IOP Publishing presents a collection of content in optical physicsiopscience.org/optical-physics

optical physics

The front-cover design is influenced by the Bauhaus colour theorist Johannes Itten (1888–1967), and his extensive study of the dichotomy between the subjective and objective qualities of colours. The design extends from Itten’s approach, offering a two-tonal composition coupled with black and white as active non-colour values. Here, a colour gamut is associated with a simple geometric shape, together forming a colour-form unit, which is deployed as a colour-coding system to present IOP’s family of subject-led collections.

ContentsForeword 3

Community perspectives 4

Plasmonics 6

Bio-optics 8

Nanophotonics 10

Green photonics 12

Ultrafast optics and free-electron lasers 14

Quantum Optics 16

Further highlights 18

International Year of Light 2015 20

Featured journals 22

Front cover

IOP Publishing optical physics 3

Welcome to this special collection of IOP Publishing content, which gives a glimpse of the cutting-edge research being undertaken in optics and photonics. With optics being at the forefront of much of today’s technology and 2015 being designated as the official International Year of Light, it seemed timely to draw attention to this important domain of science.

We have focused on a few key topics that we felt warranted coverage ranging from the ultrasmall to the ultrafast, and from optics for the life sciences to green living. In our LabTalks and video abstracts researchers give you their personal take on their work. In special and focus issues, scientists bring together the best research that their field has to offer. We also look at the themes and activities around the International Year of Light 2015, a good reason for us all to celebrate.

Enjoy the collection.

Video abstractsThrough this media, authors can go beyond the constraints of the written article to convey their research, and provide a new, enhanced user experience.

LabTalkThese news stories allow you to meet the people behind the research article and get their perspective on their work.

Special and focus issuesThese tailored issues compiled by guest editors each serve to highlight exciting work conducted in active areas of particular current interest.

Topical reviewsWritten by leading researchers, these timely articles present a snapshot of recent progress in a field.

Foreword

Claire Bedrock Senior Publisher

4 IOP Publishing optical physics

Six key areas that are reshaping optics

The optics topics in this booklet were selected because of their high interest and potential for broad applications in science and technology.

Here’s what leading researchers in their field have to say about them …

Community perspectives

Bio-optics

Nanophotonics

Plasmonics

Green photonics

Quantum optics

Ultrafast optics and free-electron

lasers

Optical physics

IOP Publishing optical physics 5

Plasmonics Bio-optics

Nanophotonics

Ultrafast optics and free-electron lasers

Green photonics

Quantum optics

Community perspectives

In plasmonic nanostructures, collective oscillations of electrons in metals coupled with electromagnetic waves play a dominant role in the confinement, guiding and strong local enhancement of waves. They create effects that are difficult or even impossible to achieve by any other means.Professor Gennady Shvets University of Texas at Austin

Photonic techniques have been a major tool of discovery in the life sciences for a long time. New methods such as super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, advanced spectroscopy techniques as well as optical manipulation techniques continue to open new horizons. Professor Dr Christoph Schmidt Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Mastering of light in artificial nanostructures, at the size scale where optical, electronic, structural, thermal and mechanical properties are deeply interdependent promises minute ‘Nanophotonics Inside’ devices swiftly working with few photons only.Professor Nikolay Zheludev University of Southampton and Nanyang Technological University

The advent of key technologies that enable ultrashort, high-intensity and high-photon-energy light sources has spurred the field of light-matter interactions revealing new insights into the structure and dynamics of atoms, molecules and solids.Professor Marc Vrakking Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy

With energy issues attracting mounting concern, research activity into alternatives to fossil fuels has soared over the past decade. Photovoltaics is indisputably among the dominating technologies in energy research.Professor Gary Brudvig Yale University

Quantum optics, the nearest to future quantum technologies domain of physics, deals with photons and quantum excitations persisting for long times in diluted and condensed media. It serves as the base of quantum telecommunication, quantum information, quantum imaging, and precise measurements.Professor Vladimir Akulin Université Paris-Sud

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Plasmonics is the study of the interaction between an electromagnetic field and free electrons in a metal. What makes plasmons of current interest is their ability to confine light to nanoscale regions – much smaller than the wavelength of light.

We have selected the following articles as they highlight the spread of exciting work in plasmonics – everything from plasmonic-based materials, such as graphene and magneto-optical materials, to its applications in, for example, cloaking and plasmonic focusing.

Video abstractListen to researchers describe their investigation of power propagation in a metal-coated tapered optical fibre.

• A coupled lossy local-mode theory description of a plasmonic tip J Barthes, G Colas des Francs, A Bouhelier and A Dereux 2012 New J. Phys. 14 083041

LabTalkRead, from the authors viewpoint, about how an atomically thin graphene monolayer on a grating coupler can prevent light from transmitting.

• Graphene-based grating favors the absorption in mid infrared T M Slipchenko, M L Nesterov, L Martin-Moreno and A Yu Nikitin iopscience.org/labtalk/graphene-based-grating

Focus issue In this focus issue, a snapshot of the rapidly developing field of magnetoplasmonics, combining magnetism and plasmonics to develop novel concepts in materials science, is presented.

• Focus on Magnetoplasmonics. Guest Editors: Gaspar Armelles and Alexandre Dmitriev. Visit New Journal of Physics “Focus on” series at njp.org

Plasmonics

Taken from: Analytical solution for the diffraction of an electromagnetic wave by a graphene grating, T M Slipchenko et al 2013 J. Opt. 15 114008.

Taken from: A coupled lossy local-mode theory description of a plasmonic tip, J Barthes et al 2012 New J. Phys. 14 083041.

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Selected articles

• High Q factor propagating plasmon modes based on low-cost metals Xiaowen Yuan, Qi Wang, X F Zhu, Lei Shi, Qiang Zhao, Liaoxin Sun, Changqing Chen and Bo Zhang 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 085109

• Low-threshold surface plasmon amplification from a gain-assisted core–shell nanoparticle with broken symmetry Pei Ding, Jinna He, Junqiao Wang, Chunzhen Fan, Genwang Cai and Erjun Liang 2013 J. Opt. 15 105001

• Optimal plasmonic focusing on a metal disc under radially polarized terahertz illumination Stefan Waselikowski, Christian Fischer, Jan Wallauer and Markus Walther 2013 New J. Phys. 15 075005

• Generation and manipulation of higher order Fano resonances in plasmonic nanodisks with a built-in missing sectorial slice Tingzhuo Liu, Junna Li, Fei Gao, Qingyan Han and Shengzhong Liu 2013 EPL 104 47009

• Long range surface plasmons in a symmetric graphene system with anisotropic dielectrics K V Sreekanth and Ting Yu 2013 J. Opt. 15 055002

• Experimental verification of three-dimensional plasmonic cloaking in free-space D Rainwater, A Kerkhoff, K Melin, J C Soric, G Moreno and A Alù 2012 New J. Phys. 14 013054

• Mid-infrared, plasmonic switches and directional couplers induced by graphene sheets coupling system Hongju Li, Lingling Wang, Zhenrong Huang, Bin Sun, Xiang Zhai and Xiaofei Li 2013 EPL 104 37001

Topical reviewsThe first of these reviews covers broad aspects of surface plasmonics, reviewing recent progress in plasmonic waveguides, plasmonic light-emitting devices and plasmonic solar cells. The second focuses on the scaling of Fano resonances in plasmonic nanostructures (with both spherical and cylindrical symmetries).

• Plasmonics: visit the past to know the future Shinji Hayashi and Takayuki Okamoto 2012 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 45 433001

• Fano resonances and topological optics: an interplay of far- and near-field interference phenomena B S Luk’yanchuk, A E Miroshnichenko and Yu S Kivshar 2013 J. Opt. 15 073001

OtherDue to the significant growth in articles published in the area of plasmonics in EPL we have published an open compilation of the most downloaded during the past few years.

To read the compilation of articles visit iopscience.iop.org/epl/page/Plasmonics

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Video abstractsThe authors in these videos talk about a new method that improves single molecule fluorescence imaging, and the potential for fluorescence decay measurements as a tool for research into Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, respectively.

• Initial stages of beta-amyloid Aβ1−40 and Aβ1−42 oligomerization observed using fluorescence decay and molecular dynamics analyses of tyrosine Mariana Amaro, Karina Kubiak-Ossowska, David J S Birch and Olaf J Rolinski 2013 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 1 015006

• Extending single molecule fluorescence observation time by amplitude-modulated excitation Lydia Kisley, Wei-Shun Chang, David Cooper, Andrea P Mansur and Christy F Landes 2013 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 1 037001

LabTalkRead what these authors have to say about the prospects for super-resolution imaging.

• Single molecule localization microscopy for superresolution iopscience.org/labtalk/single-molecule-localization

• Beating the diffraction limit with super-oscillations iopscience.org/labtalk/beating-the-diffraction

Special issueThis issue draws attention to a number of interesting approaches in the field of advanced microscopy, all of which are delivering ever-increasing detail on the dynamic behaviour of molecules in the living cell.

• Special issue on high-resolution optical imaging. Guest Editors: Peter J S Smith, Ilan Davis, Catherine G Galbraith and Andreas Stemmer 2013 Journal of Optics 15 Issue 9

Bio-optics is focused around the use of lasers, optics, photonics and imaging systems in the life sciences.

We bring you a selection of research that involves the development and application of optical techniques to study biological molecules, cells and tissue. The work encompasses a diverse range of activities, each of which shares the common theme of exploiting the interaction of light with biological material.

Bio-optics

Taken from: Single molecule localization microscopy for superresolution, John R Allen et al 2013 J. Opt. 15 094001.

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Selected articles

• Red persistent luminescence in MgGa2O4 : Cr3+; a new phosphor for in vivo imaging N Basavaraju, S Sharma, A Bessière, B Viana, D Gourier and K R Priolkar 2013 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 46 375401

• Ratiometric luminescence 2D in vivo imaging and monitoring of mouse skin oxygenation Julian Hofmann, Robert J Meier, Alexander Mahnke, Valentin Schatz, Florian Brackmann, Regina Trollmann, Christian Bogdan, Gregor Liebsch, Xu-dong Wang and Otto S Wolfbeis 2013 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 1 045002

• Phase retrieval method for biological samples with absorption Shouyu Wang, Liang Xue, Jiancheng Lai, Yang Song and Zhenhua Li 2013 J. Opt. 15 075301

• Spectral phasor approach for fingerprinting of photo-activatable fluorescent proteins Francesco Cutrale, Anya Salih and Enrico Gratton 2013 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 1 035001

• Clinical coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and multiphoton tomography of human skin with a femtosecond laser and photonic crystal fiber Hans Georg Breunig, Martin Weinigel, Rainer Bückle, Marcel Kellner-Höfer, Jürgen Lademann, Maxim E Darvin, Wolfram Sterry and Karsten König 2013 Laser Phys. Lett. 10 025604

• Investigating the micro-rheology of the vitreous humor using an optically trapped local probe Fiona Watts, Lay Ean Tan, Clive G Wilson, John M Girkin, Manlio Tassieri and Amanda J Wright 2014 J. Opt. 16 015301

Topical reviewsThese invited reviews from leaders in their field discuss the latest developments and future prospects for exploiting optics in the biosciences.

• Optical properties of biological tissues: a review Steven L Jacques 2013 Phys. Med. Biol. 58 R37

• Luminescent lanthanide reporters: new concepts for use in bioanalytical applications Johanna Vuojola and Tero Soukka 2014 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 2 012001

• Single-molecule nanometry for biological physics Hajin Kim and Taekjip Ha 2013 Rep. Prog. Phys. 76 016601

Taken from: Ratiometric luminescence 2D in vivo imaging and monitoring of mouse skin oxygenation, Julian Hoffman et al 2013 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 1 045002.

Taken from: Phase retrieval method for biological samples with absorption, Shouyu Wang et al 2013 J. Opt. 15 075301.

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Nanophotonics

Video abstractWatch as these authors present an accurate methodology for representing the physics of waves in periodic structures.

• High-frequency homogenization of zero-frequency stop band photonic and phononic crystals T Antonakakis, R V Craster and S Guenneau 2013 New J. Phys. 15 103014

LabTalkRead about how these authors confine surface plasmon polaritons on a graphene sheet, and a new approach to realizing low-threshold lasing action through a spaser-based metallic nanoshell.

• Soft-boundary graphene nanoribbon formed by a graphene sheet above a perturbed ground plane: conductivity profile and SPP modal current distribution iopscience.org/labtalk/soft-boundary-graphene

• Breaking symmetry makes low-threshold nanolasers iopscience.org/labtalk/breaking-symmetry

Special and focus issuesThese specially commissioned issues cover two of the most nascent fields in nanophotonics – graphene-based photonics and nano-optomechanics.

• Special issue on graphene nanophotonics. Guest Editors: Alexey Yu Nikitin, Stefan A Maier and Luis Martin-Moreno 2013 Journal of Optics 15 Issue 11

• Focus on Optomechanics. Guest Editors: Florian Marquardt and Ivan Favero. Visit New Journal of Physics “Focus on” series at njp.org

Taken from: Electrostatically biased graphene sheet over a ground plane with a two dimensional ridge, Ebrahim Forati and George W Hanson 2013 J. Opt. 15 114006.

Nanophotonics research is devoted to understanding how light behaves on the nanometre scale. As a technology, it has the potential to revolutionize industry due to the high bandwidth, high speed and ultra-small optoelectronic device sizes.

The articles presented here give a taste of IOP Publishing content investigating the physics and applications of nanoscale photonic structures.

Taken from: High-frequency homogenization of zero-frequency stop band photonic and phononic crystals, T Antonakakis et al 2013 New J. Phys. 15 103014.

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Selected articles

• Colour and multicolour tuning of InGaN quantum dot based light-emitting diodes C Tessarek, S Figge and D Hommel 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 055108

• Resistive coupling of localized plasmon resonances in metallic nanostripes through a graphene layer B Thackray, V G Kravets, F Schedin, R Jalil and A N Grigorenko 2013 J. Opt. 15 114002

• Paradoxes in laser heating of plasmonic nanoparticles Boris S Luk’yanchuk, Andrey E Miroshnichenko, Michael I Tribelsky, Yuri S Kivshar and Alexei R Khokhlov 2012 New J. Phys. 14 093022

• Broadband all-optical modulation using a graphene-covered-microfiber Zhi-Bo Liu, Ming Feng, Wen-Shuai Jiang, Wei Xin, Peng Wang, Qi-Wen Sheng, Yan-Ge Liu, D N Wang, Wen-Yuan Zhou and Jian-Guo Tian 2013 Laser Phys. Lett. 10 065901

• Charge dynamics in graphene and graphene superlattices under a high-frequency electric field: a semiclassical approach S V Kryuchkov, E I Kukhar’ and D V Zav’yalov 2013 Laser Phys. 23 065902

• Experimental demonstration in X-band of dual-negative refraction in photonic crystals Guoyan Dong, Ke Bi, Ji Zhou, Xiulun Yang and Xiangfeng Meng 2013 EPL 104 34003

Topical reviewsGiven the growing body of work on nanophotonics and nanoscale-sized lasers, these timely review articles are a valuable resource for keeping up to date with the latest developments.

• Photonic crystal lasers using wavelength-scale embedded active region Shinji Matsuo, Tomonari Sato, Koji Takeda, Akihiko Shinya, Kengo Nozaki, Eiichi Kuramochi, Hideaki Taniyama, Masaya Notomi, Takuro Fujii and Koichi Hasebe 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 023001

• Chiral metamaterials: from optical activity and negative refractive index to asymmetric transmission Zhaofeng Li, Mehmet Mutlu and Ekmel Ozbay 2013 J. Opt. 15 023001

• Information physics fundamentals of nanophotonics Makoto Naruse, Naoya Tate, Masashi Aono and Motoichi Ohtsu 2013 Rep. Prog. Phys. 76 056401

• Quantum cascade lasers: a versatile source for precise measurements in the mid/far-infrared range S Bartalini, M S Vitiello and P De Natale 2014 Meas. Sci. Technol. 25 012001

Taken from: Experimental demonstration in X-band of dual-negative refraction in photonic crystals, G Dong et al 2013 EPL 104 34003.

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In order to meet global energy challenges, research into green photonics looks at ways to produce cleaner, more efficient energy generation and substantially reduce energy consumption through the management of photons.

The selection of research presented here covers various aspects of clean, renewable energy-related research using photonic materials and technologies.

Green photonics

We need to come up with new, inexpensive, and scalable nanostructure fabrication and optical characterization techniques in order to realize the dream of inexpensive, high-power conversion efficiency cells that make economic sense.Allan Boardman, Mark Brongersma and Albert Polman, Guest Editors for Journal of Optics

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Taken from: Scanning near-field optical microscopy on dense random assemblies of metal nanoparticles, M Schmid et al 2013 J. Opt. 15 125001.

Taken from: Rear surface protection and front surfacebi-layer passivation for silicon nanostructure-textured solar cells, Bingfei Dou et al 2013 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 46 025101.

LabTalkRead directly from these authors how metallic nanoparticles show promise for generating plasmonic absorption enhancement in thin-film solar cells.

• Scanning near-field optical microscopy on dense random assemblies of metal nanoparticles iopscience.org/labtalk/scanning-near-field

Special issuesThese invited papers by distinguished authors capture the current excitement surrounding the important field of photovoltaics, demonstrating current global activity and addressing some open questions in the field.

• Special issue on nanostructured photovoltaics. Guest Editors: Lan Fu, H Hoe Tan and Chennupati Jagadish 2013 Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 46 Issue 2

• Special issue on green photonics. Guest Editors: Allan Boardman, Mark Brongersma and Albert Polman 2012 Journal of Optics 14 Issue 2

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Selected articles

• Textured conducting glass by nanosphere lithography for increased light absorption in thin-film solar cells Jonathan P Mailoa, Yun Seog Lee, Tonio Buonassisi and Inna Kozinsky 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 085105

• Perfect absorption in graphene multilayers Igor S Nefedov, Constantinos A Valaginnopoulos and Leonid A Melnikov 2013 J. Opt. 15 114003

• A 40 W cw Nd:YAG solar laser pumped through a heliostat: a parabolic mirror system J Almeida, D Liang, E Guillot and Y Abdel-Hadi 2013 Laser Phys. 23 065801

• Influence of an Sb doping layer in CIGS thin-film solar cells: a photoluminescence study L Van Puyvelde, J Lauwaert, F Pianezzi, S Nishiwaki, P F Smet, D Poelman, A N Tiwari and H Vrielinck 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 045102

• Metamaterial-based integrated plasmonic absorber/emitter for solar thermo-photovoltaic systems Chihhui Wu, Burton Neuner III, Jeremy John, Andrew Milder, Byron Zollars, Steve Savoy and Gennady Shvets 2012 J. Opt. 14 024005

• Backside-configured surface plasmonic structure with over 40 times photocurrent enhancement Guiru Gu, Jarrod Vaillancourt, Puminun Vasinajindakaw and Xuejun Lu 2013 Semicond. Sci. Technol. 28 105005

Topical reviewsGet an overview of how photovoltaics are being developed for greener energy with these topical reviews.

• Plasmonic light trapping in thin-film Si solar cells P Spinelli, V E Ferry, J van de Groep, M van Lare, M A Verschuuren, R E I Schropp, H A Atwater and A Polman 2012 J. Opt. 14 024002

• 3D photonic crystals for photon management in solar cells Ralf B Wehrspohn and Johannes Üpping 2012 J. Opt. 14 024003

• III-nitride semiconductors for intersubband optoelectronics: a review M Beeler, E Trichas and E Monroy 2013 Semicond. Sci. Technol. 28 074022

• Green photonics Frederic Quan 2012 J. Opt. 14 024001

Taken from: Semiconductor heterostructures and optimization of light-trapping structures for efficient thin-film solar cells, Claiborne O McPheeters et al 2012 J. Opt. 14 024007.

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Video abstractsWatch as these groups discuss new prospects for using circularly polarized HHG and novel possibilities for attosecond optical control.

• Quantum-classical correspondence in circularly polarized high harmonic generation F Mauger, A D Bandrauk, A Kamor, T Uzer and C Chandre 2014 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 47 041001

• Resonant enhancement of a single attosecond pulse in a gas medium by a time-delayed control field Wei-Chun Chu and C D Lin 2012 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 45 201002

LabTalkFind out what these authors have to say about their work and the motivation behind it.

• Attosecond synchronization of terahertz waves and harmonics iopscience.org/labtalk/attosecond-synchronization

• A brilliant future for x-ray microscopy iopscience.org/labtalk/brilliant-future

• Electron momentum after tunnel ionization iopscience.org/labtalk/electron-momentum

Special and focus issuesThese collections of invited articles bring together the latest hot research in strong-field physics and XUV/x-ray science.

• Frontiers of free-electron laser science. Guest Editors: Philip Bucksbaum, Thomas Möller and Kiyoshi Ueda 2013 Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 46 Issue 16

• Focus on Correlation Effects in Radiation Fields. Guest Editors: Dieter Bauer, Thomas Brabec, Holger Fehske, Stefan Lochbrunner, Karl-Heinz Meiwes-Broer and Ronald Redmer. Visit New Journal of Physics “Focus on” series at njp.org

The creation of femto- and attosecond pulses has transformed the field of optics. A new generation of light sources, including free-electron lasers, have given us a unique set of tools to enable us to study the behaviour of atoms and molecules in their natural timescales, and realize controllable ultrafast photonics.

Read about the latest developments in these rapidly evolving fields of optics.

Ultrafast optics and free-electron lasers

Taken from: Attosecond synchronization of terahertz wave and high-harmonics, Zhihui Lü et al 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 155602.

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Selected articles

• Multidimensional high harmonic spectroscopy: a semi-classical perspective on measuring multielectron rearrangement upon ionization Valeria Serbinenko and Olga Smirnova 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 171001

• Periodic subwavelength ripples on lithium niobate surfaces generated by tightly focused sub-15 femtosecond sub-nanojoule pulsed near-infrared laser light Martin Straub, Benjamin Weigand, Maziar Afshar, Dara Feili, Helmut Seidel and Karsten König 2013 J. Opt. 15 055601

• Generation of isolated attosecond pulses using a plasmonic funnel-waveguide Joonhee Choi, Seungchul Kim, In-Yong Park, Dong-Hyub Lee, Seunghwoi Han and Seung-Woo Kim 2012 New J. Phys. 14 103038

• High energy photoelectron emission from gases using plasmonic enhanced near-fields M F Ciappina, T Shaaran, R Guichard, J A Pérez-Hernández, L Roso, M Arnold, T Siegel, A Zaïr and M Lewenstein 2013 Laser Phys. Lett. 10 105302

• Role of electron wave-packet interference in the optical response of helium atoms Matteo Lucchini, Jens Herrmann, André Ludwig, Reto Locher, Mazyar Sabbar, Lukas Gallmann and Ursula Keller 2013 New J. Phys. 15 103010

• Molecular alignment using circularly polarized laser pulses C T L Smeenk and P B Corkum 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 201001

Invited articlesBring yourself up to speed with the latest advancements in XFELs and their applications.

• Compact XFEL and AMO sciences: SACLA and SCSS M Yabashi, H Tanaka, T Tanaka, H Tomizawa, T Togashi, M Nagasono, T Ishikawa, J R Harries, Y Hikosaka and A Hishikawa 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 164001

• Status and prospects of x-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs): a simple presentation Primoz Rebernik Ribic and G Margaritondo 2012 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 45 213001

• AMO science at the FLASH and European XFEL free-electron laser facilities J Feldhaus, M Krikunova, M Meyer, Th Möller, R Moshammer, A Rudenko, Th Tschentscher and J Ullrich 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 164002

Taken from: Multidimensional high harmonic spectroscopy: a semi-classical perspective on measuring multielectron rearrangement upon ionization, V Serbinenko and O Smirnova 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 171001.

Taken from: Molecular alignment using circularly polarized laser pulses, C T L Smeenk and P B Corkum 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 201001.

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Video abstractWatch the motivation behind this theoretical study of the two-photon spectra of a variety of quantum emitters.

• Two-photon spectra of quantum emitters Alejandro Gonzalez-Tudela, Fabrice P Laussy, Carlos Tejedor, Michael J Hartmann and Elena del Valle 2013 New J. Phys. 15 033036

LabTalkGain insight into these authors’ initial steps to explore the transition between the quantum and the semiclassical regimes of optical bistability, and a new proposal to store photonic orbital angular momentum states in surface acoustic waves on a circular mirror.

• Quantum-semiclassical transition of optical bistability iopscience.org/labtalk/quantum-semiclassical

• Storage of spinning photons in twisted mechanical modes iopscience.org/labtalk/storage-of-spinning

Special issuesThe first of these issues celebrates the 50th anniversary of E T Jaynes and F W Cummings’ seminal paper, and the latter showcases articles from the 19th CEWQO meeting held in Sinaia, Romania.

• Special issue on Jaynes–Cummings physics. Guest Editors: Andrew D Greentree, Jens Koch and Jonas Larson 2013 Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 46 Issue 22

• The 19th Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics. Guest Editors: Aurelian Isar, Margarita A Man’ko and Paulina Marian 2013 Physica Scripta 2013 T153

Quantum optics utilizes quantum mechanics to explore the interaction of light and photons with matter. As research in this field makes tremendous progress towards overcoming the many challenges that it faces, our quantum dreams are becoming reality. The articles featured here provide a glimpse of that.

Quantum optics

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Taken from: Two-photon spectra of quantum emitters, Alejandro Gonzalez-Tudela et al 2013 New J. Phys. 15 033036.

Taken from: Integrated quantum optical networks based onquantum dots and photonic crystals, Andrei Faraon et al 2011 New J. Phys. 13 055025.

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Focus issueThe issue focuses on how integrated photonics circuits can be made to perform operations that exploit the quantum nature of the photon.

• Focus on Integrated Quantum Optics. Guest Editors: Jeremy O’Brien, Brian Patton, Masahide Sasaki and Jelena Vuckovic. Visit New Journal of Physics “Focus on” series at njp.org

Selected articles

• Quantum optics experiments using the International Space Station: a proposal T Scheidl, E Wille and R Ursin 2013 New J. Phys. 15 043008

• Experimental verification of quantum discord in continuous-variable states S Hosseini, S Rahimi-Keshari, J Y Haw, S M Assad, H M Chrzanowski, J Janousek, T Symul, T C Ralph and P K Lam 2014 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 47 025503

• A versatile source of polarization entangled photons for quantum network applications Florian Kaiser, Amandine Issautier, Lutfi A Ngah, Olivier Alibart, Anthony Martin and Sébastien Tanzilli 2013 Laser Phys. Lett. 10 045202

• Macroscopic Hong–Ou–Mandel interference T Sh Iskhakov, K Yu Spasibko, M V Chekhova and G Leuchs 2013 New J. Phys. 15 093036

• Experimental generation of complex noisy photonic entanglement K Dobek, M Karpinski, R Demkowicz-Dobrzanski, K Banaszek and P Horodecki 2013 Laser Phys. 23 025204

• Single-photon-added coherent states: estimation of parameters and fidelity of the optical homodyne detection S N Filippov, V I Man’ko, A S Coelho, A Zavatta and M Bellini 2013 Phys. Scr. 2013 014025

• Controllable four-wave mixing based on mechanical vibration in two-mode optomechanical systems Cheng Jiang, Yuanshun Cui and Hongxiang Liu 2013 EPL 104 34004

• Antibunching photons in a cavity coupled to an optomechanical system Xun-Wei Xu and Yuan-Jie Li 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 035502

Topical reviews These timely reviews give an update on important developments in quantum optomechanics, and recent experimental progress in optical control of single quantum dot spins for quantum information processing.

• Macroscopic quantum mechanics: theory and experimental concepts of optomechanics Yanbei Chen 2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 104001

• Ultrafast optical control of individual quantum dot spin qubits Kristiaan De Greve, David Press, Peter L McMahon and Yoshihisa Yamamoto 2013 Rep. Prog. Phys. 76 092501

Invited commentThis review-style article comments on the mathematical methods that are used to theoretically study classical propagation and quantum transport in arrays of coupled photonic waveguides.

• Photon transport in binary photonic lattices B M Rodríguez-Lara and H Moya-Cessa 2013 Phys. Scr. 87 038116

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Video abstract

• Enhanced control of light and sound trajectories with three-dimensional gradient index lenses T M Chang, G Dupont, S Enoch and S Guenneau 2012 New J. Phys. 14 035011

LabTalk

• Optical parametric process in randomized media iopscience.org/labtalk/optical-parametric

• Modeling of causality with metamaterials iopscience.org/labtalk/modeling-of-causality

Special issues

• Special issue on switchable and reconfigurable metamaterials. Guest Editors: Nikolay Zheludev, Willie J Padilla and Igal Brener 2012 Journal of Optics 14 Issue 11

• Selected papers from the 3rd International Conference on the Physics of Optical Materials and Devices. Guest Editors: Miroslav D Dramicanin, Željka Antic and Bruno Viana 2013 Physica Scripta 2013 T157

Focus issue

• Focus on Multidimensional Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging. Guest Editors: Steven T Cundiff and Harald F Kauffmann. Visit New Journal of Physics “Focus on” series at njp.org

Selected articles

• A low-power optical electron switch Wayne Cheng-Wei Huang, Roger Bach, Peter Beierle and Herman Batelaan 2014 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 47 085102

• Quasi-effective medium theory for multi-layered magneto-dielectric structures Dentcho A Genov and Pattabhiraju C Mundru 2014 J Opt. 16 015101

• Multifunctional stretchable metasurface for the THz range Dmitry Morits, Maria Morits, Victor Ovchinnikov, Mikhail Omelyanovich, Aleksi Tamminen, Sergei Tretyakov and Constantin Simovski 2014 J. Opt. 16 032001

• Playing the tricks of numbers of light sources Huanyang Chen, Yadong Xu, Hui Li and Tomáš Tyc 2013 New J. Phys. 15 093034

Further highlights

It would be impossible to cover all areas of optics within this short brochure. This section picks out some other high-impact research articles from across our whole optics portfolio that we felt were exceptional. To read more like these, visit www.iopscience.org.

IOP Publishing optical physics 19

• Enhancement of thermal quenching properties of a yellow-emitting SiO2-coated Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ phosphor for white light-emitting diode applications Eun-Jun Chung, Takaki Masaki, Young-Hyun Song, Karuppanan Senthil, Mong-Kwon Jung and Dae-Ho Yoon 2013 Phys. Scr. 2013 014012

• Beam shifts for pairs of plane waves Mark R Dennis and Jörg B Götte 2013 J. Opt. 15 014015

Topical reviews

• Optical super-oscillations: sub-wavelength light focusing and super-resolution imaging Edward T F Rogers and Nikolay I Zheludev 2013 J. Opt. 15 094008

• Modeling and simulation techniques in extreme nonlinear optics of gaseous and condensed media M Kolesik and J V Moloney 2014 Rep. Prog. Phys. 77 016401

• Goos–Hänchen and Imbert–Fedorov beam shifts: an overview K Y Bliokh and A Aiello 2013 J. Opt. 15 014001

• Determination of the transfer function for optical surface topography measuring instruments—a review Matthew R Foreman, Claudiu L Giusca, Jeremy M Coupland, Peter Török and Richard K Leach 2013 Meas. Sci. Technol. 24 052001

Other

EPL has published a large number of Letters in the area of optics, quantum optics and lasers. To celebrate the excellent quality of this research, we have created this open compilation of the articles published in EPL during the past few years.

To read the compilation of articles visit iopscience.iop.org/epl/page/Optics

Taken from: Playing the tricks of numbers of light sources, Huanyang Chen et al 2013 New J. Phys. 15 093034.

IOP Publishing optical physics20

The International Year of Light is a global initiative that will highlight to the citizens of the world theimportance of light and optical technologies in our lives, for our futures, and for the development ofsociety. It will raise awareness of how light-based technologies promote sustainable developmentand provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health.

From highlighting our research that focuses on light’s impact on science and technology, to a special feature in Physics World, IOP Publishing is getting involved throughout 2015. Look out for ongoing celebrations.

Global supportThe International Year of Light came about thanks to a UN resolution in December 2013, a culmination of three years’ work. It has been co-sponsored by 35 countries around the world, and involves participation from many more. The international committee is running a number of cornerstone projects and encouraging national committees to celebrate at a more local level.

ThemesThe International Year of Light is structured around four broad themes and addresses sustainability, education and history.

• Science of Light: This theme highlights the fundamental scientific properties of light and why it is essential to continue research in this field for the future.

• Light Technology: The science of light is applied in the technological field known as photonics, and this theme addresses the important ways that photonic devices impact on areas such as medicine, communications and energy.

• Light in Nature: Through activities that encourage and support observation of light and colour in the natural world, this theme focuses attention on the beauty and accessibility of science.

• Light and Culture: Activities in this theme highlights the myriad ways in which light has influenced and continues to influence human culture.

An International Year of Light is a tremendous opportunity to ensure that international policymakers and stakeholders are made aware of the problem-solving potential of light technology. We now have a unique opportunity to raise global awareness of this.Professor John Dudley, Chairman of the IYL 2015 Steering CommitteePresident of the European Physical Society

International Year of Light 2015

“

IOP Publishing optical physics22

Featured journalsThis brochure is made up from IOP Publishing’s portfolio of journals publishing research on optical physics.

Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics covers the study of atoms, ions, molecules and clusters, and their structure and interactions with particles, photons or fields. Papers are grouped by subject sections, including optical and laser physics; quantum optics, information and control; and ultrafast, high-field, and x-ray physics. The bi-monthly journal also covers spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.

iopscience.org/jphysb

Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics

Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics (JPhysD) is committed to staying one step ahead in publication speed and quality. You are invited to submit your high-quality work to the journal. With a strong Impact Factor (2.528) and fast decision times (average 45 days to first decision), publishing with JPhysD will ensure worldwide visibility for your work.

iopscience.org/jphysd

Journal of Optics

Partner: • European Optical Society

As IOP’s dedicated optics journal, Journal of Optics publishes experimental and theoretical research across all areas of optics and photonics, complemented with popular special issues and commissioned topical reviews. Submit and you can expect fast publication and high-quality peer review.

iopscience.org/jopt

Laser Physics and Laser Physics Letters

Partner: • Astro Ltd

Published on behalf of Astro Ltd, Laser Physics and Laser Physics Letters are international journals publishing research dealing with the fundamental and applied aspects of laser science. They are overseen by strong Editorial Boards including the Nobel laureates Zhores I Alferov, Steven Chu and John L Hall.

iopscience.org/lp • iopscience.org/lpl

IOP Publishing optical physics 23

New Journal of Physics

Partners: • Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft• Institute of Physics

New Journal of Physics (NJP) has been publishing papers on optics for more than 15 years. As the leading open access journal in physics, NJP will continue to support this field by providing free access to outstanding research in optics which is of interest to the global physics community.

www.njp.org

EPL

Partners: • European Physical Society• EDP Sciences• Società Italiana di Fisica

EPL has considerable strength in optics, photonics and lasers. Articles cover theory and fundamental physics, emerging technologies, optical phenomena, as well as more applied fields.

www.epljournal.org

Physica Scripta

Partner: • Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Published by IOP on behalf of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the Science Academies and the Physical Societies of the Nordic countries, Physica Scripta is an international journal for experimental and theoretical physics. It covers the whole of physics and publishes research papers, invited comments and maintains a programme of topical issues.

www.physica.org

Reports on Progress in Physics

Reports on Progress in Physics is the dedicated reviews journal of IOP Publishing. The journal publishes comprehensive review articles in all areas of physics. The intended readership is graduate students, those new to a field or anyone interested in gaining an overview of a research topic in physics.

iopscience.org/ropp

IOP Publishing optical physics24

Semiconductor Science and Technology

Semiconductor Science and Technology (SST) regularly publishes articles that cover a variety of aspects including: design, characterization and application of photovoltaic devices; nanoscale properties and behaviour of semiconductor material, structures or devices; and modelling, design and fabrication of semiconductor laser structures. SST offers a fast, high-quality and professional publication service for authors with far-reaching visibility.

iopscience.org/sst

Featured journals

Measurement Science and Technology

With 12 issues per year, Measurement Science and Technology publishes articles on new measurement techniques and associated instrumentation. Sections within the journal include optical and laser-based techniques, imaging techniques, and spectroscopy. Subject coverage includes the theory, practice and application of measurement in physics, chemistry, engineering and the environmental and life sciences.

iopscience.org/mst

ISSN 0031-9155

Physics inMedicine &Biology

Volume 59 Number 9 7 May 2014Online: iopscience.org/pmb

The international journal of biomedical physics published by IOP Publishing on behalf of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Physics in Medicine & Biology

Partner: • Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Physics in Medicine & Biology (PMB) continues to expand in all key areas of biomedical physics, including biomedical optics. We’re receiving more submissions than ever before, with more than 1500 submissions in 2012 and 2013. With over 55 years of publishing experience, we publish papers fast, too, averaging less than 50 days between receipt and first decision.

iopscience.org/pmb

Featured article Spectral phasor approach for fingerprinting of photo-activatable

fluorescent proteins Dronpa, Kaede and KikGRFrancesco cutrale, anya salih and enrico Gratton

iopscience.org/maf

Volume 1 Number 3 September 2013

METHODS AND APPLICATIONS IN

FLUORESCENCE Methods and Applications in Fluorescence

Methods and Applications in Fluorescence publishes the latest high-quality research related to the use of fluorescence in physics, chemistry, biology and medical science. Topics covered range from super-resolution imaging, single molecule studies and synthesis of new fluorophores to inorganic electroluminescence.

iopscience.org/maf

FOCUS ON OPTICS & LASERS

Transforming science into technology

Read online now at connect.physicsworld.com/focus-on-optics

For more information and to view the full collection visit

ioppublishing.org/books

IOP Expanding PhysicsTM

IOP Concise PhysicsTM

IOP Expanding Physics

Vignettes from General RelativityBeverly K Berger

IOP Expanding Physics

Physics ofthe AtmosphereRodrigo Caballero

IOP Expanding Physics

A Short Course on Relativistic Heavy-Ion CollisionsAsis Chaudhuri

IOP Expanding Physics

Dynamical Propertiesin Nanostructuredand Low-DimensionalMaterialsMichael G Cottam

IOP Expanding Physics

RenewablesA review of sustainable energy supply options

David Elliott

IOP Expanding Physics

SemiconductorsBonds and bands

David K Ferry

IOP Expanding Physics

The EmbeddingMethod for Electronic StructureJohn E Inglesfield

IOP Expanding Physics

Principles of Fourier OpticsRobert K Tyson

IOP Concise Physics A Morgan & Claypool Publication

Molecular Photophysics and SpectroscopyDavid L Andrews

IOP Concise Physics A Morgan & Claypool Publication

An Introduction to Liquid Crystals through ExperimentsMojca Cepic

IOP Concise Physics A Morgan & Claypool Publication

Capture and Relaxation in Semiconductor Quantum DotsR FerreiraGérald Bastard

Defining and Measuring NatureThe make of all things

Jeffrey Huw Williams

IOP Concise Physics A Morgan & Claypool Publication

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