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Physicists make electrical nanolasers even smaller

Researchers have developed an approach to create electrically driven nanolasers for integrated circuits, enabling coherent light source design at the nanoscale. This breakthrough could lead to ultrafast optical data transfer and potentially create a 1,000-core processor that is virtually 100 times faster than its counterpart.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNanophotonics·DateSep 16, 2020

Paving the way for tunable graphene plasmonic THz amplifiers

A team of international researchers has successfully demonstrated room-temperature coherent amplification of terahertz radiation in graphene. The development paves the way for a new generation of all-electronic, resonant, and voltage-controlled THz amplifiers.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPhysical Review X·DateSep 7, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

A breakthrough in developing multi-watt terahertz lasers

Researchers at Lehigh University developed a new phase-locking technique to achieve record-high output power for terahertz lasers, resulting in the highest radiative efficiency for any single-wavelength semiconductor quantum cascade laser. The breakthrough enables higher intensity and brightness, paving the way for applications in iden...

SourceLehigh University·JournalOptica·DateJun 11, 2020

Discovery unlocks 'hot' electrons for more efficient energy use

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique to analyze the energies of 'hot' electrons, which could lead to more efficient energy conversion in solar panels and other applications. The method uses a scanning tunneling microscope integrated with lasers and optical components.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience·DateJun 4, 2020

Extraordinary modulation of light polarization with dark plasmons in magnetoplasmonic nanocavities

Scientists create magneto-plasmonic nanoantennas with hybrid high-order multi-polar dark modes, enabling unprecedented control of light polarization. The resulting amplification enhances the magneto-optical activity, overcoming previous limitations and opening new avenues for nanophotonic applications.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateJun 2, 2020
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Saturable plasmonic metasurfaces for laser mode locking

Researchers developed plasmonic metasurfaces that can be tuned with polarization light, providing efficient saturable absorption for ultrafast lasers. The metasurfaces achieved stable self-starting ultrashort laser pulse generation with a modulation depth of up to 60%, outperforming previous studies.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 25, 2020
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Expanding the plasmonic painter's palette

Researchers developed a new plasmonic color-mixing approach using silver nanorods to create 2,456 unique colors with smooth transitions between hues and tones. This method has potential applications in new types of paint, electronic displays and anti-counterfeiting measures.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateMar 4, 2020

Product authentication at your fingertips

A team of researchers has fabricated silver nanoparticles that can rapidly change color in response to moisture, enabling fast and reversible switching of plasmonic color in solids. This technology holds promise for applications in product authentication, information encryption, and sensing.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 1, 2019

Light may magnetise non-magnetic metals, propose physicists

Researchers from NTU Singapore and Niels Bohr Institute devise method to create magnetism in non-magnetic metallic disks using linearly polarised light. They found that intense plasmonic oscillating electric fields can modify the dynamics of electrons in the metal, leading to spontaneous magnetisation.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 29, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

A new way of making complex structures in thin films

Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to create complex structures in thin films using self-assembling block copolymers. The method produces novel patterns that deviate from regular symmetries, exhibiting interlocking areas with regular patterns similar to quasicrystals.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 5, 2019

Black (nano)gold combat climate change

Researchers at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research have developed black (nano)gold that can catalyze CO2 conversion to methane at atmospheric pressure and temperature, utilizing solar energy. The material exhibits significant effects on purification of seawater, protein unfolding, and chemical reactions.

SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalChemical Science·DateJul 3, 2019

Manipulating nanoscale light in nanocavity of scanning tunneling microscope junctions

A research team at the Fritz-Haber Institute in Berlin demonstrated manipulation of nanolight spectrum by shaping plasmonic gold tips with a focused ion beam milling technique. The spectral response was investigated using scanning tunneling luminescence, revealing precise control over Fabry-Pérot type interference of surface plasmon po...

SourceJapan Science and Technology Agency·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 6, 2019

Researchers develop novel framework for tracking developments in optical sensors

A novel framework has been developed to systematically compare optical sensors, enabling the creation of a technology map that tracks developments in this rapidly growing industry. The map provides a comprehensive benchmark for standardizing optical refractive index sensors with plasmonic and photonic structures.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMay 16, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Layered liquids arrange nanoparticles into useful configurations

Theoretical approach uses layers formed by liquids to arrange nanoparticles into unique structures for optics, plasmonics and electronics applications. By controlling nanoparticle properties, researchers can create exotic arrangements, such as strings or sheets, with potential benefits in multi-stage chemical catalysis.

SourceDuke University·JournalACS Nano·DateMar 26, 2019

Scientists develop a tunable bio-imaging device using terahertz plasmonics

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a frequency-tunable plasmonic-based THz device for non-invasive biological imaging. The new device shows improved ability to distinguish between different tissues, opening up possibilities for enhanced diagnostic imaging tools.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 5, 2019

Rice U. lab adds porous envelope to aluminum plasmonics

Scientists at Rice University have developed a new method to create porous envelopes around light-powered aluminum nanocatalysts using pseudomorphic replacement. This process enables the creation of greener catalysts that use solar energy and are made from abundant metals, reducing energy burden and environmental impact. The study demo...

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 8, 2019
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Light makes Rice University catalyst more effective

Rice University researchers have created a new catalyst that can convert ammonia into hydrogen fuel at ambient pressure using light energy, significantly lowering the activation barrier. The catalyst, made of copper with trace amounts of ruthenium, uses plasmonic effects to enhance its efficiency.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateOct 4, 2018

Concepts for new switchable plasmonic nanodevices: A magneto-plasmonic nanoscale router and a high-contrast magneto-plasmonic disk modulator controlled by external magnetic fields

Researchers developed new magneto-plasmonic nanoscale routers and modulators for various nanophotonic functionalities. The devices exploit the propagation of surface-plasmon-polaritons in magneto-plasmonic waveguides to achieve high-contrast switching.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 6, 2018

New patch boosts brightness in medical diagnostic tests

A new patch developed at Washington University in St. Louis increases fluorescence intensity by 100 times, making it easier to visualize and diagnose low-abundance analytes. The plasmonic patch is a cheap fix that can be applied to existing diagnostic tests without requiring any protocol changes.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·DateJul 9, 2018
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Closing the gap: On the road to terahertz electronics

A team at TUM has succeeded in generating ultrashort electric pulses on a chip using tiny plasmonic antennas, operating above the surface and reading them in again. This breakthrough closes the terahertz gap, enabling frequencies up to 10 terahertz.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 26, 2018

Columbia researchers squeeze light into nanoscale devices and circuits

Researchers have developed a novel cryogenic near-field optical microscope to study graphene plasmons at variable temperatures. They discovered that compact nanolight can travel along the surface of graphene without unwanted scattering, opening up new applications in sensors, imaging, and signal processing.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature·DateMay 23, 2018

Magnesium magnificent for plasmonic applications

Rice University researchers have synthesized and isolated plasmonic magnesium nanoparticles that show promise with all the benefits of their gold and silver cousins. The particles proved to be unexpectedly robust and can concentrate light in nanoscale volumes, useful for chemical and biological sensors.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 22, 2018

Switch controls light on a nanoscale for faster information processing

Purdue researchers design a compact switch that enables reliable confinement of light to small computer chip components, bypassing unwanted absorption of photons using surface plasmons. The development paves the way for hybrid photonic and electronic nanocircuitry, potentially leading to faster information processing in supercomputers.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature·DateApr 25, 2018
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Building miniature optical antennas using DNA as a guide

Aalto University researchers have developed a new method called DALI (DNA-assisted lithography) to fabricate precise metallic nanostructures with designed plasmonic properties. The technique uses self-assembled DNA origami shapes as 'stencils' to create millions of fully metallic nanostructures. These structures have intriguing optical...

SourceAalto University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 2, 2018

3-D nanoscale imaging made possible

A new imaging technique allows for true 3D imaging at the nanoscale with a resolution of 30nm. This breakthrough has potential applications in fields like materials science, physics, and medicine.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalNanophotonics·DateDec 15, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Designing a golden nanopill

A team of scientists used supercomputers to explore the optical properties of plasmonic nanovesicles, which could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and studying the nervous system. The researchers designed golden nanopills that can be triggered by laser light to release drugs or molecules.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateNov 30, 2017

Borophene shines alone as 2-D plasmonic material

Researchers at Rice University have discovered that borophene, a two-dimensional boron material, can emit visible and near-infrared light by activating its plasmons. This property makes it a promising candidate for plasmonic and photonic devices such as biomolecule sensors, waveguides, nanoscale light harvesters, and nanoantennas.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 20, 2017

Spin-current generation gets mid-IR boost with plasmonic metamaterial

Researchers in Japan have developed a wavelength-selective plasmonic metamaterial absorber to enhance the generation of spin currents from heat produced in the mid-infrared regime. The unique combination enables stronger light absorption and shows excellent tenability of these metamaterials' resonance wavelengths.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Photonics·DateOct 10, 2017
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Assembly of nanoparticles proceeds like a zipper

Researchers from Aalto University Finland have developed a method to assemble metal-protein superlattice wires using viruses and nanoparticles. The study demonstrates that combining native Tobacco Mosaic Virus with gold nanoparticles can lead to high-aspect-ratio superlattice wires with controlled optical properties.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 22, 2017

New plasmonic sensor improves early cancer detection

A new plasmonic sensor developed by researchers at the University of Illinois has been proven reliable to detect biomarkers for many forms of cancer, including lung and prostate cancers. The device uses a combination of plasmonic sensing and optical cavity properties to detect lower concentrations of biomarkers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMay 30, 2017

Self-assembled nanostructures can be selectively controlled

Scientists create programmable nanostructures using pH-sensitive DNA locks to control the optical properties of plasmonic metamolecules. This technology has potential applications in sensors, optical switches, and phase shifters with tailored functionalities.

SourceAalto University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 24, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

The researchers created a tiny laser using nanoparticles

Researchers at Aalto University developed a plasmonic nanolaser that operates at visible light frequencies and uses dark lattice modes, allowing for ultrafast and tiny coherent light sources. The nanolaser uses silver nanoparticles arranged in a periodic array, which radiate in unison to produce high-intensity laser light.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 3, 2017

'Exceptional' nanosensor architecture based on exceptional points

Scientists created a nanosensor design that combines three-dimensional plasmonic nanoparticles with exceptional points, enabling enhanced sensitivity and smaller size. The new technology has the potential to revolutionize portable health monitoring and security applications.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPhysical Review B·DateNov 10, 2016

A nanoscale wireless communication system via plasmonic antennas

Researchers at Boston College have developed a nanoscale wireless communication system that operates at visible wavelengths using surface plasmons with unprecedented control. The device achieves in-plane configuration and enables high-speed communication, potentially speeding up transmission by up to 60%.

SourceBoston College·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 25, 2016

Rice's 'antenna-reactor' catalysts offer best of both worlds

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for uniting light-harvesting photonic nanomaterials with high-efficiency metal catalysts. The 'antenna-reactor' design produces a significant improvement in selectivity, turning a poison into a valuable commodity and offering potential energy savings and improved efficiency.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 18, 2016
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

A sharper focus for plasmonic lasers

Plasmonic lasers use metal films to confine light energy and have potential applications in integrated optics and ultrafast digital processing. The researchers developed a scheme that emits radiation at extremely long wavelengths with a narrow beam divergence angle of just 4 degrees, the narrowest achieved for such terahertz lasers.

SourceLehigh University·JournalOptica·DateJul 6, 2016

Physicists promise a copper revolution in nanophotonics

Researchers from MIPT have experimentally demonstrated that copper nanophotonic components can operate successfully in photonic devices, outperforming gold-based components. The discovery enables the development of energy-efficient light sources, ultra-sensitive sensors, and high-performance optoelectronic processors.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 25, 2016

Physicists develop a cooling system for the processors of the future

Researchers from MIPT have found a solution to efficiently cool optoelectronic chips using industry-standard heatsinks, enabling the development of high-performance microprocessors. By compensating for heat loss with additional energy pumping, scientists can create optical gain and overcome temperature-related issues.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalACS Photonics·DateJan 19, 2016

Tiny octopods catalyze bright ideas

Researchers at Rice University have created nanoparticles that can function as both catalysts and plasmonic sensors. These tiny octopods, composed of gold and palladium, enhance chemical reactions while retaining their optical properties. This breakthrough may lead to more efficient industrial processes and sun-driven chemical reactions.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 30, 2015

MIPT researchers clear the way for fast plasmonic chips

MIPT researchers have developed a new method to eliminate energy losses of surface plasmons in optical devices, paving the way for high-performance optoelectronic chips. By pumping extra energy into surface plasmon polaritons, they can compensate for propagation losses and increase integration density.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 3, 2015
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Nature: Compact optical data transmission

Researchers at KIT created a 12.5-micrometer-long Mach-Zehnder modulator that converts digital signals into optical signals at speeds of up to 108 gigabits per second, promising a solution for data centers' power consumption and speed limits.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature·DateAug 3, 2015

Short wavelength plasmons observed in nanotubes

Berkeley Lab researchers have generated and detected plasmons with one of the strongest confinement factors ever, confining photon energy to a spatial dimension smaller than its wavelength. This breakthrough enables novel plasmonic devices with extraordinary sub-wavelength confinement.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Photonics·DateJul 28, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Rice researchers make ultrasensitive conductivity measurements

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to measure electrical transport properties of nanomaterials and structures at high frequencies. The technique produces unique optical signatures that can be used to identify the conductance of nanowires and other electronic components.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJun 10, 2015

Optics, nanotechnology combined to create low-cost sensor for gases

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a low-cost sensor that can detect and analyze a wide range of gases using optical technology and nanocomposite thin-films. The sensor is highly sensitive, fast, and portable, making it suitable for applications in environmental monitoring, airport security, and industrial uses.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·DateApr 2, 2015

Nanoshaping method points to future manufacturing technology

A team of researchers has developed a new method, laser shock imprinting, to create large-area patterns of three-dimensional nanoshapes from metal sheets. This technique enables the mass production of innovative materials with engineered surfaces that control light, potentially revolutionizing high-speed electronics, advanced sensors, ...

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience·DateDec 11, 2014

University of Illinois researchers demonstrate novel, tunable nanoantennas

A team from the University of Illinois developed a novel, tunable nanoantenna that enables plasmonic field enhancement to actuate mechanical motion. The researchers demonstrated tunability down to 5nm and showed that an electron beam can be used to deform individual p-BNAs or groups with velocities as large as 60 nm/s.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 14, 2014
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.