Optics

Nanostructured
thin-films that can bend light by large angles could be a replacement for bulky
glass optical components

Separating the electric and magnetic components of light scattered by
silicon nanoparticles enables more precise control of light

A simple artificial material can influence the properties of visible light

Arrays of nanoscale pillars made to reflect light of a selected color could find application as optical filters in digital cameras

Mathematical modeling confirms that a nanometer-scale device that can concentrate light into a tiny spot improves optical sensing

A technique that reduces the time to simulate the operation of active optical devices aids the design of nanoscale lasers

Revelation of how photoreceptive cells in the eye distinguish between different light sources could pave the way for a novel class of optical devices

Trapping free electrons with polycyclic aromatic molecules creates materials with enhanced optical, electronic and magnetic properties

A phase-change material with unexpected optical-reflectivity properties offers fresh perspectives for data storage

A new image-reconstruction method yields clear images of subsurface features in biological specimens and technological components

Waveguides that combine metallic and semiconductor structures can be made more compact

‘Tractor beams’ of light that pull objects towards them are no longer science fiction