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Time crystals leave the lab

Researchers at University of California - Riverside observe time crystals in a system not isolated from its environment, achieving a major breakthrough. The all-optical time crystal uses a disk-shaped magnesium fluoride glass resonator and has potential applications in accurate measurements and precision timekeeping.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2022

Compact biosensor microscope built for point of care diagnostics

Researchers developed a compact photonic resonator absorption microscope for point-of-care diagnostics, using photonic crystal biosensors to detect proteins or other biomarkers linked to gold nanoparticles. The portable instrument costs $7,000 and has potential applications in detecting various cancers.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Nanoscale lattices flow from 3D printer

Rice materials scientists develop a method to print arbitrary 3D shapes, creating micro-scale electronic, mechanical and photonic devices. The process involves two-photon polymerization and doping with rare earth salts for photoluminescent properties.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 14, 2021

Switching nanolight on and off

Researchers at Columbia University have developed a platform to control layered crystals using light, producing imaging capabilities beyond common limits. The discovery provides insights for optical quantum information processing and aims to solve difficult problems in computing and communications.

SourceColumbia University·JournalScience·DateFeb 4, 2021

Natural three-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal

Scientists have developed a natural potassium-tantalate-niobate (KTN) perovskite nonlinear photonic crystal with 3D spontaneous Rubik's domain structures, enabling compensation of phase-mismatch along arbitrary directions. This breakthrough paves the way for new applications in optical communications, quantum entanglement sources, and ...

Order from chaos

Researchers from Kyoto University have created a beam-scanning device using photonic crystals, eliminating the need for moving parts. The technology enables high-power, high-beam-quality two-dimensional beam scanning lasers with improved resolution and accuracy.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 13, 2020

Low-threshold topological nanolasers based on the second-order corner state

A team of scientists demonstrates a low-threshold topological nanolaser in a 2D topological photonic crystal nanocavity, achieving high performance comparable to conventional semiconductor lasers. The design features a second-order corner state that provides robustness against defects and enhances light-matter interaction.

Physicists couple key components of quantum technologies

Researchers at the University of Münster have created an interface that couples light sources with nanophotonic networks, enabling the integration of quantum optical circuits on chips. The interface uses photonic crystals to enhance a specific wavelength range and can be replicated using established nanofabrication processes.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalAdvanced Quantum Technologies·DateOct 9, 2019

Striped glow sticks

Scientists have developed a new strategy for constructing photonic heterostructure crystals with tunable properties, which can absorb and transmit photons. These crystals, in the form of striped rods, exhibit unique fluorescence behavior and serve as a prototype for a logic gate.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 6, 2019

Core solutions reach optimally extreme light pulses

Researchers at ICFO and MPL create a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber system producing single-cycle IR pulses at an unprecedented repetition rate of 160 kHz. This enables applications such as real-time electron motions observation in single molecules, opening a window to watching subatomic processes during chemical reactions.

SourceOptica·DateSep 11, 2017

Altering organic molecules' interaction with light

Researchers at MIT have discovered a new platform that enables dramatic manipulation of organic molecules' emission by suspending them on top of a carefully designed planar slab with a periodic array of holes. This platform has important implications for applications such as bio-imaging, bio-molecular detection and the development of o...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 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

Nano-diamond qubits and photonic crystals

Researchers have successfully fabricated a hybrid system using nano-diamonds and photonic crystals, paving the way for multi-qubit systems on a single chip. This achievement brings the dream of a quantum computer closer to reality, with potential applications in various fields of science and engineering.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 30, 2010

A predilection for certain symmetries

Materials with 7-fold rotation symmetry have not yet been observed in nature, but researchers have discovered the reason why. The density of flower-shaped nuclei plays a crucial role in determining the rotation symmetry of colloidal particles, explaining why materials with certain symmetries are rare in nature.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2010

The photonic beetle

University of Utah chemists have discovered the ideal photonic crystal structure, dubbed the "champion" crystal, in the shimmering green scales of a Brazilian weevil beetle. The scale material has a diamond-like structure that can manipulate light efficiently, but its chitin composition makes it unsuitable for long-term use.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPhysical Review E·DateMay 19, 2008

IBM reports milestone in silicon nanophotonics

Researchers from IBM, Kyoto University, Northwestern, and the University of New Mexico have achieved significant breakthroughs in silicon nanophotonics. The longest photon lifetime of 2.1 ns was observed in a photonic crystal nanocavity, while advanced microresonators with quality factors over 100 million were demonstrated.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateDec 11, 2007

3-D photonic crystals will revolutionize telecommunications

Researchers are developing three-dimensional photonic crystals that can reflect single colors of light, enabling compact optical semiconductor components. This technology has the potential to replace electrical signals with light-based transmission, leading to faster and more efficient data transfer in telecommunications.