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It is possible that when an electron relaxes from an excited state, it generates not one but two photons. Such two–photon emission has been seen in atomic systems, but never in semiconductors, until now. The experimental observation could have intriguing implications for quantum optics.
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.
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.
After almost 50 years of laser research, efficient and compact laser sources operating in the mid-infrared region from 2 μm to 5 μm are still lacking. Now, cascaded silicon Raman lasers look set to provide a convenient answer.
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.
A strongly nonlinear photonic crystal with a wavelength-tunable bandgap could provide the solution to realizing all-optical switches for signal processing.
Penetration of optical-fibre sensors into the medical market has been slow because of high costs and long regulatory procedures. Today, however, an increasing number of life-saving medical procedures are benefiting from the advantages that these tiny sensors can bring.
Fibre-optic sensors have been around for many years, but their market penetration has been slow. Nadya Anscombe talks to Brian Culshaw of Strathclyde University in the UK to find out why.
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.
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.
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.
The aerospace and wind-energy industries, which use composite materials to build aircraft and turbine blades, are beginning to use fibre-optic sensors to monitor the health of these massive structures.
Optical-fibre sensors have become an indispensable tool in the oil and gas industry, helping engineers to not only locate wells, but also get the most out of them.
