1749-4885
Editorial
Laser fusion on the horizon -p267
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.106
Full Text- Laser fusion on the horizon | PDF (286 KB)- Laser fusion on the horizon
Research Highlights
- Materials: Topological electrodes
- X-rays: Orbital angular momentum
- Plasmonics: Laser-written conductors
- Quantum dots: Superior single photons
- Optoelectronics: Double-layer graphene boost
- Biophotonics: Glucose detection
- Interferometry: Overcoming Coriolis
- Spectroscopy: Near-field effects
- Quantum optics: Multimode frequency combs
- Microfluidics: High-speed cell sorter
News and Views
Metal–organic microcavities: Keep it coherent -pp271 - 272
Michiel Wouters
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.85
Full Text- Metal–organic microcavitiesKeep it coherent | PDF (351 KB)- Metal–organic microcavitiesKeep it coherent
See also: Article by Brückner et al.
Photovoltaics: Separating multiple excitons -pp272 - 273
Arthur J. Nozik
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.78
Full Text- PhotovoltaicsSeparating multiple excitons | PDF (295 KB)- PhotovoltaicsSeparating multiple excitons
See also: Article by Trinh et al.
Laser fusion: Seeking symmetry -p274
Oliver Graydon
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.80
Full Text- Laser fusionSeeking symmetry | PDF (329 KB)- Laser fusionSeeking symmetry
Nonlinear photonics: Compressing light and sound -pp274 - 276
Yoshitomo Okawachi & Alexander L. Gaeta
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.103
Full Text- Nonlinear photonicsCompressing light and sound | PDF (657 KB)- Nonlinear photonicsCompressing light and sound
Business news: Huawei expands its European research network -p276
Nadya Anscombe
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.79
Full Text- Business newsHuawei expands its European research network | PDF (178 KB)- Business newsHuawei expands its European research network
Middle East: Science in the sand -pp277 - 278
Noriaki Horiuchi
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.101
Full Text- Middle EastScience in the sand | PDF (431 KB)- Middle EastScience in the sand
Solar cells: Folding photons -pp278 - 280
Brian A. Gregg & Jao van de Lagemaat
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.84
Full Text- Solar cellsFolding photons | PDF (689 KB)- Solar cellsFolding photons
See also: Article by Kim et al.
Compact X-ray sources: X-rays from self-reflection -pp280 - 281
Stuart P. D. Mangles
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.86
Full Text- Compact X-ray sourcesX-rays from self-reflection | PDF (376 KB)- Compact X-ray sourcesX-rays from self-reflection
See also: Letter with Ta Phuoc et al.
View from... JSAP Spring Meeting 2012: Photonics news from Japan-pp281 - 282
Noriaki Horiuchi
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.102
Full Text- View from... JSAP Spring Meeting 2012Photonics news from Japan | PDF (168 KB)- View from... JSAP Spring Meeting 2012Photonics news from Japan
Review
Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media -pp283 - 292
Allard P. Mosk, Ad Lagendijk, Geoffroy Lerosey & Mathias Fink
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.88
Abstract- Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media | Full Text- Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media | PDF (2,659 KB)- Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media
Subject terms: Imaging and sensing | Fundamental optical physics
Letters
Observing the localization of light in space and time by ultrafast second-harmonic microscopy -pp293 - 298
Manfred Mascheck, Slawa Schmidt, Martin Silies, Takashi Yatsui, Kokoro Kitamura, Motoichi Ohtsu, David Leipold, Erich Runge & Christoph Lienau
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.69
By combining high-resolution nonlinear optical microscopy with few-cycle time resolution, scientists show that they are able to probe the spatiotemporal localization of light waves in random dielectric nanostructures. The findings will aid the study of light localization dynamics in a variety of passive and active random media.
Abstract- Observing the localization of light in space and time by ultrafast second-harmonic microscopy | Full Text- Observing the localization of light in space and time by ultrafast second-harmonic microscopy | PDF (4,450 KB)- Observing the localization of light in space and time by ultrafast second-harmonic microscopy | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Nonlinear optics | Ultrafast photonics | Nanophotonics
Electrically driven single-photon source at room temperature in diamond -pp299 - 303
N. Mizuochi, T. Makino, H. Kato, D. Takeuchi, M. Ogura, H. Okushi, M. Nothaft, P. Neumann, A. Gali, F. Jelezko, J. Wrachtrup & S. Yamasaki
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.75
Researchers demonstrate single-photon generation by electrical excitation from a single neutral nitrogen–vacancy centre in a p–i–n diamond diode. The photon generation rate at room temperature was 4 × 104 photons s−1 for an injection current of 14 mA. The researchers also investigated the carrier recombination dynamics of the device.
Abstract- Electrically driven single-photon source at room temperature in diamond | Full Text- Electrically driven single-photon source at room temperature in diamond | PDF (1,161 KB)- Electrically driven single-photon source at room temperature in diamond | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Lasers, LEDs and light sources | Quantum optics | Optoelectronic devices and components
Giant half-cycle attosecond pulses -pp304 - 307
H.-C. Wu & J. Meyer-ter-Vehn
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.76
Scientists show that irradiating a double-foil target with intense few-cycle laser pulses can produce single half-cycle 50 as pulses with peak electric fields as high as 1013 V m−1 and pulse energies of up to 0.1 mJ. The findings may stimulate new types of attosecond pump–probe experiments.
Abstract- Giant half-cycle attosecond pulses | Full Text- Giant half-cycle attosecond pulses | PDF (383 KB)- Giant half-cycle attosecond pulses | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Lasers, LEDs and light sources | Ultrafast photonics
All-optical Compton gamma-ray source -pp308 - 311
K. Ta Phuoc, S. Corde, C. Thaury, V. Malka, A. Tafzi, J. P. Goddet, R. C. Shah, S. Sebban & A. Rousse
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.82
Scientists demonstrate a Compton-based electromagnetic source based on a laser-plasma accelerator and a plasma mirror. The source generates a broadband spectrum of X-rays and is 10,000 times brighter than Compton X-ray sources based on conventional accelerators.
Abstract- All-optical Compton gamma-ray source | Full Text- All-optical Compton gamma-ray source | PDF (587 KB)- All-optical Compton gamma-ray source | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Lasers, LEDs and light sources | X-rays
See also: News and Views with Mangles | Interview qith Kim Ta Phuoc
Structured illumination microscopy using unknown speckle patterns-pp312 - 315
E. Mudry, K. Belkebir, J. Girard, J. Savatier, E. Le Moal, C. Nicoletti, M. Allain & A. Sentenac
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.83
By illuminating a sample with several uncontrolled random speckles and implementing a blind structured illumination microscopy algorithm, researchers demonstrate that image reconstruction can be achieved without knowing the original illumination pattern, at a resolution two times better than that of conventional wide-field microscopy.
Abstract- Structured illumination microscopy using unknown speckle patterns | Full Text- Structured illumination microscopy using unknown speckle patterns | PDF (2,170 KB)- Structured illumination microscopy using unknown speckle patterns | Supplementary information
Subject term: Imaging and sensing
Articles
Direct generation of multiple excitons in adjacent silicon nanocrystals revealed by induced absorption -pp316 - 321
M. Tuan Trinh, Rens Limpens, Wieteke D. A. M. de Boer, Juleon M. Schins, Laurens D. A. Siebbeles & Tom Gregorkiewicz
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.36
Using a photoluminescence-based carrier multiplication mechanism recently proposed for closely spaced silicon nanocrystals in SiO2, scientists demonstrate that adjacent nanocrystals are excited directly upon absorption of a single high-energy photon. They also demonstrate efficient carrier multiplication with an onset close to the energy conservation threshold of twice the bandgap energy.
Abstract- Direct generation of multiple excitons in adjacent silicon nanocrystals revealed by induced absorption | Full Text- Direct generation of multiple excitons in adjacent silicon nanocrystals revealed by induced absorption | PDF (302 KB)- Direct generation of multiple excitons in adjacent silicon nanocrystals revealed by induced absorption | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Solar energy and photovoltaic technology | Novel materials and engineered structures | Nanophotonics
See also: News and Views by Nozik
Phase-locked coherent modes in a patterned metal–organic microcavity -pp322 - 326
R. Brückner, A. A. Zakhidov, R. Scholz, M. Sudzius, S. I. Hintschich, H. Fröb, V. G. Lyssenko & K. Leo
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.49
By placing a thin silver grating inside a microcavity comprised of an organic semiconductor and two dielectric mirrors, researchers show that coherent emission can be selectively stimulated between in- and out-of-phase-locked arrays at room temperature. This work demonstrates that incorporating a lossy metal into a cavity does not suppress lasing.
Abstract- Phase-locked coherent modes in a patterned metal-organic microcavity | Full Text- Phase-locked coherent modes in a patterned metal–organic microcavity | PDF (1,726 KB)- Phase-locked coherent modes in a patterned metal–organic microcavity | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Fundamental optical physics | Plasmonics | Novel materials and engineered structures
See also: News and Views by Wouters
Wrinkles and deep folds as photonic structures in photovoltaics -pp327 - 332
Jong Bok Kim, Pilnam Kim, Nicolas C. Pégard, Soong Ju Oh, Cherie R. Kagan, Jason W. Fleischer, Howard A. Stone & Yueh-Lin Loo
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.70
Researchers demonstrate that wrinkles and folds on polymer surfaces can improve the light-harvesting capabilities of solar cells, increasing external quantum efficiencies by up to 600% in the near-infrared. This fabrication method, which employs elastic instabilities of thin, layered materials, may be economical for patterning photonic structures over large areas.
Abstract- Wrinkles and deep folds as photonic structures in photovoltaics | Full Text- Wrinkles and deep folds as photonic structures in photovoltaics | PDF (1,619 KB)- Wrinkles and deep folds as photonic structures in photovoltaics | Supplementary information
Subject terms: Solar energy and photovoltaic technology | Novel materials and engineered structures | Nanophotonics
See also: News and Views by Gregg & van de Lagemaat
Interview
Energy shifting -p334
Interview with Kim Ta Phuoc
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.89
Full Text- Energy shifting | PDF (171 KB)