Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w
Olivia Y. Long, Peter B. Catrysse, Seunghoon Han, Shanhui Fan
The original concept of left-handed material has inspired the possibility of optical antimatter, where the effect of light propagation through a medium can be completely canceled by its complementary medium. Despite recent progress in the development of negative-index metamaterials, losses continue to be a significant barrier to realizing optical antimatter. In this work, we show that passive, lossy materials can be used to realize optical antimatter when illuminated by light at a complex frequency. We further establish that one can engineer arbitrary complex-valued permittivity and permeability in such materials. Strikingly, we show that materials with a positive index at real frequencies can act as negative-index materials under complex frequency excitation. Using our approach, we numerically demonstrate the optical antimatter functionality, as well as double focusing by an ideal perfect lens and superscattering. Our work demonstrates the power of temporally structured light in unlocking the promising opportunities of complementary media, which have until now been inhibited by material loss.
{"title":"Ideal optical antimatter using passive lossy materials under complex frequency excitation","authors":"Olivia Y. Long, Peter B. Catrysse, Seunghoon Han, Shanhui Fan","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w","url":null,"abstract":"The original concept of left-handed material has inspired the possibility of optical antimatter, where the effect of light propagation through a medium can be completely canceled by its complementary medium. Despite recent progress in the development of negative-index metamaterials, losses continue to be a significant barrier to realizing optical antimatter. In this work, we show that passive, lossy materials can be used to realize optical antimatter when illuminated by light at a complex frequency. We further establish that one can engineer arbitrary complex-valued permittivity and permeability in such materials. Strikingly, we show that materials with a positive index at real frequencies can act as negative-index materials under complex frequency excitation. Using our approach, we numerically demonstrate the optical antimatter functionality, as well as double focusing by an ideal perfect lens and superscattering. Our work demonstrates the power of temporally structured light in unlocking the promising opportunities of complementary media, which have until now been inhibited by material loss.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5
Chenshuaiyu Liu, Han Gao, Wennan Ou, Hairen Tan, Renxing Lin
All-perovskite tandem solar cells represent a promising strategy for breaking the Shockley-Queisser limits inherent in single-junction solar cells. Reasonable light management and optical design are necessary for all-perovskite tandem solar cells to improve power conversion efficiency. In this review, the recent progresses in light management for monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells are summarized comprehensively. The current-matching conditions, optical challenges, and potential development trajectories for all-perovskite tandem solar cells are investigated. It includes key optical losses, enhancements and strategies for light trapping and light utilization. Ultimately, forward-looking perspectives on future developments are presented. This review aims to offer valuable insights and practical suggestions for improving power conversion efficiency of all-perovskite tandem solar cells from light management techniques.
{"title":"Light management in monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells","authors":"Chenshuaiyu Liu, Han Gao, Wennan Ou, Hairen Tan, Renxing Lin","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5","url":null,"abstract":"All-perovskite tandem solar cells represent a promising strategy for breaking the Shockley-Queisser limits inherent in single-junction solar cells. Reasonable light management and optical design are necessary for all-perovskite tandem solar cells to improve power conversion efficiency. In this review, the recent progresses in light management for monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells are summarized comprehensively. The current-matching conditions, optical challenges, and potential development trajectories for all-perovskite tandem solar cells are investigated. It includes key optical losses, enhancements and strategies for light trapping and light utilization. Ultimately, forward-looking perspectives on future developments are presented. This review aims to offer valuable insights and practical suggestions for improving power conversion efficiency of all-perovskite tandem solar cells from light management techniques.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"21 1","pages":"56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4
Eric R. Sung, Keith A. Nelson
THz spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying a variety of samples, ranging from large biomolecules to solid-state materials. In cases where experimental space is limited or sample volumes are small, THz waveguides have been used to enable compact THz spectroscopy. The THz polaritonics platform is a waveguide-based approach that uses a thin lithium niobate slab to allow direct visualization of THz fields as they interact with structures integrated into the waveguide. Although there have been many successful studies using the platform for integrated photonics, the platform’s utility as a spectroscopic tool has been largely unexploited. Here, we use a slot waveguide integrated into the thin lithium niobate slab to measure the absorption spectrum of a sample inserted into the slot. The slot waveguide localizes the THz electric field within a low-index slot where a sample is placed. The THz fields propagate through the slot and are monitored as they interact with the sample. Perturbation theory is then used to extract the absorption spectrum and bulk refractive index of the sample with good sensitivity. These results show much promise for enabling compact linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy using thin lithium niobate waveguides.
{"title":"Compact THz absorption spectroscopy using a LiNbO3 slot waveguide","authors":"Eric R. Sung, Keith A. Nelson","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4","url":null,"abstract":"THz spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying a variety of samples, ranging from large biomolecules to solid-state materials. In cases where experimental space is limited or sample volumes are small, THz waveguides have been used to enable compact THz spectroscopy. The THz polaritonics platform is a waveguide-based approach that uses a thin lithium niobate slab to allow direct visualization of THz fields as they interact with structures integrated into the waveguide. Although there have been many successful studies using the platform for integrated photonics, the platform’s utility as a spectroscopic tool has been largely unexploited. Here, we use a slot waveguide integrated into the thin lithium niobate slab to measure the absorption spectrum of a sample inserted into the slot. The slot waveguide localizes the THz electric field within a low-index slot where a sample is placed. The THz fields propagate through the slot and are monitored as they interact with the sample. Perturbation theory is then used to extract the absorption spectrum and bulk refractive index of the sample with good sensitivity. These results show much promise for enabling compact linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy using thin lithium niobate waveguides.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"8 1","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x
Jiantao Ma, Ying Yu, Jin Liu
Bound states in the continuum (BICs) provide a route to strong, long-range photonic coupling with dynamic tunability. Recent advances demonstrate that BIC metasurfaces enable reconfigurable two-dimensional coupling between arbitrarily positioned resonators, with the added capability of ultrafast all-optical control.
{"title":"Harnessing optical bound states in the continuum for ultrafast, reconfigurable, long-range photonic networks","authors":"Jiantao Ma, Ying Yu, Jin Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x","url":null,"abstract":"Bound states in the continuum (BICs) provide a route to strong, long-range photonic coupling with dynamic tunability. Recent advances demonstrate that BIC metasurfaces enable reconfigurable two-dimensional coupling between arbitrarily positioned resonators, with the added capability of ultrafast all-optical control.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"127 1","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0
Eunwoo Park, Dong Gyu Hwang, Hwanyong Choi, Donggyu Kim, Joongho Ahn, Yong-Jae Lee, Tae Joong Eom, Jinah Jang, Chulhong Kim
Many biological tissues, such as cardiac muscle, tendons, and the cornea, exhibit highly organized microstructural alignment that is critical for mechanical and physiological functions. Disruptions in this structural organization are commonly associated with pathological conditions such as fibrosis, infarction, and cancer. However, conventional histological imaging techniques rely on immunofluorescence or histochemical staining, and they evaluate tissue alignment via non-physical 2D gradient-based calculation, which is labor-intensive, antibody-dependent, and prone to variability. Here, we demonstrate label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy (MIR-DS-PAM), an analytical imaging system for cardiac tissue assessments. By combining molecular specificity with polarization sensitivity, this method selectively visualizes protein-rich engineered heart tissue (EHT) and quantifies the extracellular matrix (ECM) alignment without any labeling. The extracted dichroism-sensitive parameters, such as the degree of dichroism and the orientation angle, enable histostructural evaluation of tissue integrity and reveal diagnostic cues in fibrotic EHT. This technique offers a label-free analytical tool for fibrosis research and tissue engineering applications.
{"title":"Label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy for histostructural analysis of engineered heart tissues","authors":"Eunwoo Park, Dong Gyu Hwang, Hwanyong Choi, Donggyu Kim, Joongho Ahn, Yong-Jae Lee, Tae Joong Eom, Jinah Jang, Chulhong Kim","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0","url":null,"abstract":"Many biological tissues, such as cardiac muscle, tendons, and the cornea, exhibit highly organized microstructural alignment that is critical for mechanical and physiological functions. Disruptions in this structural organization are commonly associated with pathological conditions such as fibrosis, infarction, and cancer. However, conventional histological imaging techniques rely on immunofluorescence or histochemical staining, and they evaluate tissue alignment via non-physical 2D gradient-based calculation, which is labor-intensive, antibody-dependent, and prone to variability. Here, we demonstrate label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy (MIR-DS-PAM), an analytical imaging system for cardiac tissue assessments. By combining molecular specificity with polarization sensitivity, this method selectively visualizes protein-rich engineered heart tissue (EHT) and quantifies the extracellular matrix (ECM) alignment without any labeling. The extracted dichroism-sensitive parameters, such as the degree of dichroism and the orientation angle, enable histostructural evaluation of tissue integrity and reveal diagnostic cues in fibrotic EHT. This technique offers a label-free analytical tool for fibrosis research and tissue engineering applications.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"316 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) are gaining recognition as a natural alternative to antibiotics in livestock, supporting sustainable farming and animal health. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which PFS influence host immune function and antioxidant capacity, especially via the gut-liver-muscle axis, remain largely unknown. This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach to elucidate how PFS supplementation modulates the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis and enhances immune and antioxidant functions in lambs.
Results: PFS supplementation markedly improved immune and antioxidant profiles, demonstrated by elevated serum levels of IL-10, IgM, IgG, GSH-PX, and SOD, and reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA. Microbial analysis revealed elevated abundances of ruminal and intestinal taxa commonly associated with gut homeostasis and metabolic health (Christensenellaceae_R-7_group) and reduced levels of species with pathogenic or pro-inflammatory potential (Bacillus cereus and Clostridioides) in the ileum. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of liver tissue indicated modulation of key inflammatory and bile acid signaling pathways, including the downregulation of TLR4, NLRP3, ATF3, CYP2J2, and LXR-α. PFS also increased hepatic concentrations of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as chlorquinaldol and indole-3-carboxaldehyde, while reducing levels of LysoPC(20:4) and phosphatidic acid. Correlation and mediation analyses revealed strong interconnections among gut microbiota, hepatic gene expression, lipid metabolites in liver and muscle, and systemic immune-antioxidant markers.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis as a central mechanism through which PFS enhances immune function and antioxidant capacity in lambs. PFS supplementation represents a promising nutritional strategy to improve healthy lamb production, supporting the development of antibiotic-free and sustainable livestock systems.
{"title":"Perilla frutescens seeds enhance lamb immunity and antioxidant capacity via the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis.","authors":"Yue Yu, Boyan Zhang, Xianzhe Jiang, Yimeng Cui, Yuqing Shang, Yanqin Jin, Tiancheng Sun, Ziwei Yuan, Zihan Zhang, Hailing Luo, Sokratis Stergiadis, Bing Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01317-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40104-025-01317-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) are gaining recognition as a natural alternative to antibiotics in livestock, supporting sustainable farming and animal health. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which PFS influence host immune function and antioxidant capacity, especially via the gut-liver-muscle axis, remain largely unknown. This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach to elucidate how PFS supplementation modulates the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis and enhances immune and antioxidant functions in lambs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PFS supplementation markedly improved immune and antioxidant profiles, demonstrated by elevated serum levels of IL-10, IgM, IgG, GSH-PX, and SOD, and reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA. Microbial analysis revealed elevated abundances of ruminal and intestinal taxa commonly associated with gut homeostasis and metabolic health (Christensenellaceae_R-7_group) and reduced levels of species with pathogenic or pro-inflammatory potential (Bacillus cereus and Clostridioides) in the ileum. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of liver tissue indicated modulation of key inflammatory and bile acid signaling pathways, including the downregulation of TLR4, NLRP3, ATF3, CYP2J2, and LXR-α. PFS also increased hepatic concentrations of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as chlorquinaldol and indole-3-carboxaldehyde, while reducing levels of LysoPC(20:4) and phosphatidic acid. Correlation and mediation analyses revealed strong interconnections among gut microbiota, hepatic gene expression, lipid metabolites in liver and muscle, and systemic immune-antioxidant markers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis as a central mechanism through which PFS enhances immune function and antioxidant capacity in lambs. PFS supplementation represents a promising nutritional strategy to improve healthy lamb production, supporting the development of antibiotic-free and sustainable livestock systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":64067,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"17 1","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12765310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145897028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02111-6
Ji Wang
Editorial “To eyelids in the Sepulchre—/ How dumb the Dancer lies—/ While Color’s Revelations break—/ And blaze—the Butterflies!” A renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson’s poem vividly mirrors the journey of women’s growth: No matter how many hardships they encounter in their development or constraints they face, they will eventually break free from their “cocoons” and transform into colorful butterflies radiating “light”. In this issue of “Light People”, Professor Siying Peng is invited to share how the optical properties of butterfly wings have inspired her metamorphosis in the field of photonics.
{"title":"Prof. Siying Peng: caterpillars to butterflies, chasing light in photonics","authors":"Ji Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02111-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02111-6","url":null,"abstract":"Editorial “To eyelids in the Sepulchre—/ How dumb the Dancer lies—/ While Color’s Revelations break—/ And blaze—the Butterflies!” A renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson’s poem vividly mirrors the journey of women’s growth: No matter how many hardships they encounter in their development or constraints they face, they will eventually break free from their “cocoons” and transform into colorful butterflies radiating “light”. In this issue of “Light People”, Professor Siying Peng is invited to share how the optical properties of butterfly wings have inspired her metamorphosis in the field of photonics.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"1 1","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The ability to achieve comprehensive control over all Stokes parameters, including both the state of polarization (SoP) and the degree of polarization (DoP), is fundamental to advancements in quantum optics, imaging, and optical communications. While metasurfaces have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in polarization manipulation, existing designs typically rely on locally periodic unit cells and deterministic phase profiles, limiting their flexibility in controlling both SoP and DoP simultaneously. Here, we introduce the generalized lattice approach for metasurface design, which enables the decoupling of structural parameters from the full-Stokes polarization response. Our approach introduces a spatially global but structurally disordered arrangement, constructed on a generalized lattice framework. This framework enables the flexible placement of an arbitrary number and type of meta-atoms within a generalized lattice, where the relative quantity ratios among different meta-atoms serve as a new design degree of freedom. This decoupling enables the azimuthal and elevation angles of the SoP on the Poincaré sphere to be governed by the in-plane rotation and size of individual meta-atoms, while the DoP is controlled independently via the quantity ratio. This establishes a direct and analytically tractable mapping between metasurface geometry and polarization space, offering new physical insights into metasurface-based polarization control. A computationally efficient algorithm optimizes the metasurface arrangement, achieving a polarization similarity (evaluated by Stokes Euclidean Distance) of 0.93 in theory and 0.90 in experiment. Our findings demonstrate that the generalized lattice approach provides an effective and versatile route to full-Stokes polarization control with greater flexibility than conventional metasurface designs.
{"title":"Decoupling metasurface parameters for independent Stokes polarization control via generalized lattice","authors":"Zhi Cheng, Zhou Zhou, Zhuo Wang, Yue Wang, Changyuan Yu","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02084-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02084-6","url":null,"abstract":"The ability to achieve comprehensive control over all Stokes parameters, including both the state of polarization (SoP) and the degree of polarization (DoP), is fundamental to advancements in quantum optics, imaging, and optical communications. While metasurfaces have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in polarization manipulation, existing designs typically rely on locally periodic unit cells and deterministic phase profiles, limiting their flexibility in controlling both SoP and DoP simultaneously. Here, we introduce the generalized lattice approach for metasurface design, which enables the decoupling of structural parameters from the full-Stokes polarization response. Our approach introduces a spatially global but structurally disordered arrangement, constructed on a generalized lattice framework. This framework enables the flexible placement of an arbitrary number and type of meta-atoms within a generalized lattice, where the relative quantity ratios among different meta-atoms serve as a new design degree of freedom. This decoupling enables the azimuthal and elevation angles of the SoP on the Poincaré sphere to be governed by the in-plane rotation and size of individual meta-atoms, while the DoP is controlled independently via the quantity ratio. This establishes a direct and analytically tractable mapping between metasurface geometry and polarization space, offering new physical insights into metasurface-based polarization control. A computationally efficient algorithm optimizes the metasurface arrangement, achieving a polarization similarity (evaluated by Stokes Euclidean Distance) of 0.93 in theory and 0.90 in experiment. Our findings demonstrate that the generalized lattice approach provides an effective and versatile route to full-Stokes polarization control with greater flexibility than conventional metasurface designs.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"35 1","pages":"33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02049-9
Pedro Tovar, Jean Pierre von der Weid, Yuan Wang, Liang Chen, Xiaoyi Bao
Fibre laser-sensors have emerged as a promising solution for long-distance sensing, offering high SNR and fine spatial resolution. However, their adoption is constrained by fundamental limitations: they typically require a fixed mirror at the sensing location or access to both fibre ends for electronic selection of the sensing location. This work introduces a random optical parametric oscillator (R-OPO) fibre sensor that addresses these challenges. Similar to a laser-sensor but exploiting modulation instability and continuous weak reflections, the R-OPO sensor enables long-distance access ( > 25 km) sensing by arbitrarily addressing 1 m-long fibre sections over a long sensing range ( > 1 km). It supports both backward and forward sensing, but unlike most forward sensors, the sensing location information is readily available at both fibre ends. Most importantly, it eliminates the need for a fixed mirror at the sensing location, offering electronically tunable sensing locations. The proposed detection scheme enables straightforward quantitative measurement of dynamic perturbations, requiring only a single fast Fourier transform, thus enabling real-time monitoring. Temperature and strain noise-limited sensitivities of 10.73 ({mu }^{o}C/sqrt{Hz}) and 80.6 (pvarepsilon /sqrt{Hz}) were obtained. Taking advantage of four-wave-mixing by-products inherent to R-OPOs, the sensitivity to external perturbations could be enhanced by a factor of two compared to conventional Rayleigh-based sensors. A simple frequency-unwrapping algorithm is proposed to extend the dynamic measurement range, and the continuous monitoring of a 2 °C temperature increase was accurately measured. This first demonstration of a R-OPO fibre sensor establishes the foundations for parametric fibre sensors.
{"title":"Random optical parametric oscillator fibre sensor","authors":"Pedro Tovar, Jean Pierre von der Weid, Yuan Wang, Liang Chen, Xiaoyi Bao","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02049-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02049-9","url":null,"abstract":"Fibre laser-sensors have emerged as a promising solution for long-distance sensing, offering high SNR and fine spatial resolution. However, their adoption is constrained by fundamental limitations: they typically require a fixed mirror at the sensing location or access to both fibre ends for electronic selection of the sensing location. This work introduces a random optical parametric oscillator (R-OPO) fibre sensor that addresses these challenges. Similar to a laser-sensor but exploiting modulation instability and continuous weak reflections, the R-OPO sensor enables long-distance access ( > 25 km) sensing by arbitrarily addressing 1 m-long fibre sections over a long sensing range ( > 1 km). It supports both backward and forward sensing, but unlike most forward sensors, the sensing location information is readily available at both fibre ends. Most importantly, it eliminates the need for a fixed mirror at the sensing location, offering electronically tunable sensing locations. The proposed detection scheme enables straightforward quantitative measurement of dynamic perturbations, requiring only a single fast Fourier transform, thus enabling real-time monitoring. Temperature and strain noise-limited sensitivities of 10.73 ({mu }^{o}C/sqrt{Hz}) and 80.6 (pvarepsilon /sqrt{Hz}) were obtained. Taking advantage of four-wave-mixing by-products inherent to R-OPOs, the sensitivity to external perturbations could be enhanced by a factor of two compared to conventional Rayleigh-based sensors. A simple frequency-unwrapping algorithm is proposed to extend the dynamic measurement range, and the continuous monitoring of a 2 °C temperature increase was accurately measured. This first demonstration of a R-OPO fibre sensor establishes the foundations for parametric fibre sensors.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"3 1","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02108-1
Stephan Wong, Simon Betzold, Sven Höfling, Alexander Cerjan
The propagation path of topologically protected states is bound to the interface between regions with different topology, and as such, the functionality of linear photonic devices leveraging these states is fixed during fabrication. Here, we propose a mechanism for dynamic control over a driven dissipative system’s local topology, yielding reconfigurable topological interfaces and thus tunable paths for protected routing. We illustrate our approach in non-resonantly pumped polariton lattices, where the nonlinear interaction between the polaritons and the exciton reservoir due to non-resonant pumping can yield picosecond-scale changes in the propagation paths of the chiral edge states. To analytically confirm the numerically observed topological dynamics, we generalize the spectral localizer framework to non-linear non-Hermitian Chern materials and apply this framework to a continuous model of the polariton system based on a driven-dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii equation. In doing so, we show that the local changes in the polariton lattice’s topology are captured by a local Chern marker. Looking forward, we anticipate such reconfigurable topological routing will enable the realization of novel classes of topological photonic devices.
{"title":"Dynamically reconfigurable topological routing in nonlinear photonic systems","authors":"Stephan Wong, Simon Betzold, Sven Höfling, Alexander Cerjan","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02108-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02108-1","url":null,"abstract":"The propagation path of topologically protected states is bound to the interface between regions with different topology, and as such, the functionality of linear photonic devices leveraging these states is fixed during fabrication. Here, we propose a mechanism for dynamic control over a driven dissipative system’s local topology, yielding reconfigurable topological interfaces and thus tunable paths for protected routing. We illustrate our approach in non-resonantly pumped polariton lattices, where the nonlinear interaction between the polaritons and the exciton reservoir due to non-resonant pumping can yield picosecond-scale changes in the propagation paths of the chiral edge states. To analytically confirm the numerically observed topological dynamics, we generalize the spectral localizer framework to non-linear non-Hermitian Chern materials and apply this framework to a continuous model of the polariton system based on a driven-dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii equation. In doing so, we show that the local changes in the polariton lattice’s topology are captured by a local Chern marker. Looking forward, we anticipate such reconfigurable topological routing will enable the realization of novel classes of topological photonic devices.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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