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Strain gauges that change colour when stressed, bright backlight-free displays and highly sensitive biological sensors are all potential applications of tunable photonic crystal materials, reports Duncan Graham-Rowe.
Quantum dots — semiconductor nanocrystals that have custom designable optical properties — are opening up opportunities in the bio-imaging, display and lighting sectors, reports Duncan Graham-Rowe.
Self-organizing liquid crystals could spawn a new breed of extremely useful and cheap tunable lasers. Such lasers may ultimately prove to be useful for creating flat-screen displays with better colours, enhanced sensors and compact medical instruments. Duncan Graham-Rowe takes a closer look.
Photoacoustic imaging, using laser light to stimulate the emission of ultrasonic waves from tissue inside the human body, potentially offers a route to far deeper imaging than possible with conventional optical techniques, reports Duncan Graham-Rowe.
Accurate and efficient testing is essential for ensuring the quality and safety of the food we eat. Whereas most analysis methods are destructive, Duncan Graham-Rowe reports that optical techniques are not only non-invasive but in some cases can also assess nutritional content.
