Laser Technology

More ‘pros,’ fewer ‘cons’ The team’s integrated imaging and analytical approach is label-free, meaning no chemical dyes or contrast agents are needed, which in turn reduces potential patient risks. It also offers real-time analysis, expediting assessment during procedures and aiding precise lesion delineation. Enhanced diagnostic accuracy is another advantage of the new system, as is […]

In this second installment of a two-part episode, Dr. Aydogan Ozcan—Chancellor’s Professor in the Samueli Electrical & Computer Engineering school at UCLA, where he also leads the Bio- and Nanophotonics Lab—reflects on some important lessons learned throughout his career that he’s passing on to the next generation of researchers, and we delve into what’s needed

When NLM Photonics’ silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) photonic chips arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard JAXA’s HTV-XI spacecraft on October 29, 2025, it marked a convergence of two critical technology frontiers: An urgent need for power-efficient, high-bandwidth optical communications and sensing for space applications, and the maturation of hybrid organic electro-optic (OEO) technology as

Free-space optical (FSO) communications is transforming the way data travels through space and across the atmosphere. Demand for broadband connectivity is taking off at an explosive rate—from satellite constellations to secure defense links and terrestrial networks—and optical links are increasingly adopted as a solution to transmit more data, faster, and more securely than ever before.

Nearly every global automaker—Mercedes, Toyota, Hyundai, BYD, GM, Ford, and others—are integrating LiDAR into next-generation vehicles. The only notable exception is Tesla, and even their position may eventually change. Front-facing LiDAR will soon be standard on nearly every make and model, while rear and side LiDAR will increasingly appear on mid- to high-end platforms. FMCW’s

In a breakthrough for high-harmonic generation (HHG), a team of researchers led by Professor Miriam Serena Vitiello and her group at CNR-Institute of Nanoscience in Italy demonstrated topological insulators make it possible to reach previously inaccessible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. HHG is a way to convert light into higher frequencies. But accessing terahertz frequencies

Vincenzo Pecunia, an associate professor who leads the Sustainable Optoelectronics Group at Simon Fraser University, answers Laser Focus World’s questions about the effort. Advances in next-gen photodetectors are outpacing the optoelectronics research community’s ability to consistently measure and compare performance—and it makes it extremely challenging for the industry to determine which emerging photodetector technologies are

A collaboration between NTT Research, Cornell University, and Stanford University researchers led to the first programmable nonlinear waveguide that can switch between multiple on-chip nonlinear optical functions—and it’s a gamechanger for the way nonlinear photonic devices work. It essentially blows up the “one device, one function” paradigm. The team’s programmable nonlinear waveguide uses a silicon

This week features a great interview with Dr. Tara Fortier, a project leader in the Time and Frequency Division at NIST, a role in which she oversees cutting-edge research in precision optical and microwave metrology, and laser source development. She’s heavily involved in the scientific community via organizations like the American Physical Society and Optica,

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have diverse applications across a wide range of industries—including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for compact precision sensors, test devices for semiconductor chips, and energy storage solutions such as battery or fuel cell technologies. Notably, MEAs also play a crucial role in various medical applications, such as implantable sensors for cardiac electrophysiology, microneedles for