Optical sensors articles from across Nature Portfolio

Achieving dynamic multimodal luminescence in a single material is promising but challenging. Here, the authors engineer a phosphor with dynamic multicolor luminescence and photo-thermomechanically responsive emissions by adding Mn²⁺ to a self-activated CaGa₄O₇ host.

The researchers showcase a flexible meta-sensor array based on classical Mie resonance, enabling precise detection of in-plane strain direction and magnitude using dynamically transmitted terahertz (THz) signals. The sensor array holds immense promise for the real-life applications as it possesses high sensor density and has a very large size up to (110 ×130 mm²).

The researchers showcase a photonic-electronic FMCW LiDAR source composed of a micro-electronic based high-voltage arbitrary waveform generator, a photonic circuit-based tunable Vernier laser with piezoelectric actuators, and an erbium-doped waveguide amplifier.

Hair-like sensilla are evolved widely in organisms that perceive mechanical signals. Here, the authors report an all-optical mechano-sensor that can detect the real-time, directional displacement and force at several nm and μN levels.

At the University of Oklahoma, we developed a high-performance mid-infrared photonic sensing solution for the deployment of a scalable, continuous monitoring network for methane emissions in the Anadarko Basin, one of the largest oil and gas production basins in the USA.

Hybrid Rayleigh-Brillouin-Raman distributed sensing system: Coded pulse pairs are employed for simultaneously measuring vibration, strain and temperature distributions, through an optimized detection scheme of Rayleigh, Brillouin, and Raman scatterings.