A new study demonstrates millimeter-scale silicon nitride lightsails with nanoscale thickness, high reflectivity, and measurable motion under intense laser illumination, pointing to a practical testbed for directed-energy propulsion and high-power nanophotonics.
High-Power Laser Moves Ultra-Thin Photonic Crystal Lightsails Through Radiation Pressure Read More »
Researchers report that caustic microlensing in a liquid jet can concentrate light for linear imaging, strengthen surface-sensitive nonlinear effects, and drive gigapascal shocks with microjoule femtosecond pulses, suggesting a compact platform for ultrafast and high-energy-density photonics.
Researchers report a spatiotemporally structured laser pulse that can drive a wake at the vacuum speed of light inside a plasma waveguide, reducing dephasing while preserving a constant spot size and ultrashort duration.
Plasma Waveguide Design Points to Dephasing-Free Laser Wakefield Acceleration Read More »
A new process study describes how optimized ICP-RIE thinning can turn bonded diamond membranes into photonic-grade diamond-on-insulator substrates, while a colorimetry method offers a fast way to estimate thickness from standard microscope images.
A look at recent photonics signals: compact UV dual-comb spectroscopy, design-tool consolidation, and progress in mid-infrared semiconductor lasers.
A metalens-based confocal imaging approach uses color-dependent focusing to reduce mechanical axial scanning and point toward compact 3D optical inspection systems.
Industry Brief: Metalens Confocal Imaging Reduces the Need for Mechanical Axial Scanning Read More »
