Optics & Photonics Focus News Updates

Cerenkov Photons: A Cancer Searchlight

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Millions of people fall victim to cancer every year. A great number of these lives could be saved if a simple, inexpensive tool for the early detection of cancer were available. Now, a new technique called 'Cerenkov luminescence tomography', looks likely to offer a ray of hope in that direction.

Updating the Size of the Proton: Small Difference, Big Consequence

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The proton is one of the building blocks of matter and now latest studies suggest it is considerably smaller than previously measured. This is a result that�may well challenge our current understanding of nature.

Abraham vs. Minkowski 1-1

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Does a photon 'gain' or does it 'lose' momentum when it enters a glass slab? 'Both' may be the simple, yet ingenious answer to this centenary dilemma.

When Shape Really Matters

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Particles in the nanoworld have mostly been modeled on unrealistically ideal shapes. A recent research takes advantage of a more complex and realistic model of the complex 3D shape of a nanoparticle.

Brownian Speedcam

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Brownian particles, mind the speedcam! It is now possible to measure the instantaneous speed of a Brownian particle. Not only are these measurements of fundamental importance for statistical physics, they also open up new perspectives for the study of quantum systems.

Cells through X-Rays

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to their ability to see through solid objects, X-rays are one of the most powerful tools of modern medicine. They may soon enable us to see inside a single cell with a stunning resolution of ten nanometers.

In Pursuit of Bacteria: A Cat-and-Mouse Game

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cells in the immune system seem to have a sixth sense for tracking down invasive bacteria. A new technique for manipulating single cells could revolutionize our understanding of their tactics and eventually lead to new strategies for mobilizing our body's defenses against disease.

Fighting the Noise
in Your Communication

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the best-known rules of telecommunication -- 'maximize the signal-to-noise ratio' -- applies equally well to professional communication and can help us greatly improve our oral presentations, written documents, and graphs.

Truly Random Results: You Can Bet on It!

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

True randomness can hardly ever be proved. However, latest experiments on quantum systems deliver truly random results -- guaranteed!

Happy Birthday Laser!

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

May 16, 1960. A day like many others, except, of course, for the fact that on this day the laser was born. A candy store owner, a photographer, and at least four American and two Russian scientists took part in the story that led to this accomplishment. This was a humble event, which could not foreshadow the future success of the newborn laser. This year the world celebrates the 50^th birthday of the laser through an initiative jointly organized by various optics and photonics organizations: the LaserFest. Happy birthday laser!