Top Photonics News: Optical materials science--November 15, 2013

New optical materials, new ways of forming existing optical materials, and materials affected by light in new ways--all are on exhibit this week.

John Wallace

Nov. 15, 2013

New optical materials, new ways of forming existing optical materials, and materials affected by light in new ways--all are on exhibit this week.

Liquid crystal has long been the standard for displays, but there are still new avenues being explored.
New nematic liquid-crystal phase structure characterized

Light from laser pointer makes polymer move back and forth fast! Sounds like a perpetual-motion machine; hopefully it's not, because that would violate the second law of thermodynamics.
Photomechanical 'snap' effects in polymers are triggered by light from laser pointer

Here is a big step toward extremely capable silicon photonics.
CREOL researchers create integrated optical lithium-niobate-on-silicon devices

Less-toxic, easier-to-make thin-film photovoltaics.
Midsummer develops high-efficiency process for cadmium-free CIGS on stainless steel by sputtering

Not an "invisibility cloak," but in some cases and wavelength ranges this IR material could have the same effect.
Natural vanadium-based metamaterial fools IR thermal cameras

This is one way to make freeform optics for LED luminaires in high volumes.
Dow Corning to launch moldable optical silicone technology for LED optics at Strategies in Light Europe 2013

About the Author

John Wallace

Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.