Tiny crystals of a cobalt coordination compound leap, twirl and burst apart like popcorn when exposed to UV light. A team led by researchers at the National University of Singapore suggests the microscopic phenomenon could find macroscopic applications turning sunlight into mechanical energy. The researchers call the crystal motion a photosalient effect. It involves crystals of the compound [Co(NH3)5(NO2)]Cl(NO3) that undergo sudden jumps over distances 102 to 105 times their own size, they said. The phenomenon demonstrates the conversion and transfer of light energy into...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESPolymer Molecules Fluoresce After Chemical AdjustmentsETH Zurich researchers have introduced a method that relies on chemical adjustments occurring in fluorescent organic polymer molecules to generate a broad palette of color. 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A research team from France’s Fresnel Institute and...Photonics.com 1/13/2021PRODUCTSFemtosecond LasersThe FSX series of femtosecond pulse width lasers from Photonics Industries International Inc. accommodates user-specified pulse widths for applications that require pulse widths from 350 fs to 20 ps....Photonics Spectra April 2022 IssuePolygon Laser ScannerThe Gecko-45-HSS from Precision Laser Scanning is a polygon laser scanner with a 4.5-mm aperture. With a linear scan speed of up to 12 KHz combined with a 20° scan angle, the device is...Photonics Spectra September 2020 IssueMiniature Bayonet-Based LED LampsShort-length Miniature Bayonet-Based LED Lamps from LEDtronics are multi-voltage bulbs for applications that require a shorter lamp with bright, reliable light. The BSF321-SIW-6/48V bulb comes...Photonics.com 7/27/2020LEDThe LUXEON 2835N LED from Lumileds delivers 204 lm/W for luminaire manufacturers. 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Brighter, easier to use and growing in application, they are driving new options in fluorescence, conventional bright-field and other contrast techniques.As recently as five years ago, shopping for a microscope light source was fairly straightforward. For routine applications, it was tungsten halogen, typically 100 W, while for fluorescence, it was an...Photonics HandbookInterferometry: Measuring with Light: Long applied to optical shop testing, interferometry is now used to measure many different types of parts in a variety of applications, such as optical system performance, surface roughness, surface form, and displacement of moving surfaces.An interferometer is an instrument that compares the position or surface structure of two objects. 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Integration of individual components...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSUsing Imaging Colorimeters to Correct OLED, MicroLED, and Other Emissive Displays for Production Efficiency and YieldsImaging colorimeters can improve OLED and microLED display production by ensuring visual quality of displays — measuring brightness and color uniformity at the pixel and subpixel level to correct...Photonics.com 1/14/2021Automation on a budget: Capturing high-speed multi-labelled events with LED illumination systemsThe light source for widefield fluorescence microscopy might seem like an unlikely enabler for high-speed live cell imaging, but the level of control that comes with LED Illumination Systems has...Photonics.com 7/30/2020Optical Filters and LED IlluminationUnderstanding the interplay of optical filters, microscope light source and fluorophore selection can be a complex task, especially when it comes to multi-channel imaging. 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Through continuous dialogue with our...Photonics Buyers' GuideCASTECH INC.CASTECH is a recognized leading supplier of nonlinear optical crystals, laser crystals and precision optical components for laser, telecom, medical, analysis and detector markets. Products...Photonics Buyers' Guide