This work demonstrates a novel crystal-in-glass composite structure for multifunctional micro-nano light sources in integrated photonics. Based on a Er3+/Yb3+-codoped glass-ceramic (GC) whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity incorporating Ba2TiGe2O8 (BTG) crystals, this microcavity enables dual-mode responses combining upconversion (UC) and frequency-doubled lasing. Made from a low-phonon-energy germanate glass matrix codoped with Er3+/Yb3+ for UC gain, the microcavity is crystallized to form BTG microcrystals for second harmonic generation (SHG). By leveraging the high-quality factor (Q ≈ 5.7 × 104) and small mode volume, we achieve green (550 nm) and red (660 nm) UC lasing in a 30-μm-diameter microcavity with low thresholds of 13.31 μW and 12.97 μW, respectively. Benefitted from the random quasi-phase-matching (RQPM) mechanism in BTG GC, the microcavity also demonstrates an ultrabroadband frequency-doubling response from 900 to 1200 nm. By combining tapered fiber near-field coupling and femtosecond free-space pumping, we achieve simultaneous output of green/red UC lasing and frequency-doubled lasing within a single microcavity. We believe this work offers insights into hybrid material design and cooperative optical field manipulation for tunable lasers and on-chip nonlinear photonic systems.
{"title":"A monolithic microcavity laser with simultaneous upconversion and frequency-doubled lasing via crystal-in-glass engineering.","authors":"Shengda Ye,Jianhao Chen,Jiayue He,Weiwei Chen,Xiongjian Huang,Xiaofeng Liu,Jianrong Qiu,Zhongmin Yang,Guoping Dong","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02162-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02162-9","url":null,"abstract":"This work demonstrates a novel crystal-in-glass composite structure for multifunctional micro-nano light sources in integrated photonics. Based on a Er3+/Yb3+-codoped glass-ceramic (GC) whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity incorporating Ba2TiGe2O8 (BTG) crystals, this microcavity enables dual-mode responses combining upconversion (UC) and frequency-doubled lasing. Made from a low-phonon-energy germanate glass matrix codoped with Er3+/Yb3+ for UC gain, the microcavity is crystallized to form BTG microcrystals for second harmonic generation (SHG). By leveraging the high-quality factor (Q ≈ 5.7 × 104) and small mode volume, we achieve green (550 nm) and red (660 nm) UC lasing in a 30-μm-diameter microcavity with low thresholds of 13.31 μW and 12.97 μW, respectively. Benefitted from the random quasi-phase-matching (RQPM) mechanism in BTG GC, the microcavity also demonstrates an ultrabroadband frequency-doubling response from 900 to 1200 nm. By combining tapered fiber near-field coupling and femtosecond free-space pumping, we achieve simultaneous output of green/red UC lasing and frequency-doubled lasing within a single microcavity. We believe this work offers insights into hybrid material design and cooperative optical field manipulation for tunable lasers and on-chip nonlinear photonic systems.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"12 1","pages":"86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146044681","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}
Real-time dynamic and three-dimensional (3D) X-ray imaging are the most challenging types of X-ray imaging technology, placing more rigorous standards on scintillators. Lead-based (Pb 2+ ) organic-inorganic hybrid halide (OIHH) scintillators with high X-ray absorption coefficients have been demonstrated to exhibit excellent scintillation performance. However, their toxicity and instability hindered further development, and it is necessary to explore novel low-toxic metal-based OIHHs possessing excellent scintillation performance. Antimony-based (Sb 3+ ) OIHHs are not only environmentally friendly, but also show good stability compared to Pb 2+ -based OIHHs, which make them promising candidates as excellent scintillators. Currently, the understanding of Sb 3+ -based OIHH scintillators for X-ray detection and imaging is still in infancy and requires further exploration. Herein, we designed two Sb 3+ -based OIHH crystals of (BPP) 2 SbCl 5 (CP1) and (BPP) 2 SbCl 5 0.5 H 2 O (CP2), which have very similar crystal structures except the introduction of water molecules in CP2. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that CP2 has larger lattice distortion and smaller freedom of motion, which can promote the self-trapped excitons emissions. A flexible scintillator screen based on CP2 crystals was prepared and applied for real-time dynamic and 3D X-ray imaging, which is the first time for Sb 3+ -based OIHH scintillators and significantly broadens the potential of Sb 3+ -based OIHH scintillators.
{"title":"Highly luminescent organic-inorganic hybrid antimony halide scintillators for real-time dynamic and 3D X-ray imaging","authors":"Haixia Cui, Wanjiao Li, Qianxi Li, Shaolong Wang, Mingye Zhu, Yongjing Deng, Shujuan Liu, Qiang Zhao","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02152-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02152-x","url":null,"abstract":"Real-time dynamic and three-dimensional (3D) X-ray imaging are the most challenging types of X-ray imaging technology, placing more rigorous standards on scintillators. Lead-based (Pb <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> ) organic-inorganic hybrid halide (OIHH) scintillators with high X-ray absorption coefficients have been demonstrated to exhibit excellent scintillation performance. However, their toxicity and instability hindered further development, and it is necessary to explore novel low-toxic metal-based OIHHs possessing excellent scintillation performance. Antimony-based (Sb <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> ) OIHHs are not only environmentally friendly, but also show good stability compared to Pb <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -based OIHHs, which make them promising candidates as excellent scintillators. Currently, the understanding of Sb <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> -based OIHH scintillators for X-ray detection and imaging is still in infancy and requires further exploration. Herein, we designed two Sb <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> -based OIHH crystals of (BPP) <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> SbCl <jats:sub>5</jats:sub> (CP1) and (BPP) <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> SbCl <jats:sub>5</jats:sub> 0.5 H <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> O (CP2), which have very similar crystal structures except the introduction of water molecules in CP2. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that CP2 has larger lattice distortion and smaller freedom of motion, which can promote the self-trapped excitons emissions. A flexible scintillator screen based on CP2 crystals was prepared and applied for real-time dynamic and 3D X-ray imaging, which is the first time for Sb <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> -based OIHH scintillators and significantly broadens the potential of Sb <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> -based OIHH scintillators.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048316","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 : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02159-4
Yingsheng Wang, Peipei Dang, Zixun Zeng, Dongjie Liu, Guodong Zhang, Long Tian, Kai Li, Ping’an Ma, Yi Wei, Hongzhou Lian, Zhiyao Hou, Guogang Li, Jun Lin
Lead-free halide double perovskites (LFHDPs) have gained prominence as eco-friendly optoelectronic materials due to their structural stability and flexible tunability. Lanthanide (Ln 3+ ) ions have rich energy levels, which can endow LFHDP materials with emissions ranging from visible to near-infrared (NIR) region through the ion doping strategy. However, their NIR applications remain limited by narrowband emission and low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) due to weak absorption cross-section. Herein, Cs 2 NaInCl 6 :Ln 3+ were successfully synthesized, and the problem of low absorption of Ln 3+ ions is effectively solved. Incorporating Mo 4+ /Ag + ions achieves a near-unity PLQY and expands the excitation spectrum across the full visible range and a small part of NIR region (250–850 nm). Mechanism analysis revealed synergistic energy transfer pathways involving self-trapping excitons and intermediate energy states of Mo 4+ ion, enhancing both photon absorption and PLQY. The universal applicability of this approach has been validated across Bi-based and multiple lanthanide ions (Ln: Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). These optimized materials demonstrate exceptional broadband emission characteristics suitable for multi-scenario NIR applications, including light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), night vision, imaging, anti-counterfeiting technologies. This co-doping methodology establishes a versatile framework for overcoming inherent limitations in Ln 3+ -activated materials, offering new possibilities for efficient NIR optoelectronic devices.
{"title":"Sensitizing effect of lanthanide luminescence by Mo4+/Ag+ in double perovskites: great enhancement of near-infrared emission via wide range of excitation (250–850 nm)","authors":"Yingsheng Wang, Peipei Dang, Zixun Zeng, Dongjie Liu, Guodong Zhang, Long Tian, Kai Li, Ping’an Ma, Yi Wei, Hongzhou Lian, Zhiyao Hou, Guogang Li, Jun Lin","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02159-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02159-4","url":null,"abstract":"Lead-free halide double perovskites (LFHDPs) have gained prominence as eco-friendly optoelectronic materials due to their structural stability and flexible tunability. Lanthanide (Ln <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> ) ions have rich energy levels, which can endow LFHDP materials with emissions ranging from visible to near-infrared (NIR) region through the ion doping strategy. However, their NIR applications remain limited by narrowband emission and low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) due to weak absorption cross-section. Herein, Cs <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NaInCl <jats:sub>6</jats:sub> :Ln <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> were successfully synthesized, and the problem of low absorption of Ln <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> ions is effectively solved. Incorporating Mo <jats:sup>4+</jats:sup> /Ag <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> ions achieves a near-unity PLQY and expands the excitation spectrum across the full visible range and a small part of NIR region (250–850 nm). Mechanism analysis revealed synergistic energy transfer pathways involving self-trapping excitons and intermediate energy states of Mo <jats:sup>4+</jats:sup> ion, enhancing both photon absorption and PLQY. The universal applicability of this approach has been validated across Bi-based and multiple lanthanide ions (Ln: Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). These optimized materials demonstrate exceptional broadband emission characteristics suitable for multi-scenario NIR applications, including light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), night vision, imaging, anti-counterfeiting technologies. This co-doping methodology establishes a versatile framework for overcoming inherent limitations in Ln <jats:sup>3+</jats:sup> -activated materials, offering new possibilities for efficient NIR optoelectronic devices.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048315","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}
Entanglement-assisted quantum communication has substantial advantages in surpassing the power of classical communication by utilizing the entangled state. Up to now, most of entanglement-assisted quantum communications with dense coding are limited to the proof-of-principle experiments. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the deterministic entanglement-assisted quantum communication based on the continuous-variable (CV) entangled state over 20 km commercial fiber channels. We propose a new CV dense coding scheme with improved classical signals and show that the transmission distance of CV entanglement-assisted quantum communication can be extended compared with that using fixed classical signals. By applying the frequency division multiplexing technique, we simultaneously decode 10 classical signals submerged in the shot noise of coherent state with the help of CV entangled state after the transmission through a 20.121 km fiber channel. The results show that around 3 times of channel capacity in classical communication with coherent state are achieved in the CV entanglement-assisted communication with the frequency division multiplexing technique. Our result takes a crucial step towards realizing the deterministic metropolitan entanglement-assisted quantum communication in practical quantum channels.
{"title":"Deterministic entanglement-assisted quantum communication over 20 km fiber channel","authors":"Siyu Ren, Yanru Yan, Yalin Li, Chao Li, Dongmei Han, Xuezhi Zhu, Meihong Wang, Xiaolong Su","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02173-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02173-6","url":null,"abstract":"Entanglement-assisted quantum communication has substantial advantages in surpassing the power of classical communication by utilizing the entangled state. Up to now, most of entanglement-assisted quantum communications with dense coding are limited to the proof-of-principle experiments. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the deterministic entanglement-assisted quantum communication based on the continuous-variable (CV) entangled state over 20 km commercial fiber channels. We propose a new CV dense coding scheme with improved classical signals and show that the transmission distance of CV entanglement-assisted quantum communication can be extended compared with that using fixed classical signals. By applying the frequency division multiplexing technique, we simultaneously decode 10 classical signals submerged in the shot noise of coherent state with the help of CV entangled state after the transmission through a 20.121 km fiber channel. The results show that around 3 times of channel capacity in classical communication with coherent state are achieved in the CV entanglement-assisted communication with the frequency division multiplexing technique. Our result takes a crucial step towards realizing the deterministic metropolitan entanglement-assisted quantum communication in practical quantum channels.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033174","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 : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02132-1
Yuji Zhao,Tao Li,Boon Ooi
A high-performance miniaturized on-chip spectral imager operating in the ultraviolet region is demonstrated based on an AlGaN/GaN cascaded photodiode array. This work extends spectral imaging into the ultraviolet regimes by leveraging the mature III-nitride technologies and establishes a scalable pathway toward massive production of compact, high-resolution spectral imagers.
{"title":"III-Nitrides empower miniaturized spectral imager in ultraviolet.","authors":"Yuji Zhao,Tao Li,Boon Ooi","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02132-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02132-1","url":null,"abstract":"A high-performance miniaturized on-chip spectral imager operating in the ultraviolet region is demonstrated based on an AlGaN/GaN cascaded photodiode array. This work extends spectral imaging into the ultraviolet regimes by leveraging the mature III-nitride technologies and establishes a scalable pathway toward massive production of compact, high-resolution spectral imagers.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"6 1","pages":"82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146021520","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}
Metasurface-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is essential for high spatiotemporal resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging in robotic and autonomous systems. Recent advances in inertia-free scanning techniques—such as acousto-optic and spectral scanning—have propelled the field forward. Nevertheless, key spatiotemporal metrics, including point acquisition rate (PAR), field-of-view (FOV), and imaging resolution, remain fundamentally constrained. These challenges are particularly acute in dual-axis LiDARs, where inter-axis rate mismatch and beam astigmatism degrade temporal and spatial resolution, respectively. Here, we present a wide-FOV, high spatiotemporal resolution LiDAR architecture with astigmatic metalens (AML) coordinated spectral-acousto-optic scanning. Consequently, a frame-wise point acquisition rate (FPAR) of 36.6 MHz (∼5-fold improvement over existing reports) and a wide FOV of 102° are simultaneously achieved. This breakthrough redefines LiDAR’s potential for ultra-high-speed, high-precision perception, enhancing applications such as autonomous driving with improved obstacle detection and safety at high speeds.
{"title":"Spectral-acoustic-coordinated astigmatic metalens for wide field-of-view and high spatiotemporal resolution 3D imaging","authors":"Shujian Gong, Yinghui Guo, Xiaoyin Li, Mingbo Pu, Peng Tian, Qi Zhang, Lianwei Chen, Wenyi Ye, Heping Liu, Fei Zhang, Mingfeng Xu, Xiangang Luo","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02180-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02180-7","url":null,"abstract":"Metasurface-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is essential for high spatiotemporal resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging in robotic and autonomous systems. Recent advances in inertia-free scanning techniques—such as acousto-optic and spectral scanning—have propelled the field forward. Nevertheless, key spatiotemporal metrics, including point acquisition rate (PAR), field-of-view (FOV), and imaging resolution, remain fundamentally constrained. These challenges are particularly acute in dual-axis LiDARs, where inter-axis rate mismatch and beam astigmatism degrade temporal and spatial resolution, respectively. Here, we present a wide-FOV, high spatiotemporal resolution LiDAR architecture with astigmatic metalens (AML) coordinated spectral-acousto-optic scanning. Consequently, a frame-wise point acquisition rate (FPAR) of 36.6 MHz (∼5-fold improvement over existing reports) and a wide FOV of 102° are simultaneously achieved. This breakthrough redefines LiDAR’s potential for ultra-high-speed, high-precision perception, enhancing applications such as autonomous driving with improved obstacle detection and safety at high speeds.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033173","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}
Ultrahigh-Q optical resonances are the cornerstone of next-generation nanophotonic technologies, but their simultaneous realization of robustness and on-chip practicality remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present tetramer composite metasurfaces capable of supporting two distinct classes of ultrahigh-Q resonances: centroid symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (SP-BICs) and area-conserved guided-mode resonances (GMRs). By employing a four-hole supercell design, we demonstrate that centering each hole within its subcell preserves C 4v symmetry, thereby enabling SP-BICs. Controlled lateral displacement transforms them into quasi-BICs with Q > 10⁶. Independently, enforcing diagonal-hole area conservation within the super unit cell generates degenerate GMRs with Q > 10⁸, which exhibit remarkable stability across a broad wave vector range. Breaking this area conservation splits the GMRs into paired ultrahigh-Q resonances, while adjusting the center-to-center distance of air holes lifts their degeneracy. Experimentally, we validate both resonance types using silicon photonic crystal slabs, achieving measured Q-factors exceeding 10,000, with a maximum value of 43,700. Such ultrahigh-Q composite-metasurfaces provide a versatile platform of enhancing light-matter interactions.
{"title":"Robust ultrahigh-Q resonances in tetramer metasurfaces through centroid symmetry protection and area conservation","authors":"Chaobiao Zhou, Rong Jin, Haoxuan He, Jing Huang, Guanhai Li, Lujun Huang","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02164-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02164-7","url":null,"abstract":"Ultrahigh-Q optical resonances are the cornerstone of next-generation nanophotonic technologies, but their simultaneous realization of robustness and on-chip practicality remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present tetramer composite metasurfaces capable of supporting two distinct classes of ultrahigh-Q resonances: centroid symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (SP-BICs) and area-conserved guided-mode resonances (GMRs). By employing a four-hole supercell design, we demonstrate that centering each hole within its subcell preserves C <jats:sub>4v</jats:sub> symmetry, thereby enabling SP-BICs. Controlled lateral displacement transforms them into quasi-BICs with Q > 10⁶. Independently, enforcing diagonal-hole area conservation within the super unit cell generates degenerate GMRs with Q > 10⁸, which exhibit remarkable stability across a broad wave vector range. Breaking this area conservation splits the GMRs into paired ultrahigh-Q resonances, while adjusting the center-to-center distance of air holes lifts their degeneracy. Experimentally, we validate both resonance types using silicon photonic crystal slabs, achieving measured Q-factors exceeding 10,000, with a maximum value of 43,700. Such ultrahigh-Q composite-metasurfaces provide a versatile platform of enhancing light-matter interactions.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033498","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}
It is intractable to perform information processing and computation on single ultrafast optical pulses, within picoseconds or even femtoseconds. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an optical spatiotemporal differentiator, a mirror-symmetry-breaking dielectric metagrating, which performs analog computations of both spatial and temporal differentiations on single ultrafast optical wavepackets. The spatiotemporal differentiator is designed with a transfer function with linear dependence on spatial wavevector and temporal frequency and fabricated by using a double-exposure E-beam lithography process. We achieve the first-order spatiotemporal differentiation with experimental resolutions of approximately 14 μm (in space) and 260 fs (in time). Furthermore, we report a parabolic relationship between the transverse velocity of a front-tilted photonic wavepacket and the normalized intensity of its first-order spatiotemporal-differentiation wavepacket. This relationship allows direct measurement of the transverse velocity using only the normalized intensity, fundamentally simplifying velocity detection. These capabilities of optical spatiotemporal computation endow emerging space-time optics with fundamental computation blocks.
{"title":"Experimental demonstration of spatiotemporal analog computation in ultrafast optics.","authors":"Junyi Huang,Dong Zhao,Jixuan Shi,Hongliang Zhang,Hengyi Wang,Fang-Wen Sun,Qiwen Zhan,Shiyao Zhu,Kun Huang,Zhichao Ruan","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02109-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02109-0","url":null,"abstract":"It is intractable to perform information processing and computation on single ultrafast optical pulses, within picoseconds or even femtoseconds. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an optical spatiotemporal differentiator, a mirror-symmetry-breaking dielectric metagrating, which performs analog computations of both spatial and temporal differentiations on single ultrafast optical wavepackets. The spatiotemporal differentiator is designed with a transfer function with linear dependence on spatial wavevector and temporal frequency and fabricated by using a double-exposure E-beam lithography process. We achieve the first-order spatiotemporal differentiation with experimental resolutions of approximately 14 μm (in space) and 260 fs (in time). Furthermore, we report a parabolic relationship between the transverse velocity of a front-tilted photonic wavepacket and the normalized intensity of its first-order spatiotemporal-differentiation wavepacket. This relationship allows direct measurement of the transverse velocity using only the normalized intensity, fundamentally simplifying velocity detection. These capabilities of optical spatiotemporal computation endow emerging space-time optics with fundamental computation blocks.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"31 1","pages":"77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015241","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 : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02102-7
Qingsong Yao,Zile Li,Guoxing Zheng
The ability to create complex three-dimensional structures of light is extremely challenging. Now, a technique combining Dammann optimization with metasurfaces has been developed, enabling control over all parameters, including polarization, phase, angular momentum, and spatial modes. The generation of three-dimensional generalized vortex beams can open new horizons for their applications in photonics.
{"title":"Generation of vectorial generalized vortex array with metasurfaces.","authors":"Qingsong Yao,Zile Li,Guoxing Zheng","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02102-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02102-7","url":null,"abstract":"The ability to create complex three-dimensional structures of light is extremely challenging. Now, a technique combining Dammann optimization with metasurfaces has been developed, enabling control over all parameters, including polarization, phase, angular momentum, and spatial modes. The generation of three-dimensional generalized vortex beams can open new horizons for their applications in photonics.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"07 1","pages":"78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015332","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}
Dispersion engineering is pivotal for nonlinear optics, yet it often faces challenges posed by material and structural limitations. Here, we establish rotational symmetry breaking as the guiding principle for dispersion engineering in optical microcavities. Through boundary deformation, multi-branch global dispersion emerges in island modes, and local dispersion is controlled via resonance-assisted tunneling between quasi-whispering gallery modes. Enabled by the global dispersion, the optical parametric oscillation is predicted in blue-violet light spectrum with high efficiency (>55%) and large frequency separation (>180 THz). Using the local dispersion engineering, the doubly-resonant enhancement of second-harmonic generation is regulated by the resonance-assisted tunneling.
{"title":"Dispersion engineering by rotational symmetry breaking in an optical microcavity.","authors":"Jian-Zheng Ren,Li-Jie Li,Rui-Qi Zhang,Zhi-Yan Wang,Qi-Tao Cao,Yun-Feng Xiao","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02169-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02169-2","url":null,"abstract":"Dispersion engineering is pivotal for nonlinear optics, yet it often faces challenges posed by material and structural limitations. Here, we establish rotational symmetry breaking as the guiding principle for dispersion engineering in optical microcavities. Through boundary deformation, multi-branch global dispersion emerges in island modes, and local dispersion is controlled via resonance-assisted tunneling between quasi-whispering gallery modes. Enabled by the global dispersion, the optical parametric oscillation is predicted in blue-violet light spectrum with high efficiency (>55%) and large frequency separation (>180 THz). Using the local dispersion engineering, the doubly-resonant enhancement of second-harmonic generation is regulated by the resonance-assisted tunneling.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"5 1","pages":"81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015312","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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