A career in optical physics or engineering means knowing about the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and its detection by instruments. Since the discovery that ...

Can quantum optics be used for practical applications? A lot depends on whether a large number of photons can be gathered in quantum state. Among all quantum systems, photons are known for their weak ...

Conventional optics (e.g. lenses or mirrors) manipulate the phase via optical path difference by controlling thickness or refractive index of material. Recently, researchers reported that arbitrary ...

Mini-MOT: A new miniaturized optical system for laser cooling atoms in a magneto-optical trap, or MOT. (Courtesy: NIST) The magneto-optical trap, or MOT, is the workhorse of cold-atom physics. Without ...

With an applied physics: optics degree, you’ll gain specialized expertise in optics, preparing you for diverse career opportunities in technology, research, and academia. Become who you’re meant to be ...

Physicists have engineered light to drift sideways in discrete, quantized steps inside a fiber-optic loop, reproducing a signature behavior of the quantum Hall effect without electrons, magnetic ...