April 2011 Volume 5, Issue 4

Editorial

The next step for metrology p185
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.48
Frequency combs, optical clocks and quantum techniques that go beyond classical limits are all making photonics a powerful tool for understanding and defining our universe in ever-greater detail.
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Commentaries

Searching for applications with a fine-tooth comb pp186 - 188
Nathan R. Newbury
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.38
Frequency combs — broadband phase-coherent optical sources — are finding an increasing number of new applications in the field of metrology.
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Measuring the seemingly immeasurable pp189 - 192
Rick Trebino
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.41
This year celebrates the twentieth anniversary of frequency-resolved optical gating — the first and most general technique for measuring ultrashort laser pulses.
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Interviews

The impact of frequency combs p193
Interview with Theodor Hänsch
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.47
Frequency combs generated by femtosecond lasers are powerful tools for high-precision optical spectroscopy and metrology. Theodor Hänsch, who received part of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2005 for his work in this field, spoke to Nature Photonics about how frequency combs have changed science.
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Research Highlights

Our choice from the recent literature pp194 - 195
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.42
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News and Views

Reviews

Optical lattice clocks and quantum metrology pp203 - 210
Hidetoshi Katori
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.45
Abstract | Full Text | PDF

The Casimir effect in microstructured geometries pp211 - 221
Alejandro W. Rodriguez, Federico Capasso and Steven G. Johnson
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.39
Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Advances in quantum metrology pp222 - 229
Vittorio Giovannetti, Seth Lloyd and Lorenzo Maccone
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.35
Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letters

Hybrid semiconductor-atomic interface: slowing down single photons from a quantum dot pp230 - 233
N. Akopian, L. Wang, A. Rastelli, O. G. Schmidt and V. Zwiller
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.16
Combining semiconductor quantum dots and atomic systems allows the light emitted from a quantum dot to be temporarily stored. Here, scientists describe a hybrid semiconductor-atomic interface that can slow down a single photon emitted from a quantum dot by 15 times its temporal width. The findings are attractive for the implementation of quantum memories and quantum repeaters.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: News and Views by Hau | Interview with Nika Akopian

Optofluidic modulator based on peristaltic nematogen microflows pp234 - 238
J. G. Cuennet, A. E. Vasdekis, L. De Sio and D. Psaltis
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.18
Based on peristaltic nematogen microflows in polydimethylsiloxane, scientists demonstrate an optofluidic modulator that exhibits a symmetric 250 µs response and can operate at frequencies of up to 1 kHz.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Observation of the inverse Doppler effect in negative-index materials at optical frequencies pp239 - 245
Jiabi Chen, Yan Wang, Baohua Jia, Tao Geng, Xiangping Li, Lie Feng, Wei Qian, Bingming Liang, Xuanxiong Zhang, Min Gu and Songlin Zhuang
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.17
Experimental investigation of the reverse-Doppler shift of electromagnetic waves has previously been restricted to the microwave regime. Here, direct confirmation of the Doppler effect is reported at the infrared wavelength of 10.6 µm using a moving photonic crystal exhibiting a negative refractive index.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: News and Views by Reed

Lensless X-ray imaging in reflection geometry pp243 - 245
S. Roy, D. Parks, K. A. Seu, R. Su, J. J. Turner, W. Chao, E. H. Anderson, S. Cabrini and S. D. Kevan
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.11
Many X-ray imaging techniques require transmission geometries, which place severe restrictions on the samples being imaged. Here, a reflection geometry lensless X-ray imaging method is demonstrated. This technique may allow single-shot imaging of surfaces and films such as organic photovoltaic materials and field-effect transistor devices, or Bragg planes in a single crystal.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Interview

Slowing down single photons p246
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.37
Interview with Nika Akopian
Single photons emitted from a quantum dot can be slowed down using a hybrid semiconductor-atomic interface. Nika Akopian from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands explained to Nature Photonics how this non-classical light storage system works.
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