Pub Date : 2025-12-12DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02201
Siyang Cheng, Nahima Saliba, Gabriella Gagliano, Prakash Joshi, Anna-Karin Gustavsson
Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has redefined optical imaging by enabling imaging beyond the diffraction limit, allowing for nanoscale investigation into cellular architecture and molecular dynamics. Light sheet illumination enhances SMLM through optical sectioning of the sample, which drastically improves the signal-to-background ratio and reduces photobleaching and photodamage. Lattice light sheet (LLS) microscopy, in which a 2D optical lattice is implemented for light sheet illumination, can provide exceptional sectioning and extended imaging depth when imaging in scattering samples. However, its conventional dual-objective design poses challenges for certain applications. Here, we present an imaging platform that implements LLS illumination with a reflective single-objective geometry (soLLS) inside a microfluidic chip, enabling the use of a single high numerical aperture objective for both illumination and detection, mitigating constraints of a dual-objective setup. We provide a quantitative characterization of the propagation properties of the soLLS and demonstrate that it outperforms conventional Gaussian light sheets in terms of useful field of view and sectioning when propagating through scattering samples. Next, by combining soLLS with point spread function engineering, we demonstrate the platform for improved 3D single-molecule super-resolution imaging of multiple targets across multiple cells. The soLLS imaging platform thus expands investigations of nanoscale cellular and intercellular structures and mechanisms into more challenging samples for a wide range of applications in biology and biomedicine.
{"title":"Single-Objective Lattice Light Sheet Microscopy with Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Imaging of Mammalian Cells","authors":"Siyang Cheng, Nahima Saliba, Gabriella Gagliano, Prakash Joshi, Anna-Karin Gustavsson","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02201","url":null,"abstract":"Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has redefined optical imaging by enabling imaging beyond the diffraction limit, allowing for nanoscale investigation into cellular architecture and molecular dynamics. Light sheet illumination enhances SMLM through optical sectioning of the sample, which drastically improves the signal-to-background ratio and reduces photobleaching and photodamage. Lattice light sheet (LLS) microscopy, in which a 2D optical lattice is implemented for light sheet illumination, can provide exceptional sectioning and extended imaging depth when imaging in scattering samples. However, its conventional dual-objective design poses challenges for certain applications. Here, we present an imaging platform that implements LLS illumination with a reflective single-objective geometry (soLLS) inside a microfluidic chip, enabling the use of a single high numerical aperture objective for both illumination and detection, mitigating constraints of a dual-objective setup. We provide a quantitative characterization of the propagation properties of the soLLS and demonstrate that it outperforms conventional Gaussian light sheets in terms of useful field of view and sectioning when propagating through scattering samples. Next, by combining soLLS with point spread function engineering, we demonstrate the platform for improved 3D single-molecule super-resolution imaging of multiple targets across multiple cells. The soLLS imaging platform thus expands investigations of nanoscale cellular and intercellular structures and mechanisms into more challenging samples for a wide range of applications in biology and biomedicine.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145731830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-12DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01859
Si-Yu Chen, Jun Ye, Lei Du, Wan-Ru Zhang, Wen-Wen Cheng, Jun-Hong He, Yi-Dong Guo, Jiang-Ming Xu, Rong-Tao Su, Pu Zhou, Zong-Fu Jiang
The manipulation of spectral-temporal characteristics continues to be a fundamental research focus in laser systems. In this study, leveraging the Vernier effect between two sets of longitudinal modes and a gain-mediated mode-selection mechanism in a fiber laser, we demonstrate controllable spectral transitions from single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) to dual-longitudinal-mode (DLM) and, ultimately, multi-longitudinal-mode (MLM) operation. Concurrently, the temporal profiles evolved from constant-intensity outputs to sinusoidal waveforms and finally noise-like pulses. To evaluate how these spectral-temporal transitions affect nonlinear phenomena, we employed second-harmonic generation (SHG) as a representative nonlinear process and systematically analyzed the output performance of the SHG wave through experimental measurements and theoretical modeling. Our findings reveal that increasing the number of longitudinal modes in a fiber laser substantially enhances the SHG effect, with MLM operation yielding nearly double the output power and conversion efficiency compared to SLM operation. This work advances the understanding of spectral-temporal dynamics in fiber lasers and their interplay with nonlinear optical effects, while also providing insights for applications in spectroscopy, quantum information processing, underwater optical detection, and related fields.
{"title":"Harnessing Longitudinal Modes of a Fiber Laser for Nonlinear Effects Enhancement","authors":"Si-Yu Chen, Jun Ye, Lei Du, Wan-Ru Zhang, Wen-Wen Cheng, Jun-Hong He, Yi-Dong Guo, Jiang-Ming Xu, Rong-Tao Su, Pu Zhou, Zong-Fu Jiang","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01859","url":null,"abstract":"The manipulation of spectral-temporal characteristics continues to be a fundamental research focus in laser systems. In this study, leveraging the Vernier effect between two sets of longitudinal modes and a gain-mediated mode-selection mechanism in a fiber laser, we demonstrate controllable spectral transitions from single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) to dual-longitudinal-mode (DLM) and, ultimately, multi-longitudinal-mode (MLM) operation. Concurrently, the temporal profiles evolved from constant-intensity outputs to sinusoidal waveforms and finally noise-like pulses. To evaluate how these spectral-temporal transitions affect nonlinear phenomena, we employed second-harmonic generation (SHG) as a representative nonlinear process and systematically analyzed the output performance of the SHG wave through experimental measurements and theoretical modeling. Our findings reveal that increasing the number of longitudinal modes in a fiber laser substantially enhances the SHG effect, with MLM operation yielding nearly double the output power and conversion efficiency compared to SLM operation. This work advances the understanding of spectral-temporal dynamics in fiber lasers and their interplay with nonlinear optical effects, while also providing insights for applications in spectroscopy, quantum information processing, underwater optical detection, and related fields.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145729189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02117
Farhan Bin Tarik, Yingjie Lao, Mustafa Hammood, Jonathan Barnes, Madeline Mahanloo, Lukas Chrostowski, Taufiquar Khan, Judson D. Ryckman
Emerging applications of photonics in computing, sensing, and security increasingly demand complex input–output behaviors, including highly nonlinear transformations of optical signals. Traditional photonic systems rely on highly structured components with symmetric geometries and low-entropy modal responses to achieve predictable and analytically describable behavior. To achieve expressive functionality, this paradigm often requires large networks of fabrication-sensitive interferometers or resonators and substantial hardware error correction to restore deterministic operation. Here, we demonstrate an alternative paradigm rooted in low-symmetry, disordered integrated photonic circuits, which provide intrinsically enhanced modal diversity and spectral complexity, enabling highly nonlinear transformations of input signals into information-rich outputs. Our devices, physically unclonable moiré quasicrystal interferometers integrated on a silicon photonics platform, exhibit aperiodic and reconfigurable spectral responses and are characterized by analyticity breaking and erasable mutual information. Using dynamic thermo-optic control to drive their complex spectral dynamics, we demonstrate that these devices function as reconfigurable physical unclonable functions (rPUFs). We also highlight their ability to perform high-dimensional input–output transformations, emulating reservoir-inspired information processing in a compact photonic platform. This work bridges the gap between engineered and natural complexity in photonic systems, revealing new opportunities for scalable, energy-efficient, and information-dense optoelectronics with applications in secure communications, hardware security, advanced sensing, and optical information processing. Our results establish low-symmetry integrated photonics as a powerful resource for complex signal manipulation in photonic systems.
{"title":"Optoelectronic Physical Unclonable Functions and Reservoir-Inspired Computation with Low Symmetry Integrated Photonics","authors":"Farhan Bin Tarik, Yingjie Lao, Mustafa Hammood, Jonathan Barnes, Madeline Mahanloo, Lukas Chrostowski, Taufiquar Khan, Judson D. Ryckman","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02117","url":null,"abstract":"Emerging applications of photonics in computing, sensing, and security increasingly demand complex input–output behaviors, including highly nonlinear transformations of optical signals. Traditional photonic systems rely on highly structured components with symmetric geometries and low-entropy modal responses to achieve predictable and analytically describable behavior. To achieve expressive functionality, this paradigm often requires large networks of fabrication-sensitive interferometers or resonators and substantial hardware error correction to restore deterministic operation. Here, we demonstrate an alternative paradigm rooted in low-symmetry, disordered integrated photonic circuits, which provide intrinsically enhanced modal diversity and spectral complexity, enabling highly nonlinear transformations of input signals into information-rich outputs. Our devices, physically unclonable moiré quasicrystal interferometers integrated on a silicon photonics platform, exhibit aperiodic and reconfigurable spectral responses and are characterized by analyticity breaking and erasable mutual information. Using dynamic thermo-optic control to drive their complex spectral dynamics, we demonstrate that these devices function as reconfigurable physical unclonable functions (rPUFs). We also highlight their ability to perform high-dimensional input–output transformations, emulating reservoir-inspired information processing in a compact photonic platform. This work bridges the gap between engineered and natural complexity in photonic systems, revealing new opportunities for scalable, energy-efficient, and information-dense optoelectronics with applications in secure communications, hardware security, advanced sensing, and optical information processing. Our results establish low-symmetry integrated photonics as a powerful resource for complex signal manipulation in photonic systems.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02056
Xianjun Wang, Ke Jiang, Kexi Liu, Zi-Hui Zhang, Bingxiang Wang, Shanli Zhang, Jianwei Ben, Shunpeng Lu, Xiaojuan Sun, Dabing Li
AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes with peak wavelengths below 250 nm (far-UVC) have attracted significant attention. The issue of reduced light extraction efficiency (LEE), mainly caused by predominant transverse magnetic polarized light emission, still remains unresolved. Here, we propose regulating the light-emission polarization property of far-UVC multi-quantum-wells (MQWs) using built-in electric fields. By doping Si into the MQW barriers, the built-in electric field in the wells is modified, achieving an adjustable degree of polarization from 0.26 to 0.42. It is observed that as the built-in electric field increases, the heavy hole subband in the wells approaches the valence band edge related to the crystal field split-off hole (CH) subband, but the wave function overlap between conduction band electrons and HH subband holes decreases related to that between CBEs and CH subband holes. As the electric field in the wells lifts, the transverse electric emission proportion initially rises and then falls. It is because the built-in electric field can alter the quantum confinement effect and the carrier spatial distribution. This work provides a novel method for controlling the optical polarization of AlGaN-based far-UVC MQWs, thereby enhancing LEE.
{"title":"Optical Polarization Modulation for AlGaN-Based Far-UVC MQWs by Built-in Electric Field Regulation","authors":"Xianjun Wang, Ke Jiang, Kexi Liu, Zi-Hui Zhang, Bingxiang Wang, Shanli Zhang, Jianwei Ben, Shunpeng Lu, Xiaojuan Sun, Dabing Li","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02056","url":null,"abstract":"AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes with peak wavelengths below 250 nm (far-UVC) have attracted significant attention. The issue of reduced light extraction efficiency (LEE), mainly caused by predominant transverse magnetic polarized light emission, still remains unresolved. Here, we propose regulating the light-emission polarization property of far-UVC multi-quantum-wells (MQWs) using built-in electric fields. By doping Si into the MQW barriers, the built-in electric field in the wells is modified, achieving an adjustable degree of polarization from 0.26 to 0.42. It is observed that as the built-in electric field increases, the heavy hole subband in the wells approaches the valence band edge related to the crystal field split-off hole (CH) subband, but the wave function overlap between conduction band electrons and HH subband holes decreases related to that between CBEs and CH subband holes. As the electric field in the wells lifts, the transverse electric emission proportion initially rises and then falls. It is because the built-in electric field can alter the quantum confinement effect and the carrier spatial distribution. This work provides a novel method for controlling the optical polarization of AlGaN-based far-UVC MQWs, thereby enhancing LEE.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Terahertz (THz) imaging technology has enormous application potential in fields such as nondestructive testing, biomedicine, and noninvasive detection. Recently developed spintronic THz emitters (STEs) combine low cost, ultrabroadband, and easy integration with the advantages of large size and parallel emission, making them strong contenders as THz sources in next-generation THz imaging systems. Through optical and thermal management optimization of the W (2 nm)|Co20Fe60B20 (2 nm)|Pt (2 nm) trilayer heterostructure sample, we successfully developed 4 in. intense STEs. By performing point-by-point scanning across the sample surface, we investigated the effect of the external magnetic field on the emission performance. At a pump energy of 5 mJ, the focal peak electric field of the sample reaches up to 870 kV/cm. To fully exploit the large-scale advantage of STEs, a 4 in. pulse laser with 50 mJ energy from the Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility was used. We successfully generated THz electromagnetic pulses with a focal electric field exceeding 1.2 MV/cm and a record single-pulse energy of 1.47 μJ. We further constructed a transmissive nondestructive testing imaging system using this sample, imaging a patterned metal plate with and without a corrugated cardboard obstacle. The imaging results demonstrate the potential of this sample for applications in nondestructive testing and related fields.
{"title":"Intense Spintronic Terahertz Emitter for Large-Area Imaging","authors":"Zehao Yang, Xinxiong Chen, Jiahui Li, Mingxuan Zhang, Yida Wu, Shaojie Liu, Deyin Kong, Jinguang Wang, Yifei Li, Jinglong Ma, Xin Lu, Xiufeng Han, Caihua Wan, Yutong Li, Xiaojun Wu","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01837","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01837","url":null,"abstract":"Terahertz (THz) imaging technology has enormous application potential in fields such as nondestructive testing, biomedicine, and noninvasive detection. Recently developed spintronic THz emitters (STEs) combine low cost, ultrabroadband, and easy integration with the advantages of large size and parallel emission, making them strong contenders as THz sources in next-generation THz imaging systems. Through optical and thermal management optimization of the W (2 nm)|Co<sub>20</sub>Fe<sub>60</sub>B<sub>20</sub> (2 nm)|Pt (2 nm) trilayer heterostructure sample, we successfully developed 4 in. intense STEs. By performing point-by-point scanning across the sample surface, we investigated the effect of the external magnetic field on the emission performance. At a pump energy of 5 mJ, the focal peak electric field of the sample reaches up to 870 kV/cm. To fully exploit the large-scale advantage of STEs, a 4 in. pulse laser with 50 mJ energy from the Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility was used. We successfully generated THz electromagnetic pulses with a focal electric field exceeding 1.2 MV/cm and a record single-pulse energy of 1.47 μJ. We further constructed a transmissive nondestructive testing imaging system using this sample, imaging a patterned metal plate with and without a corrugated cardboard obstacle. The imaging results demonstrate the potential of this sample for applications in nondestructive testing and related fields.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145711367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01416
Zhiyu Xu, Camron Nourshargh, Waqas Kamal, Alec Xu, Steve J. Elston, Martin J. Booth, Stephen M. Morris
In this paper, we demonstrate laser-written polymerized liquid crystal (LC) diffractive-optical elements that combine polarization-independent operation with real-time electro-optic tuning. The study explores the design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of several different polarization-independent optical elements, including diffraction gratings, Fresnel zone plates, and holograms. Leveraging two-photon polymerization direct laser writing, these polarization-independent diffractive optic elements were realized through stacked configurations, ensuring functionality even for unpolarized light conditions. The tunable and switchable nature of these LC optical elements supports dynamic imaging capabilities, including vari-focal functionality, allowing multiple focal planes for enhanced depth perception. The polarization-independent and vari-focal properties make these optical components highly desirable for next-generation applications in immersive display systems, addressing challenges such as compact form factor and visual fatigue. Additionally, the thin, lightweight design and high optical efficiency of these elements make them highly desirable for integration into adaptive optics, holographic displays, and other advanced optical technologies.
{"title":"Polarization-Independent and Electrically Tunable Polymerized Liquid Crystal Optical Elements","authors":"Zhiyu Xu, Camron Nourshargh, Waqas Kamal, Alec Xu, Steve J. Elston, Martin J. Booth, Stephen M. Morris","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01416","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01416","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we demonstrate laser-written polymerized liquid crystal (LC) diffractive-optical elements that combine polarization-independent operation with real-time electro-optic tuning. The study explores the design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of several different polarization-independent optical elements, including diffraction gratings, Fresnel zone plates, and holograms. Leveraging two-photon polymerization direct laser writing, these polarization-independent diffractive optic elements were realized through stacked configurations, ensuring functionality even for unpolarized light conditions. The tunable and switchable nature of these LC optical elements supports dynamic imaging capabilities, including vari-focal functionality, allowing multiple focal planes for enhanced depth perception. The polarization-independent and vari-focal properties make these optical components highly desirable for next-generation applications in immersive display systems, addressing challenges such as compact form factor and visual fatigue. Additionally, the thin, lightweight design and high optical efficiency of these elements make them highly desirable for integration into adaptive optics, holographic displays, and other advanced optical technologies.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"139 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02390
Mikolaj Pochylski
Brillouin microscopy is an emerging optical technique for probing mechanical properties with submicron resolution, offering fully noncontact, label-free operation. Despite its unique capabilities, broader adoption has been limited by slow acquisition speeds, particularly in systems based on scanning Fabry−Perot interferometers (FPIs). Based on prior implementations, FPIs have typically been considered too slow for practical imaging, particularly when both spatial and spectral precision are required. Here, we demonstrate that a standard multipass tandem FPI can be repurposed for full-field Brillouin imaging when operated in a spectral filtering mode. Combined with light-sheet illumination for uniform, low-dose excitation, this configuration enables rapid, spatially resolved acquisition of Brillouin spectra. By restricting scanning to a narrow frequency range around the Brillouin peak, we acquired a full 2D image within 1 min, achieving millisecond-scale single pixel dwell times and micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Results from synthetic and biological specimens demonstrate how existing FPI-based setups can be extended to full-field imaging and outline a pathway toward future dedicated FPI instruments optimized for high-speed, high-contrast Brillouin microscopy.
{"title":"Full-Field Brillouin Microscopy with a Scanning Fabry−Perot Interferometer","authors":"Mikolaj Pochylski","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02390","url":null,"abstract":"Brillouin microscopy is an emerging optical technique for probing mechanical properties with submicron resolution, offering fully noncontact, label-free operation. Despite its unique capabilities, broader adoption has been limited by slow acquisition speeds, particularly in systems based on scanning Fabry−Perot interferometers (FPIs). Based on prior implementations, FPIs have typically been considered too slow for practical imaging, particularly when both spatial and spectral precision are required. Here, we demonstrate that a standard multipass tandem FPI can be repurposed for full-field Brillouin imaging when operated in a spectral filtering mode. Combined with light-sheet illumination for uniform, low-dose excitation, this configuration enables rapid, spatially resolved acquisition of Brillouin spectra. By restricting scanning to a narrow frequency range around the Brillouin peak, we acquired a full 2D image within 1 min, achieving millisecond-scale single pixel dwell times and micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Results from synthetic and biological specimens demonstrate how existing FPI-based setups can be extended to full-field imaging and outline a pathway toward future dedicated FPI instruments optimized for high-speed, high-contrast Brillouin microscopy.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solid-state single-photon filters are pivotal for quantum networks, yet multiphoton contamination fundamentally limits their fidelity. While prior works attributed degradation primarily to residual laser reflection in bare cavities, we employ low-reflectivity micropillar cavities to minimize this background without postselection. Crucially, through dynamic analysis of the two-photon processes, we reveal that multiexcitation events and stimulated emission─rather than the residual laser light─dominate the multiphoton generation. Specifically, when 68 ps coherent light wavepackets with an average photon number of 1 are incident, the output field exhibits a single-photon purity of 0.8. Further analysis identifies that 61.9% of the two-photon component originates from multiple excitations, 37.6% from stimulated emission, and only 0.5% from the residual laser background. Our findings provide critical insights into the atom–photon interface, laying the groundwork for new design strategies toward high-purity quantum light sources.
{"title":"Revealing the Origins of Two-Photon Components in Solid-State Single-Photon Filters","authors":"Jiajun Wang, Jian Wang, Bang Wu, Xu-Jie Wang, Xinrui Mao, Zi-Qi Zeng, Li Liu, Hanqing Liu, Haiqiao Ni, Zhichuan Niu, Zhiliang Yuan","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02014","url":null,"abstract":"Solid-state single-photon filters are pivotal for quantum networks, yet multiphoton contamination fundamentally limits their fidelity. While prior works attributed degradation primarily to residual laser reflection in bare cavities, we employ low-reflectivity micropillar cavities to minimize this background without postselection. Crucially, through dynamic analysis of the two-photon processes, we reveal that multiexcitation events and stimulated emission─rather than the residual laser light─dominate the multiphoton generation. Specifically, when 68 ps coherent light wavepackets with an average photon number of 1 are incident, the output field exhibits a single-photon purity of 0.8. Further analysis identifies that 61.9% of the two-photon component originates from multiple excitations, 37.6% from stimulated emission, and only 0.5% from the residual laser background. Our findings provide critical insights into the atom–photon interface, laying the groundwork for new design strategies toward high-purity quantum light sources.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"78 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edge-enhanced imaging is critical for visualizing weakly absorbing and transparent objects. Extending this functionality into the mid-infrared (MIR) region enables chemical sensitivity and improved imaging performance for biomedical, material, and remote-sensing applications. Here, we present a wide-field MIR edge-enhanced upconversion imaging system that integrates vortex-pump complex-amplitude engineering with aperiodic quasi-phase matching. In contrast to the bright-field modality, the wide-field edge-enhanced operation shows a sensitive dependence on the crystal position relative to the Fourier plane. The system achieves single-shot operation with a 25 mm field of view and 79-μm spatial resolution, yielding a record-high space-bandwidth product of 7.9 × 104. We show that this capability enables direct visualization of phase gradients in transparent optical elements and enhances the structural contrast in biological specimens. The demonstrated architecture combines high sensitivity, spectral specificity, and robust edge detection, offering a promising route toward advanced MIR imaging in industrial inspection and biomedical diagnostics.
{"title":"Wide-Field Mid-Infrared Edge-Enhanced Upconversion Imaging","authors":"Mengyao Yu, Zhuohang Wei, Jianan Fang, Jixi Zhang, Tingting Zheng, Shina Liao, Kun Huang, Heping Zeng","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02252","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02252","url":null,"abstract":"Edge-enhanced imaging is critical for visualizing weakly absorbing and transparent objects. Extending this functionality into the mid-infrared (MIR) region enables chemical sensitivity and improved imaging performance for biomedical, material, and remote-sensing applications. Here, we present a wide-field MIR edge-enhanced upconversion imaging system that integrates vortex-pump complex-amplitude engineering with aperiodic quasi-phase matching. In contrast to the bright-field modality, the wide-field edge-enhanced operation shows a sensitive dependence on the crystal position relative to the Fourier plane. The system achieves single-shot operation with a 25 mm field of view and 79-μm spatial resolution, yielding a record-high space-bandwidth product of 7.9 × 10<sup>4</sup>. We show that this capability enables direct visualization of phase gradients in transparent optical elements and enhances the structural contrast in biological specimens. The demonstrated architecture combines high sensitivity, spectral specificity, and robust edge detection, offering a promising route toward advanced MIR imaging in industrial inspection and biomedical diagnostics.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02339
Ilaria Delbono, Pascal J. Schroeder, Boris Kalinic, Carlo Scian, Irving Alonzo-Zapata, Frédéric Dumas-Bouchiat, Corinne Champeaux, Tiziana Cesca, Giovanni Mattei, Danièle Fournier, James K. Utterback, Jose Ordonez-Miranda
The nonlinear properties of phase-change materials, and in particular their semiconductor-to-metal transition, enable a wide range of applications beyond the capabilities of traditional materials. Here, we develop and apply a technique to measure the thermal conductivity of solid materials by exploiting the strong optical contrast of the metallic and insulating domains of a VO2 thin-film transducer. This is achieved by steady-state imaging of the laser-induced semiconductor-to-metal transition in an optical microscope. We derive an analytical model for the radius of the observed metallic region as a function of the intensity of the focused laser beam. Fitting this model to the experimental data accurately yields the thermal conductivity of the underlying substrate, relying only on readily accessible experimental input parameters. We demonstrate this method for model samples of silica, sapphire, and silicon whose thermal conductivities span a range both below and above that of the VO2 transducer. The simplicity of the experimental setup makes it highly accessible and applicable to a wide range of bulk and thin-film materials with perspectives for spatially resolved thermal conductivity mapping.
{"title":"VO2 Thin-Film Transducer for Steady-State Thermal Conductivity Measurements","authors":"Ilaria Delbono, Pascal J. Schroeder, Boris Kalinic, Carlo Scian, Irving Alonzo-Zapata, Frédéric Dumas-Bouchiat, Corinne Champeaux, Tiziana Cesca, Giovanni Mattei, Danièle Fournier, James K. Utterback, Jose Ordonez-Miranda","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02339","url":null,"abstract":"The nonlinear properties of phase-change materials, and in particular their semiconductor-to-metal transition, enable a wide range of applications beyond the capabilities of traditional materials. Here, we develop and apply a technique to measure the thermal conductivity of solid materials by exploiting the strong optical contrast of the metallic and insulating domains of a VO<sub>2</sub> thin-film transducer. This is achieved by steady-state imaging of the laser-induced semiconductor-to-metal transition in an optical microscope. We derive an analytical model for the radius of the observed metallic region as a function of the intensity of the focused laser beam. Fitting this model to the experimental data accurately yields the thermal conductivity of the underlying substrate, relying only on readily accessible experimental input parameters. We demonstrate this method for model samples of silica, sapphire, and silicon whose thermal conductivities span a range both below and above that of the VO<sub>2</sub> transducer. The simplicity of the experimental setup makes it highly accessible and applicable to a wide range of bulk and thin-film materials with perspectives for spatially resolved thermal conductivity mapping.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145689127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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