30-fold increase in third-harmonic generation, generating new frequencies and efficiently producing optical signals.
Chance twists ordered carbon nanotubes into ‘tornado films’
Researchers develop methods to introduce chirality into materials, enabling tunable properties in thin films. The discovery has potential applications in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, communication and energy.
New cooling ceramic can enhance energy efficiency for the construction sector and help combat global warming—City University of Hong Kong research
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a passive radiative cooling material that achieves high-performance optical properties. The cooling ceramic reduces thermal load, provides stable cooling performance, and can be used in various building applications.
Atomic dance gives rise to a magnet
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to transform a rare-earth crystal into a magnet by using chirality in phonons. Chirality, or the twisting of atoms' motion, breaks time-reversal symmetry and aligns electron spins, creating a magnetic effect.
Chemists, engineers craft adjustable arrays of microscopic lenses
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a system that can adjust the size, shape, and refractive index of microscopic lenses in real-time. The design uses hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane to create a dynamic platform for soft robotics and liquid optics applications.
Move over carbon, the nanotube family just got bigger
Researchers have engineered a range of new single-walled transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanotubes with different compositions, chirality, and diameters. The ability to synthesize diverse structures offers insights into their growth mechanism and novel optical properties.
3D-printed plasmonic plastic enables large-scale optical sensor production
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed 3D-printed plasmonic plastic, enabling the mass production of optical sensors that can detect hydrogen gas. The composite material has unique optical properties, allowing it to filter out molecules except hydrogen, making it ideal for various applications.
Realizing ultrafast imaging from 2D to quasi 3D
Scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology have developed an ultrafast quasi-three-dimensional technique, enabling higher dimensions to analyze ultrafast processes. This method breaks through the limitations of original observational dimensions, enhancing our ability to analyze ultra-fast processes comprehensively.