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GHz burst mode femtosecond laser pulses can create unique two-dimensional (2D) periodic surface nanostructures

Researchers demonstrate the ability of GHz burst mode femtosecond laser pulses to create unique two-dimensional (2D) periodic surface nanostructures on silicon substrates. The GHz burst mode enhances ablation efficiency and quality compared to conventional single-pulse mode, enabling the formation of distinctive 2D LIPSS.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJan 24, 2023

Automated optical inspection of FAST’s reflector surface using drones and computer vision

A team of scientists has developed an automated inspection system for the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) reflector surface using drones and computer vision. The system uses deep-learning techniques to detect defects on the surface, enabling timely repair and maintaining optimal dish surface quality.

Ultrafast and ultra-sensitive protein detection method allows for ultra-early disease diagnoses

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a novel protein detection method that allows for ultra-fast and highly sensitive detection of proteins, enabling early disease diagnoses. The method uses light-induced acceleration of antigen-antibody reaction to detect attogram-level proteins within 3 minutes.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Common path principle improves shape metrology of complex precision optics

A new common path interferometer combining Fizeau and Twyman-Green principles has been developed to measure complex precision optics with improved accuracy. The Tilted Wave Interferometer overcomes reference wave problems, enhancing flexibility and reducing measurement time.

The annihilation of exceptional points from various degeneration points was observed for the first time in the world

For the first time, scientists observed the annihilation of exceptional points from various degeneration points. The researchers used an optical resonator filled with liquid crystal to study the properties of exceptional points. They found that the position of these points can be controlled by changing the voltage applied to the cavity.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 14, 2022

Physicists from the University of Warsaw and the Military University of Technology have developed a new photonic system with electrically tuned topological features

Physicists have developed a new photonic system with electrically tuned topological features, constructed of perovskites and liquid crystals. The system can be used to create efficient and unconventional light sources, mimicking the spin-orbit coupling previously observed in semiconductor physics at cryogenic temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 14, 2022

Arrayed chirality

A team of researchers from Osaka University used computer simulations to model the optical radiation force distribution induced by an interference pattern, enabling the fabrication of nano-sized structures with chiral properties. This technology has the potential to create new optical devices, such as chirality sensors.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 28, 2022

Prospects for an all-optical remote magnetic field sensor

Researchers have developed a sensitive setup for detecting luminescence spectra in rare-earth doped crystals, enabling remote measurements of magnetic fields with high precision. The detection capabilities allow for accurate measurement of magnetic fields down to 17 μT and direction determination.

Less is more: dimensionality reduction as a general strategy for more precise luminescence thermometry

Researchers have developed a method to increase precision in luminescent nanothermometers using dimensionality reduction. By automating the selection of a thermometric parameter, they achieve thermometric approaches with precision below 0.1 degrees Celsius.

Bar-Ilan University researchers produce nanodiamonds capable of delivering medicinal and cosmetic remedies through the skin

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have produced nanodiamonds capable of delivering medicinal and cosmetic remedies through the skin, eliminating the need for biopsies. The nanodiamonds can be precisely monitored non-invasively using a laser-based optical method, enabling targeted drug delivery and cosmetics application.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 30, 2022

Bug eyes and bat sonar: UCLA bioengineers turn to animal kingdom for creation of bionic super 3D cameras

Researchers have developed a novel computational imaging framework, Compact Light-field Photography (CLIP), allowing the camera system to acquire wide and deep panoramic views. The technology enables the detection of hidden objects around occlusions and has potential applications in autonomous vehicles and medical imaging.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2022

Innovative approach to cell binding could help our understanding of diseases

A new approach to studying cell binding has been developed, allowing for precise measurement of adhesion forces in various conditions. This technique, scRAFA, enables label-free and sub-cellular-resolution quantification of adhesion, with applications in fields such as cell biology, immunotherapy, and urinary tract infection.

Engineers repurpose 19th-century photography technique to make stretchy, color-changing films

Researchers developed a new printing technique that applies a 19th-century color photography method to modern holographic materials, producing large-scale images on elastic materials with structural color. The team's results enable the creation of pressure-monitoring bandages, shade-shifting fabrics, or touch-sensing robots.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 1, 2022

Towards stable, sustained Raman imaging of large samples at the nanoscale

A research team from Japan has developed a stable TERS system that enables characterization of defect analysis in large-sized WS2 layers at high pixel resolution. The team successfully imaged nanoscale defects over a period of 6 hours in a micrometer-sized WS2 film without significant signal loss.

SourceInstitute of Post-LED Photonics, Tokushima University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

Electrons in alcohol – concerted molecule and charge motions at terahertz frequencies

Researchers observed a novel type of excitation, called a polaron, where collective oscillations of the electron and its screening cloud arise at terahertz frequencies. These oscillations persist for tens of picoseconds and are impulsively triggered by ultrafast electron localization.

Advances in the design and manufacturing of novel freeform optics

Freeform optics have revolutionized the way we approach precision optical systems, enabling superior imaging in compact packages. Researchers have summarized the present state of art in advances, design methods, manufacturing, metrology, and applications. Key challenges include standard definitions, optimization complexities, and measu...

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJul 7, 2022

Keeping the energy in the room

Professor Ben Mazin and his team developed precision optical sensors for telescopes, doubling the spectral resolving power. This breakthrough enables scientists to analyze exoplanet composition using spectroscopy, with implications for detecting different molecules across the universe.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 1, 2022

A mirror tracks a tiny particle

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck developed a new technique to track levitated nanoparticles with improved precision. By using the reflected light of a mirror, they outperformed state-of-the-art detection methods and opened up new possibilities for nanoparticle-based sensing applications.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2022

A novel all-optical switching method makes optical computing and communication systems more power-efficient

A novel all-optical switching method has been developed to make optical computing and communication systems more power-efficient. The method utilizes the quantum optical phenomenon of Enhancement of Index of Refraction (EIR) to achieve ultrafast switching times, ultralow threshold control power, and high switching efficiency.

SourceTampere University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2022

Sharp X-ray images despite imperfect lenses

A team from the Institute for X-ray Physics at the University of Göttingen has developed a new method for X-ray microscopy that uses imperfect lenses to achieve higher image quality and sharpness. The researchers used a lens consisting of finely structured layers deposited on a thin wire and adjusted it between the object to be imaged ...

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2022

A new guide to extremely powerful light pulses

Researchers have demonstrated a new method for guiding light in an energy-scalable manner using two refocusing mirrors and thin nonlinear glass windows. This approach enables the compression of laser pulses to tens of femtosecond duration with gigawatt peak power.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2022

Pushing the boundaries of space exploration with X-ray polarimetry

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission enables new measurements of cosmic X-ray sources, such as pulsars, black holes, and neutron stars. With its state-of-the-art telescopes and detectors, IXPE will provide high-quality polarization data of various sources, including supernova remnants, active galaxies, and blazars.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Astronomical Telescopes Instruments and Systems·DateApr 22, 2022

Can Bessel beams be realized in the ultrabroad terahertz frequency range?

A team of scientists has successfully generated Bessel terahertz pulses from superluminal laser plasma filaments, showcasing a promising approach for various applications. The method, which manipulates the spatial-temporal structure with tailored femtosecond lasers, produces ultrabroad bandwidth and high-order Bessel beam profiles.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2022

Near-chirp-free pulses in normal-dispersion fiber lasers: birefringence-managed solitons

Scientists report a new class of chirp-free pulse in normal-dispersion fiber lasers containing a section of polarization-maintaining fiber. Simulation results reproduce experimental observations, demonstrating the formation mechanism and unique vector soliton property of birefringence-managed solitons.

New optical tweezers put on the pressure to change color

Researchers at Osaka City University have developed a new technique for controlling the luminescence color of materials using optical tweezers and nanotextured black silicon. The system can change the color of a material in response to changes in light pressure, allowing for fully reversible remote control.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 28, 2022

Strobe light for 5G: NIST imaging system spotlights the tiny mechanical hearts at the core of every cellphone

Researchers at NIST developed an instrument to image acoustic waves over a wide range of frequencies with unprecedented detail. The new instrument captures these waves by relying on an optical interferometer, allowing for the creation of three-dimensional movies of microresonators' vibrational modes.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2022