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  • Focus |

    Photovoltaics is expected to provide the next generation of safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy. The challenges now are to reduce costs and improve power-conversion efficiencies. This Focus Issue covers cutting-edge solar cell technologies such as polymer, dye-sensitized and intermediate-band solar cells, as well as advanced light-harvesting techniques based on plasmonics and quantum dots. Also included is an interview with the world's largest solar-cell manufacturer on the future of the photovoltaic industry.

  • Focus |

    The fortuitous combination of maturing capabilities, falling component prices and rising demand bodes well for the future of microwave photonics and radio-over- fibre technologies, according to opinions gathered in this month's Technology Focus on the topic.

  • Focus |

    Although the term 'optofluidics' is less than 10 years old, the combination of light and non-solids is being exploited by researchers who are finding applications in fields ranging from imaging, detection of chemical or biological agents and particle control, through to enhancing photonic circuits and energy generation. The October 2011 issue of Nature Photonicshas a special focus on optofluidics dedicated to some of the latest advances in field.

  • Focus |

    Optical fibres are getting sophisticated and proving to have important roles in applications beyond telecommunications.

  • Focus |

    Since their invention 25 years ago, optical tweezers have become the method of choice for physical, chemical and biological experiments that require access to nanometre-scale distances and piconewton-scale forces. The June 2011 issue of Nature Photonicshas a special focus on optical manipulation that describes how beam shaping, the orbital angular momentum of laser light, nano-optics and optoelectronics could help advance the field, as well as detailing the impact of optical manipulation in single-molecule biophysics.

  • Focus |

    Increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become more environmentally friendly is creating a myriad of opportunities for photonic technologies.

  • Focus |

    This focus issue brings together a collection of articles that describe the importance and latest progress of optical frequency combs, optical lattice clocks and quantum metrology, as well as techniques for measuring Casimir forces in complex microstructured geometries and ultrashort laser pulses — all of which are essential for realizing next-generation optical metrology.

  • Focus |

    Adaptive-optics-enhanced imaging of the retina, clearly showing individual photoreceptors and blood vessels.

  • Focus |

    New X-ray sources that combine laser technology with novel imaging techniques promise to probe the world around us at atomic spatial and temporal scales. This month, Nature Photonicspresents a special focus issue dedicated to the latest advances in X-ray optics.

  • Focus |

    Digital projectors and electronic books are helping to bring new forms of display technology to market.

  • Focus |

    In a time when many industries are struggling, it is a pleasant surprise to see the solar-cell industry experiencing unprecedented growth.

  • Focus |

    The field of silicon photonics is gaining significant momentum because it allows optical devices to be made cheaply using standard semiconductor fabrication techniques and integrated with microelectronic chips. This Focus Issue provides a comprehensive collection of articles that review up-to-date progress and the latest news in the field, as well as giving some ideas about what the future has in store and what challenges should be expected.