Photonics/​Optics

UpFront: November 2021 Tech Briefs

How to be a NASA intern; a new ideas for moon fabrics; and NASA's need for a better rover.

New on the Market: November 2021

Power supply ICs, temperature sensors, DC-DC converters, and more.

Nanosheets of Borophane are Stronger Than Steel

The 2D materials boost device performance for electronic devices, solar cells, batteries, and medical equipment.

Laser Jolts Microscopic Electronic Robots into Motion

Incorporating semiconductor components, microscopic robots are made to walk with standard electronic signals.

New Products

Laser-distance sensors, light monitoring, flow meters, and more.

Ultra-High Performance Flexible Ultraviolet Sensors for Use in Wearables

To enable the development of wearable devices that possess advanced ultraviolet (UV) detection functions, scientists have created a new type of light sensor that is both flexible and highly sensitive.

Artificial Intelligence Creates Sharp Images from Blurry Photos

This AI turns even the blurriest photo into realistic computer-generated faces in HD.

Coherent Optical Transistor

Applications include telecommunications, optical switching, and quantum computing.

Photonic Integrated Chip for Improved Light Control

This combination of technologies could enable developments for many optical applications.

3D Motion Tracking System for Autonomous Technology

The system could one day replace LiDAR and cameras in automated manufacturing, biomedical imaging, and autonomous driving.

Using Solar Technology to Power Smart Devices Indoors

An already ubiquitous material in outdoor photovoltaic modules could be repurposed for indoor devices with low-capacity batteries.

Coating Protects Fragile Quantum Electronics

The protective coating works like body armor for the atomically thin materials.

Method Integrates Elements of Electronic Filters onto a Single Component

This component takes up ten times less space on computer chips.

New on the Market: October 2021

Battery-pack test systems, data management, connector clips, and more.

Material Increases Efficiency of LED Devices

The approach achieves near 100% light emission efficiency at all brightness levels.

Optical Coating Exhibits the Same Color in Reflection and Transmission

Fano Resonance Optical Coatings (FROCs) can both transmit and reflect the same color simultaneously.

Glass Injection Molding

The process produces rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly material.

Graphene-Based Photonics Devices for Remote Sensing

Growing large-area graphene on optical substrates enables use in photonics devices.

Radio Signals Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

This method could help firefighters find victims inside buildings and could track hypersonic objects such as missiles and space debris.

New Products

Cross Platform 3D Laser Scanner Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division (North Kingstown, RI) announced its new AS1 Scanner. The modular blue laser line scanner operates with both laser trackers and portable measuring arms...

Tiny Diamond Mirrors Could Smooth Out Already Revolutionary X-Ray Lasers

Twelve years ago, physicists turned on the first x-ray laser, and since then it and several others around the world have proved themselves revolutionary probes of...

Pivotal Discovery of Nanomaterial for LEDs

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are an unsung hero of the lighting industry. They run efficiently, give off little heat, and last for a long time. Now scientists are looking at new materials to make...

Paving the Way to Electrically Pumped Lasers from Colloidal-Quantum-Dots

Scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory recently assessed the status of research into colloidal quantum dot lasers with a focus on prospective electrically...

How to Bake a Cake (with Lasers)

With the help of additive-manufacturing techniques and software-controlled lasers, Blutinger and his colleagues are digitizing the cooking process.

Standard Digital Camera and AI to Monitor Soil Moisture

Researchers are using a standard RGB digital camera to accurately monitor soil moisture.