Handle with care - p117

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.5

Given that universities and companies have such different needs, is it appropriate for them to have partnerships, and if so, is some form of regulation required?

Full Text - Handle with care | PDF (124 KB) - Handle with care

The long march of slow photonics - p119

Andrea Melloni & Francesco Morichetti

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.8

Full Text - The long march of slow photonics | PDF (97 KB) - The long march of slow photonics

Lightning control by lasers - pp120 - 121

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.9

Powerful lightning strikes pose a significant threat to buildings and people, but imagine if it were possible to control and direct them with a laser beam. Nature Photonics spoke to Jérôme Kasparian, a researcher from the University of Geneva and co-ordinator of the Teramobile project, about the idea.

Full Text - Lightning control by lasers | PDF (211 KB) - Lightning control by lasers

Sounding out photons - pp123 - 125

Duncan Graham-Rowe

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.7

Photoacoustic imaging, using laser light to stimulate the emission of ultrasonic waves from tissue inside the human body, potentially offers a route to far deeper imaging than possible with conventional optical techniques, reports Duncan Graham-Rowe.

Full Text - Sounding out photons | PDF (802 KB) - Sounding out photons

Our choice from the latest literature - pp126 - 127

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.6

Full Text - Our choice from the latest literature | PDF (355 KB) - Our choice from the latest literature

Light-emitting diodes: Photonic crystal efficiency boost - pp129 - 130

Susumu Noda & Masayuki Fujita

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.15

LEDs are receiving great interest as candidates for next-generation lighting because they promise to reduce energy consumption enormously. However, to be a feasible solution their quantum efficiency needs to improve. Now, it seems that the incorporation of photonic crystals may be an answer.

Full Text - Light-emitting diodesPhotonic crystal efficiency boost | PDF (119 KB) - Light-emitting diodesPhotonic crystal efficiency boost

Terahertz optics: Terahertz phase modulator - pp130 - 131

Carsten Rockstuhl & Weili Zhang

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.14

Electrically tunable metamaterials make it possible to create the first solid-state phase modulator operating at terahertz frequencies.

Full Text - Terahertz opticsTerahertz phase modulator | PDF (202 KB) - Terahertz opticsTerahertz phase modulator

Terahertz technology: Mind the gap - pp131 - 132

Luis Martin-Moreno

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.16

Researchers in South Korea and the Netherlands have demonstrated that the enhancement of the electric field of terahertz radiation inside a nano-slit continues to grow, even when the slit becomes narrower than the skin depth of the material.

Full Text - Terahertz technologyMind the gap | PDF (234 KB) - Terahertz technologyMind the gap

Metamaterials: Chirality-assisted negative index - p133

David Pile

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.10

Full Text - MetamaterialsChirality-assisted negative index | PDF (138 KB) - MetamaterialsChirality-assisted negative index

Imaging: Seeing diamond defects - pp133 - 134

Vahid Sandoghdar

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.13

The high-resolution imaging of individual colour centres in diamond using stimulated emission depletion microscopy is set to offer new insights into the physics underlying solid-state light emitters.

Full Text - ImagingSeeing diamond defects | PDF (302 KB) - ImagingSeeing diamond defects

Optical switching: Polariton diode microcavities - pp135 - 136

Alexey Kavokin

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.17

A transition between strong and weak coupling regimes in a polariton diode microcavity yields optically controlled switching of current. Researchers show bistable cycles for optical powers two to three orders of magnitude less than typical schemes.

Full Text - Optical switchingPolariton diode microcavities | PDF (182 KB) - Optical switchingPolariton diode microcavities

Nonlinear optics: Signal analyser on an optical chip - pp136 - 137

Christophe Dorrer

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.12

By carefully optimizing the properties of a waveguide made from a highly nonlinear glass, Australian researchers have achieved record optical nonlinearity and put it to use in a broadband radiofrequency spectrum analyser. The work could ultimately lead to improved all-optical signal processing.

Full Text - Nonlinear opticsSignal analyser on an optical chip | PDF (468 KB) - Nonlinear opticsSignal analyser on an optical chip

Diffractive optics: Floral seduction - p138

David Pile

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.11

Full Text - Diffractive opticsFloral seduction | PDF (159 KB) - Diffractive opticsFloral seduction

Photonic-chip-based radio-frequency spectrum analyser with terahertz bandwidth - pp139 - 143

Mark Pelusi, Feng Luan, Trung D. Vo, Michael R. E. Lamont, Steven J. Madden, Douglas A. Bulla, Duk-Yong Choi, Barry Luther-Davies & Benjamin J. Eggleton

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.1

A system based on a highly nonlinear planar chalcogenide waveguide is demonstrated to be able to perform radio-frequency spectral measurements with a terahertz bandwidth. High bit-rate tests show that the chip-based system is potentially useful for ultrafast signal processing.

Abstract - | Full Text - Photonic-chip-based radio-frequency spectrum analyser with terahertz bandwidth | PDF (399 KB) - Photonic-chip-based radio-frequency spectrum analyser with terahertz bandwidth

Subject Categories: Nonlinear optics | Optoelectronic devices and components | Novel materials and engineered structures

See also: News and Views by Dorrer

STED microscopy reveals crystal colour centres with nanometric resolution - pp144 - 147

Eva Rittweger, Kyu Young Han, Scott E. Irvine, Christian Eggeling & Stefan W. Hell

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.2

Based on a far-field fluorescence-based optical super-resolution scheme – stimulated emission depletion microscopy – scientists resolve densely packed individual fluorescent colour centres inside crystals with a far-field spatial resolution of 5.8 nm without photobleaching. The approach will support future studies of solid-state single-photon sources and quantum optics.

Abstract - | Full Text - STED microscopy reveals crystal colour centres with nanometric resolution | PDF (384 KB) - STED microscopy reveals crystal colour centres with nanometric resolution

Subject Category: Imaging and sensing

See also: News and Views by Sandoghdar

A metamaterial solid-state terahertz phase modulator - pp148 - 151

Hou-Tong Chen, Willie J. Padilla, Michael J. Cich, Abul K. Azad, Richard D. Averitt & Antoinette J. Taylor

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.3

Using a single layer of electrically controlled metamaterial, researchers have achieved active control of the phase of terahertz waves and demonstrated high-speed broadband modulation.

Abstract - | Full Text - A metamaterial solid-state terahertz phase modulator | PDF (658 KB) - A metamaterial solid-state terahertz phase modulator | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Terahertz optics | Novel materials and engineered structures | Optoelectronic devices and components

See also: News and Views by Rockstuhl & Zhang

Terahertz field enhancement by a metallic nano slit operating beyond the skin-depth limit - pp152 - 156

M. A. Seo, H. R. Park, S. M. Koo, D. J. Park, J. H. Kang, O. K. Suwal, S. S. Choi, P. C. M. Planken, G. S. Park, N. K. Park, Q. H. Park & D. S. Kim

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.22

The effect of a tiny gap in a metal substrate on incident terahertz radiation in the regime where the gap's dimensions are smaller than the metal's skin-depth are investigated. The results and theoretical analysis show that the gap acts as a capacitor charged by light-induced currents, and dramatically enhances the local electric field.

Abstract - | Full Text - Terahertz field enhancement by a metallic nano slit operating beyond the skin-depth limit | PDF (574 KB) - Terahertz field enhancement by a metallic nano slit operating beyond the skin-depth limit

Subject Category: Terahertz optics

See also: News and Views by Martin-Moreno

Stereometamaterials - pp157 - 162

Na Liu, Hui Liu, Shining Zhu & Harald Giessen

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.4

Controlling the orientation of the constituent parts of a metamaterial enables the creation of a new family of optical stereoisomer materials that have an electromagnetic response that can be carefully tailored.

Abstract - | Full Text - Stereometamaterials | PDF (674 KB) - Stereometamaterials | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Novel materials and engineered structures

III-nitride photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes with high extraction efficiency - pp163 - 169

Jonathan J. Wierer, Jr, Aurelien David & Mischa M. Megens

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.21

Blue light-emitting diodes with a light extraction efficiency of 73% are reported. The InGaN–GaN devices use a photonic-crystal structure for superior optical mode control; their performance has been characterized experimentally and modelled theoretically.

Abstract - | Full Text - III-nitride photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes with high extraction efficiency | PDF (635 KB) - III-nitride photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes with high extraction efficiency | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Lasers, LEDs and light sources

See also: News and Views by Noda & Fujita

Digital spatial light modulators - pp170 - 172

Neil Savage

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.18

Spatial control of the phase and amplitude of a laser beam is useful for applications ranging from imaging and holography to interferometry and optical tweezers, reports Neil Savage.

Full Text - Digital spatial light modulators | PDF (350 KB) - Digital spatial light modulators

A clever twist - p176

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.19

It has now been shown that twisting the orientation of layers in a metamaterial provides a new way of tailoring their electromagnetic properties. Nature Photonics spoke to Harald Giessen and Na Liu from the University of Stuttgart about the idea.

Full Text - A clever twist | PDF (131 KB) - A clever twist