Reviews & Analysis

Exploiting the 'memory' properties of scattered light allows for single-shot imaging through thin opaque layers, including biological tissue.

London hosted this year's Photon conference. Quantum optics and improved technology commercialization in the UK were two key points of discussion.

The development of high-performance red-emitting phosphors provides new opportunities for fabricating white LEDs with both high colour rendering index and high luminous efficacy.

Quantum teleportation is achieved on a photonic chip, paving the way for scalable quantum information processing based on linear optical networks.

Curious wave phenomena that occur in optical fibres due to the interplay of instability and nonlinear effects are reviewed.

The use of carbon nanotubes makes it possible to perform fluorescent imaging of cerebral vasculature of mice through their intact skulls. The high spatial and temporal resolution of the non-invasive technique may prove useful for studies of stroke and other brain disorders.

Developments in optical materials and components for extreme applications such as the James Webb Space Telescope and petawatt laser systems were showcased at CLEO 2014.

The fields of metamaterials and plasmonics are both set to benefit from the use of superconducting materials.

In the quest for on-chip optical isolation, scientists demonstrate non-reciprocal optical response based on a 'synthetic' magnetic field in an all-silicon platform. This may open directions to optical routing, on-chip lasers and integrated nanophotonic signal processing.

This review article summarizes the emerging field of quantum nonlinear optics. Three major approaches to generate optical nonlinearities based on cavity quantum electrodynamics, atomic ensembles with large Kerr nonlinearities and strong atomic interactions are reviewed. Applications of quantum nonlinear optics and many-body physics with strongly interacting photons are also discussed.

A breakthrough in metamaterial-based spatial light modulator design makes single-pixel real-time imaging practical by using compressive sensing to dispense with slow mechanical scanning.

Embedding a thin layer of chalcogenide glass inside a polymer paves the way for a new form of flexible optical waveguides and integrated optical circuits.

Photonic crystals have long been used to confine and guide propagating electromagnetic waves with low loss. Now, a new twist has been added by exploiting their leaky mode to effectively trap and dissipate incident electromagnetic energy over a broad frequency band.

Marrying the single-molecule detection ability of surface-enhanced Raman scattering with the extreme time resolution of ultrafast coherent spectroscopy enables the vibrations of a single molecule to be observed.

The report of an electrically pumped polariton laser that operates at room temperature and relies on an inversionless lasing scheme holds promise for realizing a new breed of very low threshold semiconductor lasers.

An overview is given of the state-of-the-art research into secure communication based on quantum cryptography. The present security model together with its assumptions, strengths and weaknesses is discussed. Recent experimental progress and remaining challenges are surveyed as are the latest developments in quantum hacking and countermeasures.

Rapid developments in perovskite solar cells, photocatalysis and transparent conductors were showcased at the 2014 MRS Spring Meeting.