Filling the green gap - p421

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.118

Could a practical green laser diode finally be within sight? The latest research looks optimistic.

Full Text - Filling the green gap | PDF (111 KB) - Filling the green gap

Laser-driven particle acceleration - pp423 - 425

Peter A. Norreys

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.119

The acceleration of charged particles to ultra-high energies by intense laser pulses could be made a reality by petawatt laser facilities. Laser-based approaches promise a low-cost, compact and simple alternative, compared with conventional accelerators.

Full Text - Laser-driven particle acceleration | PDF (365 KB) - Laser-driven particle acceleration

Our choice from the recent literature - pp426 - 427

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.120

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (171 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Optical switching: Atoms and photons share quarters - pp429 - 430

Barak Dayan & Yaron Silberberg

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.125

The demonstration of all-optical switching by confining light and cold rubidium atoms in a hollow-core photonic band-gap fibre may help bring the goal of single-photon switching closer to reality.

Full Text - Optical switchingAtoms and photons share quarters | PDF (145 KB) - Optical switchingAtoms and photons share quarters

Quantum optics: Single photons shape up - pp430 - 432

Sean Barrett

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.122

The successful control of the phase of light within a single photon wavepacket paves the way to a range of applications in quantum information science.

Full Text - Quantum opticsSingle photons shape up | PDF (131 KB) - Quantum opticsSingle photons shape up

Semiconductor photonics: Laser diodes go green - pp432 - 434

Asif Khan

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.124

Researchers at Nichia Corporation have demonstrated green InGaN-based lasers grown on c-plane sapphire, with lifetimes capable of supporting commercial applications.

Full Text - Semiconductor photonicsLaser diodes go green | PDF (155 KB) - Semiconductor photonicsLaser diodes go green

Imaging: A clear picture - p434

David Pile

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.121

Full Text - ImagingA clear picture | PDF (124 KB) - ImagingA clear picture

VIEW FROM... CLEO/IQEC 2009: An extraordinary ruler - pp435 - 436

Rachel Won

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.126

The tenth anniversary of the optical frequency comb, an enormously important tool in metrology, was celebrated at this year's CLEO/IQEC conference in Baltimore.

Full Text - VIEW FROM... CLEO/IQEC 2009An extraordinary ruler | PDF (249 KB) - VIEW FROM... CLEO/IQEC 2009An extraordinary ruler

Nano-imaging with STORM - p436

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.139

Full Text - Nano-imaging with STORM | PDF (58 KB) - Nano-imaging with STORM

Silicon nanostructure cloak operating at optical frequencies - pp461 - 463

Lucas H. Gabrielli, Jaime Cardenas, Carl B. Poitras & Michal Lipson

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.117

A triangular array of silicon nanostructures is experimentally demonstrated to function as an optical cloaking device, operating in the near-infrared at a wavelength of 1550 nm. This approach could, in principle, be extended to larger areas using fabrication techniques such as nanoimprinting.

Abstract - | Full Text - Silicon nanostructure cloak operating at optical frequencies | PDF (412 KB) - Silicon nanostructure cloak operating at optical frequencies

Subject Category: Novel materials and engineered structures

Tunable bipolar optical interactions between guided lightwaves - pp464 - 468

Mo Li, W. H. P. Pernice & H. X. Tang

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.116

Attractive and repulsive optical forces between coupled photonic waveguides are demonstrated – previously, only attractive forces had been observed. The sign of the force can be controlled by varying the relative phase between the guided modes. This effect could be used in planar light-force devices on a CMOS-compatible platform.

Abstract - | Full Text - Tunable bipolar optical interactions between guided lightwaves | PDF (965 KB) - Tunable bipolar optical interactions between guided lightwaves | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Fundamental optical physics

Phase shaping of single-photon wave packets - pp469 - 472

H. P. Specht, J. Bochmann, M. Mücke, B. Weber, E. Figueroa, D. L. Moehring & G. Rempe

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.115

Arbitrary phase control within a single photon wave packet is demonstrated and verified by two-photon quantum interference measurements. Combined with the previously demonstrated ability to control a single photon's amplitude, frequency and polarization, the phase shaping presented here allows for the complete control of single-photon wave packets.

Abstract - | Full Text - Phase shaping of single-photon wave packets | PDF (372 KB) - Phase shaping of single-photon wave packets

Subject Categories: Quantum optics | Fundamental optical physics

See also: News and Views by Barrett

Pressure-assisted tip-enhanced Raman imaging at a resolution of a few nanometres - pp473 - 477

Taka-aki Yano, Prabhat Verma, Yuika Saito, Taro Ichimura & Satoshi Kawata

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.74

Applying external pressure to a sample molecule via the apex of a sharp nanotip allows tip-enhanced Raman imaging of molecules with a spatial resolution of 4 nm.

Abstract - | Full Text - Pressure-assisted tip-enhanced Raman imaging at a resolution of a few nanometres | PDF (1,199 KB) - Pressure-assisted tip-enhanced Raman imaging at a resolution of a few nanometres | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Imaging and sensing | Plasmonics

Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force - pp478 - 483

Jessie Rosenberg, Qiang Lin & Oskar Painter

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.137

All-optical wavelength routing based on optical gradient force in mechanically compliant spoked resonators is demonstrated over a wavelength range that is 3,000 times greater than the resonator linewidth. A switching time of less than 200 ns, a tuning efficiency of 309 GHz mW^-1 and 100% channel-quality preservation over the entire tuning range is achieved.

Abstract - | Full Text - Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force | PDF (4,193 KB) - Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Fundamental optical physics | Novel materials and engineered structures

On-chip push–pull effect - p484

Interview with Hong Tang

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2009.136

Hong Tang from Yale University spoke to Nature Photonics about how attractive and repulsive optical forces in nanophotonic waveguides could help advance integrated photonics and optomechanical systems.

Full Text - On-chip push–pull effect | PDF (119 KB) - On-chip push–pull effect