Optics

Mn⁴⁺-activated fluoride phosphors possess outstanding luminescent properties, making them highly suitable for applications in lighting and display technologies. However, the synthesis of such phosphors generally requires the use of large amounts of highly toxic aqueous HF, leading to serious environmental pollution. To eliminate the use of hazardous HF solution, a low-temperature molten salt method employing NH₄HF₂ was developed to synthesize the narrow-band red emitter Cs₂GeF₆: Mn⁴⁺ phosphor. Following the reaction, the product was washed with a dilute H₂O₂ solution to remove residual NH₄HF₂ and other impurities. The phase purity and morphology were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively, and the luminescence properties were examined via photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The obtained phosphors exhibit bright red emission characteristics of Mn⁴⁺ under blue-violet excitation. Among them, Cs₂GeF₆: 0.08 Mn⁴⁺ shows the highest emission intensity, with an internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 78%. A white light-emitting diode (WLED) fabricated by combining this phosphor with a blue chip and commercial Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺ (YAG) phosphor achieved a high luminous efficacy (LE) of ~146 lm/W, a correlated color temperature (CCT) of ~4396 K, and a color rendering index (Ra) of ~83, alongside excellent operational color stability. Full article

With the rapid advancement of detection technologies, traditional static electromagnetic absorbers increasingly struggle to meet controllable stealth requirements across diverse dynamic environments. To achieve active and controllable modulation of electromagnetic reflection characteristics, this paper proposes a transparent reconfigurable metamaterial absorber based on an origami structure. By adjusting the folding angles of the indium tin oxide (ITO)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, the structure achieves reversible deformation from the vertical state to the horizontal state. This enables continuous modulation of the reflectance from below −10 dB (absorbing state) to nearly 0 dB (reflecting state) within the 4–18.9 GHz frequency range, with a relative bandwidth exceeding 130% and excellent angular stability. The energy loss and current distribution under different states are analyzed, revealing the mechanisms behind broadband absorption and deep modulation. Experimental measurements of the fabricated metamaterial align well with simulation results. Leveraging its flexible structure, reversible modulation capability, and angular stability, this origami-inspired reconfigurable metamaterial demonstrates promising application potential in the fields of adaptive electromagnetic camouflage and stealth protection. Full article

Manipulating complex light fields through highly anisotropic scattering medium (HASM) remains a fundamental challenge due to the intricate underlying physics and broad application potential. We introduce a unified theoretical and experimental framework for generating and controlling arbitrarily polarized curved caustic beams using an extended polarization transfer matrix (EPTM) for the first time, enabling intuitive polarization transformation through HASM. The EPTM is experimentally measured via a four-step phase-shifting technique, and its submatrices are independently modulated with tailored caustic phase profiles. This strategy facilitates the creation of diverse high-resolution caustic beams, including Gaussian and vortex types with tunable energy distribution, polarization states, and vorticity. The achievement of polarization transformation through HASM by our approach offers versatile manipulation over optical field properties such as multiple high-resolution caustic beams, angular momentum flux, and polarization, paving the way for enhanced functionality in advanced optical systems. Full article

In order to further mitigate the channel non-uniformity at the junction between the input slab and the arrayed waveguide grating in traditional AWG structures, we design a highly flexible, structurally adaptive linear auxiliary waveguide. Through systematic parameter scanning utilizing the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, an optimal set of geometric parameters for the auxiliary waveguide is identified. This optimization strategy achieves a significant reduction in loss non-uniformity by 0.5 dB relative to the conventional AWG configuration, culminating in a final non-uniformity of merely 0.253 dB. This improvement underscores the critical role of advanced structural tuning and algorithmic optimization in enhancing the performance of photonic integrated circuits, particularly in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications for next-generation communication systems such as radio-over-fiber (RoF) architecture-based 6G. The method can provide a scalable and efficient pathway toward high-uniformity, AWG designs without introducing additional fabrication complexity or incurring substantial costs. Full article

An efficient method for evaluating the spectral irradiance properties of the white light of white LEDs is conducted. The method includes two main steps. The first step is to build up spectral irradiance modeling for the blue and yellow emission bands. The photometric parameter of the spectral irradiance of white light which is generated by yellow and blue light mixing is determined based on the photometry and colorimetry theories. The correlated color temperature value strongly depends on the power ratios of blue and yellow light. In addition, the result indicates that the emission bandwidth of yellow phosphor is also an important factor for increasing the color performance of output light. The selection of material with a broader bandwidth of yellow light can control a slower variation in color property compared to the case of using a material with a narrower bandwidth. In addition, the blue light hazard ratio of the spectral irradiance of white light can be extracted, which is helpful for designing the white light with moderate blue and yellow power ratios before fabricating the white LEDs product. Full article

This study introduces a new theoretical framework for the ferroelectric phase transition in lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), which explicitly incorporates electrostatic interactions between both first and second nearest-neighbor ions. This extended model is applied to estimate the inverse quality factor (Q⁻¹), the equivalent mechanical resistance (R_m), and the Curie temperature (Tc) of pure and titanium-doped lithium niobate (LiNbO₃:Ti). The proposed analytical expression for Tc is given by: $T_C^{*}={\displaystyle \frac{2\sqrt{\frac{-p^{*}}{3}}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{s}\left(\frac{{\theta }^{*}}{3}\right)-\frac{B^{*}}{3}}{2\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{s}\left(\frac{\theta }{3}\right)-\frac{B}{3}}} T_C$. The analysis reveals that variations in Q⁻¹ and Tc are governed by factors such as ionic mass, charge, and defect structure. The theoretical predictions show good agreement with experimental data reported in the literature—particularly for Q⁻¹ in pure LiNbO₃ and for Tc in Ti-doped LiNbO₃—thus validating the reliability of the proposed model. Moreover, at constant temperature, both the inverse quality factor and the equivalent mechanical resistance decrease as the Ti concentration increases. This trend highlights that titanium doping enhances the acoustic performance of LiNbO₃ substrates, making them more suitable for high-performance surface acoustic wave (SAW) device applications. Full article

Optical encoders are high-precision positioning sensors based on the principle of grating diffraction. However, harmonic distortion remains a critical factor limiting the further improvement of measurement accuracy. In response to this challenge, this paper proposes a strategy to suppress harmonic components in the output signals of optical encoders. In this work, a general expression for the light intensity distribution of the grating image is derived. Then, orthogonal sine-cosine signals are generated using a grid photoelectric sensor array, which replaces the conventional slit grating. Furthermore, a method for the co-optimization of the photosensitive unit width and offset is proposed, which effectively suppresses the third and fifth harmonic components. Theoretical and simulation results collectively demonstrate that the proposed method achieves near-complete suppression of the third and fifth harmonics, leading to a significant improvement in output signal quality. This work provides an effective approach for developing high-precision optical encoder systems with low harmonic distortion. Full article

This study presents a data-driven inverse design approach for one-dimensional hybrid waveguide gratings using full reflection spectra across the visible range and a complete span of incident angles. Traditionally, designing such structures to achieve specific optical responses relies on parameter sweeps and iterative simulations which are computationally expensive, time-consuming, and often inefficient. To overcome this, we generated a comprehensive dataset using rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) simulations and trained two machine learning models: a deterministic tandem network and a generative conditional Variational Autoencoder (cVAE). Both models were trained on noisy reflection spectra to mimic real-world measurements. They both predict structural parameters accurately on clean and noisy data. On clean data, the mean absolute error (MAE) for silver thickness and grating period is below 1 nm. For the dielectric layer, the error is about 13–15 nm. When noise is added, the Tandem network performs best with low to moderate noise. The cVAE, however, stays more stable under high noise conditions. At $\sigma =0.3$, the cVAE model reliably predicts the silver thickness and grating period, with MAEs below 6 nm. The main error comes from the dielectric thickness. Sensitivity analysis of reflection spectra confirms this trend. The reflection is least sensitive to the dielectric thickness, while silver thickness and grating period dominate. This analysis provides physical insight for waveguide design as well in which, accurate control of silver thickness and grating period is far more critical than small errors in dielectric thickness. In general, our approach enables rapid prediction of structural parameters of hybrid waveguide gratings from reflection spectra. This reduces design time and reliance on complex microscopic measurements, with potential applications in sensing, communication, and integrated photonics. Full article

Earlier quantum calculations of the optical response of Nakamura’s blue laser diode, assuming Kronig–Penney-like band-edge profiles, omitted the effects of charge polarization, cladding-layer asymmetry, and recombination delay times, while such simplified model reproduces the overall emission structure, underestimates the spectral width and fails to capture the decrease in peak intensities at higher energies. Here, we present a detailed quantum theory of polarized-asymmetric superlattices that explicitly incorporates spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization, confining-layer asymmetry, and recombination lifetimes. Local Stark fields are modeled by linear band-edge potentials, and the corresponding Schrödinger equation is solved using Airy functions within the Theory of Finite Periodic Systems. This approach enables the exact calculation of subband eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, transition probabilities and optical spectra. We show that to faithfully reproduce Nakamura’s blue laser spectra, smaller effective masses must be considered, unless unrealistically small barrier heights and widths are assumed. Furthermore, by employing the time distribution of transition probabilities, we capture the energy dependence of recombination lifetimes and their influence on peak intensities. The resulting analysis reproduces the observed spectral broadening and peak-height evolution, while also providing estimates of the magnitude of the Stark effect and mean recombination lifetimes. Full article

This work focuses on the characterization of the complex dielectric function of a polymer material, which is UV-cured dielectric ink 1092, used in the DragonFly IV 3D inkjet printer. Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry was performed over the spectral range of 300–4000 cm⁻¹ at multiple angles of incidence to extract both real and imaginary components of the dielectric response. In addition, polarized transmission measurements were taken over the spectral range from 300–6000 cm⁻¹ to aid in characterization. We report an isotropic dielectric function model that is composed of oscillators with both Gaussian and Lorentzian broadening. This model reveals strong absorption bands at 925–1500 cm⁻¹, 1600–1775${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$, and 2840–3000 cm⁻¹ while otherwise appearing largely transparent. This parameterized dielectric function is critical in first-principles modeling of infrared optical components and metamaterials fabricated using this polymer. Full article

The scientific community has been interested in lophine’s versatility and usage in various applications. Research has shown that humic acid is a material that exhibits interference with lophine. Humic molecules associate with each other in supramolecular conformations through weak hydrophobic interactions at alkaline or neutral pH and hydrogen bonds at low pH. This work presents the characterization of a sensitive lophine layer based on water’s hydrogen ions (pH). We conducted a spectroscopy study to analyze how the absorbance at different amounts of lophine depends on pH. This study demonstrates the hyperchromic behavior of imidazole at various pH values, which may be utilized in an intrinsic fiber optic pH sensor. The dynamic range of the fiber optic sensor was 5 to 11.3 pH units. The sensor was developed by coating a thinned fiber with a sensitive lophine layer. It achieves a sensitivity of 0.27 dB/pH and a response time of 5 s. Full article

To meet the increasing demands for data, elastic optical networks (EONs) require highly efficient resource management. While classical Routing and Spectrum Assignment (RSA) algorithms establish a path and allocate spectrum, advanced versions such as Routing, Modulation-format-selection, and Spectrum Assignment (RMSA) also optimize modulation format selection. However, these approaches often lack adaptability to diverse network aspects. The hybrid routing and spectrum assignment (HRSA) algorithm offers a more flexible and robust approach by providing multiple choices between route (resource savings) and spectrum prioritization (fragmentation mitigation and network load balancing) for each network node pair. Despite its potential, the adaptive nature of HRSA introduces complexity, and the influence of topological features on its decisions remains not fully understood. This knowledge gap hinders the ability to optimize network design and resource allocation fully. This paper examines how topological features influence HRSA’s adaptive decisions regarding routing and spectrum assignment prioritization for source-destination node pairs in EONs. By employing machine learning approaches—Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)—we model and identify the key topological features that influence HRSA’s decision-making. Then, we compare the models generated by each approach and extract insights using an a posteriori analysis technique to evaluate feature importance. Our results show the algorithm’s behavior is highly predictable (over 91% accuracy), with decisions driven primarily by the network’s structure and node metrics. This work advances the understanding of how topological features influence the RSA problem. Full article

Dicyanovinyl (DCV) oligothiophenes are interesting materials due to their unique optical and electronic properties. They are relatively easy to prepare using Knoevenagel condensation reactions from the corresponding aldehydes. Understanding their optical and electrochemical characteristics is important for both building structure/property relationships and for optimizing their performance in various applications. We report on the electrochemical and photophysical properties of three oligothiophenes end-capped with dicyanovinyl -CH=C(CN)₂ or DCV groups. The compounds included in this study are DCV-T-DCV (1), DCV-2T-DCV (2), and DCV-3T-DCV (3), where T represents one thiophene unit. Introduction of the DCV groups into oligothiophenes results in unique evolution of their electrochemical and optical behavior. First, new reversible two-electron reduction processes in the series DCV-nT-DCV start to appear with a gradual increase in the reduction potential with an increasing number of thiophene units. This was consistent with the electronic spectroscopic results. These results demonstrate that the DCV groups can be used in molecular design and fine-tuning of the optical and redox properties of oligothiophene and presumably this strategy can be extended to other conjugated organic molecules. We also report on the photophysical and vibrational spectroscopic properties of these compounds. The C=C stretching bands in Raman and IR spectra reveal more quinoidal nature in shorter molecules and more dominant benzoidal character in longer molecules. The DCV-induced modulation of electrochemical, optical, and vibrational properties highlights their potential in diverse optoelectronic applications. Full article

With the increasing application of oxide films in nuclear fuel assemblies, the accurate measurement of thin-film thickness has become increasingly critical. Traditional spectral interferometry techniques have limitations when dealing with new materials and complex structures; therefore, this study proposes a multi-channel wide-spectrum high-resolution analysis technique. This technique optimizes the utilization of photosensitive elements through multi-channel spectral sampling, combined with precision spectroscopic components and an independent optical focusing and imaging system. Simultaneously, it adopts optical correction technologies such as coma optimization and astigmatism correction to improve imaging quality and spectral resolution. Additionally, it enhances data accuracy by means of multi-channel calibration based on the least squares method and non-linear correction. The technique enables high-precision measurement ranging from the nanometer to the millimeter scale, resulting in a significantly wider measurement range compared to traditional spectrometers. Simulation verification shows that this technique outperforms existing technologies in information acquisition, analysis accuracy, and detection efficiency, and has broad application prospects in fields such as semiconductor chip manufacturing and optical coating. In the future, focus will be placed on expanding the spectral range, improving resolution, and enhancing real-time measurement capabilities. Full article

Digital image correlation (DIC) technology is widely employed in speckle-based measurement techniques, including X-ray speckle tracking. By enhancing DIC’s measurement capability to the subpixel scale through subpixel registration technology, the accuracy of such tracking methods is significantly improved. Consequently, selecting an appropriate subpixel registration algorithm becomes crucial for advancing the precision of both DIC and its application in tracking methods. Nevertheless, current evaluation approaches for these algorithms overlook spatial resolution—an essential metric not only for X-ray speckle tracking but also for other comparable methodologies. Inspired by the modulation transfer function, this study proposes a novel evaluation method that uses the root mean square error of displacement measurement at different spatial frequencies to assess spatial resolution. Two widely used subpixel registration algorithms—the peak-finding algorithm and the iterative spatial domain cross-correlation algorithm—are evaluated and compared. The result strongly contrasts with traditional evaluations based on ideal translational conditions, and underscores the necessity of incorporating spatial resolution and speckle size into algorithm selection criteria for practical applications. Full article

We experimentally observe harmonic oscillations in a bosonic condensate of exciton-polaritons confined within an elliptical trap. These oscillations arise from quantum beats between two size-quantized states of the condensate, split in energy due to the trap’s ellipticity. By precisely targeting specific spots inside the trap with nonresonant laser pulses, we control frequency, amplitude, and phase of these quantum beats. The condensate wave function dynamics is visualized on a streak camera and mapped to the Bloch sphere, demonstrating Hadamard and Pauli-Z operations. We conclude that a qubit based on a superposition of these two polariton states would exhibit a coherence time exceeding the lifetime of an individual exciton-polariton by at least two orders of magnitude. Full article

Platycodonis radix is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) material. Its bioactive compounds and medicinal value are closely related to its geographical origin. The internal components of Platycodonis radix from different origins are different due to the influence of environmental factors such as soil and climate. These differences can affect the medicinal value. Therefore, accurate identification of Platycodonis radix origin is crucial for drug safety and scientific research. Traditional methods of identification of TCM materials, such as morphological identification and physicochemical analysis, cannot meet the efficiency requirements. Although emerging technologies such as computer vision and spectroscopy can achieve rapid detection, their accuracy in identifying the origin of Platycodonis radix is limited when relying solely on RGB images or spectral features. To solve this problem, we aim to develop a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate method for origin identification of Platycodonis radix using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with deep learning. We captured hyperspectral images of Platycodonis radix slices in 400–1000 nm range, and proposed a deep learning classification model based on these images. Our model uses one-dimensional (1D) convolution kernels to extract spectral features and two-dimensional (2D) convolution kernels to extract spatial features, fully utilizing the hyperspectral data. The average accuracy has reached 96.2%, significantly better than that of 49.0% based on RGB images and 81.8% based on spectral features in 400–1000 nm range. Furthermore, based on hyperspectral images, our model’s accuracy is 14.6%, 8.4%, and 9.6% higher than the variants of VGG, ResNet, and GoogLeNet, respectively. These results not only demonstrate the advantages of HSI in identifying the origin of Platycodonis radix, but also demonstrate the advantages of combining 1D convolution and 2D convolution in hyperspectral image classification. Full article

The complex aquatic environment attenuates light transmission, thereby limiting the detection range of underwater laser systems. To address the challenges of limited operational distance and significant light energy attenuation, this study investigates optimized underwater lighting and imaging applications using a combined tricolor RGB (RED-GREEN-BLUE) white laser source. First, accounting for the attenuation characteristics of water, we propose a power-compensated white laser system based on transmission distance and underwater imaging theory. Second, underwater experiments are conducted utilizing both standard D65 white lasers and the proposed power-compensated white lasers, respectively. Finally, the theory is validated by assessing image quality metrics of the captured underwater imagery. The results demonstrate that a low-power (0.518 W) power-compensated white laser achieves a transmission distance of 5 m, meeting the requirements for a long-range, low-power imaging light source. Its capability for independent adjustment of the three-color power output fulfills the lighting demands for specific long-distance transmission scenarios. These findings confirm the advantages of power-compensated white lasers in long-range underwater detection and refine the characterization of white light for underwater illumination. Full article

The optical microscope is an indispensable observation instrument that has fundamentally contributed to progress in science and technology. Dark-field microscopy and scattered light imaging techniques enable high-contrast observation of nanoparticles in water. However, the scattered light is focused by the optical lenses, resulting in a blurred image of the nanoparticle structure. Here, we developed a projection optical microscope (PROM), which directly observes the scattered light from the nanoparticles without optical lenses. In this method, the sample is placed below the focus position of the microscope’s objective lens and the projected light is detected by an image sensor. This enables direct observation of the sample with a spatial resolution of approximately 20 nm. Using this method, changes in the aggregation state of nanoparticles in solution can be observed at a speed faster than the video frame rate. Moreover, the mechanism of such high-resolution observation may be related to the quantum properties of light, making it an interesting phenomenon from the perspective of optical engineering. We expect this method to be applicable to the observation and analysis of samples in materials science, biology and applied physics, and thus to contribute to a wide range of scientific, technological and industrial fields. Full article