New papers on Optics & photonics
115 new papers on optics & photonics in the last 7 days, within Physics. These are the 50 Pipette rates most worth reading, with the main result in the authors' own words.
The best of the week
Lu+ optical frequency references with accuracy verified at the 19th digit
Here we report two 176Lu+ single-ion optical frequency references, each with evaluated fractional frequency uncertainty near 1 × 10−19, which are directly compared by correlation spectroscopy and demonstrate agreement, with a measured relative frequency difference of [−0.1 ± (5.7)stat ± (1.0)sys] × 10−19, where ‘stat’ and ‘sys’ indicate the statistical and systematic uncertainty, respectively.
Peer-reviewed journalClaims a big stepMeta-Optics-Based Diffractive Learning Machine for Angle-Multiplexed Multi-Task Processing
Here, we experimentally demonstrate a large-scale metasurface-based diffractive learning machine for angle-multiplexed multi-task processing.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useUltrasensitive chiral detection by nonlinear chiroptics in spiral plasmonic metastructures surpasses linear limits
This work introduces a breakthrough in ultrasensitive chiral detection by combining nonlinear optics and tailored chiral plasmonics.
Peer-reviewed journalBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useMomentum-Space Planar Optics for Long-Range Spin Hamiltonians
These results establish momentum-space planar optics as a compact physical computing primitive for global-interaction problems in statistical physics and optimization.
PreprintA native signed incoherent photonic matrix core on thin-film lithium niobate supporting in situ backpropagation
Here we present a signed incoherent optical matrix multiplier on thin-film lithium niobate that natively supports signed inputs and weights.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useSingle-fiber hyperspectral imaging via nanophotonic disordered dispersion
Here, we demonstrate single-fiber hyperspectral imaging via nanophotonic disordered dispersion.
Peer-reviewed journalReal-world useSelf-organized optofluidic locking enables stable single-frequency lasing in dynamic liquid media
Here, we demonstrate that nonequilibrium fluid fluctuations can instead be harnessed to stabilize lasing through optofluidic locking.
Peer-reviewed journalReal-world useResonant multi-harmonic acousto-optics for programmable frequency control of visible light in a CMOS platform
By piezoelectrically controlling the two mechanical amplitudes and their relative phase, we demonstrate 50% conversion to one sideband (1.5x the single-tone theoretical maximum), a flat seven-line comb, and a frequency shift with 60 dB carrier and 53 dB image suppression - to our knowledge the highest reported for an integrated modulator.
PreprintReal-world useUltralow-power, high-speed programmable Si photonic circuits with InGaAsP membrane
Here, we present a programmable photonic circuit based on InGaAsP/Si hybrid metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) phase shifters that combines ultralow power consumption, high-speed operation, high modulation efficiency, low optical loss and negligible thermal crosstalk.
PreprintReal-world usePhotonic half-semimetals with dual semimetal-insulator topology
Here, we theoretically demonstrate and experimentally realize time-reversal-invariant spin-valley photonic half-semimetals (HSMs), which exhibit a dual semimetal-insulator topology within a single bulk band structure.
PreprintClaims a big stepBoundary singular scattering enables coherent perfect absorption and lasing without resonators
Here, we show that they can emerge solely from an interface, eliminating the need for any resonant body.
PreprintClaims a big stepHigh-Q Magneto-Optical Microdisk Resonators Based on Monocrystalline Bismuth-substituted Yttrium Iron Garnets
Here we demonstrate high-Q, small-mode-volume MO microdisk resonators based on monocrystalline Bi-substituted YIG (Bi:YIG).
PreprintReal-world useKirigami-actuated reconfigurable topological photonic crystals
Here we introduce a kirigami-actuated reconfigurable topological photonic crystal in which a single in-plane rotation reshapes the unit cell, drives a bandgap closure and reopening, and thereby relocates the Wannier center and switches the associated Zak phase—the topological invariant that determines whether boundary states appear.
Peer-reviewed journalProgrammable and scalable on-chip WDM processing platform enabled by cascaded FSR-free resonators
Here, we transcend this limit with a scalable integrated WDM processing platform based on cascaded dual-sided coupled Fabry-P\'erot add-drop resonators.
Preprint with a published versionBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useTopological Edge States Enable Step-like Power Transfer for Robust Arbitrary-Ratio Power Splitting
Here we show that the topological edge states of a finite Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain, realized with only four identical waveguides, form an arbitrary-ratio power splitter whose ratio is robust to both the device length and fabrication errors.
PreprintReal-world useHypervectors from Optical Disorder: Programmable Encoding and Optical Inference for Hyperdimensional Computing
Here, we address this tradeoff by physically embodying the randomness required for HV generation in the static disorder of a scattering medium.
PreprintVacuum ultraviolet dual-comb spectroscopy
Here, we demonstrate dual-comb spectroscopy in the vacuum ultraviolet utilizing intracavity high harmonic generation.
Peer-reviewed journalClaims a big stepZero-forward Kerker scattering via synthesized complex-frequency excitation
Here, we show, both theoretically and experimentally, how zero-forward Kerker scattering can be effectively synthesized by a weighted superposition of readily accessible real-frequency responses.
PreprintReal-world useLabel-Efficient Generative Inverse Design and Design-Rule Discovery in Freeform Topological Photonics
Our results establish surrogate-guided diffusion as a label-efficient route to freeform topological-photonic design, and as a means of extracting design principles where physical intuition and simulation labels are both scarce.
PreprintNon-Polynomial Wave Computation through Recurrent Resonant Scattering
Here we show that recurrent scattering in a resonant cavity provides a distinct regime for structural nonlinearity.
PreprintPathway to optical-cycle dynamic photonics: extreme electron temperatures in transparent conducting oxides
We theoretically demonstrate that transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) exhibit oscillatory and sign-reversing dynamic modulation in transmittance on the order of a few optical cycles under extreme electron temperatures, providing a possible explanation for TCO dynamics observed in earlier experiments.
Peer-reviewed journalBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepAll-Optical Control over Nonlocality for Ultrafast Image Processing with an Excitonic Metasurface
Here, we demonstrate optically tunable edge detection at ultrafast speeds by integrating a dielectric nonlocal metasurface with multilayer WS2, whose strong exciton-driven optical response enables dynamic control of the metasurface nonlocality at sub-ps speeds.
PreprintReal-world useObservation of symmetry breaking in time-varying scattering systems
Here we demonstrate a universal symmetry-breaking transition in a periodically driven finite scattering system.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepAdaptive Solitons
Here we discover a new nonlinear optical effect, frequency-comb-induced stimulated Brillouin scattering resonance, which can only be excited by a new type of soliton, adaptive solitons.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useProgrammable photonic unitary processor enables parameterized differentiable long-haul spatial division multiplexed transmission
A programmable photonic unitary processor for compensating modal dispersion allows long-haul (1,300 km) high-quality data transmission over a three-mode fibre.
Peer-reviewed journalBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useMagnetic Lifting of BIC Symmetry Protection Enables Nonreciprocal Beam Steering and Angular Information Encoding
Here, we demonstrate that magnetically lifting their protecting symmetry enables nonreciprocal beam steering with intrinsic angular information encoding.
PreprintReal-world useCryogenic thermo-optic response of low-loss phase change material for non-volatile photonic phase shifter
Here, we report the first cryogenic optical characterization of integrated on a foundry silicon photonic platform from 4K to 300K for both crystalline and amorphous states.
PreprintReal-world usePhotonics-GCCE: group collaborative-competitive evolution multi-agent framework for universal and autonomous optical design
Our results demonstrate Photonics-GCCE as a general-purpose and closed-loop framework for autonomous optical design, capable of producing high-performance, fabrication-ready devices across diverse nanophotonic tasks.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyFundamental Bounds on the Polarizability of Macroscopic Scatterers
This work connects the electromagnetic field description via an integral equation with a dual formulation of quadratic programming to derive fundamental bounds on components of all four polarizability tensors or on their specific combinations.
PreprintAll-optical spin-selective control and shaping of frequency conversion pathways
Here we reveal that this interplay can also be exploited as a programmable mechanism for selecting and shaping nonlinear frequency-conversion pathways.
PreprintElectro-optic modulation of coherent and incoherent mid-IR radiation in two-dimensional arrays
Here, we present an electrically addressable metasurface for modulation of coherent and incoherent mid-IR radiation in two spatial dimensions.
Peer-reviewed journalReal-world useAll-optical control of nonlinear emission from resonant metasurfaces
Here, we introduce an ultrathin metasurface platform that enables dynamic reconfiguration of nonlinear functionality in a contactless fashion.
Peer-reviewed journalBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useSpectral Lock-in Detection for High-Sensitivity Spectroscopy
Here, we introduce spectral lock-in detection, a versatile framework that extends lock-in noise rejection independently to every resolved component of a broadband spectrum.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyA 75-mL intrinsically stable atom-filtered laser enabling deployable quantum devices
Herein, we demonstrate a micro Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter ({\mu}FADOF) operating within the extreme hyperfine Paschen-Back regime, generating a 7.5 GHz flat-top transmission window.
PreprintReal-world useEnd-to-end design for full-color and large field-of-view computational holographic displays
Joint optimization of the hologram, eyepiece optics, and component positions across polychromatic wavelengths and multiple depth channels corrects chromatic dispersion, optical aberrations, and geometric distortions while incorporating eyebox deployment, depth representation, and hologram bandwidth, enabling apochromatic and high-performance holographic displays.
Peer-reviewed journalReal-world useSustained Orbital Motion Driven by Circularly Polarized Light in Nanoscale Stator-Rotor Architectures
Here, we demonstrate via simulations a nanoscale stator-rotor architecture, which achieves persistent orbital motion of a spherical rotor under circularly polarized plane-wave illumination.
PreprintTunable hyperbolic metamaterials for brightening single-photon emission
These results establish the radiative Purcell factor as a more reliable figure of merit than the conventional Purcell factor for engineering quantum emitters, and provide a practical route toward actively tunable, bright single-photon sources based on hyperbolic metamaterials.
PreprintReal-world useTransient chaos in the self-organization of dissipative optical solitons
Here, we experimentally demonstrate transient chaos during the self-organization of dissipative optical solitons in a mode-locked fiber laser.
Peer-reviewed journalNon-Hermitian photonic time quasicrystal
Our results establish that a global integer of quasiperiodic operator theory can govern a tunable, quantized growth response in a non-Hermitian photonic time quasicrystal.
PreprintNon-Hermitian multimode interferometry
By revealing how exceptional-point-assisted interference reshapes the canonical geometries, our findings transfer central paradigms of non-Hermitian spectroscopy into the interferometric setting, and establish exceptional-point interferometry as a new platform-independent paradigm for general-purpose precision sensing, applicable from on-chip photonics to macroscopic observatories.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyBroadband Single-Particle Absorption Circular Dichroism Reveals Chiroptical Heterogeneity in Gold Helicoids
These results establish broadband single-particle absorption CD spectroscopy as a direct probe of absorptive chiroptical heterogeneity and reveal particle-specific responses obscured by ensemble averaging.
PreprintGlobal Framework for Dynamics and Criticality of Bound States in the Continuum
Here we develop a global symmetry-equivariant theory for the dynamics of nondegenerate and degenerate BICs.
PreprintRTLViT: real-time lensless reconstruction with a lightweight vision transformer
We introduce the Real-Time Lensless Vision Transformer (RTLViT), a lightweight, purely data-driven reconstruction architecture for high-quality and real-time lensless reconstruction.
PreprintReal-world useHigh-power visible laser via injection locking to a photonic integrated circuit optical parametric oscillator
Here we demonstrate optical injection locking of a commercially available visible Fabry-P\'erot (FP) laser diode to a PIC OPO, realizing a hybrid laser that combines the complementary strengths of nonlinear frequency conversion with those of semiconductor laser technologies.
PreprintReal-world useRecord-high efficiency in 1.54 µm electroluminescent diodes based on lead-free Cs3CrBr6: Er3+ semiconductor nanocrystals
The corresponding electroluminescent device attains a peak external quantum efficiency of 3.26%, among the highest values reported for solution-processed, Er3+-based near-infrared light-emitting diodes.
Peer-reviewed journalReal-world useStructured detection beyond spatial imaging
Here, we show that the mathematical principles underlying structured detection are not intrinsically spatial and therefore structured detection may be used for imaging distributions in other physical domains, such as time, frequency, and velocity space.
PreprintTopological memory of nonreciprocal scattering singularities
Here, we experimentally demonstrate topological memory emerging from hysteresis-driven dynamics in a nonreciprocal microwave scattering system.
Peer-reviewed journalBold claims, read criticallyRubidium referenced Kerr comb with cavity phase matching
With the access of CPM condition in a monolithic high-Q fiber Fabry-P\'erot resonator featuring a macroscopic cavity length, we achieve low noise Kerr comb generation around 800 nm, within the power budget of a single-mode laser diode.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useDual-layer large-numerical-aperture metalenses with rotational zoom capability
Both simulations and experiments confirm that continuous focal-length tuning is achieved as the rotation angle varies from -60deg to 60deg, corresponding to a focal-length range of 100 to 300 mm and a zoom ratio of 3:1.
Preprint with a published versionTorchFDTD: GPU-accelerated finite-difference time-domain simulation with discrete adjoints and host-streamed execution for photonic inverse design
The time-domain adjoint of a device with tens of millions of cells thus becomes available on a single workstation GPU.
PreprintCode available