Photonics and LED Lighting News

New method for 3D quantitative phase imaging eliminates need for digital phase recovery algorithms

A study from the University of California, Los Angeles, published in Advanced Photonics introduces a cutting-edge approach to 3D Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) using a wavelength-multiplexed diffractive optical processor.

Posted on 26 July 2024 | 2:34 pm

Novel tunable ultrasonic liquid crystal light diffuser paves the way for next-gen indoor lighting

It is no mystery that light is essential to human life. Since the discovery of fire, humans have developed various artificial light sources, such as incandescent lamps, gaslights, discharge lamps, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The distribution and intensity of artificial lights indoors are important factors that affect our ability to study and work effectively and influence our physical and mental health.

Posted on 26 July 2024 | 2:31 pm

A step closer to optical computers: Researchers develop an all-optical universal gate

A research team from Skoltech and Bergische Universität Wuppertal in Germany has created a universal NOR logical element (from NOT—a negation operator and OR—a disjunction operator).

Posted on 25 July 2024 | 3:57 pm

Nonreciprocal interactions go nonlinear: Non-Hermitian dynamics observed in coupled nanoparticles

Using two optically-trapped glass nanoparticles, researchers observed a novel collective Non-Hermitian and non-linear dynamic driven by non-reciprocal interactions. This contribution expands traditional optical levitation with tweezer arrays by incorporating non-conservative interactions.

Posted on 25 July 2024 | 2:53 pm

Save your data on printable magnetic devices? New laser technique's twist might make this reality

The proliferation of all things digital doesn't mean that printing technology is no longer relevant. In fact, printing technology is required to make the semiconductors necessary for the digital world. And as an Osaka Metropolitan University-led team has shown using a new printing technique, printable magnetic devices for high-density data storage might soon be realized.

Posted on 25 July 2024 | 1:26 pm

Combining trapped atoms and photonics for new quantum devices

Quantum information systems offer faster, more powerful computing methods than standard computers to help solve many of the world's toughest problems. Yet fulfilling this ultimate promise will require bigger and more interconnected quantum computers than scientists have yet built. Scaling quantum systems up to larger sizes, and connecting multiple systems, has proved challenging.

Posted on 23 July 2024 | 9:37 pm

Near-infrared photobiomodulation technique targets brain inflammation

As the world grapples with an aging population, the rise in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is becoming a significant challenge. These conditions place a heavy burden not only on those afflicted but also on their families and society at large. Traditional treatments, including drug therapy and surgery, often come with side effects and high costs, and more critically, they fail to halt the progression of neuronal degeneration or prevent the death of neurons in patients.

Posted on 23 July 2024 | 9:15 pm

New work sheds light on nonlinear encoding in diffractive optical processors based on linear materials

UCLA researchers have conducted an in-depth analysis of nonlinear information encoding strategies for diffractive optical processors, offering new insights into their performance and utility. Their study, published in Light: Science & Applications, compared simpler-to-implement nonlinear encoding strategies that involve phase encoding with the performance of data repetition-based nonlinear information encoding methods, shedding light on their advantages and limitations in the optical processing of visual information.

Posted on 23 July 2024 | 8:18 pm

Machine learning method uses nonlinear optics and structured light to expand information network accuracy and capacity

Structured light can significantly enhance information capacity, due to its coupling of spatial dimensions and multiple degrees of freedom. In recent years, the combination of structured light patterns with image processing and machine intelligence has shown vigorous development potential in fields such as communication and detection.

Posted on 23 July 2024 | 5:20 pm

Sensing ultraviolet light with the help of molecular switches

The old saying "the dose makes the poison" also holds true for ultraviolet (UV) light. While UV light is essential for vitamin D production, it is also important in phototherapy, several industrial processes, and plant growth. It also has harmful effects such as premature skin aging and cancer.

Posted on 22 July 2024 | 6:16 pm

AI-powered optical detection to thwart counterfeit chips

The semiconductor industry has grown into a $500 billion global market over the last 60 years. However, it is grappling with dual challenges: a profound shortage of new chips and a surge of counterfeit chips, introducing substantial risks of malfunction and unwanted surveillance. In particular, the latter inadvertently gives rise to a $75 billion counterfeit chip market that jeopardizes safety and security across multiple sectors dependent on semiconductor technologies, such as aviation, communications, quantum, artificial intelligence, and personal finance.

Posted on 20 July 2024 | 7:50 am

New tractor beam technology could one day minimize biopsy trauma

Researchers at TMOS, the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, have taken an important first step in the development of metasurface-enabled tractor beams—rays of light that can pull particles toward it, a concept that fictional tractor beams featured in science fiction are based on.

Posted on 19 July 2024 | 2:27 pm

With Cree’s parent going all in on the AI business, how does Cree fit?

A name change is coming at owner SGH to reflect the computing emphasis. SK Telecom invests $200 million for AI development, soon after SGH boss says LED industry will likely consolidate. Is Cree in or out?

Posted on 18 July 2024 | 9:17 pm

High-speed camera for molecules: Entangled photons enable Raman spectroscopy

In recent years, two cutting-edge technologies have rapidly gained momentum: quantum entangled light sources and ultrafast stimulated Raman spectroscopy.

Posted on 17 July 2024 | 4:38 pm

Small steps for electrons—big steps for the future? Ultrafast microscope reveals electron pathways in solar cells

In the search for more efficient and sustainable energy generation methods, a class of materials called metal halide perovskites have shown great promise. In the few years since their discovery, novel solar cells based on these materials have already achieved efficiencies comparable to commercial silicon solar cells.

Posted on 17 July 2024 | 3:06 pm

STANDARDS | Market transformation and standards groups ally to evolve guidance for energy-efficient lighting products

DLC program director LIESEL WHITNEY-SCHULTE condenses the core industry initiatives in which the DLC participates to inform standards development and product assessment criteria.

Posted on 17 July 2024 | 12:56 pm

PROJECT | Workhorse pendants balance ambience and task illumination in hospitality venue

High-bay lighting from Luminis contributes to a unique restaurant aesthetic in Earl Giles Distillery production space.

Posted on 16 July 2024 | 7:53 pm

Quantum microscopy study makes electrons visible in slow motion

Physicists at the University of Stuttgart under the leadership of Prof. Sebastian Loth are developing quantum microscopy which enables them for the first time to record the movement of electrons at the atomic level with both extremely high spatial and temporal resolution.

Posted on 16 July 2024 | 1:26 pm

Silicon photonics light the way toward large-scale applications in quantum information

In a significant leap forward for quantum technology, researchers have achieved a milestone in harnessing the frequency dimension within integrated photonics. This breakthrough not only promises advancements in quantum computing, but also lays the groundwork for ultra-secure communications networks.

Posted on 15 July 2024 | 8:25 pm

New U.K. government must continue to fund study of LED headlight glare, says motoring group

RAC secured a commitment from the Conservative Party. With Labour now in power, there’s no guarantee the research will continue.

Posted on 15 July 2024 | 6:11 pm

Neural networks made of light can make machine learning more sustainable

Scientists propose a new way of implementing a neural network with an optical system which could make machine learning more sustainable in the future. The researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light have published their new method in Nature Physics, demonstrating a method that is much simpler than previous approaches.

Posted on 12 July 2024 | 1:44 pm

Securely propagating entanglement at the push of a button

Entanglement, Einstein's "spooky action at a distance," today is THE tool of quantum information science. It is the essential resource for quantum computers and used to transmit quantum information in a future quantum network. But it is highly sensitive. It is therefore an enormous challenge to entangle resting quantum bits (qubits) with flying qubits in the form of photons "at the push of a button."

Posted on 12 July 2024 | 12:41 pm

CEO of Cree’s parent: LED industry will consolidate

Will owner SGH sell the venerable chip maker? Or is it looking to buy?

Posted on 11 July 2024 | 5:36 pm

Researchers demonstrate anomalous Brewster effect in metamaterials

The Brewster reflectionless effect stands out as one of the simplest yet pivotal discoveries in manipulating waves. Initial investigations were limited to isotropic materials, but later, thanks to the advent of metamaterials, the phenomenon was found to expand into anisotropic materials.

Posted on 10 July 2024 | 8:00 pm

INTERVIEW | Cree LED CEO says application-specific innovation is key to long-term strategy

Cree LED president JOE CLARK credits manufacturing outsourcing, application-specific advances, and a collaborative R&D facility with bolstering the LED developer through challenges.

Posted on 10 July 2024 | 12:00 pm

Sollum adds real-time growth data to its horticultural lighting system

The Montreal company partners with Pittsburgh’s Leaficient to enhance the SUN as a Service offering.

Posted on 9 July 2024 | 8:06 pm

Study shows polariton condensate can occupy two energy levels to form quantized vortex clusters

In a paper published in the Applied Physics Letters journal, a group of scientists demonstrated that under optical excitation, a polariton condensate can simultaneously occupy two closely spaced energy levels, which results in the formation of quantized vortex clusters. The outcomes of the study are prominent for optical tweezers, increasing the width of the data transmission channel in optical communication lines and other research areas.

Posted on 9 July 2024 | 4:51 pm

Photons from quantum dot emitters violate Bell inequality in new study

A new study in Nature Physics demonstrates a novel method for generating quantum entanglement using a quantum dot, which violates the Bell inequality. This method uses ultra-low power levels and could pave the way for scalable and efficient quantum technologies.

Posted on 9 July 2024 | 12:00 pm

Super-resolution machining of single crystalline sapphire by femtosecond laser-induced, plasma-assisted ablation

A new study in Opto-Electronic Advances discusses super-resolution machining of single crystalline sapphire by GHz burst mode femtosecond laser-induced plasma assisted ablation.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 9:27 pm

The forbidden propagation of hyperbolic phonon polaritons and applications in near-field energy transport

A new publication in Opto-Electronic Science discusses forbidden propagation of hyperbolic phonon polaritons and applications in near-field energy transport.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 9:24 pm

Scientists develop new technique for bespoke optical tweezers

Scientists have developed a new way to trap small particles with light. Building on the Nobel Prize winning technique of optical tweezers (Arthur Ashkin, 2018), a team of physicists, led by Dr. David Phillips at the University of Exeter, has advanced the possibilities of optical trapping.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 8:23 pm

Boosting UV light absorption in 2D semiconductor with quantum dot hybrids for enhanced light emission

A new publication in Opto-Electronic Science discusses boosting UV light absorption in a 2D semiconductor with quantum dot hybrids for enhanced light emission.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 7:55 pm

New technique offers unprecedented control over light at terahertz frequencies

Researchers have developed a novel method for generating structured terahertz light beams using programmable spintronic emitters. This breakthrough offers a significant leap forward in terahertz technology, enabling the generation and manipulation of light with both spin and orbital angular momentum at these frequencies for the first time.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 7:11 pm

Scientists develop efficient and stable hybrid perovskite-organic LEDs with external quantum efficiency exceeding 40%

Tandem LEDs offer an effective way to integrate different light-emitting technologies for better display that meets Rec. 2020 color gamut standard. Now, scientists in China have developed a stable, efficient and high-color purity green LED with a tandem structure by combining perovskite LED and organic LED technologies.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 5:54 pm

Novel design for fast, sensitive high-energy photon detector

Prof. Long Shibing and his team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have proposed a novel strategy for a high-energy photon detector with high sensitivity and response speed by coupling the interface pyroelectric effect with the photoconductive effect based on polycrystal Ga-rich GaOx (PGR-GaOx) Schottky photodiode.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 4:17 pm

Novel time-of-flight-resolved stimulated Raman scattering microscopy enables high-resolution bioimaging

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is an optical vibrational spectroscopic imaging technique and has emerged as an appealing label-free imaging tool for tissue and cell imaging and characterization with high biochemical specificity.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 4:16 pm

New shapes of photons open doors to advanced optical technologies

Researchers from the University of Twente in the Netherlands have gained important insights into photons, the elementary particles that make up light. They 'behave' in an amazingly greater variety than electrons surrounding atoms, while also being much easier to control.

Posted on 8 July 2024 | 2:25 pm

New report: Light near bedtime has little effect on sleep

So say the authors of a new paper that is bound to stir controversy.

Posted on 5 July 2024 | 4:23 pm

Latest outdoor luminaires from Glamox tick multiple eco boxes

Recycled aluminum, reusability, and night sky protection all factor into a rugged new wall-mounted line.

Posted on 3 July 2024 | 3:49 pm

Fagerhult teams with metals company for aluminum recycling

Not all recycling is created equal. A pilot project involving a sprawling Oslo office park yields promising results.

Posted on 28 June 2024 | 12:00 pm

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | Photometric data files must be dependable

The LIA and consultancy 42 Partners Limited reveal some “dirty secrets” regarding photometric data and explain how results can be cleaned up to improve software tools and, in turn, design outcomes.

Posted on 27 June 2024 | 2:24 pm

Signify to suppliers: Get green

The world’s largest lighting provider will be insisting on eco practices when it negotiates with its vendors.

Posted on 26 June 2024 | 3:23 pm

Remembering Maury Wright: More than an editor — A friend

LEDs Magazine editor-in-chief CARRIE MEADOWS shares with great sadness that former editor Maury Wright has passed, and celebrates his memory.

Posted on 25 June 2024 | 6:13 pm

The Lighting Industry Association

Posted on 18 June 2024 | 3:05 pm

Climate group validates Glamox net zero plan

The LED lighting vendor’s plans for greenhouse gas reduction by 2030 and 2045 are solid, say London’s Science Based Targets Initiative.

Posted on 17 June 2024 | 7:21 pm

Helicopter factory avoids upfront LED costs via 10-year service deal

Leonardo UK taps Signify for a decade of “LaaS” including end-of-life provisions. Contracts like this might help Signify spin out of the indoor lighting doldrums, especially in Europe.

Posted on 14 June 2024 | 4:14 pm

BLOG | Fresh drop this summer

LEDs Magazine editor CARRIE MEADOWS shares details on a new podcast launching in June 2024.

Posted on 12 June 2024 | 5:43 pm

ECONOMY | Custom rebates offer alternative path to energy savings

CRAIG DILOUIE makes sense of custom rebates for commercial lighting projects — when to pursue, what to prepare, and how to capitalize on them.

Posted on 12 June 2024 | 4:05 pm

Los Angeles cannabis farm will go all in on LEDs

Indoor grower Clade9 likes the results after installing Fluence fittings in one of five rooms. More to come.

Posted on 10 June 2024 | 3:29 pm

Ams Osram adds a family of horticultural LEDs

The new Osconiq series is more efficient than the existing Oslon lineup. Each will have its advantages, the company says.

Posted on 7 June 2024 | 7:28 pm

DarkSky says light pollution prevention “remains extremely low”

And the state of the night sky is probably worse than measurements indicate, the group notes in its annual assessment.

Posted on 5 June 2024 | 5:14 pm

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | Report says lighting market should capitalize on these trends

BEI marketing agency AMBI recently analyzed client activities and strategies to pinpoint five areas to strengthen business.

Posted on 4 June 2024 | 9:59 pm

Signify lands a climate control partner for vertical farm lighting

The alliance marks the second in the last two weeks between an LED provider and a controlled environment system specialist.

Posted on 3 June 2024 | 4:41 pm

Glamox sales edge up, but spending on digital development hits bottom line

An early Easter and inflation also contributes to a first quarter loss. Efficiencies are coming, such as a new tool for designing ship lighting that’s already in place.

Posted on 29 May 2024 | 10:25 pm

Lighting industry’s net-zero efforts span energy sources, materials, and collaboration

In his second report from the Net Zero Lighting Conference in London, MARK HALPER focuses on value chain relationships.

Posted on 29 May 2024 | 4:02 pm