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Key ingredient: Change in material boosts prospects of ultrafast single-photon detector

Researchers at NIST have developed a tungsten-silicon alloy that significantly improves the efficiency of ultrafast single-photon detectors, enabling their use in quantum communications and computing systems. The new detection method can capture photons across longer wavelengths, including those used in telecommunications.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 30, 2011

Better viewing through fluorescent nanotubes when peering into innards of a mouse

Researchers at Stanford University have developed an improved imaging method using fluorescent carbon nanotubes that allows them to see centimeters deep into a mouse with far more clarity than conventional dyes provide. This breakthrough enables the simultaneous drug delivery and imaging of internal organs in real-time.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 27, 2011

Beetle bling: Researchers discover optical secrets of 'metallic' beetles

Beetle researchers have discovered that the unique structural arrangements of exo-skeletal chitin layers in their elytra create a metallic appearance by reflecting light through different refractive indices. This phenomenon enables the beetles to produce striking gold and silver colors, similar to those found in precious metals.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateApr 25, 2011

Making wafers faster by making features smaller

Researchers developed a new intense 13.5-nm light source using tin and lithium plasmas, which can reduce feature size by an order of magnitude, resolving the fundamental limit in semiconductor manufacturing. The technology has shown promising results, with tin plasmas producing twice as much emission as lithium plasmas.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 14, 2010

Tiny rulers to measure nanoscale structures

Physicists at China's Wuhan University discovered a new way to measure absolute distances and distance changes using a plasmon ruler. By combining nanospheres with a nanorod dimer, they found that the resonance wavelength shift increases linearly with the increasing of a nanosphere's interparticle separations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 31, 2010

Europe ready to launch 3-D TV outperforming the competition

German and Swiss researchers have developed a 3D LCD flat-screen monitor capable of displaying high-definition images without the need for red and green glasses. The Dualplex Display technology offers improved image quality, reduced eye strain, and wider viewing angles, making it suitable for both consumer and professional markets.

SourceEUREKA·DateAug 13, 2010

Engineered metamaterials enable remarkably small antennas

Researchers have designed and tested experimental antennas that are highly efficient and remarkably small, potentially useful for emergency communications devices, micro-sensors, and portable ground-penetrating radars. The novel antennas radiate up to 95% of an input radio signal while defying normal design parameters.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation·DateJan 26, 2010

An exquisite container

Researchers have developed a tiny, gold nanocage that responds to light and releases carefully titrated amounts of chemotherapy drugs at specific tissue sites. The system is designed to maximize the beneficial effects of the medication while minimizing side effects.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Materials·DateNov 1, 2009

A new cloaking method

Researchers create new cloaking technique that uses electromagnetic fields to protect objects from incoming waves. The method has potential applications in shielding submarines, planes, buildings and coastal structures from various threats.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 16, 2009

Study gives clues to increasing X-rays' power

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have discovered a way to unleash high-energy X-rays with relatively high intensity using longer wavelength lasers on heavier gaseous atoms. This breakthrough could lead to more powerful and precise X-ray machines, enabling real-time imaging of patients' hearts and microscopic structures.

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 16, 2009

'Strained' quantum dots show new optical properties

Scientists at Emory University have developed strain-tuned quantum dots with new optical properties, reducing toxicity and size limitations. These particles can be made mostly of zinc and selenium, emitting light at near-infrared wavelengths, which could improve biomedical imaging and optoelectronics.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 7, 2008