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Issues concerning intellectual property often rank low on the list of priorities of scientists focused on primary photonics research. However, ignorance of such matters can lead to missed opportunities, litigation or severely hinder the success of a start-up company.
A technique for cutting thin slices of lithium niobate offers a way of integrating this valuable material, and its strong nonlinear optical properties, into small photonic circuits.
Optical modulators typically rely on weak nonlinear light–matter interactions to modulate light with light. But using surface plasmons to excite quantum dots, researchers at the California Institute of Technology have now demonstrated an efficient approach to chip-based all-optical modulation.
There is keen interest in extending the use of laser diodes beyond traditional low-power devices. Now the techniques needed to increase the achievable output power have become available.