Optics and photonics

The latest publications in this offer are:

• September 30, 2026

  E6445 Reviewed

  Optical parametric sources Basics, implementation and applications

  Optical parametric sources are versatile devices for efficiently generating tunable coherent radiation from an incident laser beam through a nonlinear optical process. This frequency conversion enables us to cover spectral ranges that are at best poorly covered by direct laser emission. This paper presents an overview of the optical parametric sources starting with their theoretical bases and their principles of implementation, and finally their use in a range of representative applications.

• September 30, 2026

  E6442 Reviewed

  Characterization of ultrashort pulses

  This article reviews different characterization methods for measuring the time profile of ultrashort laser pulses, with a typical duration ranging from a few femtoseconds to a few picoseconds. These methods can be either non-stationary or nonlinear. In the former case, a reference ultrashort pulse is usually used to access the unknown pulse profile by sampling or interferometry. In the latter case, a second- or third-order nonlinear optical process makes a self-referenced measurement possible, sometimes through the use of an iterative algorithm.

• September 10, 2026

  TE7119

  Passive Optical Networks

  Optical fiber today replaces copper cables or twisted pairs in access networks in order to modernize operators' networks. As a result, customer data rates are evolving towards very high-speed broadband of around one gigabit per second or more. This article aims to provide an overview of solutions standardized by international standardization bodies such as ITU-T. The operating principles of passive optical network systems will be detailed. Ongoing developments towards higher-speed systems will also be described.

• September 10, 2026

  RE261

  Environmental barriers by ALD

  Environmental barrier coatings are thin films or multilayer structures that limit mass transfer between a material and its environment, reducing gas penetration (water vapor, oxygen, CO₂) or preventing loss of volatile compounds. They are critical for product performance, durability, and reliability in applications ranging from food packaging to advanced electronics. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a key technology for such coatings, enabling highly uniform, conformal, and dense films with precise nanometer-scale thickness control through self-limiting surface reactions. These ALD layers provide strong barrier properties even at very low thicknesses and can be deposited at low temperature on sensitive substrates. Applications include microelectronics, OLEDs, photovoltaics, and packaging.

• July 10, 2026

  E6517

  High-Power Fiber Laser Technologies

  This article reviews fiber-based technologies enabling high-power laser sources in continuous-wave and pulsed regimes. After recalling guidance principles and the properties of double-clad and microstructured fibers, we describe key high-power components such as pump diodes, pump and signal combiners, fiber Bragg gratings, CPS and QBH terminations. Architectures of oscillators and MOPA systems, including tandem pumping and beam combining, are then discussed for nanosecond and ultrashort regimes, with emphasis on physical limitations and current power-scaling trends.

• July 10, 2026

  BM7900

  Selective laser melting of metallic powder bed

  Selective laser melting of a metal powder bed is an additive manufacturing technique that allows the production of complex parts up to medium runs for various industries such as medical or aerospace. To make the most of this technology, it has to be integrated into a complete value chain from upstream design conception to downstream post- treatment. This article deals with this complete value chain. After nearly a decade of commercial life, this technology is evolving toward a standard framework that is under construction worldwide.

• May 26, 2026

  E4311 Reviewed

  Atmospheric and Meteorological Lidar Backscatter lidar for aerosols and clouds

  Backscatter lidars for aerosols and clouds are widely used in surface network for atmospheric applications i.e. pollution, meteorology, climate. Instrument simulators are presented as tool required for instrument design and realization. Then, the main characteristics of the atmospheric medium and the standard techniques for backscatter lidar signal inversion are described in sight for the applications.

• May 26, 2026

  E4310 Reviewed

  Atmospheric and Meteorological Lidars Basic principles

  This article presents the lidar, with reference to instrument techniques, atmospheric spectroscopy and signals. These are presented in a reader-friendly way to define actual needs and meet objectives. While maintaining an innovative research activity, since the 2000s the lidar community has broadened out to embrace new activities in networking and space missions.

• May 10, 2026

  TE7576

  Quantum Satellite Telecommunications

  Our ability to manipulate individual particles over the past 20 years has enabled a new quantum revolution. This new revolution, known as the “second quantum revolution,” is characterized by the ability to exploit quantum effects for engineering purposes.

• April 10, 2026

  RE413

  Active optofluidics - Setting fluids in motion by light

  A microfluidic device assembles different modules, each designed to perform a specific task, effectively fixing the entire structure and its functions. By exchanging momentum and/or energy with liquids, light can represent an attractive ‘actuator’ because the interaction with the light field is contactless and dynamically reconfigurable. Drawing inspiration from the concept of ‘optical chip’ derived from suspension manipulation, this article proposes new avenues for extending this concept to two-phase microfluidic flows by suggesting the use of various photoinduced mechanisms to design a multifunctional optofluidic toolkit.

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