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A spectroscopic method that combines the accuracy of optical frequency combs with the rapid tuning of an external-cavity diode laser opens the door to fast, broadband spectral characterization.
A new idea for 'freezing-out' unwanted losses in an atomic memory could make it possible to store light pulses on-chip for several minutes, increasing the capability of optical quantum computing.
The polarization of terahertz pulses emitted from a laser-generated plasma can be rotated at will by changing the relative delay between ultrashort red and blue excitation pulses. The result is a fast and convenient method of polarization control.
New insights into the behaviour of radiative heat transfer at the nanoscale have now been made, thanks to highly precise measurements made using scanning probe microscopy.
The need for reliable mass-produced photonic crystal devices and the exciting potential of nanoscale optomechanics were both highlights of a recent meeting on integrated photonics in Hawaii, USA.
The demonstration of all-optical switching by confining light and cold rubidium atoms in a hollow-core photonic band-gap fibre may help bring the goal of single-photon switching closer to reality.
The successful control of the phase of light within a single photon wavepacket paves the way to a range of applications in quantum information science.
Researchers at Nichia Corporation have demonstrated green InGaN-based lasers grown on c-plane sapphire, with lifetimes capable of supporting commercial applications.
The tenth anniversary of the optical frequency comb, an enormously important tool in metrology, was celebrated at this year's CLEO/IQEC conference in Baltimore.
The demonstration of Airy beam generation and all-optical control by quasi-phase matched nonlinear crystals looks set to help these unique beams realize their exciting potential in applications.
Researchers from Munich and Boston have shown that multispectral photoacoustic tomography can image fluorescent proteins buried deep in highly scattering living organisms.
Resonant energy-relay between two dye species allows photovoltaic harvesting of photons across a wider spectral range. This technique has been exploited to boost the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by 26%.
Researchers in Japan have shown that it is possible to use standard 'off-the-shelf' plastic toy parts to construct low-cost and light-weight optical components.
