Optical techniques are experimental and analytical methods that exploit the generation, manipulation, and detection of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges to probe material properties, structures, and dynamics. They encompass approaches such as absorption, fluorescence, Raman and elastic scattering measurements, interferometry, and imaging modalities that rely on well-defined light–matter interactions. These techniques enable quantitative characterization of refractive indices, absorption coefficients, energy level structures, molecular conformations, and nanoscale morphology, often with high spatial and temporal resolution. Optical techniques are widely integrated with spectroscopy, microscopy, and metrology platforms and can be implemented in both far-field and near-field configurations.
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich have developed a new microscope that significantly improves how bioluminescent signals in living cells can be observed.
Optics & Photonics
May 29, 2025
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Scientists have discovered a way to convert fluctuating lasers into remarkably stable beams that defy classical physics, opening new doors for photonic technologies that rely on both high power and high precision.
Optics & Photonics
May 27, 2025
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116
University of Illinois Physics Professor Paul Kwiat and members of his research group have developed a new tool for precision measurement at the nanometer scale in scenarios where background noise and optical loss from the ...
Optics & Photonics
May 22, 2025
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Laser frequency combs are light sources that produce evenly spaced, sharp lines across the spectrum, resembling the teeth of a comb. They serve as precise rulers for measuring time and frequency, and have become essential ...
Optics & Photonics
May 21, 2025
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56
In conventional heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), a laser is used to locally heat the recording medium to facilitate data writing. However, the thermal energy applied is largely dissipated within the medium and does ...
Condensed Matter
May 21, 2025
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One of the most profound open questions in modern physics is: "Is gravity quantum?" The other fundamental forces—electromagnetic, weak, and strong—have all been successfully described, but no complete and consistent quantum ...
Optics & Photonics
May 21, 2025
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A new camera setup can record three-dimensional movies with a single pixel. Moreover, the technique can obtain images outside the visible spectrum and even through tissues. The Kobe University development thus opens the door ...
Optics & Photonics
May 21, 2025
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130
A research team affiliated with UNIST has announced the development of an innovative nonlinear imaging technique capable of visualizing internal biological tissues in 3D using ordinary light sources, such as laser pointers, ...
Bio & Medicine
May 20, 2025
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What if ultrafast pulses of light could operate computers at speeds a million times faster than today's best processors? A team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Arizona, are working to make that ...
Optics & Photonics
May 19, 2025
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217
Researchers have developed a 3D micro-printed sensor for highly sensitive on-chip biosensing. The sensor, which is based on a polymer whispering-gallery-mode microlaser, opens new opportunities for developing high-performance, ...
Bio & Medicine
May 19, 2025
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