Efficient light control: Meta-optics replace conventional lenses
(phys.org)
Conventional curved lenses, which direct light by refraction in glass or plastic, are often bulky and heavy, offering only limited control of light waves.
Conventional curved lenses, which direct light by refraction in glass or plastic, are often bulky and heavy, offering only limited control of light waves.
Plasmonic Modulators Break Wireless Terahertz Barrier
(ieee.org)
A new plasmonic modulator [in gold] transfers signal information from an electrical wave to an optical wave at higher speeds than other modulator technologies.
A new plasmonic modulator [in gold] transfers signal information from an electrical wave to an optical wave at higher speeds than other modulator technologies.
WWI's 'Dazzle' Camouflage Seemed Effective Due to Unexpected Optical Trick
(gizmodo.com)
During World War I, navies painted their ships in “dazzle” camouflage, also known as “razzle dazzle.” Unlike traditional camouflage, which helps objects blend into their surroundings, dazzle camouflage used stark geometric patterns to try to confuse German U-boat captains’ perception of a ship’s direction and speed, making it harder to target. But did the dazzle actually dazzle, or did it simply look ridiculous?
During World War I, navies painted their ships in “dazzle” camouflage, also known as “razzle dazzle.” Unlike traditional camouflage, which helps objects blend into their surroundings, dazzle camouflage used stark geometric patterns to try to confuse German U-boat captains’ perception of a ship’s direction and speed, making it harder to target. But did the dazzle actually dazzle, or did it simply look ridiculous?
Show HN: Torch Lens Maker – Differentiable Geometric Optics in PyTorch
(victorpoughon.github.io)
Welcome to Torch Lens Maker, an open-source Python library for differentiable geometric optics based on PyTorch. Currently a very experimental project, the goal is to be able to design complex real-world optical systems (lenses, mirrors, etc.) using modern computer code and state-of-the art numerical optimization.
Welcome to Torch Lens Maker, an open-source Python library for differentiable geometric optics based on PyTorch. Currently a very experimental project, the goal is to be able to design complex real-world optical systems (lenses, mirrors, etc.) using modern computer code and state-of-the art numerical optimization.
China Made a Spy Camera That Can See Faces from Space
(petapixel.com)
Chinese scientists have built a surveillance camera with unprecedented resolving capabilities.
Chinese scientists have built a surveillance camera with unprecedented resolving capabilities.
First flat telescope lens that captures color, detecting light from stars
(phys.org)
For centuries, lenses have worked the same way: curved glass or plastic bending light to bring images into focus. But traditional lenses have a major drawback—the more powerful they need to be, the bulkier and heavier they become.
For centuries, lenses have worked the same way: curved glass or plastic bending light to bring images into focus. But traditional lenses have a major drawback—the more powerful they need to be, the bulkier and heavier they become.
All-optical control of charge-trapping defects in rare-earth doped oxides
(degruyter.com)
Charge-trapping defects in crystalline solids play important roles in applications ranging from microelectronics, optical storage, sensing and quantum technologies.
Charge-trapping defects in crystalline solids play important roles in applications ranging from microelectronics, optical storage, sensing and quantum technologies.
Optical Frequency Combs
(nist.gov)
Optical frequency combs are specialized lasers that act like a ruler for light. They measure exact frequencies of light — from the invisible infrared and ultraviolet to visible red, yellow, green and blue light — quickly and accurately.
Optical frequency combs are specialized lasers that act like a ruler for light. They measure exact frequencies of light — from the invisible infrared and ultraviolet to visible red, yellow, green and blue light — quickly and accurately.
Researchers combine holograms and AI to create uncrackable optical encryption
(optica.org)
As the demand for digital security grows, researchers have developed a new optical system that uses holograms to encode information, creating a level of encryption that traditional methods cannot penetrate.
As the demand for digital security grows, researchers have developed a new optical system that uses holograms to encode information, creating a level of encryption that traditional methods cannot penetrate.
Optical Fresnel zone plate flat lens: colored photoresist through I-line stepper
(nature.com)
Light manipulation and control are essential in various contemporary technologies, and as these technologies evolve, the demand for miniaturized optical components increases.
Light manipulation and control are essential in various contemporary technologies, and as these technologies evolve, the demand for miniaturized optical components increases.
Getting an all-optical AI to handle non-linear math
(arstechnica.com)
A team of MIT researchers figured that if you had a chip that could process photons directly, you could skip the entire digitization step and perform calculations with the photons themselves. It has the potential to be mind-bogglingly faster.
A team of MIT researchers figured that if you had a chip that could process photons directly, you could skip the entire digitization step and perform calculations with the photons themselves. It has the potential to be mind-bogglingly faster.
Show HN: Optics Challenge – Design a solar concentrator for a non-round sun
(nonimaging-conference.org)
The challenge: Design a reflective solar concentrator with the highest possible efficiency, but designed for a sun with the shape "XX" instead of the regular round shape.
The challenge: Design a reflective solar concentrator with the highest possible efficiency, but designed for a sun with the shape "XX" instead of the regular round shape.
Soft Metalens for Broadband Ultrasonic Focusing Through Aberration Layers
(nature.com)
Aberration layers (AL) often present significant energy transmission barriers in microwave engineering, electromagnetic waves, and medical ultrasound.
Aberration layers (AL) often present significant energy transmission barriers in microwave engineering, electromagnetic waves, and medical ultrasound.
Lens breakthrough paves the way for ultrathin cameras
(physicsworld.com)
A research team headed up at Seoul National University has pioneered an innovative metasurface-based folded lens system, paving the way for a new generation of slimline cameras for use in smartphones and augmented/virtual reality devices.
A research team headed up at Seoul National University has pioneered an innovative metasurface-based folded lens system, paving the way for a new generation of slimline cameras for use in smartphones and augmented/virtual reality devices.
Monocle: Optics Library for Scala
(optics.dev)
Monocle is a Scala library which offers a simple yet powerful API to access and transform immutable data.
Monocle is a Scala library which offers a simple yet powerful API to access and transform immutable data.
A “meta-optics” camera that is the size of a grain of salt
(cacm.acm.org)
When it comes to cameras, size matters, but not in the way you think.
When it comes to cameras, size matters, but not in the way you think.
Iceland Spar
(wikipedia.org)
Iceland spar, formerly called Iceland crystal (Icelandic: silfurberg [ˈsɪlvʏrˌpɛrk], lit. 'silver-rock') and also called optical calcite, is a transparent variety of calcite, or crystallized calcium carbonate, originally brought from Iceland, and used in demonstrating the polarization of light.[1][2]
Iceland spar, formerly called Iceland crystal (Icelandic: silfurberg [ˈsɪlvʏrˌpɛrk], lit. 'silver-rock') and also called optical calcite, is a transparent variety of calcite, or crystallized calcium carbonate, originally brought from Iceland, and used in demonstrating the polarization of light.[1][2]
Redesigning Photography with AI-Enhanced Metalenses
(petapixel.com)
Optics and artificial intelligence have converged to create a new imaging system that could transform photography.
Optics and artificial intelligence have converged to create a new imaging system that could transform photography.
The Physics of Butterfly Wings
(wordpress.com)
Some butterflies have shiny, vividly colored wings. From different angles you see different colors. This effect is called iridescence. How does it work?
Some butterflies have shiny, vividly colored wings. From different angles you see different colors. This effect is called iridescence. How does it work?
Scientists discover laser light can cast a shadow
(phys.org)
Can light itself cast a shadow? It may sound like a philosophical riddle, but researchers have found that under certain conditions, a laser beam can act like an opaque object and cast a shadow.
Can light itself cast a shadow? It may sound like a philosophical riddle, but researchers have found that under certain conditions, a laser beam can act like an opaque object and cast a shadow.
Scientists decipher two-photon vision
(phys.org)
Two-photon vision is a novel method with great potential for the future of ophthalmic diagnostics.
Two-photon vision is a novel method with great potential for the future of ophthalmic diagnostics.
Efficient Microresonator Frequency Combs
(springeropen.com)
The rapid development of optical frequency combs from their table-top origins towards chip-scale platforms has opened up exciting possibilities for comb functionalities outside laboratories.
The rapid development of optical frequency combs from their table-top origins towards chip-scale platforms has opened up exciting possibilities for comb functionalities outside laboratories.
The Physics of Magic Windows (2021)
(mattferraro.dev)
I recently made a physical object that defies all intuition. It's a square of acrylic, smooth on both sides, totally transparent. A tiny window.
I recently made a physical object that defies all intuition. It's a square of acrylic, smooth on both sides, totally transparent. A tiny window.
Shrinking augmented reality displays into eyeglasses to expand their use
(phys.org)
To make the technology easier to integrate into common personal devices, researchers report in ACS Photonics how to combine two optical technologies into a single, high-resolution AR display.
To make the technology easier to integrate into common personal devices, researchers report in ACS Photonics how to combine two optical technologies into a single, high-resolution AR display.
Design of a Novel Microlens Array and Imaging System for Light Fields
(mdpi.com)
To address these issues, we proposed a novel four-focal-square microlens and light field system.
To address these issues, we proposed a novel four-focal-square microlens and light field system.
Meta Orion AR Glasses: Optical Architecture Deep Dive
(reddit.com)
Here is the very first deep analysis of the optical architecture of Meta's new AR glasses prototype. Written by Axel Wong and published here with his permission - in English for the first time.
Here is the very first deep analysis of the optical architecture of Meta's new AR glasses prototype. Written by Axel Wong and published here with his permission - in English for the first time.