The fifth anniversary of Advanced Photonics
On the Cover: Terahertz polarization sensing, chirality enhancement, and specific binding based on metasurface sensors for biochemical detection: a review [Invited]
Advanced Imaging | Open for Submissions Now!
On the Cover: Coherent free-electron light sources
On the Cover: Achieving higher photoabsorption than group III-V semiconductors in ultrafast thin silicon photodetectors with integrated photon-trapping surface structures

As we mark the fifth anniversary of Advanced Photonics, we are filled with immense pride and gratitude for the remarkable journey we have undertaken together with our authors, readers, reviewers, Editorial Board, and publishers.

The image shows the application of multifunctional and multitype metasurfaces in biochemical sensing. In the middle of the image, it is shown that metasurfaces with different functions generate different chiral light fields under the excitation of incident THz waves so that various biomolecules on the surface can be detected.

A general concept of optical undulator which consists of micro- or nano-scale photon quasi-particles, provides the modulation force necessarily for free electron radiation emission. It paves the way toward compact free electron coherent light sources.

The cover image illustrates a novel engineering technique utilizing photon-trapping surface structures to experimentally demonstrate an extraordinary improvement of photoabsorption in thin silicon that surpasses the inherent absorption e?ciency of gallium arsenide for a broad spectrum of wavelengths.

Editors' Picks
An acousto-optic modulator based bi-frequency interferometer for quantum technology
Making use of acousto-optic Bragg diffraction effect, Acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) are versatile active optical devices that can e?iciently change both the frequency and the propagating direction of an optical field in real time, AOMs are widely used in optics and laser technology. In the experiments related with quantum optics and quantum information technology, AOMs have been used in various applications, including the controlling of probe light in quantum memory, observation the beating signal from single photons, generation of a phase locking reference in squeezed vacuum state generation experiment and in photon subtraction based Non-Gaussian state generation experiment.
Chinese Optics Letters
  • Mar. 29, 2024
  • Vol. 22, Issue 2 (2024)
On the Cover
Deep Learning-based Optical Aberration Estimation Enables Offline Digital Adaptive Optics and Super-resolution Imaging
Ideal optical imaging relies upon the high-quality focusing of excitation light and accurate detection of the emission light from the fluorescent sample. However, both the optics in the microscope and the biological samples being investigated can introduce aberrations, thus causing degradation in resolution, loss of fluorescent photons, and deterioration of signal-to-background-ratio (SBR), etc. Moreover, microscopes with high numerical apertures (NA), especially the super-resolution microscopy, are more sensitive to aberrations, because the high-NA objectives are more susceptible to high-order aberrations. To detect and correct these optical aberrations, a large number of adaptive optics (AO) technologies have been explored in the last two decades. Conventional AO leverages specific devices, such as the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor to measure and correct optical aberrations, then utilized wavefront corrective devices such as spatial light modulators (SLMs) to compensate for the measured aberrations by reshaping the wavefronts. However, conventional AO complicates the optics, imaging procedures, and computation, resulting in many limitations in the actual imaging process.
Photonics Research
  • Mar. 29, 2024
  • Vol. 13, Issue 3 (2024)
APN Highlights
Multimode diffractive optical neural network: A new style photonic accelerator
Researchers from Tsinghua University and National University of Defense Technology achieved optical neural network by manipulating the mode coupling in a subwavelength etched structure within confined spaces.
Advanced Photonics Nexus
  • Mar. 29, 2024
  • Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2024)
Community-News
19th Direct Drive and Fast Ignition Workshop
The 19th Direct Drive and Fast Ignition Workshop (DDFIW) contains a series of meetings dedicated to inertial confinement research in Europe. DDFIW provides a unique opportunity for European and overseas scientists working in theory, simulations, and experiments to present and discuss their latest results and future plansin an informal atmosphere. The meeting also addresses new schemes for inertial confinement fusion and related science at the cutting edge of high energy density physics research. Important dates: LPI satellite meeting: 21 May 2024; DDFIW workshop: 22-24 May 2024
High Power Laser Science and Engineering
  • Mar. 28, 2024
  • Vol. , Issue (2024)
Community-Publication
Direct Laser Acceleration in Underdense Plasmas with Multi-PW Lasers: A Path to High-Charge, GeV-Class Electron Bunches
The direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in underdense plasmas can provide hundreds of nC of electrons accelerated to near-GeV energies using currently available lasers. Here we demonstrate the key role of electron transverse displacement in the acceleration and use it to analytically predict the expected maximum electron energies. The energy scaling is shown to be in agreement with full-scale quasi-3D particle-in-cell simulations of a laser pulse propagating through a preformed guiding channel and can be directly used for optimizing DLA in near-future laser facilities. The strategy towards optimizing DLA through matched laser focusing is presented for a wide range of plasma densities paired with current and near-future laser technology. Electron energies in excess of 10 GeV are accessible for lasers at I ∼ 1021 W / cm2.
High Power Laser Science and Engineering
  • Mar. 27, 2024
  • Vol. , Issue (2024)
Newest Articles
Noncontact ultrasound sensing based on Mach–Zehnder homodyne interferometer for photoacoustic imaging

We present a novel noncontact ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) system, overcoming the limitations of traditional coupling media. Using a lo

We present a novel noncontact ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) system, overcoming the limitations of traditional coupling media. Using a long coherent length laser, we employ a homodyne free-space Mach–Zehnder setup with zero-crossing triggering, achieving a noise equivalent pressure of 703 Pa at 5 MHz and a -6 dB bandwidth of 1 to 8.54 MHz. We address the phase uncertainty inherent in the homodyne method. Scanning the noncontact US probe enables photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT). Phantom studies demonstrate imaging performance and system stability, underscoring the potential of our system for noncontact US sensing and PAI.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • Chinese Optics Letters,Vol. 22, Issue 3
  • 031702 (2024)
Varifocal occlusion in an optical see-through near-eye display with a single phase-only liquid crystal on silicon

We propose a near-eye display optics system that supports three-dimensional mutual occlusion. By exploiting the polarization-control properties of a phase

We propose a near-eye display optics system that supports three-dimensional mutual occlusion. By exploiting the polarization-control properties of a phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), we achieve real see-through scene masking as well as virtual digital scene imaging using a single LCoS. Dynamic depth control of the real scene mask and virtual digital image is also achieved by using a focus tunable lens (FTL) pair of opposite curvatures. The proposed configuration using a single LCoS and opposite curvature FTL pair enables the self-alignment of the mask and image at an arbitrary depth without distorting the see-through view of the real scene. We verified the feasibility of the proposed optics using two optical benchtop setups: one with two off-the-shelf FTLs for continuous depth control, and the other with a single Pancharatnam–Berry phase-type FTL for the improved form factor.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • Photonics Research,Vol. 12, Issue 4
  • 833 (2024)
High-repetition-rate and high-power efficient picosecond thin-disk regenerative amplifier

We present an effective approach to realize a highly efficient, high-power and chirped pulse amplification-free ultrafast ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum

We present an effective approach to realize a highly efficient, high-power and chirped pulse amplification-free ultrafast ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet thin-disk regenerative amplifier pumped by a zero-phonon line 969 nm laser diode. The amplifier delivers an output power exceeding 154 W at a pulse repetition rate of 1 MHz with custom-designed 48 pump passes. The exceptional thermal management on the thin disk through high-quality bonding, efficient heat dissipation and a fully locked spectrum collectively contributes to achieving a remarkable optical-to-optical efficiency of 61% and a near-diffraction-limit beam quality with an M2 factor of 1.06. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest conversion efficiency reported in ultrafast thin-disk regenerative amplifiers. Furthermore, the amplifier operates at room temperature and exhibits exceptional stability, with root mean square stability of less than 0.33%. This study significantly represents advances in the field of laser amplification systems, particularly in terms of efficiency and average power. This advantageous combination of high efficiency and diffraction limitation positions the thin-disk regenerative amplifier as a promising solution for a wide range of scientific and industrial applications.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • High Power Laser Science and Engineering,Vol. 12, Issue 2
  • 02000e14 (2024)
Split Lohmann computer holography: fast generation of 3D hologram in single-step diffraction calculation

Holographic display stands as a prominent approach for achieving lifelike three-dimensional (3D) reproductions with continuous depth sensation. However, t

Holographic display stands as a prominent approach for achieving lifelike three-dimensional (3D) reproductions with continuous depth sensation. However, the generation of a computer-generated hologram (CGH) always relies on the repetitive computation of diffraction propagation from point-cloud or multiple depth-sliced planar images, which inevitably leads to an increase in computational complexity, making real-time CGH generation impractical. Here, we report a new CGH generation algorithm capable of rapidly synthesizing a 3D hologram in only one-step backward propagation calculation in a novel split Lohmann lens-based diffraction model. By introducing an extra predesigned virtual digital phase modulation of multifocal split Lohmann lens in such a diffraction model, the generated CGH appears to reconstruct 3D scenes with accurate accommodation abilities across the display contents. Compared with the conventional layer-based method, the computation speed of the proposed method is independent of the quantized layer numbers, and therefore can achieve real-time computation speed with a very dense of depth sampling. Both simulation and experimental results validate the proposed method.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • Advanced Photonics Nexus,Vol. 3, Issue 3
  • 036001 (2024)
Advanced Photonics Photonics Insights

We propose a transfer-learning multi-input multi-output (TL-MIMO) scheme to significantly reduce the required training complexity for converging the equalizers in mode-division multiplexing (MDM

We propose a transfer-learning multi-input multi-output (TL-MIMO) scheme to significantly reduce the required training complexity for converging the equalizers in mode-division multiplexing (MDM) systems. Based on a built three-mode (LP01, LP11a and LP11b) multiplexed experimental system, we thoughtfully investigate the TL-MIMO performances on the three-typed data, collecting from different sampling times, launched optical powers, and input optical signal-to-noise ratios (OSNRs). The dramatic reduction of 40%~83.33% on the required training complexity is achieved in all of three scenarios. Furthermore, the good stability of TL-MIMO in both the launched power and OSNR test bands has also been proved.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • Chinese Optics Letters,Vol. 22, Issue 7
  • (2024)

In this work, we propose a method using frequency modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) and all-phase fast Fourier transform (APFFT) for simultaneous measur

In this work, we propose a method using frequency modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) and all-phase fast Fourier transform (APFFT) for simultaneous measurement of speed and distance. APFFT offers superior accuracy in frequency determination by mitigating issues like the fence effect and spectrum leakage, contributing to high-accuracy measurement for speed and distance. Both simulations and experiments have demonstrated relative errors at the level of 10-4 and 10-3 for distance and speed measurements respectively. Furthermore, factors impacting measurement performance have been discussed. It provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution for distance and speed measurements, applicable across scientific research and various industrial domains.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • Chinese Optics Letters,Vol. 22, Issue 7
  • (2024)

The problem of optimizing the parameters of a laser pulse compressor consisting of four identical diffraction gratings is solved analytically. The goal of optimization is to obtain maximum pulse

The problem of optimizing the parameters of a laser pulse compressor consisting of four identical diffraction gratings is solved analytically. The goal of optimization is to obtain maximum pulse power, completely excluding both beam clipping on gratings and the appearance of spurious diffraction orders. The analysis is carried out in a general form for an out-of-plane compressor. Two particular “plane” cases attractive from a practical point of view are analyzed in more detail: a standard Treacy compressor (TC) and a compressor with an angle of incidence equal to the Littrow angle (LC). It is shown that in both cases the LC is superior to the TC. Specifically, for 160-cm diffraction gratings, optimal LC design enables 107 PW for XCELS and 111 PW for SEL-100 PW, while optimal TC design enables 86 PW for both projects.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • High Power Laser Science and Engineering

To overcome Yb laser, kilowatt-level 1535 nm fiber laser is utilized to in-band pump an Er:Yb co-doped fiber (EYDF) amplifier. An output power of 301 W narrow-linewidth EYDF amplifier operating

To overcome Yb laser, kilowatt-level 1535 nm fiber laser is utilized to in-band pump an Er:Yb co-doped fiber (EYDF) amplifier. An output power of 301 W narrow-linewidth EYDF amplifier operating at 1585 nm, with 3 dB bandwidth of 150 pm and M2<1.4, is experimentally demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest output power in L band narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers with good beam quality. Theoretically, a new ion transition behavior among energy levels for in-band pumping EYDF is uncovered, and a spatial-mode-resolved nonlinearity-assisted theoretical model is developed to understand its internal dynamics. Numerical simulations reveal that the reduction in optical efficiency is significantly related to excited-state absorption (ESA). ESA has a nonlinear hindering effect on power scaling. It can drastically lower the pump absorption and slope efficiency with increasing pump power for in-band pumped EYDF amplifiers. Meanwhile, to improve power to kilowatt level via in-band pumping, optimized approaches are proposed.show less

  • Mar.29,2024
  • High Power Laser Science and Engineering