Photonics

A reliable long-distance and high-speed underwater communication link plays an important role in the undersea exploration and data collection. At present, the most widely used underwater communication method is still dominated by underwater acoustic communication. Although it can reach the transmission distance of several kilometers and more, the data rate …

It is predicted that LEDs will be the ultimate light source in the near future powering indoor illumination, outdoor lamps, traffic signs, advertising displays, car headlights/taillights, etc. Li-Fi, or light fidelity, promises to double the utility of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by using their light as a medium to deliver networked, …

The quantum cascade laser is a special kind of semiconductor laser, usually emitting in the mid- and long-wave infrared bands. Such a laser operates on laser transitions not between different electronic bands but on intersubband transitions of a semiconductor structure.  Their wide tuning range and fast response time allow for faster …

The fiber optic sensors also called as optical fiber sensors use optical fiber or sensing element.  These Sensors can measure a large variety of parameters, such as temperature, pressure, strain, refractive index, vibrations, displacements, bending, loading, and liquid level or concentration of chemical species.   Over the past decade, optical …

Laser attacks targeting pilots and air crews are a major concern across the world with most attacks reported to take place during take-off and landing. According to figures from the US Federal Aviation Authority, there were 6,753 laser illuminations reported in 2017. Until recently, the expense of lasers had limited their use …

The  drones have emerged as a major new threat to civilian infrastructure and military.  The militant organizations have started employing drones to further their terrorism. Jihadi groups fighting the Syrian government – most notably ISIS and Jabhet al-Nusra – are extensively using advanced drones to pinpoint the Syrian Army’s locations, …

Smartphone camera technology is growing in leaps and bounds in the past couple of years and continues to be a major point to differentiate their products. The commercial development of curved image sensors is one of the biggest advance in camera technology in decades, allowing for simpler, flatter lenses with …

Researchers have looked into nature for inspiration, understanding the mechanisms animals, insects and plants use to capture and process light and then designing next generation optoelectronics devices and systems like light-emitting diodes (LEDs), sensors and materials. Biomimicry has led to the development of several naturally inspired structures, such as curved …

Nature provides many examples of optical structures whose properties arise from an intricate morphology. The brilliant colors seen in butterfly wings, beetle carapaces, and peacock feathers, for example, are due in large part to their complex structure, says DARPA. These hierarchical structures, scaling from micron to nanometer level, achieve remarkable …