Articles tagged with "optical-materials"
Why the Giant Magellan Telescope chose the hardest possible way to see the Universe
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama Desert, represents a new generation of extremely large telescopes designed to push the boundaries of astronomical observation. Unlike traditional approaches that focused on simply building bigger telescopes, modern advancements hinge on overcoming complex control challenges such as managing flexible mirror structures and correcting atmospheric distortions at nanometer precision. The GMT, expected to be operational by the early 2030s, is part of an international collaboration involving institutions from the US, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan. It aims to study a broad range of astrophysical phenomena, including habitable exoplanets and the cosmic origins of chemical elements. The GMT features a unique segmented mirror design composed of seven massive mirrors, each 8.4 meters in diameter, combining to provide a total light-collecting area of 368 square meters. This design offers a resolving power approximately ten times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope and four times that of
materialsastronomytelescope-technologyoptical-materialsglass-materialslarge-mirrorsscientific-instrumentsAfter Meta Ray-Ban, Lumus debuts AR glasses with wider, thinner optics
Lumus, an Israeli optics company known for its geometric (reflective) waveguides, unveiled two new augmented reality (AR) waveguides at CES 2026, building on its success supplying optics for the Meta Ray-Ban Display AR glasses in 2025. The new ZOE waveguide offers a wide field of view exceeding 70 degrees, the first geometric waveguide to do so, enabling immersive AR experiences such as spatial entertainment and multi-app productivity while maintaining wearability. Importantly, ZOE achieves this wide field of view using standard optical glass and existing mass-production methods, avoiding exotic materials. In addition to ZOE, Lumus introduced an optimized Z-30 optical engine with a 30-degree field of view that delivers 40% higher brightness and improved image quality, remaining compact and lightweight at 11 grams with daylight-readable displays. Lumus also previewed the next-generation Z-30 2.0 waveguide, which is 40% thinner and 30
augmented-realityAR-glasseswaveguide-technologyoptical-materialssmart-eyeweardisplay-opticswearable-technologyUltrafast squeezed light tames quantum uncertainty in real time
Researchers at the University of Arizona, led by Mohammed Hassan, have achieved the first real-time measurement and control of quantum uncertainty using ultrafast squeezed light pulses. This breakthrough directly observes Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle in action by manipulating “squeezed light,” a quantum state where uncertainty is redistributed between two linked properties of photons—intensity and phase—allowing one property to be measured more precisely at the expense of the other. Unlike previous methods that used millisecond laser pulses, Hassan’s team generated squeezed light with femtosecond (one quadrillionth of a second) pulses via a novel four-wave mixing technique in fused silica, enabling ultrafast quantum optics. The team demonstrated real-time control over quantum uncertainty by adjusting the position of the silica relative to the laser beams, fluctuating between intensity and phase squeezing. This advancement not only opens a new field combining ultrafast lasers and quantum optics but also has practical implications for secure quantum communication. Their method enhances security by making it
quantum-opticsultrafast-laserssqueezed-lightquantum-uncertaintyphotonicsoptical-materialsquantum-communicationPeacock Feathers Are Stunning. They Can Also Emit Laser Beams
A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that peacock feathers, known for their vivid iridescent colors produced by nanostructured photonic crystals, can also emit laser light when repeatedly dyed. Unlike pigments, the feathers’ colors arise from the precise periodic arrangement of melanin rods coated in keratin within the barbules, which act as tunable photonic crystals that selectively reflect certain wavelengths. By staining the feathers multiple times with dye and then exciting them with light pulses, researchers observed laser emissions at two distinct wavelengths across the feathers’ eyespot regions, with green areas producing the strongest laser light. Single staining was insufficient to induce lasing, likely due to limited dye diffusion and structural constraints. Although the exact microstructures responsible for the laser effect remain unidentified, the study suggests that protein granules or other small internal features, rather than the keratin-coated melanin rods themselves, may serve as the laser cavity. This discovery not only advances understanding of natural photonic structures but also holds promise for
materialsphotonic-crystalsbiolasernanostructuresiridescencebiomimicryoptical-materialsPeacocks can shoot lasers from tail feathers, scientists discover
Scientists from Florida Polytechnic University and Youngstown State University have discovered that peacock tail feathers can emit narrow beams of laser light when infused with dye and energized by an external light source. The research revealed that the colored eyespots on the feathers contain tiny reflective structures capable of amplifying light into laser emissions at two distinct frequencies, primarily in the yellow-green spectrum. This phenomenon represents the first known example of a biolaser cavity in the animal kingdom. The feathers required multiple staining cycles with dye before laser emission was observed, and the greatest laser intensity was found in the green color regions of the eyespots. The study involved repeatedly wetting the peacock feathers with dye solutions, drying them, and then stimulating them with pulsed light to measure emissions. While the researchers confirmed the presence of laser light emission, they were unable to pinpoint the exact microstructures responsible for the lasing effect. It is suggested that protein granules or similar small internal structures, rather than the keratin-coated melanin rods, might
materialsbiolaserphotonic-structurespeacock-featherslaser-emissionbiomaterialsoptical-materialsSquid-inspired camo may help US troops vanish from sight and sensors
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, in collaboration with the Marine Biological Laboratory, have uncovered the detailed cellular architecture behind the longfin inshore squid’s ability to rapidly shift its skin from transparent to vividly colored. Using holotomography, a 3-D imaging technique, they visualized the iridophores—specialized cells containing coiled protein columns called reflectin—that act as natural Bragg reflectors to finely control light reflection and scattering. This discovery provides the most detailed explanation yet of how squid achieve dynamic color modulation by twisting and packing these nano-scale reflectin columns. Building on these biological insights, the team engineered a bio-inspired, stretchable composite material that mimics and even extends the squid’s optical capabilities. This flexible film integrates nanocolumnar Bragg reflectors with ultrathin metal layers to enable tunable camouflage across visible and infrared wavelengths. The material dynamically adjusts its appearance in response to mechanical deformation or environmental changes, making it promising for adaptive military camouflage, multispectral
materialsbiomimicrycamouflage-technologynanomaterialsoptical-materialsdefense-technologysmart-materialsNew laser crystals boost quantum tech and cut rare earth reliance
materialslaser-technologyquantum-computingrare-earth-elementsoptical-materialsfiber-opticsenvironmental-monitoring