English

Breaking the limits of optical imaging by processing trillions of frames per second

1050
2024-04-08 15:40:00
See translation

Pursuing higher speed is not just exclusive to athletes. Researchers can also achieve such feats through their findings. The research results of Professor Liang Jinyang and his team from the National Institute of Science (INRS) have recently been published in the journal Nature Communications.

The team located at the INRS É nergie Mat é riaux T é l é communications research center has developed a new type of ultrafast camera system that can capture up to 156.3 trillion frames per second with astonishing accuracy. For the first time, a single ultra fast demagnetization of two-dimensional optical imaging has been achieved. This new device called SCARF (Scanning Aperture Real Time Femtosecond Photography) can capture transient absorption in semiconductors and ultrafast demagnetization of metal alloys. This new method will help advance the knowledge frontier in a wide range of fields such as modern physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.

Professor Liang is renowned as a pioneer in the field of ultrafast imaging. In 2018, as a major developer, he made significant breakthroughs in this field, laying the foundation for the development of SCARF.

So far, ultrafast camera systems mainly use a frame by frame sequential capture method. They will obtain data through brief and repeated measurements, and then combine all the content to create a movie that reconstructs the observed motion.

Professor Liang Jinyang said, "However, this method can only be applied to inert samples or phenomena that occur in exactly the same way every time. Fragile samples, let alone non repeatable or ultrafast phenomena, cannot be observed with this method."

"For example, phenomena such as femtosecond laser ablation, interaction between shock waves and live cells, and optical chaos cannot be studied in this way," explained Liang Jinyang.

The first tool developed by Professor Liang helped fill this gap. The T-CUP (trillion frames per second compressed ultrafast photography) system is based on passive femtosecond imaging and can capture billions (1013) of frames per second. This is an important first step towards ultrafast, single shot real-time imaging.

SCARF has overcome these challenges. Its imaging method can scan the static coding aperture ultra fast without cutting the ultra fast phenomenon. This can provide a full sequence encoding rate of up to 156.3 THz for each pixel on cameras with charge coupled devices (CCD). These results can be obtained in both reflection and transmission modes at adjustable frame rates and spatial scales in a single attempt.

SCARF makes it possible to observe unique phenomena that are ultrafast, non repeatable, or difficult to reproduce, such as shock wave mechanics in living cells or substances. These advances may be used to develop better drugs and medical methods.

More importantly, SCARF promises to bring very attractive economic byproducts. Axis Photonique and Few Cycle have collaborated with Professor Liang's team to produce a saleable version of their patent pending discovery. This is an excellent opportunity for Quebec to consolidate its enviable position as a leader in photonics.

Source: Laser Net

Related Recommendations
  • Beyond Limits: The Amazing Power of Water in Laser Development

    Water helps to generate ultra continuous white lasers with an extremely wide wavelength range.Researchers have made significant progress in creating ultra wideband white laser sources, which have a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to far-infrared. These advanced lasers are used in various fields, including imaging, femtosecond chemistry, telecommunications, laser spectroscopy, sensing, and u...

    2024-02-26
    See translation
  • Trumpf China 25 Years: From Model Factory to Global Strategic Fortress

    On March 14, 2000, Trumpf established its first company in China - Trumpf Metal Sheet Products Co., Ltd., headquartered in Taicang, 50 kilometers northwest of Shanghai. Nowadays, Taicang has become a global strategic stronghold for the company. 25 years ago, this production base was originally used to demonstrate sheet metal processing production for Chinese enterprises. In the seventh year afte...

    03-26
    See translation
  • NSF funding for the world leading EP-OPAL laser multi mechanism design in Rochester

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States has awarded the University of Rochester nearly $18 million for three years to design and prototype key technologies for EP-OPAL, a new facility dedicated to studying the interaction between ultra-high intensity lasers and matter.After the design project is completed, the facility can be built at the Laser Energy Laboratory (LLE). This fund...

    2023-09-26
    See translation
  • Trumpf 3D printing technology innovation: zero support structure, low waste, unlimited possibilities

    Ditzingen, Germany, September 8, 2023) - TRUMPF, the world's leading provider of machine tools and laser technology solutions, has improved its 3D printing software TruTops Print to print parts with suspension angles as low as 15 degrees with little need for support structures. Trumpf will present its new technology at the European International Machine Tool Show (EMO 2023) in Hannover, Germany.Fi...

    2023-09-13
    See translation
  • MIT researchers have demonstrated a novel chip based resin 3D printer

    Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Texas at Austin showcased the first chip based resin 3D printer. Their concept verification tool consists of a millimeter sized photon chip that emits a programmable beam of light into resin holes, which solidify into a solid structure when exposed to light.The prototype processor does not have mobile components, but ...

    2024-06-17
    See translation