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 will soon be able to study biological changes at scales and speeds not previously possible to significantly expand knowledge in areas such as disease progression and drug delivery.
Optics & Photonics
Mar 20, 2025
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29
NPL and MSL in New Zealand successfully detected a multitude of earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean using a pioneering detection technique.
Earth Sciences
Mar 20, 2025
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37
Scientists have found a new way to navigate beams of light through dynamic scattering media, such as the turbulent atmosphere or living tissue.
Optics & Photonics
Mar 14, 2025
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51
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have performed the first imaging of embryos using cameras designed for quantum measurements.
Optics & Photonics
Mar 13, 2025
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120
Next-generation imaging technology is rapidly expanding beyond smartphones into intelligent devices, robotics, extended reality (XR) devices, health care, CCTV, and various other industries. At the core of these technological ...
Nanophysics
Mar 10, 2025
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60
Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have unveiled a planar optical device that significantly enhances the capabilities of dark-field microscopy, achieving super-resolution imaging beyond ...
Optics & Photonics
Mar 10, 2025
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291
Combine a garden-variety green laser, microwaves with roughly the energy of your wi-fi, and some diamond dust in drops of water, and what do you get? A precise chemical detection tool.
Nanophysics
Mar 5, 2025
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41
Researchers have developed a high-speed electro-optic switch that is energy-efficient, has low crosstalk and works across a broad bandwidth. Made using a scalable, chip-friendly process, this switch could enhance data capacity ...
Optics & Photonics
Mar 4, 2025
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42
Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is a microscopy technique widely used to investigate cells. Even though earlier biomedical applications based on QPI have been developed, both acquisition speed and image quality need to improve ...
Optics & Photonics
Mar 3, 2025
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31
For decades, scientists have relied on electrodes and dyes to track the electrical activity of living cells. Now, engineers at the University of California San Diego have discovered that quantum materials just a single atom ...
Bio & Medicine
Mar 3, 2025
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