Optics and Photonics News

White light strikes

White light strikes a pair of beamsplitter cubes with anti-reflective coatings for infrared light. These coatings separate white light into its constituent colors. Surrounding lab environment was darkened to highlight the mesmerizing colors captured in this picture with a cellphone camera. The texture of the sheet of paper on which the cubes were placed can be seen on the front of the image. [Second place winner 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Gibraham A. Graciano, CICESE, Mexico

20 Nov 2019

The galactic center of the Milky Way

The galactic center of the Milky Way rising over a tree. During the 30-sec exposure the tree was illuminated from behind with a torch. This photo was taken in the Karijini National Park in Western Australia. It’s location on the southern hemisphere in combination with the absence of light pollution and dry atmosphere offers perfect conditions to shoot the Milky Way.  [Third place winner 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Moritz Floess, 4th Physics Institute, University of Stuttgart

20 Nov 2019

Laser-Induced Damage

Laser-Induced Damage on the dielectric surface. When intense laser irradiation is applied on the optical surface it might get damaged: melted, cracked, delaminated. This is a microscopic of the laser damage morphology.  [Honorable mention 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Gintare Bataviciute, Lidaris

20 Nov 2019

Raman Interaction

Generation of Raman sidebands in diamond. Two Gaussian laser beams, pump (purple), and Stokes (dark orange), enter a Raman medium (diamond) and generate a broadband of higher order anti-Stokes. This photo is taken by moving a white screen in front of the beams at a 30 seconds time exposure of the camera. The camera is a Canon EOS 80D. The experimental setup is made by Aysan bahari from Dr. Alexei Sokolov's group in a quantum optics lab at Texas A&M University, and this photo is taken by Aysan Bahari and Dustin Scriven at Texas A&M University, US.  [Honorable mention 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Aysan Bahari, Texas A&M University

20 Nov 2019

Multiple simulated solar radiation beams

Multiple simulated solar radiation beams penetrate in a low-scattering and high-clarity silica aerogel. Because of the weak scattering effect (especially towards the shorter wavelength), the light path is visible and appears blue within the aerogel. Multiple mirrors in the solar simulator produced multiple light beams, which are then focused on the aerogel sample.  [Honorable mention 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Lin Zhao, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

20 Nov 2019

Solid glass Fresnel cone

A solid glass Fresnel cone, which uses total internal reflection of incident polarised light to easily generate white light OAM and radially polarised vector vortex beams. Glass Fresnel cone illuminated by rainbow coloured light source. Image taken in collaboration with QuantIC imaging hub, based at the University of Glasgow, UK.  [Honorable mention 2019 After Image photo contest.] 

—Kevin J Mitchell, University of Glasgow

20 Nov 2019

Night Lamp

Light comes from a desktop night lamp. A compact camera Sony Cybershot DSC H3 was used. Camera settings (manual): ISO 100, f/4, t_exp=0.8 s Location: Ensenada, B.C., México.

—Victor M. Rico, CICESE, México

20 Nov 2019

High-harmonic generation

UV-driven high-harmonic generation occurs in Kr gas within a vertical, end-sealed glass capillary. Bright emission (center) results from the ionized atoms, while colors from the laser fundamental, second-harmonic, and green pump lasers in the lab reflect within the vacuum chamber. For details see Wang et al. Nature Commun. 6, 7459 (2015) and Buss et al. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 90, 023105 (2019). Unprocessed image taken with Iphone XS (Halide app) in the Kaindl group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.

—Robert A. Kaindl, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

20 Nov 2019

Third-harmonic generation

Third-harmonic generation in magnesium fluoride microresonator. This is the top-view image of the microresonator generating green color when pumped with 1582-nm light.

—Noel Lito B. Sayson, PhD student, The University of Auckland, New Zealand

20 Nov 2019