This issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.05

Full Text - This issue | PDF (179 KB) - This issue

The importance of curiosity - p123

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.06

Research in photonics often yields considerable commercial opportunities. However, basic research that has no obvious near-term applications is also vital for the field's evolution.

Full Text - The importance of curiosity | PDF (151 KB) - The importance of curiosity

Charting the future for Europe - pp125 - 127

David Gevaux

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.07

Leading optics researchers gathered together on the Irish south coast to discuss the future direction of photonics in Europe. Their aim was to identify areas of long-term research that have potential strategic importance.

Full Text - Charting the future for Europe | PDF (348 KB) - Charting the future for Europe

Colour-controllable LEDs, three-dimensional fluorescence nanoscopy, medical nanotags, and more - pp128 - 129

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.08

Full Text - Colour-controllable LEDs, three-dimensional fluorescence nanoscopy, medical nanotags, and more | PDF (292 KB) - Colour-controllable LEDs, three-dimensional fluorescence nanoscopy, medical nanotags, and more

Holography: Scan-free three-dimensional imaging - pp131 - 132

Ting-Chung Poon

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.09

A holographic microscope that can capture fluorescent images of three-dimensional specimens without the need for axial scanning looks set to bring benefits to biomedical imaging.

Full Text - HolographyScan-free three-dimensional imaging | PDF (218 KB) - HolographyScan-free three-dimensional imaging

Laser source: Silicon cascade - pp132 - 133

Hugo Thienpont

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.11

After almost 50 years of laser research, efficient and compact laser sources operating in the mid-infrared region from 2 m to 5 m are still lacking. Now, cascaded silicon Raman lasers look set to provide a convenient answer.

Full Text - Laser sourceSilicon cascade | PDF (367 KB) - Laser sourceSilicon cascade

Far-field imaging: Density of states mapping - p134

Rachel Won

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.14

Full Text - Far-field imagingDensity of states mapping | PDF (181 KB) - Far-field imagingDensity of states mapping

Semiconductor lasers: Tuning triumph - pp134 - 135

Markus Amann

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.15

Thin-membrane mirrors based on subwavelength gratings are transforming the performance of tunable VCSELs.

Full Text - Semiconductor lasersTuning triumph | PDF (290 KB) - Semiconductor lasersTuning triumph

Nonlinear optics: Controlling photons with light - pp136 - 137

Diederik Sybolt Wiersma

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.13

A strongly nonlinear photonic crystal with a wavelength-tunable bandgap could provide the solution to realizing all-optical switches for signal processing.

Full Text - Nonlinear opticsControlling photons with light | PDF (602 KB) - Nonlinear opticsControlling photons with light

Terahertz: The art of confinement - pp137 - 138

Jaime Gómez Rivas

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.12

By structuring the surface of a metal with an array of holes, photonics researchers show that it is possible to tightly confine terahertz surface waves, reducing their decay length into air by two orders of magnitude. The results could lead to new approaches to waveguiding.

Full Text - TerahertzThe art of confinement | PDF (199 KB) - TerahertzThe art of confinement

Plasmonics: Sorting colours - pp139 - 140

Niek F. van Hulst

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.10

Subwavelength holes in metal films are well known to offer extraordinary-light-transmission properties. Now a group of scientists in France have exploited such nanoholes to sort photons by colour.

Full Text - PlasmonicsSorting colours | PDF (228 KB) - PlasmonicsSorting colours

Plasmonic photon sorters for spectral and polarimetric imaging - pp161 - 164

Eric Laux, Cyriaque Genet, Torbjorn Skauli & Thomas W. Ebbesen

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.1

Abstract - Plasmonic photon sorters for spectral and polarimetric imaging | Full Text - Plasmonic photon sorters for spectral and polarimetric imaging | PDF (739 KB) - Plasmonic photon sorters for spectral and polarimetric imaging

Subject Categories: Imaging and sensing | Plasmonics

See also: News and Views by van Hulst

A femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlator - pp165 - 169

Cornelius Gahl, Armin Azima, Martin Beye, Martin Deppe, Kristian Döbrich, Urs Hasslinger, Franz Hennies, Alexej Melnikov, Mitsuru Nagasono, Annette Pietzsch, Martin Wolf, Wilfried Wurth & Alexander Föhlisch

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.298

Abstract - A femtosecond X-ray//optical cross-correlator | Full Text - A femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlator | PDF (420 KB) - A femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlator

Subject Categories: Fundamental optical physics | Nonlinear optics

A cascaded silicon Raman laser - pp170 - 174

Haisheng Rong, Shengbo Xu, Oded Cohen, Omri Raday, Mindy Lee, Vanessa Sih & Mario Paniccia

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.4

Abstract - A cascaded silicon Raman laser | Full Text - A cascaded silicon Raman laser | PDF (492 KB) - A cascaded silicon Raman laser

Subject Categories: Lasers, LEDs and light sources | Nonlinear optics | Novel materials and engineered structures

See also: News and Views by Thienpont

Highly confined guiding of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on structured metal surfaces - pp175 - 179

C. R. Williams, S. R. Andrews, S. A. Maier, A. I. Fernández-Domínguez, L. Martín-Moreno & F. J. García-Vidal

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.301

Abstract - Highly confined guiding of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on structured metal surfaces | Full Text - Highly confined guiding of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on structured metal surfaces | PDF (745 KB) - Highly confined guiding of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on structured metal surfaces

Subject Category: Plasmonics

See also: News and Views by Rivas

A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser - pp180 - 184

Michael C. Y. Huang, Ye Zhou & Connie J. Chang-Hasnain

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.3

Abstract - A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser | Full Text - A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser | PDF (703 KB) - A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser

Subject Category: Lasers, LEDs and light sources

See also: News and Views by Amann

Picosecond and low-power all-optical switching based on an organic photonic-bandgap microcavity - pp185 - 189

Xiaoyong Hu, Ping Jiang, Chengyuan Ding, Hong Yang & Qihuang Gong

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.299

Abstract - Picosecond and low-power all-optical switching based on an organic photonic-bandgap microcavity | Full Text - Picosecond and low-power all-optical switching based on an organic photonic-bandgap microcavity | PDF (748 KB) - Picosecond and low-power all-optical switching based on an organic photonic-bandgap microcavity

Subject Categories: Nonlinear optics | Ultrafast photonics | Novel materials and engineered structures

See also: News and Views by Wiersma

Non-scanning motionless fluorescence three-dimensional holographic microscopy - pp190 - 195

Joseph Rosen & Gary Brooker

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.300

Abstract - Non-scanning motionless fluorescence three-dimensional holographic microscopy | Full Text - Non-scanning motionless fluorescence three-dimensional holographic microscopy | PDF (861 KB) - Non-scanning motionless fluorescence three-dimensional holographic microscopy | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Imaging and sensing | Biophotonics

See also: News and Views by Poon

A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group. - p197

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.24

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 (170 KB) - A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group.

Colour vision - p198

Interview with Thomas Ebbesen

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.25

Seeing in colour is something we take for granted. But achieving accurate colour discrimination in practice is not a simple task. Nature Photonics spoke to Thomas Ebbesen about his group's latest work, which makes it possible to sort light into its constituent colours using surface plasmons.

Full Text - Colour vision | PDF (179 KB) - Colour vision