A patent application for an under-display optical fingerprint biometric sensor based on a narrow field-of-view collimator filed has been published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). While an in-display version of Touch ID biometrics has not been announced, numerous intellectual property filings and other indications have suggested it is at least under consideration. [..]

Researchers have developed the next generation of ultrafast data transmission, which could enable already high-performance computing to be provided “on demand.” The technology uses a hybrid silicon-vanadium dioxide waveguide that can turn light on and off in less than one trillionth of a second to unjam bottlenecks in data streams. The researchers show that data [..]

Artificial neural networks, which are layers of interconnected artificial neurons, are becoming increasingly popular in machine learning tasks such as speech recognition and medical diagnosis. Electronic computing hardware is nearing its capabilities, but the demand for more computing power is always increasing. Researchers chose the photonic processor over the electronic processor to transmit data at [..]

Researchers have developed a mechanical scanning-free microscopy method. The technique significantly improves the efficacy of fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM). The fact that fluorescence decay occurs quickly is a major limitation of traditional fluorescence lifetime microscopy methods; most ordinary cameras are incapable of capturing it. Using a single-point photodetector solves the problem, but the device must [..]

Optoelectronic advancements necessitate materials with novel and engineered properties. Metal-halide perovskites have sparked tremendous interest owing to meteoric increases in the photovoltaic efficiencies of perovskite solar cells. Furthermore, recent advances in metal-halide perovskites have resulted in using perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in light-emitting devices. It was recently discovered that the unusually efficient light emission of cesium [..]

Researchers create an image of a plasmonic topological quasiparticle spin texture in a structured silver film. The spin angular momentum components of linearly polarized light interacting with an Archimedean coupling structure with a designed geometric phase generate plasmonic waves with different orbital angular momenta. These plasmonic fields undergo spin-orbit interaction, and their superposition generates an [..]

Reflectins, the unique structural proteins that allow squids and octopuses to change colors and blend in with their surroundings, are thought to have enormous potential for advancements in fields as diverse as electronics, optics, and medicine. Due to their atypical chemical composition and high sensitivity to subtle environmental changes, scientists and inventors have been stymied [..]

Single-cell whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is essential for identifying dynamic intercellular DNA changes. Single-cell genomics sample preparation technologies are complex, expensive, and plagued by high amplification bias and errors. The researchers describe Digital-WGS, a sample preparation platform that automates high-performance single-cell WGS with digital microfluidics. They use a wetted hydrodynamic structure to provide high single-cell capture [..]

According to a proof-of-concept study, PET Tracer imaging with 68Ga-pentixafor is an effective diagnostic tool for central nervous system (CNS) B-cell lymphoma. 68Ga-pentixafor PET imaging shows excellent contrast characteristics between lymphoma lesions and surrounding healthy brain tissue. It may be suitable for risk stratification and response assessment by targeting the CXCR4 biomarker involved in the [..]

Why do we feed artificial intelligence data like a normal computer if it can think like a human brain? Scientists are addressing this question by considering the sensory input we humans receive and have developed an optic device inspired by how the human eye works. Researchers recently published the results of their optical sensor, which [..]

AI-based evaluation of medical imaging data typically necessitates the development of a unique algorithm for each task. Scientists have now presented a new method for configuring self-learning algorithms for a wide range of imaging datasets – without requiring specialized knowledge or massive computing power. Researchers have now developed a method that adapts to any imaging [..]

Researchers have introduced a unique drone prototype to help search and rescue teams locate missing persons – even in dense forests. Subjects in individual thermal images often appear completely or partially hidden; the drone instead combines several individual images into one integral image (image integration) that can be used for classification and to better detect [..]

Researchers in silicon photonics have demonstrated the first all-silicon optical transmitter capable of 100Gbps and higher without the use of digital signal processing. The new optical modulator nearly doubles the maximum data rate of current state-of-the-art devices, demonstrating the potential for low power. These low-cost all-silicon solutions avoid complicating fabrication processes with non-CMOS-compatible new materials. [..]

The scientific community has witnessed the tremendous expansion of research on layered (i.e., two-dimensional, 2D) materials, with an increasing recent focus on photonics applications. Layered materials are particularly exciting for manipulating light (tunable optical properties) in the confined geometry of photonic integrated circuits. Key material properties include strong and controllable light-matter interaction and limited optical [..]

Many of the problems that plagued early instrumentation have been overcome in today’s optical designs, but size, weight, and power (SWaP) reductions remain an ongoing goal. Researchers have created a new imaging spectrometer using novel components that significantly reducing SWaP while maintaining performance. The current state of the art in imaging spectrometers is extremely high, [..]

A sampling of commercial facial recognition algorithms shows that face biometrics systems are currently too dependent on specific attributes to distinguish between people of the same race and gender. The problem is investigated in a paper using five unnamed commercial facial recognition algorithms and a commercial iris recognition algorithm as a control. According to the [..]

Researchers have demonstrated a new optical wiring technique for carrying out sensitive quantum operations on atoms. In this technique, the control laser light is delivered directly inside a chip. This should make it possible to build large-scale quantum computers based on trapped atoms. Already in current small-scale systems, conventional optics are a significant source of [..]

Current programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are volatile and suffer from high optical signal losses – both of which prevent them from maintaining their programmed state. A team of researchers has now fabricated meter-scale single-mode photonic waveguides that boast only 0.03 dB/cm optical losses. The researchers also used their waveguides to construct optical true delay [..]

AI-driven quality testing can increase productivity by up to 50% and defect detection rates by up to 90% compared to human inspection. Though machines with automated optical inspection (AOI), powered by machine vision, have replaced most of the manual processes in the modern assembly line, quality control remains a huge and costly challenge. AI software [..]

Electronic displays are becoming increasingly important in daily life, from automobiles to smartphones and wearables to digital signage. As demand grows, display manufacturers require optically clear bonding materials to connect glass or plastic screens to various electronic modules. Strong, dependable adhesion is essential, as is support for a fantastic viewing experience. Furthermore, display manufacturers require [..]