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Photonics Hot List: January 5, 2024

Jan. 5, 2024

In this episode, we cover an imaging/laser setup that unveils snowflake activity, a lab-on-chip device that rapidly detects disease, and advancements that boost laser accelerators.

Justine Murphy

In this episode of Photonics Hot List...

Understanding that snow serves a greater purpose than just outdoor activities and precipitation, researchers in Utah have developed a device, comprising an IR camera and laser light, that automatically measures the mass and density of snowflakes traveling through atmospheric turbulence.

Researchers in the U.K. can now detect COVID-19 via nasal swab and a lab-on-a-chip genetic testing system in less than three minutes. Made with off-the-shelf components, the compact technology could potentially be adapted to detect other viruses and diseases, including cancer.

Recent advancements have shown it can boost wakefield laser accelerators—researchers in Texas who developed the technology say they’ve already achieved charges that are five times higher than was possible in previous work.

About the Author

Justine Murphy | Multimedia Director, Laser & Military

Justine Murphy is the multimedia director for the Laser & Military Group at Endeavor Business Media. In addition to Laser Focus World, the group includes Military & Aerospace Electronics and Vision Systems Design. She is a multiple award-winning writer and editor with more 20 years of experience in newspaper publishing as well as public relations, marketing, and communications. For nearly 10 years, she has covered all facets of the optics and photonics industry as an editor, writer, web news anchor, and podcast host for an internationally reaching magazine publishing company. Her work has earned accolades from the New England Press Association as well as the SIIA/Jesse H. Neal Awards. She received a B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.