A Tiny, Highly Tunable Hybrid Laser
Research News

A Tiny, Highly Tunable Hybrid Laser

Researchers created an integrated Pockels laser based on lithium niobite that is compact enough to fit on a chip, powerful and ultrafast.

02 July 2025
Honing the Skill of Creativity
President's Message
Honing the Skill of Creativity

Trailblazing ideas thrive when people can assemble existing elements in new patterns.

01 July 2025
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Kenneth Richard Geipel
Conversations
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Kenneth Richard Geipel

The cofounder and CCO of Robotto talks about using autonomous drones to detect and track wildfires, wildlife and more.

11 July 2025
Nanostructures Bring Cloud Physics Down to Earth
Research News
Nanostructures Bring Cloud Physics Down to Earth

Researchers found that artificial intelligence could help disseminate scientific studies in a clear, easy-to-understand format.

08 July 2025
Underwater Microscope Focuses on Coral Health
Research News
Underwater Microscope Focuses on Coral Health

Imaging system allows marine biologists to study the microscopic processes that sustain coral reefs.

10 July 2025
Polynomial Beauty
Image of the Week
Polynomial Beauty

A 2D histogram on the complex plane of the number of solutions from a given set of polynomials generated from a set of 7×7 matrices.

11 July 2025
LATEST NEWS
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Kenneth Richard Geipel
Conversations
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Kenneth Richard Geipel

The cofounder and CCO of Robotto talks about using autonomous drones to detect and track wildfires, wildlife and more.

11 July 2025
Underwater Microscope Focuses on Coral Health
Research News
Underwater Microscope Focuses on Coral Health

Imaging system allows marine biologists to study the microscopic processes that sustain coral reefs.

10 July 2025
Nanostructures Bring Cloud Physics Down to Earth
Research News
Nanostructures Bring Cloud Physics Down to Earth

New device can cool or heat objects without leaving a thermal signature.

08 July 2025
Volantis Snags US$9 Million for Photonic Interconnects
Industry News
Volantis Snags US$9 Million for Photonic Interconnects

Startup emerges from stealth mode with a seed funding round to develop photonically integrated computers for AI.

07 July 2025
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Julia Somerdin
Conversations
Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Julia Somerdin

The cofounder and CEO of Labby discusses using optical-based sensing technology to bring real-time raw-milk testing to the farm.

03 July 2025

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EDITOR'S PICKS
Squeezing on a Chip
From the Archive

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.

01 May 2025
Exponential Improvement Through Collaboration
Career Focus
Exponential Improvement Through Collaboration

Successful collaborations built on strong foundations can last decades, often bringing significant benefits.

01 June 2023
Laser Cutting Comes to Fruition
Then and Now
Laser Cutting Comes to Fruition

Lasers were first used for machining applications in the early 1960s, and technological advances in subsequent decades further increased their industrial potential.

01 September 2024
Laser-induced plasma
After Image
Laser-induced plasma

A laser pulse fired at a water drop levitated at the center of an acoustic cavity made by two arrays of compact ultrasonic transducers induces a plasma.

01 January 2025

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Image of the Week

Polynomial Beauty

A 2D histogram on the complex plane of the number of solutions from a given set of polynomials generated from a set of 7×7 matrices.

11 July 2025
Market Report

Why Capital Flows Matter to Optics and Photonics Engineers

John Dexheimer discusses financing for the optics and photonics industry.

01 July 2025
Conversations

Building a Giant Telescope

The Giant Magellan Telescope’s William Burgett talks about managing a project on a massive scale.

01 July 2025
CAREERS
AI-Generated Podcasts for Science Communication
Careers
AI-Generated Podcasts for Science Communication

Researchers found that artificial intelligence could help disseminate scientific studies in a clear, easy-to-understand format.

30 June 2025
My “Aha” Moment at the Optica Foundation’s Career Accelerator
Careers
My “Aha” Moment at the Optica Foundation’s Career Accelerator

Isabel Allegro discusses finding her career path thanks to attending the 2022 Career Accelerator.

24 June 2025
Journeys in Optics: Stephen D. Roberson
Careers
Journeys in Optics: Stephen D. Roberson

Roberson discusses his work with the US Department of Defense and his role as president of the National Society of Black Physicists.

02 June 2025
Journeys in Optics: Aparajita Bandyopadhyay
Careers
Journeys in Optics: Aparajita Bandyopadhyay

Bandyopadhyay talks about her role as chair of the Agriphotonics Technical Group and returning to research after taking time to focus on other priorities.

13 May 2025
Journeys in Optics: Milana Kendrisic
Careers
Journeys in Optics: Milana Kendrisic

Kendrisic discusses her motivations as a researcher, receiving the Deutsch Fellowship and why she chose a career in academia. 

01 April 2025

Photo Contest

Give us your best shot!

OPN invites you to participate in our 20th annual photo contest.

optica-opn.org/photo-contest

Enter by:

15 September 2025