Optics and Photonics News

Optics Grows in Kenya

The National Institute for Optics and Lasers is working to create a dynamic optics community in the country and throughout the region.

Phonon Lasers get Squeezed

A bright and coherent source of vibrational quanta offers new opportunities for precision metrology.

Record-Breaking Triple-Junction Solar Cells

New perovskite-silicon device reached a record certified power conversion efficiency of 30.02%.

Neural Network Boosts Holographic Storage

New scheme that exploits polarization could shrink data centers.

Underwater Glow 

Under a beam of blue light, a plant inside a fish tank radiates with a vivid neon glow, creating a striking underwater scene filled with color and contrast.   

Phonon Lasers get Squeezed

A bright and coherent source of vibrational quanta offers new opportunities for precision metrology.

Neural Network Boosts Holographic Storage

New scheme that exploits polarization could shrink data centers.

Record-Breaking Triple-Junction Solar Cells

New perovskite-silicon device reached a record certified power conversion efficiency of 30.02%.

Xcimer Takes A Step Toward Commercial Laser Fusion

Experiments at Rochester give the startup new data on target physics that could shape future inertial-fusion power systems. 

Optical-Fiber Sensors Study Soil Health

Technique could offer insight on agricultural practices and sustainability at a finer resolution than remote-sensing methods.

Building the Optics-Professional Pipeline

Kipkemoi Elvis Samuel discusses his work in removing obstacles for students to get an optics education in Kenya.

My Congressional Fellowship: A Career Door-Opener

Eager to work toward solving big societal problems like climate change, Claire Cody left the lab for the world of scientific policy.

Journeys in Optics: Falko Schmidt

Falko Schmidt discusses his career trajectory, cofounding a startup and sustainability in the lab. 

Journeys in Optics: Winnie N. Ye

Winnie Ye talks about overcoming challenges she faced during her career and the importance of diversity, collaboration and mentorship in research.

AI-Generated Podcasts for Science Communication

Researchers found that artificial intelligence could help disseminate scientific studies in a clear, easy-to-understand format.