An optical coating like no other
For more than a century, optical coatings have been used to better reflect certain wavelengths of light from lenses and other devices or, conversely, to better transmit certain wavelengths through them. For example, the coatings on tinted eyeglasses.....»»
A nanocapsulation strategy for facile analysis and processing of insoluble aromatic polymers in water
Polymeric materials are essential for our everyday lives. In the search for new functional materials, scientists have placed focus on polymers composed of rigid aromatic frameworks, displaying unique electronical/optical properties, heat resistance a.....»»
NASA"s deep space communications to laser boost
Set to launch this fall, NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project will test how lasers could speed up data transmission far beyond the capacity of current radio frequency systems used in space. Known as a technology demonstration, DSOC.....»»
Single-particle photoacoustic vibrational spectroscopy using optical microresonators
Pythagoras first discovered that the vibrations of strings are drastically enhanced at certain frequencies. This discovery forms the basis of our tone system. Such natural vibrations ubiquitously exist in objects regardless of their size scales and a.....»»
Quantum-enhanced non-interferometric quantitative phase imaging
Optical phase retrieval and imaging appear in a wide variety of science fields, such as imaging of quasi-transparent biological samples or nanostructures metrological characterization, for example, in the semiconductor industry. At a fundamental leve.....»»
Exploiting nonlinear scattering medium for optical encryption, computation and machine learning
Can one see through a scattering medium like ground glass? Conventionally, such a feat would be deemed impossible. As light travels through an opaque medium, the information contained in the light becomes "jumbled up," almost as if undergoes complex.....»»
Harnessing the power of light: Advancements in photonic memory for faster optical computing
Technological advancements like autonomous driving and computer vision are driving a surge in demand for computational power. Optical computing, with its high throughput, energy efficiency, and low latency, has garnered considerable attention from ac.....»»
Researchers report broadband tip-enhanced nonlinear optical response in a plasmonic nanocavity
Squeezing light beyond the diffraction limit and controlling the optical processes caused by nano-confined light are central issues of nanophotonics. In particular, localized and enhanced light at the plasmonic nanogaps in scanning probe microscopes.....»»
Stick-to-itiveness: Engineers show self-organization of sticky micron-to-mesoscale 3D structures in confined fluids
Automating the construction of three-dimensional structures that are 10s of millimeters in size would revolutionize manufacturing of devices for optical, electrical and biomedical applications. An economical process for constructing such 3D microstru.....»»
Complex-domain neural network advances large-scale coherent imaging
Computational imaging has the potential to revolutionize optical imaging by providing wide field-of-view and high-resolution capabilities. Joint reconstruction of amplitude and phase—known as "coherent imaging or holographic imaging"—expands the.....»»
Enhanced light absorption in thin silicon photodetectors with photon-trapping structures
Photonic systems are quickly gaining traction in many emerging applications, including optical communications, lidar sensing, and medical imaging. However, the widespread adoption of photonics in future engineering solutions hinges on the cost of man.....»»
Scientists realize optical phased array calibration via pointwise optimization
An optical phased array (OPA) is a nonmechanical beam-steering control device with high directivity and deflection efficiency. Due to its high resolution, fast response, and absence of inertia, the OPA is widely applied in LiDAR, free-space optical c.....»»
Enhancing image quality with broadband achromatic and polarization-insensitive metalenses
Precise control of light is a crucial requirement in optical imaging, sensing, and communication. Traditional lenses employed for the purpose have limitations, necessitating more precise and compact solutions. To address this need, researchers have d.....»»
A new type of quantum bit in semiconductor nanostructures
Researchers have created a quantum superposition state in a semiconductor nanostructure that might serve as a basis for quantum computing. The trick: two optical laser pulses that act as a single terahertz laser pulse......»»
On-chip infrared circular polarization detector with ultrahigh discrimination
Polarization, as a primary physical quantity of light, is of great interest to almost all optical sciences and technologies. Along with linear polarization detection, circular polarization (or light ellipticity) detection is essential for chiral mole.....»»
Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes
An interdisciplinary research team from Bochum, Duisburg and Zurich has developed a new approach to construct modular optical sensors which are capable of detecting viruses and bacteria. The researchers used fluorescent carbon nanotubes with a novel.....»»
New tidal disruption event discovered by Chinese astronomers
Astronomers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei report the discovery of a new faint tidal disruption event (TDE). The newfound TDE, designated AT 2023clx is the faintest and closest optical TDE so far detected. The finding.....»»
Shrinking light: Waveguiding scheme enables highly confined subnanometer optical fields
Imagine shrinking light down to the size of a tiny water molecule, unlocking a world of quantum possibilities. This has been a long-held dream in the realms of light science and technology. Recent advancements have brought us closer to achieving this.....»»
"Evolving" and 3D printing new nanoscale optical devices
A new technology being pioneered at Caltech is allowing researchers to "evolve" optical devices and then print them out using a specialized type of 3D printer. These devices are made of so-called optical metamaterials that derive their properties fro.....»»
Rapid fabrication of a polymer lens on a laser chip for miniaturized spectroscopy
There is a growing demand for portable gas sensors, from both environmental and health sciences users as well as industry. Resonant optical sensors, in particular planar micro-resonators, combine high sensitivity and small footprint, which makes them.....»»
Researchers discover photonic snake states, a new instrument for unveiling the secrets of light
Light, with its countless colors, is one of the wonders of nature. To truly understand what we see, it is essential to know the precise colors of the light with which we perceive our world. We achieve this by means of optical rules called frequency c.....»»