Nature Photonics Nature Photonics is an exciting forum serving the dynamic fields of photonics and optics. Every month Nature Photonics publishes original top-quality optics research, plus a compelling mix of news and reviews, industry perspectives and regular technology focuses, in print and online. http://www.nature.com/nphoton/current_issue/ Nature Publishing Group en © 2008 Nature Publishing Group Nature Photonics 1748-3387 1748-3395 © 2008 Nature Publishing Group permissions@nature.com Nature Photonics http://www.nature.com/includes/rj_globnavimages/nphoton_logo.gif http://www.nature.com/nphoton/ This issue http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.204 This issue

Nature Photonics 2, v (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.204

]]> This issue doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.204 Nature Photonics 2, v (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 In This Issue v v Nature's guiding light http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.205 The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded for research inspired by jellyfish. This is a reminder that the natural world continues to hint at solutions to modern technological dilemmas, and that when it comes to simple and effective solutions, nature is usually well ahead of man. Nature's guiding light

Nature Photonics 2, 639 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.205

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded for research inspired by jellyfish. This is a reminder that the natural world continues to hint at solutions to modern technological dilemmas, and that when it comes to simple and effective solutions, nature is usually well ahead of man.

]]> Nature's guiding light doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.205 Nature Photonics 2, 639 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Editorial 639 639 A new route for silk http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.207 Famous for its use in clothing since early times, silk is now finding a new application as a useful biocompatible material in photonic devices. Thin films, diffraction gratings and organic photonic crystals are just a few of the exciting possibilities. A new route for silk

Nature Photonics 2, 641 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.207

Authors: Fiorenzo G. Omenetto & David L. Kaplan

Famous for its use in clothing since early times, silk is now finding a new application as a useful biocompatible material in photonic devices. Thin films, diffraction gratings and organic photonic crystals are just a few of the exciting possibilities.

]]> A new route for silk Fiorenzo G. Omenetto David L. Kaplan doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.207 Nature Photonics 2, 641 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Commentary 641 643 Terahertz-emitting silicon needles, an entangled-photon detector, cavity-tuning nanotubes, single-photon modulation, and more http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.206 Terahertz-emitting silicon needles, an entangled-photon detector, cavity-tuning nanotubes, single-photon modulation, and more

Nature Photonics 2, 644 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.206

]]> Terahertz-emitting silicon needles, an entangled-photon detector, cavity-tuning nanotubes, single-photon modulation, and more doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.206 Nature Photonics 2, 644 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Research Highlights 644 645 Optical fibres: The chirp reloaded http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.210 By introducing a radial chirp in the dimension of the cells surrounding the central core, researchers now demonstrate a low-dispersion photonic-crystal fibre that could overcome the long-standing problem of ultrashort-pulse delivery. Optical fibres: The chirp reloaded

Nature Photonics 2, 647 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.210

Author: Goëry Genty

By introducing a radial chirp in the dimension of the cells surrounding the central core, researchers now demonstrate a low-dispersion photonic-crystal fibre that could overcome the long-standing problem of ultrashort-pulse delivery.

]]> Optical fibres: The chirp reloaded Goëry Genty doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.210 Nature Photonics 2, 647 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 News and Views 647 648 Photovoltaics: The two sides of solar energy http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.212 A bifacial dye-sensitized solar cell that can efficiently generate electricity when illuminated from either side may help bring down the cost of solar energy production. Photovoltaics: The two sides of solar energy

Nature Photonics 2, 648 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.212

Author: Juan Bisquert

A bifacial dye-sensitized solar cell that can efficiently generate electricity when illuminated from either side may help bring down the cost of solar energy production.

]]> Photovoltaics: The two sides of solar energy Juan Bisquert doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.212 Nature Photonics 2, 648 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 News and Views 648 649 Photonic-bandgap fibre: Colour-tunable textiles http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.208 Photonic-bandgap fibre: Colour-tunable textiles

Nature Photonics 2, 650 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.208

Author: Rachel Won

]]> Photonic-bandgap fibre: Colour-tunable textiles Rachel Won doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.208 Nature Photonics 2, 650 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 News and Views 650 650 Photonic crystals: Photons and electrons confined http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.209 Researchers have demonstrated the first photonic-crystal system with light emitters that experience three-dimensional photonic and electronic confinement. Photonic crystals: Photons and electrons confined

Nature Photonics 2, 650 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.209

Authors: Erik C. Nelson & Paul V. Braun

Researchers have demonstrated the first photonic-crystal system with light emitters that experience three-dimensional photonic and electronic confinement.

]]> Photonic crystals: Photons and electrons confined Erik C. Nelson Paul V. Braun doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.209 Nature Photonics 2, 650 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 News and Views 650 651 Optical trapping: Riding along an Airy beam http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.211 The ability of Airy light beams to transport microparticles along curved, self-healed paths may lead to useful applications in biology and colloidal science. Optical trapping: Riding along an Airy beam

Nature Photonics 2, 652 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.211

Author: Demetrios N. Christodoulides

The ability of Airy light beams to transport microparticles along curved, self-healed paths may lead to useful applications in biology and colloidal science.

]]> Optical trapping: Riding along an Airy beam Demetrios N. Christodoulides doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.211 Nature Photonics 2, 652 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 News and Views 652 653 Meeting demand http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.214 Meeting demand

Nature Photonics 2, 657 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.214

]]> Meeting demand doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.214 Nature Photonics 2, 657 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Editorial 657 657 New tools for applications from astronomy to single-cell biomechanics http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.215 New tools for applications from astronomy to single-cell biomechanics

Nature Photonics 2, 659 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.215

]]> New tools for applications from astronomy to single-cell biomechanics doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.215 Nature Photonics 2, 659 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Research Highlights 659 659 Scanning interferometry: Measuring microscale devices http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.216 Improvements in interferometry have made it a powerful and attractive technique for characterizing tiny devices based on microelectromechanical systems. Scanning interferometry: Measuring microscale devices

Nature Photonics 2, 661 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.216

Authors: Mike Conroy & Daniel Mansfield

Improvements in interferometry have made it a powerful and attractive technique for characterizing tiny devices based on microelectromechanical systems.

]]> Scanning interferometry: Measuring microscale devices Mike Conroy Daniel Mansfield doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.216 Nature Photonics 2, 661 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Industry Perspective 661 663 Dynamic interferometry: Beating vibration http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.217 The development of the pixelated polarization camera is enabling dynamic interferometry, a new metrology technique that is insensitive to vibration and suits use in an industrial environment. Dynamic interferometry: Beating vibration

Nature Photonics 2, 664 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.217

Author: Mike Zecchino

The development of the pixelated polarization camera is enabling dynamic interferometry, a new metrology technique that is insensitive to vibration and suits use in an industrial environment.

]]> Dynamic interferometry: Beating vibration Mike Zecchino doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.217 Nature Photonics 2, 664 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Industry Perspective 664 666 Industrial metrology: Engineering precision http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.218 The advent of three-dimensional optical metrology has brought many benefits to industrial quality control of aircraft engines, according to the turbine-blade manufacturer GE. Industrial metrology: Engineering precision

Nature Photonics 2, 667 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.218

Author: Kevin Harding

The advent of three-dimensional optical metrology has brought many benefits to industrial quality control of aircraft engines, according to the turbine-blade manufacturer GE.

]]> Industrial metrology: Engineering precision Kevin Harding doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.218 Nature Photonics 2, 667 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Industry Perspective 667 669 An acquisition provides opportunity for growth, sales fluctuate, and more http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.219 An acquisition provides opportunity for growth, sales fluctuate, and more

Nature Photonics 2, 670 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.219

]]> An acquisition provides opportunity for growth, sales fluctuate, and more doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.219 Nature Photonics 2, 670 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Business News 670 670 Product highlights http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.220 Product highlights

Nature Photonics 2, 671 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.220

]]> Product highlights doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.220 Nature Photonics 2, 671 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Product Highlights 671 671 Measuring up to industry http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.221 Nadya Anscombe talks to Wolfgang Osten, director of the Institute for Applied Optics, about the challenges that optical metrology faces in keeping pace with demands from industry. Measuring up to industry

Nature Photonics 2, 672 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.221

Nadya Anscombe talks to Wolfgang Osten, director of the Institute for Applied Optics, about the challenges that optical metrology faces in keeping pace with demands from industry.

]]> Measuring up to industry doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.221 Nature Photonics 2, 672 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Interview 672 672 Optically mediated particle clearing using Airy wavepackets http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.201 Scientists exploit the use of Airy beams — an unusual class of optical waves — in optical manipulation. The beam can be used to transport particles along curved paths without moving the light beam, a technique that seems poised for many microfluidic applications especially in the biological sciences. Optically mediated particle clearing using Airy wavepackets

Nature Photonics 2, 675 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.201

Authors: Jörg Baumgartl, Michael Mazilu & Kishan Dholakia

]]> Optically mediated particle clearing using Airy wavepackets Jörg Baumgartl Michael Mazilu Kishan Dholakia doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.201 Nature Photonics 2, 675 (2008) 2008-09-28 Nature Photonics 2008-09-28 2 11 Letter 675 678 A chirped photonic-crystal fibre http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.203 Hollow-core photonic-crystal fibres enable confinement of light on a much tighter scale than is possible with conventional fibre. But dispersion makes it difficult to transmit very short, sub 100 fs, pulses over long distances. A chirped structure could offer a solution. A chirped photonic-crystal fibre

Nature Photonics 2, 679 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.203

Authors: Julia S. Skibina, Rumen Iliew, Jens Bethge, Martin Bock, Dorit Fischer, Valentin I. Beloglasov, Reiner Wedell & Günter Steinmeyer

]]> A chirped photonic-crystal fibre Julia S. Skibina Rumen Iliew Jens Bethge Martin Bock Dorit Fischer Valentin I. Beloglasov Reiner Wedell Günter Steinmeyer doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.203 Nature Photonics 2, 679 (2008) 2008-10-12 Nature Photonics 2008-10-12 2 11 Letter 679 683 Organic plasmon-emitting diode http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.200 An organic LED that acts as an electrically driven source of surface plasmons is reported. The device generates a freely propagating beam of surface plasmons and has potential applications in integrated organic photonics and sensing. Organic plasmon-emitting diode

Nature Photonics 2, 684 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.200

Authors: D.M. Koller, A. Hohenau, H. Ditlbacher, N. Galler, F. Reil, F.R. Aussenegg, A. Leitner, E.J.W. List & J.R. Krenn

]]> Organic plasmon-emitting diode D.M. Koller A. Hohenau H. Ditlbacher N. Galler F. Reil F.R. Aussenegg A. Leitner E.J.W. List J.R. Krenn doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.200 Nature Photonics 2, 684 (2008) 2008-09-28 Nature Photonics 2008-09-28 2 11 Letter 684 687 Coupling of quantum-dot light emission with a three-dimensional photonic-crystal nanocavity http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.202 Tiny optical cavities can influence spontaneous emission of light from atoms and their artificial equivalent, quantum dots. In the past, two–dimensional photonic crystals have been used to create such cavities for quantum dots, now a three–dimensional structure enables full confinement of light in all directions. Coupling of quantum-dot light emission with a three-dimensional photonic-crystal nanocavity

Nature Photonics 2, 688 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.202

Authors: Kanna Aoki, Denis Guimard, Masao Nishioka, Masahiro Nomura, Satoshi Iwamoto & Yasuhiko Arakawa

]]> Coupling of quantum-dot light emission with a three-dimensional photonic-crystal nanocavity Kanna Aoki Denis Guimard Masao Nishioka Masahiro Nomura Satoshi Iwamoto Yasuhiko Arakawa doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.202 Nature Photonics 2, 688 (2008) 2008-10-05 Nature Photonics 2008-10-05 2 11 Article 688 692 Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on an ionic liquid electrolyte http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.224 Low-cost, efficient solar cells are sought as an alternative to silicon photovoltaics. Here a dye-based bifacial solar cell that is capable of efficient generation of electricity for light incident on either its front or rear face is demonstrated. Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on an ionic liquid electrolyte

Nature Photonics 2, 693 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.224

Authors: Seigo Ito, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Pascal Comte, Paul Liska, Daibin Kuang & Michael Grätzel

]]> Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells based on an ionic liquid electrolyte Seigo Ito Shaik M. Zakeeruddin Pascal Comte Paul Liska Daibin Kuang Michael Grätzel doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.224 Nature Photonics 2, 693 (2008) 2008-10-19 Nature Photonics 2008-10-19 2 11 Article 693 698 A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.222 A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group

Nature Photonics 2, 699 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.222

]]> A round-up of recent papers in the field of photonics published by the physical sciences division of the Nature Publishing Group doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.222 Nature Photonics 2, 699 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Photonics at NPG 699 700 Airy's arc of surprise http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.223 The demonstration that Airy beams can transport small particles along curved paths of light may lead to a wealth of new applications in optical micromanipulation. Nature Photonics spoke to Kishan Dholakia from the University of St Andrews in Scotland about the idea. Airy's arc of surprise

Nature Photonics 2, 702 (2008). doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.223

The demonstration that Airy beams can transport small particles along curved paths of light may lead to a wealth of new applications in optical micromanipulation. Nature Photonics spoke to Kishan Dholakia from the University of St Andrews in Scotland about the idea.

]]> Airy's arc of surprise doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.223 Nature Photonics 2, 702 (2008) Nature Photonics 2 11 Interview 702 702