photonics

Topic description and stories

Expanding polymer-coated gold nanoparticles

Little ANTs: researchers build the world’s tiniest engine

02 May 2016

Researchers have built a nano-engine that could form the basis for future applications in nano-robotics, including robots small enough to enter...

Rendered schematic of holographic pixels in operation showing switching states, Credit: Calum Williams

Real-time holographic displays one step closer to reality

16 Mar 2015

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have designed a new type of pixel element and demonstrated its unique switching capability, which could...

An efficient route to manufacturing nanomaterials with light through plasmon-induced laser-threading of gold nanoparticle strings

Building ‘invisible’ materials with light

28 Jul 2014

A new technique which uses light like a needle to thread long chains of particles could help bring sci-fi concepts such as cloaking devices one step...

Taking inspiration from nature’s brightest colours

13 Jun 2014

Intensely coloured low-cost films made from cellulose could be used in place of toxic dyes, or to detect counterfeit materials.

Nanotubes used to create smallest ever hologram pixels

21 Sep 2012

A breakthrough in the use of carbon nanotubes as optical projectors has enabled scientists to generate holograms using the smallest ever pixels.

Pictures of inkjet-printed LC laser droplets on to a PVA film.

Researchers develop printable lasers

19 Sep 2012

A way of printing lasers using everyday inkjet technology has been created by scientists. The development has a wide range of possible applications...

Graphene goes plasmonic

30 Aug 2011

Researchers have discovered a crucial recipe for improving the characteristics of graphene devices for use as photodetectors in the next generation...