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    • Volume 55, Issue 01

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    FIGURE 1. The attenuation curve of state-of-the-art, telecommunications-grade silica fiber is contrasted with space-produced ZBLAN and the theoretical ZBLAN attenuation.
    Alternatives to relatively high loss silica optical fibers like ZBLAN have historically been limited by the confines of gravity fed manufacturing processes. However, this could...
    Jan. 2, 2019
    FIGURE 1. Linearity is compared between a traditional source (a) and a TLS source (b); linearity of the traditional source suffers at both the low and high ends of the range.
    LED-based tunable light source (TLS) technology enables modern sensors to be tested with higher precision, accuracy, and speed.
    Jan. 2, 2019
    (Image credit: Sophie Albosh/NPL and the University of York)
    FIGURE 1. In this example of an optical-fiber-based QKD system, the quantum (open) channel is in blue (black). SPD0 and SPD1 are single-photon detectors. Each bit is encoded by a pair of pulses—in phase (antiphase) pulses are separated by nλ ([n+½]λ), where n is an integer and λ is the wavelength of the light, and lead to a detection at SPD0 (SPD1). If Eve tries to measure this separation and resend a copy, she will sometimes change it (see rightmost pair of pulses) and cause a detection in the ‘wrong’ detector.
    Field tests are solving the challenges of counting photons and measuring their quantum states in quantum key distribution (QKD)-based optical transmission networks to insure communicati...
    Jan. 2, 2019
    (Courtesy of FBH)
    FIGURE 1. Shown is the structure of a typical diode laser (a); the inset shows the triple-asymmetric active region where the laser radiation is generated. The active diode structures of even high-power diode lasers are quite small, as revealed by a close-up photo (b).
    R&D at Berlin Adlershof has resulted in design improvements for high-power diode lasers that are boosting efficiency, peak power, brilliance, and range of emission spectra.
    Jan. 2, 2019
    (Courtesy of National Taiwan University)
    FIGURE 1. Refractive-index variation of polyimide-nanocrystalline-TiO2 materials with wavelength is shown, where F-PHI-b, F-bTP10, F-bTP30, and F-bTP50 contain 0 wt%, 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt% TiO2, respectively; the inset shows the variation of RI with increasing titania content for these samples at 633 nm.
    Dispersed nanoparticles provide quantitative and qualitative enhancements to high-refractive-index, antireflective, high-reflection, spectral, and transparent conductive optical...
    Jan. 2, 2019
    FIGURE 1. The Cobolt Skyra multiline laser for flow cytometry (inset) is stable in both output beam power (a) and in pointing stability under temperature excursions (b).
    Single- and multiline lasers with wavelengths across the visible spectrum and beyond allow matching with numerous applications.
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    After enjoying nine years of growth since the Great Recession, the laser industry sees widespread macroeconomic softening, wondering if “what goes up must come down”.
    Jan. 1, 2019
    FIGURE 1. Results from linear and nonlinear deconvolution are shown in these images depicting original objects before image acquisition, observed confocal image through microscope, and following deconvolution (left). The center panel depicts linear deconvolution with a Wiener filter, resulting in ringing artifacts observable in the beads and crossed filaments. Nonlinear deconvolution results (right) improve image quality, but may create data beyond the cut-off spatial frequency. Case 1 results show artifacting in connections between adjacent beads. When deconvolution parameters are carefully adjusted (as depicted in Case 2 column), good results can be achieved.
    A combination of advanced algorithms and improved hardware is driving the popularity of deconvolution for optical confocal microscopy.
    Jan. 1, 2019
    The extracted average phase profile of a laser-written flexible waveguide (a) indicates a refractive-index difference between core and cladding of about 0.06. The researchers obtained waveguide transmissivity by measuring transmission through waveguides of different lengths; experimental transmissivities for different wavelength over a 1 cm length are shown (b) for wavelengths of 600 to 800 nm (light blue), 570 to 613 nm (orange), 582 to 635 nm (red), 650 to 700 nm (brown), and 780 to 820 nm (black).
    Using multphoton laser direct writing, optical waveguides with a loss of only 0.03 dB/cm in the 650 to 700 nm spectral range are written into silicon polymer.
    Jan. 1, 2019
    (Courtesy of Ozcan lab, UCLA)
    A laptop-based deep learning system converts low-resolution fluorescence microscopy images (a) into superresolution images (b) that compare favorably with images produced using high-resolution equipment (c); images on the bottom row depict detail from those on the top row.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) helps transform ordinary optical microscope into superresolution microscopes.
    Jan. 1, 2019
    (Image credit: NRL)
    The all-optical device (inset) routes mid-IR beams in two dimensions within an optical chip that contains a waveguide, liquid crystals, and coupling optics.
    A solid-state, compact on-chip device that incorporates waveguides and liquid-crystal elements can steer mid-infrared light beams without relying on mechanical components.
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    Twisted light with orbital angular momentum (OAM) shows promise in fiber-optic networks; now, it can even be coupled on and off a chip and transmitted through an integrated waveguide...
    Jan. 1, 2019
    (Image credit: DotLens)
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that drinking water should contain
    A small polymer lens turns a smartphone into a powerful detector of lead in drinking water at the parts-per-billion level.
    Jan. 1, 2019
    (Image credit: Hagen Schmidt and Andrew Ceballos)
    A laser-driven electron accelerator chip made up of two parallel rows of nanopillars is shown on the tip of a finger along with an electron microscope image of the chip.
    With straightforward fabrication and the production of highly focused electron beams, the accelerator could, for example, fit in an endoscope.
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    A technique for transferring 2D optoelectronic circuits onto the curved surface of an optical fiber could lead to new types of remote sensors.
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    Researchers demonstrate high-dimensional one-way quantum operations using d-level cluster states in a scalable approach that uses integrated photonic chips and optical fiber-based...
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    A combination of artificial intelligence coupled with the modeling of laser pulses in optical fiber can be used to predict the emergence of rogue waves of light from surrounding...
    Jan. 1, 2019
    A lateral-effect position-sensitive detector (PSD) based on an antimony selenide/silicon (Sb2Se3/p-Si) junction shows a position sensitivity of up to 448 mV/mm for visible/near...
    Jan. 1, 2019
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    By infusing paraffin into a honeycombed graphene substrate and heating it using near-infrared light, liquid droplets can be controlled on the surface, making microfluidic applications...
    Jan. 1, 2019
    (Image credit: Laser Components)
    FIGURE 1. In addition to technical presentations and exhibits, SPIE Photonics West 2019 also offers more than 70 educational courses (that offer continuing education units) and free industry workshops.
    With a sold-out exhibit, largest square-footage exhibition space, highest number of technical presentations, and its biggest industry program ever, SPIE Photonics West’s 25th ...
    Jan. 1, 2019