tldrdailynews.com logo
Tag

Optics

All articles tagged with #optics

From hacker to space-light pioneer, Roelker bets on laser-powered space data
technology19 days ago

From hacker to space-light pioneer, Roelker bets on laser-powered space data

Dan Roelker, a former hacker and DARPA program manager, now leads Observable Space, where software and advanced optics are used to track satellites with sub-arcsecond precision and to enable high-bandwidth laser communications from space to Earth; the company emerged from a merge of OurSky and PlaneWave, won a Space Force contract, and just closed a $90 million Series A to scale telescope production and laser-link tech for orbital data centers and NASA’s Artemis missions.

via Ars Technica|
#artemis#laser-communications#optics
AI Optics Boom: Nvidia Seeks 20x InP Capacity to Power Massive Clusters
technology1 month ago

AI Optics Boom: Nvidia Seeks 20x InP Capacity to Power Massive Clusters

Nvidia has asked suppliers to boost indium phosphide laser capacity by 20x through 2030 to support AI cluster networking, with suppliers countering at 12x; the InP optics market is projected to grow from about $1.9B in 2025 to $22.75B by 2030. Major players like Lumentum, Coherent, Broadcom, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo and AAOI are expanding capacity, driven by the shift to co-packaged optics that moves connections closer to chips to boost speed and cut power. Investors see optics as the next AI bottleneck, and Rosenblatt expects Coherent and Lumentum to benefit, while more speculative names like AXT and Lightwave Logic carry higher risk. In short, optics infrastructure is becoming a foundational piece of AI deployment, and Nvidia’s demand signals indicate multi-year growth, tempered by caution over overexpansion among suppliers.

via 24/7 Wall St.|
#ai-infrastructure#indium-phosphide#lumentum
Cosmic prank: ISS crew pull off optical illusion with Cygnus XL
space2 months ago

Cosmic prank: ISS crew pull off optical illusion with Cygnus XL

NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway staged a lighthearted moment aboard the ISS on April 13, pretending Williams could 'hold' Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft in an optical illusion from the Cupola while the two captured the vehicle with Canadarm2 after its Apr 11 launch. The Cygnus XL was delivering about 11,000 pounds of cargo and experiments to the station. The playful moment highlighted crew morale amid a high-profile cargo-ship capture and installation on the Earth-facing port.

via Space|
#cygnus-xl#international-space-station#nasa
Gold, Light, and Salt Unveil Nanoscale Forces in Real Time
science4 months ago

Gold, Light, and Salt Unveil Nanoscale Forces in Real Time

Chalmers University researchers have developed a simple platform using micrometer-sized gold flakes in a salt solution between two gold-coated glass plates. When illuminated, light trapped in nanometer-scale liquid cavities creates color changes that reveal the balance between Casimir attraction and electrostatic repulsion, enabling direct study of nanoscale surface forces and self-assembly with potential applications in medicine, biosensing, and materials science.

via SciTechDaily|
#casimir-effect#nanomaterials#nanoscale-physics
CW laser and sharp tip push optical imaging to 0.1 nm, revealing atoms
science5 months ago

CW laser and sharp tip push optical imaging to 0.1 nm, revealing atoms

A team uses a continuous-wave mid-infrared laser and a needle-sharp metal tip to squeeze light into sub-atomic gaps, producing near-field optical tunneling emission that resolves atomic-scale features down to about 0.1 nanometers—roughly 100,000 times smaller than conventional diffraction-limited optics. The method works with standard lasers and could enable widespread atomic-scale optical imaging in catalysts, semiconductors, and quantum materials, with findings published in Nano Letters.

via Interesting Engineering|
#atomic-scale-imaging#near-field-microscopy#optics
Are Image-Stabilized Binoculars Ideal for Stargazing?
science6 months ago

Are Image-Stabilized Binoculars Ideal for Stargazing?

Image-stabilized binoculars significantly enhance stargazing by providing shake-free views, making them ideal for observing deep space objects, wildlife, and for travelers. They are especially useful for beginners and those without telescopes, though they tend to be more expensive and heavier due to their stabilization systems. High-quality models from brands like Canon, Fujifilm, and Nikon offer varying degrees of stabilization and magnification, catering to different needs and budgets.

via Space|
#astronomy#binoculars#image-stabilization
Multicolor Metalenses Promise to Transform Camera Technology
technology9 months ago

Multicolor Metalenses Promise to Transform Camera Technology

Researchers have developed layered multicolor metalenses using stacked metamaterials that can focus multiple wavelengths simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of single-layer lenses. This innovative design is easy to manufacture, polarization insensitive, and scalable, with potential applications in compact, high-performance optical devices for drones, smartphones, and other portable technologies.

via SciTechDaily|
#metalenses#metamaterials#multicolor
The Limitations of Inexpensive Digital Microscopes
technology11 months ago

The Limitations of Inexpensive Digital Microscopes

Cheap digital microscopes, like the Tomlov DM9, often overstate their capabilities, especially in magnification and image quality, due to fundamental physics limitations. They have small sensors and limited depth of field, making their images less detailed compared to higher-end macro lenses on larger sensors. While they may be sufficient for casual use, their performance is significantly inferior to more expensive equipment, and their advertised specifications can be misleading.

via Hackaday|
#digital-microscopes#image-quality#magnification