A protein derived from squid skin could be adapted into a kind of IR camouflage for soldiers. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have developed an adhesive film that, when stretched, reflects near-infrared light. Future versions of the technology that reflect a broader part of the IR spectrum could be worn by soldiers hoping to avoid detection by enemy thermal cameras. “Soldiers wear uniforms with the familiar green and brown camouflage patterns to blend into foliage during the day, but under low light and at night, they’re still vulnerable to...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESResearchers Explore How Light Affects Circadian Rhythms in InsectsUniversity of California, Irvine (UCI) researchers have explored how UV, blue, and red light affect the central brain neurons that allow circadian clock timing to be reset. The researchers found that...BioPhotonics Jan/Feb 2020 IssueMolecular Vibrations Imaged for First TimeScientists at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), focused light down to the size of an atom to produce the first images of a molecule’s normal modes of vibration. The images could...Photonics Spectra June 2019 IssueMultiple Properties of Quantum Materials Probed Simultaneously at Nano ResolutionResearchers at Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego, have used a combination of measurement techniques to simultaneously examine the electrical, magnetic, and optical...Photonics.com 1/3/2020Nontoxic Material Used to Upconvert Low-energy PhotonsResearchers at the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) and the University of Texas at Austin demonstrated the use of nontoxic silicon nanocrystals to convert low-energy photons into...Photonics Spectra February 2020 IssuePRODUCTSPlasma Treatment SystemThe Transient Plasma Surface Treatment System from Transient Plasma Systems Inc. supports open-environment surface cleaning, activation, and thin-film coating of substrates including wide-area and...Photonics Spectra January 2020 IssueImage Signal ProcessorThe Denali 3.0 programmable image signal processor (ISP) from Pinnacle Imaging Systems is a fully customizable solution for designers of mission-critical applications demanding maximum real-time...Photonics.com 1/4/2021Atom Probe MicroscopeThe EIKOS-UV atom probe microscope from Cameca utilizes standard microscopy sample preparation methods and delivers nanoscale structural information for R&D and industrial applications The...Photonics Spectra October 2019 IssueSimulator Display MonitorsSimulator Display Monitors from TRU-Vu Monitors Inc. are rugged devices with over 550 off-the-shelf options. The TAA-compliant monitors and touch screens, with screen sizes from 7 to 65 in.,...Photonics.com 9/23/2020PHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESAntireflection Coatings for the Ultraviolet, Visible and Near-IR: Graphs showing reflection curves of common antireflection coatings.Photonics HandbookAspheric Lenses: Design Considerations: This first of two articles will cover design and manufacturing options for aspheres; the second will include more detail on manufacturing and testing processes. These articles will provide the tools optics designers need to tailor their designs to the appropriate manufacturing process and to optimize the cost of component fabrication.Aspheric surfaces are powerful tools that combine the optical corrections of multiple lenses into a single element (Figure 1) and affect performance in ways that spherical optics cannot. For example,...Photonics HandbookHeat Control and Lighting Systems Design: Optical Coatings Separate Light from Heat: Modern coating technology offers the lighting system designer a number of ways to deal with heat radiation.Controlling and minimizing heat output is desirable in most lighting applications. For example, conventional incandescent light sources are very inefficient with only a small portion of the...Photonics HandbookThin-Film Coatings: A Buyers' Guide: The vast majority of optics used in precision scientific, industrial, biomedical, and military applications incorporate thin-film coatings on their surfaces. 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. Most coatings...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSIR Filters for Gas AnalysisThin film filters specially designed for infrared applications ranging from environmental monitoring, thermal imaging, medical, and power distribution. We offer high transmission, narrow and wide...Photonics.com 8/4/2020UV Bandpass Filters for SterilizationUV light at 222 nm is capable of sterilization without harming human skin, making it a safe and effective technology to combat bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. Optical filters can be...Photonics.com 6/19/2020Solutions for Fiber Optic ApplicationsHigh temperature polymer coating and sheathing products protect and support the latest fiber optic technology.Photonics.com 9/10/2019High-Volume, Cost-Effective Uniform Deposition for Flat and Curved Optical SurfacesTo achieve thin film uniformity on flat surfaces, nearly every conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) method requires masking, complex motion, or both. For curved surfaces, none of these...Photonics.com 10/8/2020WEBINARSRadiometric Accuracy and Commercial UAVs: A Clash of Cultures?While the explosion in the commercial drone industry has benefited a wide variety of applications including crop mapping and farmland surveying, the delivery to the farmer of accurate radiometric...Photonics.com 7/7/2020Photonics for OphthalmologyPhotonics Media invites you to join us for our upcoming FREE digital conference, "Photonics for Ophthalmology." The event will feature several 15-minute online presentations on the use of light-based...Photonics.com 6/9/2016Biophotonic Imaging for Medicine: A Digital ConferenceResearchers from around the world presented their latest work at “Biophotonic Imaging for Medicine: A Digital Conference.” Presentations focused on a range of light-based imaging and...Photonics.com 6/11/2015Mobile Hyperspectral Imagers: Implementations and ApplicationsThis webinar will provide an overview of the state of the art in hyperspectral imaging, discussing the major architectures for hyperspectral imagers together with their performance trade-offs....Photonics.com 10/10/2017PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSoptical camouflageThe use of retroreflective projection technology (RPT) to project a background image onto a masked object, such as a vehicle or overcoat, thereby making the masked object appear invisible....EDU.photonics.com 3/5/2018microdensitometerThe fundamental tool of microdensitometry, the microdensitometer is an instrument used for the precise measurement of microscopic optical densities (i.e. optical absorption) by detection of faint...EDU.photonics.com 3/5/2018dielectric coatingA high-reflectance coating consisting of alternating layers of quarter-wave film of a higher refractive index and lower refractive index than the substrate. Such coatings can be made very specific to...EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009pyrolysisA process that employs heat to remove polyimide plastic coatings from silica optical fibers and capillary tubing.EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009MEDIAPhotonics on the Showroom Floor and in the Lab - LIGHT MATTERS 02.2018On this month's episode of Light Matters, we take you on a brief tour of the Higgins Laboratories at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Quinsigamond Community College and WPI received a $4M grant...Photonics.com 2/21/2018About AlluxaGet a tour of our factory and the inside scoop on everything Alluxa has to offer.Photonics.com 9/30/2019Luminate NY 2019: Lightning AwardsLuminate is the world's largest Optics, Photonics and Imaging accelerator focused on advancing next-generation OPI-enabled companies. The accelerator program accepts ten companies per year to compete...Photonics.com 11/16/2018PIC Fundamentals, Design at Heart of AIM Photonics Summer AcademyStudents from large and small size companies and bigger Department of Defense affiliates of the AIM Photonics Institute took part in the recent AIM Photonics Summer Academy at MIT. This was the third...Photonics.com 7/30/2018PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESLaser OpticsOptical CoatingsComponents and Accessories Vacuum EquipmentDichroic 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' GuideMLD Technologies LLCExperts In Thin-film Coating Design We practice a design-before-quote approach to help customers refine specifications and minimize technical risk. We understand how coated optical elements...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' GuideIsuzu Glass Inc.Manufacturer of two main glass products: Molded Glass Lenses and Colored Glass Filters. Manufacturer of custom integrated lens arrays, microlens arrays, aspheric lenses and condenser lenses by...Photonics Buyers' Guide