Beyond the diffraction limit - p361

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.100

The emergence of imaging schemes capable of overcoming Abbe's diffraction barrier is revolutionizing optical microscopy.

Full Text - Beyond the diffraction limit | PDF (124 KB) - Beyond the diffraction limit

Subdiffraction resolution in continuous samples - pp362 - 364

Rainer Heintzmann & Mats G. L. Gustafsson

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.102

Super-resolution light microscopy methods either localize single molecular labels or treat the sample as a continuous object. The fundamental requirements for super-resolution in the continuum regime are spatially non-uniform illumination and a nonlinear photoresponse.

Full Text - Subdiffraction resolution in continuous samples | PDF (347 KB) - Subdiffraction resolution in continuous samples

Nano-imaging with STORM - pp365 - 367

Xiaowei Zhuang

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.101

Multicolour, three-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy now makes it possible to image cellular structures with near molecular-scale resolution.

Full Text - Nano-imaging with STORM | PDF (1,401 KB) - Nano-imaging with STORM

Eyes on super-resolution - pp368 - 369

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.103

Advanced imaging techniques have evolved to see beyond the diffraction limit. W. E. Moerner spoke to Nature Photonics about the techniques involved.

Full Text - Eyes on super-resolution | PDF (131 KB) - Eyes on super-resolution

Our choice from the recent literature - pp370 - 371

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.104

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (277 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Photovoltaic technology: Relay dye boosts efficiency - pp373 - 374

Daniel J. Farrell & Nicholas J. Ekins-Daukes

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.108

Resonant energy-relay between two dye species allows photovoltaic harvesting of photons across a wider spectral range. This technique has been exploited to boost the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by 26%.

Full Text - Photovoltaic technologyRelay dye boosts efficiency | PDF (145 KB) - Photovoltaic technologyRelay dye boosts efficiency

Nonlinear optics: Engineering Airy beams - pp374 - 375

Valdas Pasiskevicius

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.107

The demonstration of Airy beam generation and all-optical control by quasi-phase matched nonlinear crystals looks set to help these unique beams realize their exciting potential in applications.

Full Text - Nonlinear opticsEngineering Airy beams | PDF (167 KB) - Nonlinear opticsEngineering Airy beams

Free electron lasers: First light from hard X-ray laser - pp375 - 377

Brian McNeil

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.110

The demonstration of lasing at 1.5 Å at the LCLS facility in the US marks an important landmark for free electron lasers.

Full Text - Free electron lasersFirst light from hard X-ray laser | PDF (344 KB) - Free electron lasersFirst light from hard X-ray laser

Optical components: LEGO lightens photonics - pp377 - 378

David Pile

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.105

Researchers in Japan have shown that it is possible to use standard 'off-the-shelf' plastic toy parts to construct low-cost and light-weight optical components.

Full Text - Optical componentsLEGO lightens photonics | PDF (225 KB) - Optical componentsLEGO lightens photonics

Photoacoustic tomography: Sounding out fluorescent proteins - pp378 - 379

Peter Burgholzer, Hubert Grün & Alois Sonnleitner

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.109

Researchers from Munich and Boston have shown that multispectral photoacoustic tomography can image fluorescent proteins buried deep in highly scattering living organisms.

Full Text - Photoacoustic tomographySounding out fluorescent proteins | PDF (232 KB) - Photoacoustic tomographySounding out fluorescent proteins

Light-emitting nanocrystals: An end to blinking - p380

Oliver Graydon

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.106

Full Text - Light-emitting nanocrystalsAn end to blinking | PDF (107 KB) - Light-emitting nanocrystalsAn end to blinking

Diffraction-unlimited three-dimensional optical nanoscopy with opposing lenses - pp381 - 387

Stefan W. Hell, Roman Schmidt & Alexander Egner

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.112

Abstract - | Full Text - Diffraction-unlimited three-dimensional optical nanoscopy with opposing lenses | PDF (863 KB) - Diffraction-unlimited three-dimensional optical nanoscopy with opposing lenses

Plasmonics for near-field nano-imaging and superlensing - pp388 - 394

Satoshi Kawata, Yasushi Inouye & Prabhat Verma

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.111

Diffraction of light prevents optical microscopes from having spatial resolution beyond a value comparable to the wavelength of the probing light. This essentially means that visible light cannot image nanomaterials. Here we review the mechanism for going beyond this diffraction limit and discuss how manipulation of light by means of surface plasmons propagating along the metal surface can help to achieve this. The interesting behaviour of light under the influence of plasmons not only allows superlensing, in which perfect imaging is possible through a flat thin metal film, but can also provide nano-imaging of practical samples by using a localized surface plasmon mode at the tip of a metallic nanoprobe. We also discuss the current research status and some intriguing future possibilities.

Full Text - Plasmonics for near-field nano-imaging and superlensing | PDF (630 KB) - Plasmonics for near-field nano-imaging and superlensing

Nonlinear generation and manipulation of Airy beams - pp395 - 398

Tal Ellenbogen, Noa Voloch-Bloch, Ayelet Ganany-Padowicz & Ady Arie

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.95

Airy beams have so far been generated by linear diffractive elements. Now, scientists show that they can also be created by a nonlinear process, opening the door to all-optical beam control and production at wavelengths unavailable by conventional methods.

Abstract - | Full Text - Nonlinear generation and manipulation of Airy beams | PDF (453 KB) - Nonlinear generation and manipulation of Airy beams

Subject Categories: Fundamental optical physics | Nonlinear optics

See also: News and Views by Pasiskevicius

Optical entanglement of co-propagating modes - pp399 - 402

J. Janousek, K. Wagner, J-F. Morizur, N. Treps, P. K. Lam, C. C. Harb & H-A. Bachor

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.97

Optical entanglement — a key requirement for many quantum communication protocols — is typically formed between two distinct beams, requiring repeated combination of complex resources, which becomes increasingly difficult as the number of entangled information channels increases. Here entanglement between two spatial modes within one beam is demonstrated.

Abstract - | Full Text - Optical entanglement of co-propagating modes | PDF (279 KB) - Optical entanglement of co-propagating modes

Subject Categories: Quantum optics | Fundamental optical physics

Voltage-programmable liquid optical interface - pp403 - 405

C. V. Brown, G. G. Wells, M. I. Newton & G. McHale

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.99

Voltage-programmable liquid surface profiles with large amplitudes resulting from dielectrophoresis are demonstrated. The oil interface formed can be ultrastable and static, or rapidly switchable, as shown in the case of a modulated diffraction grating. The scheme provides the possibility for responsive and polarization-insensitive transmission and reflection devices, and for optical interfaces with arbitrary surface profiles.

Abstract - | Full Text - Voltage-programmable liquid optical interface | PDF (297 KB) - Voltage-programmable liquid optical interface | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Optoelectronic devices and components

Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes - pp406 - 411

Brian E. Hardin, Eric T. Hoke, Paul B. Armstrong, Jun-Ho Yum, Pascal Comte, Tomás Torres, Jean M. J. Fréchet, Md Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Grätzel & Michael D. McGehee

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.96

The power-conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells is increased by 26% by using energy relay dyes. The scheme aids the absorption of high-energy photons that undergo Förster resonant energy transfer to a sensitizing dye, and may offer a viable pathway for developing more efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Abstract - | Full Text - Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes | PDF (411 KB) - Increased light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells with energy relay dyes | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Solar energy and photovoltaic technology

See also: News and Views by Farrell & Ekins-Daukes

Multispectral opto-acoustic tomography of deep-seated fluorescent proteins in vivo - pp412 - 417

Daniel Razansky, Martin Distel, Claudio Vinegoni, Rui Ma, Norbert Perrimon, Reinhard W. Köster & Vasilis Ntziachristos

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.98

Opto-acoustic imaging of fluorescent proteins deep within living organisms (Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish) is reported. The approach uses multiple wavelength illumination of the sample to generate ultrasound waves which are then detected and converted into images.

Abstract - | Full Text - Multispectral opto-acoustic tomography of deep-seated fluorescent proteins in vivo | PDF (581 KB) - Multispectral opto-acoustic tomography of deep-seated fluorescent proteins in vivo | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Imaging and sensing

See also: News and Views by Burgholzer et al.

Optical adhesives - pp418 - 419

Neil Savage

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.113

The encapsulation of LEDs, termination of optical fibres and assembly of complex lens systems are all tasks that can be accomplished by the use of special optical adhesives, explains Neil Savage.

Full Text - Optical adhesives | PDF (234 KB) - Optical adhesives

Programmable liquid optical interfaces - p420

Interview with Carl Brown

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.114

Nature Photonics spoke to Carl Brown from Nottingham Trent University about the creation of a voltage-programmable liquid-oil surface that can rapidly switch and deflect light beams.

Full Text - Programmable liquid optical interfaces | PDF (122 KB) - Programmable liquid optical interfaces