Letters in 2013

Researchers demonstrate deterministic quantum-state transfer from a ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ion to a photon in an optical cavity by controlling the transition probabilities and the frequency difference of two simultaneous Raman fields. They used process tomography to characterize the quantum-state transfer, providing a process fidelity of 92% and a state-transfer efficiency of 16%.

The concept of an optical pulling force, or ‘tractor beam’, has received increasing interest following recent theoretical proposals. Scientists have now experimentally verified this concept and demonstrated that the orientation of the beam's linear polarization strongly influences the behaviour of the object being pulled, in particular the direction of its delivery.

Three-photon microscopy performed at the infrared wavelength of 1,700 nm makes it possible to image hard-to-reach vascular structures and labelled neurons in the hippocampus of a mouse brain.

Researchers observe Rabi oscillations in a metal structure with a J-aggregate nonlinear medium and coherent energy transfer between excitonic quantum emitters and surface plasmons. The coupling energy is controlled on the 10 fs timescale by varying the exciton density. This work demonstrates the potential of nonlinear ultrafast plasmonics.

By recording digital holograms created from different illumination directions and subsequently processing them in a complex deconvolution scheme, scientists are able to capture details of living biological samples with subwavelength resolution.

Researchers demonstrate the three-dimensional routing of light through a three-dimensional photonic crystal. Before transmission, the light is bent both vertically and horizontally, split and trapped.

Researchers use sideband injection-locked lasers to generate low-noise, high-frequency radio signals that can be tuned over the range of 0.5–110 GHz. This technique is amenable to compact integration and, in principle, operation at even higher frequencies.