Articles in 2009

The coherent storage and retrieval of a four-wave-mixing normal mode in a hot atomic rubidium vapour may prove to be useful for future information processing schemes.

The tiny phase changes introduced by nonlinear optics performed at the single-photon level is reported in a photonic crystal fibre with carefully designed nonlinear and dispersion properties. The approach may prove useful in future quantum information processing schemes.

The combination of spectrally resolved two-photon microscopy, fluorescent tags and appropriate theory makes it possible to determine the complex size, configuration and spatial distribution of proteins in single living cells. The findings made could lead to ways of tracking the cellular dynamics of individual molecular complexes.

The realization of a chip-based, broadband optical isolator is of considerable interest for integrated photonics. To date, no technique has been shown to be able to do this using materials and processes that are CMOS-compatible. Now, scientists propose that the use of direction-dependent photonic mode transitions in silicon nanophotonic structures could be the solution.

The demonstration that lasing at high-k wavevectors is possible in a quantum cascade laser may open new avenues for the design of intersub-band devices.

Using clever device engineering, European researchers have created vertically emitting microcavity lasers, potentially paving the way towards powerful terahertz sources and detectors useful for imaging and biological sensing.

By applying an extremely large magnetic field to break a semiconductor's energy bands into discrete levels, researchers have shown that it is possible for terahertz quantum cascade lasers to operate at unprecedented temperatures and wavelengths.

The commercialization of long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is gaining new momentum as the telecoms market shifts from long-haul applications to local and access networks. These small, power-efficient devices offer several advantages over traditional edge-emitters.

The unique structure and properties of the quantum cascade laser have enabled scientists to gain access to a valuable region of the electromagnetic spectrum — the mid-infrared.

The demonstration in this issue that strong magnetic confinement of electrons can dramatically increase the operating temperature of terahertz quantum cascade lasers is good news for the dream of reaching room temperature. Nature Photonics spoke with Qing Hu about the result and the future prospects.

Although Nature Photonics may have had a face-lift, its mission to bring you a selection of the most exciting research findings in all areas of optics and optoelectronics remains the same.

The European Commission has identified photonics as a key technology for the future health of European industry. Nature Photonics spoke to Gustav Kalbe, Head of Sector at the Photonics Unit, about how he and his colleagues are influencing photonics research.

Optical communication makes good use of sensitive avalanche photodiodes, typically made from group III–V semiconductor compounds. New research shows that silicon may be a viable alternative material for realizing such detectors with better performance.

How can we capture ultrafast optical signals in real time? A time lens is one possibility — able to image the temporal profile of a short optical signal, analogous to a conventional lens. Such a device has now been created on a silicon chip.

Recent research suggests that plasmonics may offer a route to the development of modulators with terahertz bandwidths, many orders of magnitude faster than today's devices.