Optics and Photonics News

2 days ago | optica-opn.org | Meeri Kim

Microplastics—as well as the smaller nanoplastics—are everywhere, including in our food, drinking water and even our bodies. These tiny pieces of plastic are not biodegradable, so they accumulate and persist in the environment. Many microplastics originate from the breakdown of larger plastics, such as plastic bags and bottles and clothing made with synthetic textiles.

3 days ago | optica-opn.org | Yijie Shen |Edwin Cartlidge |Jeff Hecht

Feature Articles Topological Light Waves: Skyrmions Can Fly Harnessing an emerging class of structured waves as counterparts of localized topological quasiparticles could revolutionize information technology. by Yijie Shen Squeezing on a Chip Bulk optics gives us light beyond the quantum limit, but integrated photonics promises an extended reach—from biological imaging to quantum computing.

4 days ago | optica-opn.org | Edwin Cartlidge

Skip To Content Feature Bulk optics gives us light beyond the quantum limit, but integrated photonics promises an extended reach—from biological imaging to quantum computing. The squeezed light source in LIGO’s vacuum chamber. [W.

1 week ago | optica-opn.org | Edwin Cartlidge

Scientists in Sweden have reportedly shown how to amplify laser light at telecom wavelengths over very high bandwidths by exploiting nonlinearities in single-mode spiral-shaped waveguides on a photonic chip (Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-08824-3). They say that their scheme could improve telecommunications and also be applied to medical imaging and material characterization.

2 weeks ago | optica-opn.org | Meeri Kim

Perovskite solar cells represent the fastest-developing photovoltaic technology to date, with a power-conversion efficiency (PCE) that has skyrocketed from 3.8% to 26.7% in the last 15 years. To further boost PCE, tandem architectures have been created that combine a wide-bandgap perovskite top cell with a narrow-bandgap bottom cell. However, light-induced phase segregation—a common occurrence in wide-bandgap perovskite formulations—limits their efficiency and stability.