Photonics

Patterning defect-free nanocrystal films with nanometer resolutionNew process developed at MIT could enable better LED displays, solar cells and biosensors — and foster basic physics research.

Riding herd on photonsA new ‘metamaterial’ prevents electromagnetic waves from reflecting backward, pointing the way toward computer chips that move data with light.

Researchers explain how dye-based nanotubes can help harvest light’s energyTiny cylinders help reveal how natural-light-harvesting antennae collect light with exceptional efficiency.

Gradečak wins Nano Letters young investigator awardMaterials science and engineering professor studies nanophotonics and electronics.

Fiber laser points to woven 3-D displaysA fiber that can emit light along its length in any direction may herald flexible 3-D displays and medical tools that activate therapeutic compounds with bursts of light.

Microchips’ optical futureTo keep energy consumption under control, future chips may need to move data using light instead of electricity — and the technical expertise to build them may reside in the United States.

Turning heat into powerA new kind of high-temperature photonic crystal could someday power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.

Electronics takes on a new spinResearchers at MIT find a way to observe and control the way electrons spin on the surface of exotic new materials.

Important step toward computing with lightResearch at MIT produces long-sought component to allow complete optical circuits on silicon chips.

Fink named RLE directorSucceeds Shapiro to lead one of the Institute’s oldest interdepartmental labs

Making materials to orderNew method of forming composites allows fine-tuning of mechanical, electrical, thermal and other properties.

Biology rides to computers’ aidPhotonic crystals could usher in an age of low-power optical computing, but they’re hard to manufacture. Maybe adding a little DNA would help.