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Published
, Published online: 13 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.093
Precisely separating full-band surface errors is a cornerstone of high-performance optical manufacturing and testing. However, traditional methods rely on subjective frequency band definitions and manual filtering, which leads to inconsistent evaluation standards and introduces analysis errors. Meanwhile, existing data-driven methods mechanically fit noisy manual labels, lacking physical consistency. To address this issue, this paper presents a scale-adaptive physics-aware deep learning framework powered by a dual-domain physics-aware network, which extracts error features by imposing physical constraints in the frequency domain: a specifically shaped spectral domain selective attention mechanism is designed for a low-frequency error with a deterministic spectral envelope; an adaptive learnable spectral gating is designed for mid-frequency error with randomness and anisotropy. Experiments indicate that this network outperforms conventional models under adopted evaluation metrics and exhibits physics-constrained extraction behaviour. This helps mitigate measurement noise and subjective variability introduced by manual filtering, yielding results with improved spectral and physical consistency. Furthermore, it eliminates the reliance on high-performance computing hardware, thereby enabling millisecond-level real-time inference on a standard computer, which greatly facilitates practical engineering deployment. Based on these findings, this study proposes a generalised frequency band division method based on normalised spatial frequency, providing a normalised-frequency-based method for a more consistent cross-scale and cross-instrument frequency band error division.
Design-for-manufacture, fabrication, and assembly of an all-reflective freeform microscope objective
Published
, Published online: 13 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.113
All-reflective microscope objectives offer distinct advantages for microscopy techniques that operate across widely separated spectral bands. However, designing a high numerical-aperture (NA), unobscured, all-reflective objective that is manufacturable remains a substantial challenge, requiring early integration of fabrication considerations into the optical design process. In this work, we present design-for-manufacture strategies for a 0.65-NA unobscured all-reflective microscope objective enabled by freeform optics. These strategies include minimizing freeform departures, desensitization optimization, and a stray-light analysis. Concepts for mounting and assembly are also introduced and implemented, culminating in the successful fabrication and imaging demonstration of the first system of its kind.
Published
, Published online: 21 April 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.039
3D printed contact lenses have emerged as promising candidates for advanced ocular applications due to their customizable design and functional versatility. In this study, a novel conformal auxetic-inspired metamaterial ocular disc architecture was developed using digital light processing (DLP), a high-resolution vat photopolymerization technique, and fabricated using an in-house hydrogel formulation. The printed disc was systematically evaluated for its mechanical, optical, and physicochemical performance. Mechanical testing confirmed excellent elasticity and durability, with the hydrated hydrogel exhibiting a tensile modulus of ~0.71 MPa, matching the range of commercial soft contact lenses. Laser profilometry revealed a smooth surface topology essential for user comfort, achieving a root mean square roughness (Rq) of 1.78 µm, a nearly 98% reduction compared to conventionally printed hemispherical lenses. Contact angle measurements (64° hydrated) indicated favorable wettability. Optical characterization exhibited high light transmittance, averaging ~83% across the visible spectrum in the hydrated state. Hydration related properties, including swelling kinetics, water content, and gel fraction, confirmed effective water uptake and retention, supporting oxygen permeability. FTIR spectroscopy validated the chemical integrity of the polymer network, while DSC/TGA analysis confirmed thermal stability up to 300 °C. Furthermore, rheological evaluation indicated a stable viscoelastic profile with notable self-healing behavior. Collectively, this study establishes a 3D printed hydrogel-based conformal metamaterial contact lens platform, offering a promising pathway for the development of next-generation smart ocular devices via additive manufacturing.
Published
, Published online: 06 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.087
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Published
, Published online: 05 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.102
Traditional frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is primarily used for high-precision distance measurements in free space. In this paper, a multifunctional FMCW LiDAR capable of high-precision ranging and multi-parameter sensing is proposed. By detecting echo signals from both free space and optical fibres, 3D imaging and the measurements of diverse physical parameters, including environmental temperature, gas concentrations, and liquid density, can be measured simultaneously. In an experiment, a target at 30 m was imaged with an adjustable resolution spanning 0.3–1.2 cm. Meanwhile, the electrolyte density and temperature of a battery were measured with accuracies of 3×10−5 g/mL and 0.5 °C, respectively. The concentrations of the gases (C2H2, CO2, and CH4), which are critical for monitoring thermal runaway of a battery, were measured with detection limits of 0.07, 48, and 0.56 ppm, respectively. The proposed multifunctional LiDAR exhibits significant application potential in fields such as new-energy vehicles and spacecraft.
Published
, Published online: 05 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.088
Being one of the most prominent topics, the development of the optically active devices based on lenses and metasurfaces lacks a robust material basis suitable for the terahertz (THz) range. Among candidates such as graphene and dichalcogenides, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films offer high modulation depth, durability, and scalability, but precise spatial patterning remains challenging. We present a waste-free, one-step, dry patterning approach that combines aerosol chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with spatially controlled aerosol flow clogging via stencil imprinting. Two approaches are demonstrated. In the stencil-free variant, stencil removal after imprinting yields reproducible features >200 μm and near-complete nanotube suppression in clogged regions at pressures above 200 MPa. In the stencil-supported variant, retaining the stencil enhances flow blocking, achieving complete nanotube exclusion at lower pressures (~100 MPa) and enabling finer features approaching laser resolution. The method is validated through two applications: strain sensors with at least threefold improved response than reported values, and a mechanically tunable THz spiral zone plate with focal shifts up to 44% under 12% strain. This imprinting method offers a scalable route to precisely patterned SWCNT films and opens new opportunities for integrating CNT-based patterns into THz optics and electronic devices.
Published
, Published online: 29 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.022
Metasurfaces, flat optical devices built from nanoscale structures, offer powerful and precise control over light. They have enabled applications such as structural color printing by manipulating spectral responses and holography through precise phase control. Integrating these functions into a single metasurface has gained interest for compact multifunctional platforms. However, most existing dual-mode designs suffer from low hologram efficiency, limiting their practical applications in multifunctional optical systems. Here, we present dual-functional metasurfaces that simultaneously enable three-color structural printing under white light illumination and high-efficiency holography under coherent light. Our design employs three distinct meta-atoms, composed of single and double nanorods, to achieve independent spectral and phase modulations. The metasurfaces produce three distinct reflective colors of green, brown, and magenta and achieve numerical conversion efficiency up to 90% at the 640 nm wavelength. The fabricated devices successfully display desired structural colors under white light and reconstruct holographic images with high efficiency under coherent illumination. The devices also demonstrate broadband performance for holography across the visible spectrum. These results confirm the effectiveness of our design in achieving independent and efficient control of color and holography within a single metasurface. This multifunctional capability offers strong potential for applications in anti-counterfeiting and compact optical data storage.
Published
, Published online: 24 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.086
Flexible terahertz (THz) devices are fundamental components of wearable photonics and intelligent communication systems. However, conventional THz devices are affected by information loss or signal interruption due to mechanical deformation, which degrade their information fidelity. Here, we introduce tellurium (Te) nanofilms grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates as a new class of mechanically robust THz modulators that can successfully improve device performances to optimal levels among existing flexible broadband modulators. The ultrafast transient THz photoresponses of two-dimensional Te films remained unchanged even after 1000 bending cycles or at a small bending radius of 3 mm, exhibiting high tolerance to bending deformation. Furthermore, the variations in the pattern recognition accuracy remained within 2% under different bending conditions, indicating its adaptability to various deformation conditions. This prototype lays the foundation for developing intelligent perception elements that operate stably under complex mechanical deformations.
Published
, Published online: 22 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.075
The integration of luminescent nanomaterials into scalable semiconductor platforms is vital for on-chip photonics. This study demonstrates an approach to fabricate fluorescent nanostructures by hybridising carbon dots (CDs) with semiconductor nanowires (NWs) grown on Si. We systematically investigated the photoluminescence of CDs on GaN, GaP, and Si NW hosts and demonstrated the key role of the absorption edge of the host as a practical spectral filter. Our results show that efficient CD excitation is governed by the transparency window of the NW, thereby allowing the precise tailoring of the emission spectrum through rational host selection. This effect has been consistently demonstrated in different materials. By coupling the tuneable chemistry of CDs with the tailored optoelectronics of semiconductor NWs, this study establishes a scalable host-guest architecture for engineering nanoscale light sources to promote applications in integrated photonic circuits and sensing.
Published
, Published online: 22 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.098
Diffraction-limited synchrotron sources place stringent demands on wavefront-preserving X-ray optics. We report a fully in-house, closed-loop pipeline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II that links ion beam figuring, precision ex situ metrology, wavefront simulation, and in situ beam validation. The fabricated elliptical Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors achieved 0.4 nm root-mean-square residual height error. At 12 keV, ptychography measured a 70.5 × 33.1 nm2 (V × H) focal spot using an 8 × 7 µm2 secondary source aperture, consistent with partially coherent Synchrotron Radiation Workshop simulations of 77 × 36 nm2. X-ray fluorescence imaging independently resolved approximately 30 nm features in a Siemens star. Back-propagation of the reconstructed probe further linked the measured wavefront to ex situ surface errors, establishing quantitative closure across fabrication, metrology, simulation, and beamline commissioning.
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