Light Science & Applications

Abstract Experiments in a dispersion-engineered nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguide have demonstrated two-color soliton compression to few-cycle duration by exploiting cascaded second-order nonlinearity. These results open new opportunities to study quadratic soliton dynamics in integrated platforms and for applications in on-chip photonic signal processing.

Abstract The first experimental demonstration of single-pump multicolor solitons using a triple-microring configuration has been reported recently. This original approach expands the potential of optical frequency comb technology for photonics and time-frequency metrology.

Abstract Experiments in quantum dot lasers have demonstrated that optimized devices can withstand extreme levels of optical feedback without succumbing to coherence collapse. These results pave the way for a new generation of compact, isolator-free photonic integrated circuits.

Abstract Mapping the total angular momentum of light bound to nanophotonic structures enables the creation of single-photon states with rich topological textures. This approach opens new opportunities for generating high-dimensional entanglement and provides a promising route toward robust quantum information processing.

Abstract Optical metasurfaces can shape the near fields of energetic electrons, enabling Smith–Purcell (SP) emission. We introduce a generalized SP effect relying on finite periodic arrays whose elements possess individually tunable polarizabilities, allowing us to explore higher-order SP radiation. By controlling the amplitude and phase of each of the elements, we show through rigorous theory th…

Abstract Soft robots capable of self-driven information transmission hold great promise for enabling intelligent interactions that better emulate the behavior of living organisms; however, achieving such systems remains elusive. Here, we present an all-in-one optically interactive soft robot that seamlessly integrates holographic command encoding, encryption, and display with on-demand task execu…

Abstract High-performance photonic chips provide a powerful platform for analog computing, enabling the simulation of high-dimensional physical systems using low-dimensional devices with additional synthetic dimensions. The realization of large-scale complex simulations necessitates an architecture capable of rich coupling configurations (encompassing symmetric, asymmetric and long-range coupling…

Efficient nonlinear optical processes require the maintenance of frequency matching across a broad spectral range. Recent research demonstrates that this can be realized by tailoring the shape of an optical microdisk.

Robust chirality is demonstrated by exploiting the merging of multiple accidental bound states in the continuum (BICs). This mechanism simultaneously sustains ultrahigh-quality factor Q resonances and strong chiroptical responses across a wide region of momentum space, achieving near-perfect circular dichroism (~0.99) and an ultrahigh-Q value (~10⁴) in a planar dielectric platform.

Abstract More efficient and stable blue LEDs are essential for achieving the full potential of halide perovskite-based displays, but defect formation and ion migration limit both external quantum efficiency and lifetime of these devices. Now, a multifunctional fluorinated ligand is shown to mitigate both factors, dramatically enhancing brightness, efficiency and lifetime.

Abstract A dual-comb absolute-ranging payload delivered to China’s Tiangong space station aboard Tianzhou-9 has demonstrated sustained on-orbit interferogram acquisition in an extravehicular environment. The system reports 13 µm precision at a 1 kHz update rate and stable operation over months, advancing traceable space metrology for formation flying and deployable observatories.

Abstract We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of continuous phase Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) using two-photon polymerization direct laser writing in a polymerizable nematic liquid crystal (LC) confined between glass substrates. Unlike conventional binary LC diffractive elements, our devices exhibit a smooth, continuous three-dimensional phase profile. Two devices were demonstr…

Abstract The Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) is a widely used non-interferometric wavefront measurement technique. However, for high-slope wavefronts, spot crosstalk and asymmetric distortion cause severe matching ambiguity and centroiding errors. This creates an inherent conflict between dynamic range and reconstruction accuracy. To address this, a graph-theoretic computational model name…

Abstract Laser Doppler effect enables a wide range of precision measurements. However, its traditional implementations, including linear, rotational, and vectorial forms, have historically been treated as isolated phenomena, and meanwhile, their accuracy is fundamentally limited by the achievable frequency shift magnitude due to single controllable parameter. Here, we report a generalized Doppler…

The ability to control topological properties of laser emission represents a fundamental advancement in photonic technology. Achieving topological lasing in a single compact photonic structure is crucial for device integration and miniaturization, but faces significant challenges for designing both the high-quality (high-Q) mode and radiative topological configurations. Recently, bound states in …

The drive to miniaturize optical frequency combs for practical deployment has spotlighted microresonator solitons as a promising chip-scale candidate. However, these soliton microcombs could be very power-hungry when their span increases, especially with fine comb spacings. As a result, realizing an octave-spanning comb at microwave repetition rates for direct optical-microwave linkage is conside…

Achieving high-efficiency, comprehensive analysis of single nanoparticles to determine their size, shape, and composition is essential for understanding particle heterogeneity with applications ranging from drug delivery to environmental monitoring. Existing techniques are hindered by low throughput, lengthy trapping times, irreversible particle adsorption, or limited characterization capabilitie…

Photonic circuits are central to classical and quantum information processing. While integrated technologies dominate, free-space architectures are emerging as attractive alternatives, offering broad bandwidth and direct manipulation of optical modes without confinement in waveguides. A key challenge for scalability lies in circuit depth, as the number of layers manipulating the optical field typ…

In-memory computing, which enables computation directly within memory, represents an efficient approach to processing massively parallel computation tasks that are intractable for conventional computers. However, implementations of in-memory computing have been primarily limited to the classical regime, with its nonclassical counterpart yet to be fully explored. Quantum memory, with its unique ca…