The rise of colloidal quantum dots - p305

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.76

This issue features a theme on colloidal quantum dots, bringing together primary research findings and overviews, along with articles on the commercialization of this technology.

Full Text - The rise of colloidal quantum dots | PDF (197 KB) - The rise of colloidal quantum dots

Assessing the viability of solar cells - p306

Alexander P. Kirk

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.77

Full Text - Assessing the viability of solar cells | PDF (165 KB) - Assessing the viability of solar cells

From dots to devices - pp307 - 309

Duncan Graham-Rowe

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.79

Quantum dots — semiconductor nanocrystals that have custom designable optical properties — are opening up opportunities in the bio-imaging, display and lighting sectors, reports Duncan Graham-Rowe.

Full Text - From dots to devices | PDF (590 KB) - From dots to devices

Our choice from the recent literature - pp310 - 311

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.78

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (295 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Metrology: Combs rule - pp313 - 314

Seung-Woo Kim

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.86

The ability to measure distances with high precision is of fundamental importance. Femtosecond optical frequency combs offer an intriguing solution to the problem and could prove invaluable in space satellite missions of the future.

Full Text - MetrologyCombs rule | PDF (278 KB) - MetrologyCombs rule

See also: Article by Coddington et al.

Materials: Transparent nanofibre paper - p314

David Pile

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.81

Full Text - MaterialsTransparent nanofibre paper | PDF (246 KB) - MaterialsTransparent nanofibre paper

Optoelectronics: Quantum dot developments - pp315 - 316

Seth Coe-Sullivan

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.83

Liquid suspensions of semiconductor nanocrystals that can be printed or coated onto a substrate promise a new era of low-cost optoelectronics. The demonstration of infrared image sensors and displays based on this approach and fully integrated with silicon electronics suggests that the technology is maturing rapidly.

Full Text - OptoelectronicsQuantum dot developments | PDF (240 KB) - OptoelectronicsQuantum dot developments

See also: Letter by Rauch et al. | Article by Cho et al.

Optical trapping: Microassembly - p317

Rachel Won

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.82

Full Text - Optical trappingMicroassembly | PDF (176 KB) - Optical trappingMicroassembly

Quantum photonics: Quantum optics on a chip - pp317 - 319

Dominic W. Berry & Howard M. Wiseman

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.84

Researchers have demonstrated a reconfigurable photonic circuit on a chip that can create a four-photon entangled state. The scalability and compactness of the device opens the door towards practical quantum computation.

Full Text - Quantum photonicsQuantum optics on a chip | PDF (273 KB) - Quantum photonicsQuantum optics on a chip

See also: Article by Matthews et al.

Fundamental optics: Failure of plane waves - pp319 - 320

Günter Nimtz

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.85

Light beams striking a flat surface are commonly considered to reflect with perfect symmetry. But highly precise experiments in the infrared region have now confirmed that this is not truly the case in practice, and the size of the angular deviation has now been measured.

Full Text - Fundamental opticsFailure of plane waves | PDF (186 KB) - Fundamental opticsFailure of plane waves

See also: Letter by Merano et al.

Research and education: Committed to optics - pp320 - 322

Rachel Won

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.88

The creation of institutes dedicated to combining photonics research and education under one roof is helping the field to thrive. The latest country to embrace the idea is Australia, with the opening of a new institute in Sydney.

Full Text - Research and educationCommitted to optics | PDF (493 KB) - Research and educationCommitted to optics

Infrared photovoltaics made by solution processing - pp325 - 331

Edward H. Sargent

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.89

Abstract - | Full Text - Infrared photovoltaics made by solution processing | PDF (560 KB) - Infrared photovoltaics made by solution processing

Near-infrared imaging with quantum-dot-sensitized organic photodiodes - pp332 - 336

Tobias Rauch, Michaela Böberl, Sandro F. Tedde, Jens Fürst, Maksym V. Kovalenko, Günter Hesser, Uli Lemmer, Wolfgang Heiss & Oliver Hayden

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.72

Near-infrared imaging with solution-processed organic–inorganic hybrid photodiodes is demonstrated for the first time. The hybrid bulk-heterojunction photodiodes contain PbS nanocrystalline quantum dots as sensitizers for the detection of light of up to 1.8 m in wavelength, have a minimum lifetime of one year, and external quantum efficiencies of up to 51%.

Abstract - | Full Text - Near-infrared imaging with quantum-dot-sensitized organic photodiodes | PDF (415 KB) - Near-infrared imaging with quantum-dot-sensitized organic photodiodes | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Imaging and sensing | Optoelectronic devices and components

See also: News and Views by Coe-Sullivan

Observing angular deviations in the specular reflection of a light beam - pp337 - 340

M. Merano, A. Aiello, M. P. van Exter & J. P. Woerdman

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.75

A small angular deviation of the law of reflection has been previously predicted for a light beam, and is a consequence of the angular dependence of the reflectivity. Experimental proof of such a deviation at near-infrared wavelengths is now reported.

Abstract - | Full Text - Observing angular deviations in the specular reflection of a light beam | PDF (297 KB) - Observing angular deviations in the specular reflection of a light beam | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Fundamental optical physics

See also: News and Views by Nimtz

High-performance crosslinked colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting diodes - pp341 - 345

Kyung-Sang Cho, Eun Kyung Lee, Won-Jae Joo, Eunjoo Jang, Tae-Ho Kim, Sang Jin Lee, Soon-Jae Kwon, Jai Yong Han, Byung-Ki Kim, Byoung Lyong Choi & Jong Min Kim

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.92

Bright, efficient and low-drive-voltage colloidal quantum-dot LEDs that have a crosslinked-polymer quantum-dot layer, and use a sol–gel titanium oxide layer for electron transport, are reported. Integrating the QD-LEDs with a silicon thin-film transistor backplane results in a QD-LED display.

Abstract - | Full Text - High-performance crosslinked colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting diodes | PDF (408 KB) - High-performance crosslinked colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting diodes | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Displays

See also: News and Views by Coe-Sullivan

Manipulation of multiphoton entanglement in waveguide quantum circuits - pp346 - 350

Jonathan C. F. Matthews, Alberto Politi, André Stefanov & Jeremy L. O'Brien

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.93

Precise control of single-photon states and multiphoton entanglement is demonstrated on-chip. Two- and four-photon entangled states have now been generated in a waveguide circuit and their interference tuned. These results open up adaptive and reconfigurable photonic quantum circuits not just for single photons, but for all quantum states of light.

Abstract - | Full Text - Manipulation of multiphoton entanglement in waveguide quantum circuits | PDF (588 KB) - Manipulation of multiphoton entanglement in waveguide quantum circuits | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Quantum optics

See also: News and Views by Berry & Wiseman

Rapid and precise absolute distance measurements at long range - pp351 - 356

I. Coddington, W. C. Swann, L. Nenadovic & N. R. Newbury

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.94

Using two coherent broadband fibre-laser frequency comb sources, a coherent laser ranging system for absolute distance measurements is demonstrated. Its combination of precision, speed and long range may prove particularly useful for space-based sciences.

Abstract - | Full Text - Rapid and precise absolute distance measurements at long range | PDF (383 KB) - Rapid and precise absolute distance measurements at long range

Subject Categories: Imaging and sensing | Spectroscopy

See also: News and Views by Kim

Optical fibre splicers - pp358 - 359

Neil Savage

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.90

Convenient and reliable joining of optical fibres is essential for building optical networks. Neil Savage reports that the machines performing the task are becoming smaller and increasingly sophisticated.

Full Text - Optical fibre splicers | PDF (369 KB) - Optical fibre splicers

Reflection revisited - p360

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.91

Light is often thought to reflect from a flat surface at the same angle at which it is incident. Nature Photonics spoke to Han Woerdman about the observation of angular deviations of reflected beams.

Full Text - Reflection revisited | PDF (279 KB) - Reflection revisited