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The unexpected demonstration of all-optical trapping of ions offers new possibilities in the simulation of quantum spin systems, ultracold chemistry with ions and more.
Researchers in Japan have used electron-beam excitation in an AlGaN/AlGaN quantum-well structure to demonstrate the emission of ultraviolet light at record-breaking efficiency, giving hope for the realization of high-power efficient semiconductor sources of deep-ultraviolet light.
Exploiting the self-healing properties of Bessel beams, scientists demonstrate a microscope that offers better image quality and deeper penetration in dense media than current imaging schemes.
Research on solar cells, optical frequency combs, high-power laser diodes and brain monitoring were all topics of discussion at the autumn meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics in Nagasaki this September.
The realization of an all-optical phase and amplitude regenerator could help take coherent optical communication to new distances and transmission speeds.
Researchers have demonstrated how photon correlations can be used to explore the spectral diffusion of light from a single quantum dot with subnanosecond time resolution. This will help to clarify the origin of frequency jitter, and thereby help to realize narrowband stable condensed matter sources of single photons.
High-harmonic interferometry can be used to measure the amplitude and phase of light emitted from molecules. This method has now been used to reveal the ultrafast dynamics of electrons and nuclear interactions during a chemical reaction.
Research into photochemical reactions is now yielding promising ways of converting solar energy into convenient forms of chemical energy that can be easily stored.
Graphene has had a big impact in optics and optoelectronics for both fundamental physics and real-world applications, and there is now considerable excitement about its prospects for terahertz science.
Wide-band tunability, large coherence-area, and in some cases multidirectional emission have made liquid-crystal lasers an attractive light source for applications like miniature medical diagnostic tool and large-area holographic laser displays. This article discusses the scientific origins of the technology of liquid-crystal lasers and reviews the current cutting-edge research.
The Linac Coherent Light Source at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in the USA is producing coherent soft and hard X-rays at a brightness nearly ten orders of magnitude larger than synchrotron sources, heralding a new era in ultrafast science.
Photonic crystal nanocavities can strongly enhance the interaction between light and matter. Researchers have now demonstrated high-speed signal generation and all-optical switching with energies in the femtojoule and sub-femtojoule regime.
An infrared laser pacemaker that can optically synchronize the beat of an embryonic heart shows great promise for developmental biology, and perhaps ultimately for use as a pacemaker in humans.
Using a clever design of polarization optic, Italian researchers have successfully created four-level 'ququart' quantum states using the polarization and orbital angular momentum of single photons. This approach may help to realize more effective forms of quantum communication.
The study of dissipative solitons is not only increasing our understanding of nonlinear systems but may also help develop high-performance short-pulse lasers and devices for optical information processing.
