October 2007

Quantum computing applications could benefit from research into single-photon detectors based on semiconductor quantum dots.

Last week's Swiss national elections made history by using a quantum cryptography system to protect the results.

Featuring news from Philips, Toshiba, Corning, II-VI, Michelson Diagnostics, Konarka, Zecotek, StockerYale and others.

The LED maker is planning its next M & A foray after posting record sales and cashing in its Color Kinetics shares.

A laser that focuses infrared light to a spot size of 100 nm or less could enable high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy.

A novel waveguide based on dendrimer polymer materials could yield more powerful terahertz sources as well as small and cheaper devices for optical communications.

Superluminescent diodes combine the advantages of LEDs and laser diodes in a single compact package. Christian Vélez and Chris Armistead detail the factors to consider when purchasing SLEDs and the applications that are already putting the source to good use.

UNESCO's Active Learning in Optics and Photonics project is making the final preparations for its latest workshop to stimulate interest in optics in developing countries. Marie Freebody speaks to Minella Alarcon, programme specialist at UNESCO, to find out more.

The growing use of 3D imaging in medical applications will boost the market for advanced visualization techniques, according to a new report.

Chinese researchers have improved the power efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes by introducing novel n-doping and p-doping layers.

Imaging technology from a Loughborough University spin-out offers a new approach to congestion charging for traffic control.

Flexible OLED applications could benefit from a new partnership between OLED manufacturer Novaled and steel maker ArcleorMittal.

A white organic light-emitting diode that exploits stacked phosphorescent materials maintains the same color output at both high and low luminance values.

Featuring news from Research & Markets, Synova, Aculight, SA Photonics, Osram, IPG Photonics, Rofin and others.

Nanophotonics is set to benefit from a new collaboration between research centers in the UK and Taiwan.

Veteran LED technologist and Lumileds CTO George Craford wins an Economist innovation award, and believes that the company now understands the root cause behind a long-standing problem in high-power InGaN LEDs.

Integrating laser and receiver arrays with silicon waveguides are the key technical challenges as CyOptics and Kotura work towards a terabit-per-second communication platform.

Researchers from Cambridge, UK, have stored the circular polarization of an optical field by transferring it to the spin-state of an individual electron confined in a single semiconductor quantum dot.

Technology based on semiconductor manufacturing allows a German start-up to produce extremely small thermoelectric coolers.

Liquid-lens technologies designed to meet the insatiable demands of the mobile-phone industry are now being deployed in other imaging systems. Philippe Ruffin explains to OLE how Varioptic is adapting its products for an increasing number of uses.

US researchers have found a simpler, cheaper and more reliable way to make metamaterials with a negative index of refraction.

New research is improving the performance of sensors based on fluid-core optical fibers, while also making them easier to fabricate. Tim Hayes reports.

Active-pixel sensor technology has the potential to break the constraints of current scientific imaging, according to new work by a UK-based research collaboration.

Changes in the design and manufacture of laser diodes are seeding fundamental shifts in the way that we think about the cost and reliability of high brightness laser systems. Robert Martinsen of nLight Corporation tells OLE more.

Featuring news from Trumpf, Texas Instruments DLP Products, Philips, Photonex07, Telops, Zygo, OpVista and others.

optics.org learns how a simple self-mode-locking design applied to ceramic lasers could aid other high-power lasers.

Fabricating microlenses directly on to the top of a VCSEL's gain structure creates a versatile single-mode source.

The world's largest digital camera will soon be scanning the sky for asteroids that are on a potential crash course with Earth.

Researchers from Zhejiang University, China, have used a simple and inexpensive method to fabricate a novel deformable micro-mirror.

nLight continues its rapid growth with the acquisition of fiber manufacturer Liekki.

Encapsulating polymer chains in nanopores forces luminescent semiconducting plastics to emit polarized light.

Two-color two-photon absorption has been used to image blood vessels with micrometer resolution, both in vitro and in vivo.

Following CVI Melles Griot's acquisition of CIOL reported on optics.org last week, Marie Freebody speaks to CVI Melles Griot's CEO, Stuart Schoenmann, to find out more.

Glaucoma sufferers could soon benefit from a surgical technique that uses CO₂ lasers.

Featuring news from Saint-Gobain, Alpine Research Optics, Quantel, Spire Corporation, FLIR, Glasgow University, MAZeT, Ocean Optics and others.

Researchers have developed a solar-powered laser that could be used to convert magnesium chloride in the sea into an emission-free fuel.

Delegates attending VISION in November will be some of the first to see the new EURO 800million Trade Fair Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. Can’t wait till then? The official opening is between 19 and 21 October.

The New York company is looking to use high-quality polar and non-polar AlN substrates to boost UV LED performance.

The first commercially available OLED TV could be the first step towards a new generation of ultra-thin screens.

Overcoming silicon's intrinsically poor light emission is a crucial problem that many research groups are tackling. Graham Turnbull and Ifor Samuel describe how their simple hybrid silicon-polymer laser could pave the way towards optical chip-to-chip interconnects.

Overcoming the skills shortage in the photonics industry pushes companies to recruit internationally. Per Stenius, CEO of Liekki Corporation, describes how a smaller high-tech firm approaches this challenge.

The deal will expand II-VI's portfolio of infrared and near-infrared laser optics and components.

optics.org speaks to researchers who are frequency-mixing two CO₂ lasers to create a terahertz source.

CVI Melles Griot continues its spending spree with the acquisition of Coherent's infrared component business.

Two programs aimed at enhancing OCT imaging techniques could revolutionize the diagnosis of cancers and neurological disorders.

Featuring news from Light Blue Optics. CIR, Newport, Lockheed Martin, Prism Solar Technologies, NASA, Northrop Grumman and others.