This issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.183

Full Text - This issue | PDF (145 KB) - This issue

Science in the news - p581

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.184

Gaining the readers' interests should not come at the expense of veracity. Getting the facts correct when communicating science to the general public is essential.

Full Text - Science in the news | PDF (178 KB) - Science in the news

Chasing gravitational waves - pp582 - 585

David Reitze

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.186

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory in the USA is searching for gravitational-wave emissions from cataclysmic astrophysical events. The task has required the construction of the world's largest and most sensitive optical strain sensor.

Full Text - Chasing gravitational waves | PDF (2,493 KB) - Chasing gravitational waves

The eye's aplanatic answer - pp586 - 589

Pablo Artal & Juan Tabernero

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.187

The human eye is a simple, but extremely robust, optical instrument. Analysis by sophisticated wavefront-sensing technology and customized ray-tracing has now revealed that the eye is actually an aplanatic design, with the cornea and lens compensating each other's aberrations.

Full Text - The eye's aplanatic answer | PDF (550 KB) - The eye's aplanatic answer

An optical motor, nanoparticle extinction spectroscopy, an on-chip microscope, imaging negative refraction, and more - pp590 - 591

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.185

Full Text - An optical motor, nanoparticle extinction spectroscopy, an on-chip microscope, imaging negative refraction, and more | PDF (198 KB) - An optical motor, nanoparticle extinction spectroscopy, an on-chip microscope, imaging negative refraction, and more

View from...LC2CAM: Flowing crystals glow - pp593 - 594

Rachel Won

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.193

The photonics applications of engineered liquid crystals extend far beyond their use in displays. High-density optical data storage, tunable lasers and metamaterials are just a few of the other opportunities.

Full Text - View from...LC2CAMFlowing crystals glow | PDF (634 KB) - View from...LC2CAMFlowing crystals glow

Semiconductor lasers: Quantum wells meet nanowires - p594

David Gevaux

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.190

Full Text - Semiconductor lasersQuantum wells meet nanowires | PDF (301 KB) - Semiconductor lasersQuantum wells meet nanowires

Liquid optics: Oscillating lenses focus fast - pp595 - 596

Claudiu A. Stan

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.192

Researchers demonstrate fast optical focusing using an oscillating liquid lens. The method could lead to the development of three-dimensional imaging instruments with rapid data collection.

Full Text - Liquid opticsOscillating lenses focus fast | PDF (786 KB) - Liquid opticsOscillating lenses focus fast

Terahertz radiation: A table-top source of strong pulses - pp596 - 597

Klaus Reimann

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.191

Focusing ultrashort red and blue laser pulses into a gas generates terahertz pulses with unprecedented pulse energies. Such pulses enable nonlinear terahertz spectroscopy and the time-resolved study of field-induced effects.

Full Text - Terahertz radiationA table-top source of strong pulses | PDF (276 KB) - Terahertz radiationA table-top source of strong pulses

X-ray imaging: Random MADness - p597

David Gevaux

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.188

Full Text - X-ray imagingRandom MADness | PDF (244 KB) - X-ray imagingRandom MADness

Femtosecond laser oscillators for high-field science - pp599 - 604

T. Südmeyer, S. V. Marchese, S. Hashimoto, C. R. E. Baer, G. Gingras, B. Witzel & U. Keller

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.194

Diode-pumped thin-disk lasers are now capable of generating femtosecond light pulses with a pulse energy in the microjoule regime at multi-megahertz repetition rates. This review describes the progress that has been made in scaling the performance of such lasers and the applications that may benefit as a result.

Abstract - | Full Text - Femtosecond laser oscillators for high-field science | PDF (776 KB) - Femtosecond laser oscillators for high-field science

Subject Category: Lasers, LEDs and light sources

Coherent control of terahertz supercontinuum generation in ultrafast laser–gas interactions - pp605 - 609

K. Y. Kim, A. J. Taylor, J. H. Glownia & G. Rodriguez

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.153

Frequency mixing the fundamental-and second-harmonic fields of an ultrafast laser in any one of a number of materials can generate radiation at terahertz frequencies. A better understanding of this process leads to a brighter source of light at these very useful wavelengths.

Abstract - | Full Text - Coherent control of terahertz supercontinuum generation in ultrafast laser–gas interactions | PDF (460 KB) - Coherent control of terahertz supercontinuum generation in ultrafast laser–gas interactions

Subject Categories: Terahertz optics | Ultrafast photonics | Nonlinear optics

See also: News and Views by Reimann

Fast focusing using a pinned-contact oscillating liquid lens - pp610 - 613

Carlos A. López & Amir H. Hirsa

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.198

A millimetre-scale liquid lens that is harmonically driven and thus has an oscillating shape is demonstrated. By synchronizing the electronic timing of the image capture with the oscillations, a variable focus lens with a response time of 100 Hz is achieved. Simulations suggest that a faster response is possible for smaller lenses based on the same design.

Abstract - | Full Text - Fast focusing using a pinned-contact oscillating liquid lens | PDF (725 KB) - Fast focusing using a pinned-contact oscillating liquid lens

Subject Category: Imaging and sensing

See also: News and Views by Stan

Absolute extinction cross-section of individual magnetic split-ring resonators - pp614 - 617

Martin Husnik, Matthias W. Klein, Nils Feth, Michael König, Jens Niegemann, Kurt Busch, Stefan Linden & Martin Wegener

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.181

Metamaterials, based on split-ring resonators, for example, enable complete control over electromagnetic waves in terms of both the electric and magnetic vector components. Measuring the absolute extinction cross-section of a single split-ring resonator advances our understanding of these useful materials.

Abstract - | Full Text - Absolute extinction cross-section of individual magnetic split-ring resonators | PDF (456 KB) - Absolute extinction cross-section of individual magnetic split-ring resonators

Subject Category: Novel materials and engineered structures

An on-chip near-field terahertz probe and detector - pp618 - 621

Yukio Kawano & Koji Ishibashi

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.157

Here researchers report an integrated detection device for terahertz near-field imaging in which all the necessary detection components, that is, an aperture, a probe and a terahertz detector, are integrated on one cryogenically cooled, semiconductor chip. This scheme enables highly sensitive, high-resolution detection of the evanescent field and promises new capabilities for high-resolution terahertz imaging.

Abstract - | Full Text - An on-chip near-field terahertz probe and detector | PDF (566 KB) - An on-chip near-field terahertz probe and detector

Subject Category: Terahertz optics

A wavelength-selective photonic-crystal waveguide coupled to a nanowire light source - pp622 - 626

Hong-Gyu Park, Carl J. Barrelet, Yongning Wu, Bozhi Tian, Fang Qian & Charles M. Lieber

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.180

The ability to efficiently transfer photons from a light source to an optical circuit is crucial, and requires efficient coupling of light to optical fibres and waveguides. Using state-of-the-art fabrication techniques, Hong-Gyu Park and colleagues create a device that uses nanowires to inject light into photonic-crystal waveguides in an efficient way. The structure could become an important part of the nanophotonics toolbox.

Abstract - | Full Text - A wavelength-selective photonic-crystal waveguide coupled to a nanowire light source | PDF (550 KB) - A wavelength-selective photonic-crystal waveguide coupled to a nanowire light source | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanophotonics | Novel materials and engineered structures

Ultralow-dissipation optomechanical resonators on a chip - pp627 - 633

G. Anetsberger, R. Rivière, A. Schliesser, O. Arcizet & T. J. Kippenberg

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.199

A design of on-chip optomechanical resonator that simultaneously maximizes a high mechanical Q-factor in the megahertz range and an ultrahigh optical finesse is reported. Studies of the mechanical properties of the cavity achieve the first direct observation of mechanical normal-mode coupling in a micromechanical system.

Abstract - | Full Text - Ultralow-dissipation optomechanical resonators on a chip | PDF (514 KB) - Ultralow-dissipation optomechanical resonators on a chip

A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group - pp634 - 635

Full Text - A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group | PDF (200 KB) - A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group

Positioning stages - pp636 - 637

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.196

The ability to align optical components to tighter tolerances and in less time is the continual goal of designers of manipulation equipment, reports Neil Savage.

Full Text - Positioning stages | PDF (247 KB) - Positioning stages

Always in focus - p638

Interview with Amir H. Hirsa

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.197

As the demand for sophisticated imaging systems grows, adaptive lenses with fast-focusing capability become indispensable. Nature Photonics spoke to Amir H. Hirsa from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute about the oscillating liquid lens that he and his co-author have demonstrated.

Full Text - Always in focus | PDF (125 KB) - Always in focus