Engineers have developed a conformal metasurface coating that can simultaneously control diverse optical properties of dielectric waveguides, including mode confinement, polarization, scattering signature and crosstalk. The two-layer coating can shrink the diameter of waveguides, enabling more flexible control of waveguide characteristics. Existing methods for controlling waveguides using 3D structures can provide efficient paths for obtaining highly confined modes, optical activity, or a low-scattering signature; but typically these efficiencies come at the expense of increased...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESThin-Film Design Delivers Night-Vision Prototype Without the BulkAn international team of researchers has developed a technology that allows people to see clearly in the dark. 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Therefore, it’s useful for almost anyone involved in the specification and purchase of optical components to have some familiarity with the typical performance characteristics, trade-offs and limitations of various coating types, as well as some knowledge of the capabilities of common thin-film production technologies. This article provides an objective overview of both these topics.What are thin-film coatings? The purpose of any optical thin-film coating is to modify the transmittance and reflectance properties of the substrate material to which they are applied. 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Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have discovered a new phenomenon of quantum cascade laser frequency combs, which would allow the devices to...Photonics.com 8/10/2018PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESHigh Damage Threshold CoatingsFar-Infrared LasersA far-infrared laser is a laser with output over a wide range of wavelengths spanning the far-infrared region of the spectrum (30 to 1000 µm); typically, it consists of a metal or dielectric...Dielectric CoatingsInfrared CoatingsCOMPANIESLaCroix Precision OpticsOptics that Defend, Build, Cure and Discover The LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have placed LaCroix Precision Optics...Photonics Buyers' GuideReynard CorporationReynard Corporation has been a premier supplier of custom optics and thin-film coatings to a global customer base since 1984. Reynard focuses on manufacturing the highest quality products with...Photonics Buyers' GuideCascade Optical CorporationCascade Optical Corporation has more than 35 years of expertise in custom vacuum-deposited thin-film coatings, specializing in IAD, low temp, low stress coatings for laser crystals and fiber optics....Photonics Buyers' GuideOhara Corporation, Western OfficeOhara manufactures precision optical glasses: strip/slab, cut/molded blanks, pressings, high homogeneity blanks, fine gobs, polished ball lenses, near-UV transmitting i-Line glass, ceramic...Photonics Buyers' Guide