Researchers could spur the development of smaller, more versatile optical filters that are especially adept at playing a trick of the light
Tech focus

A rendering of the experimental setup used. Light is reflected down to the nanostructure of molybdenum disulfide (yellow and teal lattice) and PZT (blue and green). Wavelengths reflecting from the surface are captured by the top detector as transmitted wavelengths pass through the PZT to the bottom detector. (Image: Hong et al.)
Car manufacturing has been hit hard by Covid-19 but the need for vision on production lines has not diminished, as Greg Blackman finds out
Matthew Dale speaks with the developers of the world’s first dual-comb spectrometer with an acquisition speed of 10 gigahertz
Researchers have devised a new way of generating thin 3D photonic crystals that show promise for miniaturising photonic integrated circuits
Matthew Dale learns how the safety knowledge of the laser community is not yet fully up to scratch
Japanese researchers have employed a bespoke prism lens to reduce the size and cost of lidar technology
Researchers have developed a new technique for producing flat optics with ultra-low loss and high damage threshold
As motion control systems reach ever-higher levels of precision, new standards and methods are required to better define their capabilities to end users, Matthew Dale finds
US researchers have proposed a photovoltaic cell that could generate power throughout the night
Researchers in the Netherlands have developed a new type of photonic integrated circuit that can be programmed using a combination of light and heat
MIT researchers have developed a multi-layered chip that could dramatically reduce the cost of dark-field microscopes
Matthew Dale discovers how high-resolution LED matrices and blue lasers are set to increase the functionality of automotive lighting
The latest research on ultrafast lasers will be presented at Photonics West in San Francisco
The European Space Agency’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna requires very-low-noise seed lasers
Professor Emir Salih Magden updates on plans to commercialise an on-chip broadband optical filter
The technique uses a nanostructure that ‘traps’ molecules from the air and amplifies the Raman signal
The high electrical current required to achieve the lasing process has made it difficult to create the devices up until now
A University of Cambridge team has designed a nanowire-based spectrometer that doesn’t require dispersive elements like a prism, therefore permitting greater miniaturisation than conventional systems
New method can measure large-scale quantum correlation of single photons, which until now would have required thousands of single photon counters
A research team has created software for modelling femtosecond pulses that overlap at angles of up to 140 degrees much more efficiently than existing systems
Combining 3D printing with metal-coating and wet-etching processes enables metamaterial geometrical optics with unique properties
The amplification of phonons in solids represents a further step towards new phononic devices for the next generation of sensors, mobile phones and computing
Optomel founder Damien Gardiner, a semi-finalist for SPIE's Startup Challenge at Photonics West, explains how the firm is making optical filters based on self-organised materials
New nanometre-accurate hexapod opens up applications in laser processing and metrology
Prism technology that’s now a major part of optical communications is finding its way into next-generation lidar systems
Advances in Raman spectroscopy could one day make invasive blood glucose tests a thing of the past
Matthew Dale on Daimler’s new beam analysis equipment for laser welding differential gears
Consumer electronics, telecommunications, and solar energy are all driving developments in optical coatings, according to a new market report
A new crystal doping technique could enable more powerful lasers
A look at how single photon counting is being used in a Horizon 2020 project, and a round-up of the latest commercial products
A look at the latest optical modelling programs and their application in the development of self-driving cars
A look at the use of optical mirrors in space telescopes, and a round-up of the commercial offerings available for every application
A laser-based gas analyser that employs novel optical parametric oscillator (OPO) technology was a finalist in this year’s SPIE Prism Awards
Part of the development of advanced endoscopes is scaling down the components that position the micro-optics inside of them
Continuously variable bandpass filters offer a good middle ground for building hyperspectral imaging solutions, says Delta Optical Thin Film’s Oliver Pust
In November's Product Focus, we look at some of the latest spectroscopy systems, components and software
In the October Product Focus, we take a look at the latest products for positioning optical components and systems
In the August/September Product Focus, we take a look at the latest versions of optical modelling software