Trending in Optics  January 2018

Open-Source DIY Microscopy

A technology is considered “open-source” when all applicable technical information is made publically available and a community of users collaborates to develop, test, and improve the technology. Open-source DIY microscopy, such as the Miniscope from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), makes cost-effective microscopy systems easily accessible for use in research and prototyping. The Miniscope is a miniature, head-mounted, open-source fluorescence microscope developed by the Khakh, Silva, and Golshani Labs at UCLA to study the neural activity of freely behaving mice. The open-source nature of this project allows any neuroscience lab to build this device and conduct neuroscience research at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a commercial fluorescence microscope.

Trending in Optics  April 2018

Miniaturized Microscope Objectives

Miniaturized, compact microscope objectives reduce the size and weight of microscopy systems, making them more portable. This allows for rapid response in the field for a variety of applications including water monitoring, the testing of diseases, and microscopic industrial examination. Simplified mechanics and compact optical designs have led to modern miniaturized objectives as small as a stack of quarters, which makes them much more practical for rapid-response fieldwork than large, heavy, and complex traditional microscope systems. Miniaturized microscope objectives typically have fixed apertures, small baffles, and a fixed focus.

Trending in Optics  June 2018

Liquid Lenses in Imaging

Liquid lenses can be integrated into imaging systems to quickly adjust the focus to accommodate objects located at different heights or working distances in high-speed applications. Liquid lenses consist of small cells of optical-grade liquid that change shape within a matter of milliseconds when a current or voltage is applied. The resulting change in curvature shifts the lens’ optical power and, therefore, focal length and working distance. Traditional imaging lenses in applications that require a quick refocus struggle to capture sharp and accurate images because they require mechanical adjustment. Liquid lenses can be integrated into systems for machine vision and life science systems to increase throughput through rapid refocusing and adjustment for depth of field and working distance.

Trending in Optics  April 2018

Extreme Ultraviolet Optics

New compact extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation sources with wavelengths from roughly 10-100nm are producing numerous emerging EUV applications including high resolution imaging with resolutions down to 0.5nm, molecular and solid-state dynamics research, optical and photoelectron spectroscopy, and nano-machining for nanotechnology. However, it is difficult to develop optical components that work in the EUV spectrum because EUV radiation is strongly absorbed by virtually all materials and surface roughness must be finely controlled, as scatter increases at short wavelengths. These challenges have led to the development of super-polished reflective EUV optics that are pushing the boundaries of optical component technology.