Researchers have significantly improved the response time of a four mm-aperture hole-patterned liquid crystal (HLC) lens with doping of N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (BNA) and rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2 NP) nanocomposite. The proposed HLC lens provides focus and defocus times (related to the wavefront bending speed) that are 8.5× and 14× faster than the new HLC lens, [..]

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a CMOS-compatible semiconductor material that promises to realize the monolithic integration of electronics and photonics with low fabrication costs via CMOS foundry. The non-centrosymmetric crystal structures of SiC grant both second-order and third-order nonlinear effects, enabling an efficient light frequency conversion and on-chip generation of nonclassical light states. SiC exhibits the [..]

Cavity optomechanics has recently gained a lot of interest from the quantum physics, quantum optics, and quantum information sciences sectors. It is due to the importance of cavity optomechanics in studying fundamental quantum mechanics problems and quantum precision measurements. Quantum simulation, as a cutting-edge approach, could be a valuable tool for investigating optomechanical interactions in [..]

Using ‘core@shell’ nanocrystals with atomically conformal metal laminations, researchers have created a method that greatly increases the performance of plasmonic photocatalysts. Core@shells Nanocrystals with a core surrounded by a shell can use the interfacial synergy between the core and shell equivalents, making them useful in catalysis, electronics, and displays. The core plasmonic nanoparticles (gold) surface [..]

Outliers of a population, e.g., cells with a rare function that arise in fewer than one in a million individuals, are of great interest to biologists. The inherent balance with microscopes between viewing cells at a sufficient spatial resolution while still keeping a large field of view to capture unique specimens has impeded these investigations. [..]

Researchers have developed inexpensive breathalyzers integrated into the screens of smartphones or wearables. The new technology uses the evaporation rate of the fog produced by the breath on the phone screen, which increases with increasing breath alcohol content. The breathalyzers use a photodiode placed on the side of the screen to measure the signature of [..]

A team of researchers has applied deep learning to scanning electron microscopy to develop a super-resolution imaging technique. It can convert a low-resolution microstructure image into a super-resolution image. In modern-day materials research, scanning electron microscopy images play a crucial role in developing new materials, from microstructure visualization and characterization to numerical material behavior analysis. [..]

With the introduction of flexible materials, photonics can furnish numerous intriguing opportunities for fundamental and applied research, enabling many applications beyond its electronic counterpart’s capabilities. It is non-invasive, ultrasensitive to external stimuli, and immune to electromagnetic interference of photons as signal carriers. Photonic devices have demonstrated exceptional optical modulation and sensing performance, indicating enormous promise [..]

Voice biometrics is a powerful and convenient form of biometrics that will be crucial in enhancing anti-fraud technology. Whereas one type of biometrics provides decent security against would-be hackers, two provide significantly greater protection, resulting in lower fraud rates. Using both face and voice biometrics makes the verification process nearly impregnable to fraudsters, providing four [..]

Using atomic force microscopy-based, time-traced imaging and force spectroscopy measurements, researchers report changes in cancer cells’ biomechanics and biophysical properties caused by standard chemotherapeutic drugs. The researchers add to our understanding of the interactions between hypoxia and chemotherapeutic drugs. The stiffness kinetics of untreated cancer cells remain consistent in both normoxia and hypoxia, regardless of [..]

Boiling is a complicated physical phenomenon involving at least two phases of matter. Many factors contribute to the system. Liquid-to-gas conversion takes energy from heated surfaces, preventing overheating in everything from nuclear power plants to powerful computer chips. However, if surfaces become too heated, they may undergo a boiling crisis. Bubbles form quickly in a [..]

Researchers have combined a new oxygen-sensing film with machine learning to create a wearable sensor capable of measuring tissue oxygenation through the skin. The device could continuously monitor a person’s oxygen levels for applications in medicine and sports. The device comprises a 3D-printed housing, a sensor head, and an adhesive oxygen-sensing film. Electronic components process [..]

Researchers created a camera with a curved, adaptable imaging sensor that could improve image quality in endoscopes, night vision goggles, artificial compound eyes, and fish-eye cameras. Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, was used to create the camera. Existing curvy imagers are stretchable but have low pixel density and pixel fill factors, or they [..]

Researchers have developed a deep-learning platform to speed up the MRI reconstruction process. The framework takes a fraction of the traditional technique’s measurements. It uses plug-and-play algorithms to combine physics-driven data acquisition models with state-of-the-art learned image models. The plug-and-play techniques recover pictures faster, with improved quality and potentially superior diagnostic utility than existing MRI [..]

Researchers have discovered a new method for faster spectroscopic measurements. They observed changes in the light spectrum by using simple, rapid polarization measurements by linking polarization to the color of a pulsed laser. The technique opens up new possibilities for measuring spectral changes over the complete color spectrum of light in a nanosecond time frame. [..]

Light-emitting, energy-harvesting, and sensing technologies could all benefit from optoelectronic materials that can convert light energy into electricity and light. However, devices leveraging these materials are notoriously inefficient, wasting a considerable amount of valuable energy in heat. New light-electricity conversion principles can break the present efficiency restrictions. Inversion symmetry is a physical property that restricts [..]

A new computational method dramatically increases the resolution of atomic force microscopy. Under standard physiological settings, the approach exposes atomic-level data on proteins and other biological structures. It gives up a new world of possibilities in cell biology, virology, and other microscopic processes. In physics, atomic force microscopy can efficiently resolve atoms on solid surfaces [..]

Scientists have developed a new spectroscopy technique that can spot glass imperfections. The method helps spot the subsurface structural changes of silica glass due to nanoscale wear and damage. Applications like electronic displays and vehicle windshields will benefit from this development. Surface defects are the main reason glass is less strong than steel. The researchers [..]

The convergence of nanophotonic resonators and scalable integrated photonics can benefit integrated microcomb-based systems. Optical frequency synthesis, optical atomic clocks, optical distance ranging, optical spectroscopy, microwave, radiofrequency photonics, astronomy, and telecommunications are all applications for these systems. These systems require integrated photonic interposers. Photonic interposers are required to realize the cost, size, weight, power, performance, [..]

Researchers have introduced the concept of metaform optics – integrating freeform optics and metasurfaces into a single optical component. This metaform architecture will benefit high-resolution optical systems with a compact form factor, such as augmented reality displays, sensors, and mobile cameras. The researchers experimentally realized a miniature imager using a metaform mirror. They used an [..]