Zener Diodes: Controlled Reverse Breakdown for Voltage Regulation

A Zener diode is a special type of semiconductor diode designed to conduct current in the reverse direction when the

Talbot Effect: Self-Imaging in Near-Field Diffraction

The Talbot effect is a fascinating optical phenomenon where a periodic structure, such as a diffraction grating, creates repeated images

Diffraction Gratings: Splitting Light into Spectra

A diffraction grating is an optical device that disperses light into its component wavelengths, producing a spectrum much like a

Fresnel Equations: Governing Light at Interfaces

The Fresnel equations describe how much light is reflected and transmitted (refracted) when it encounters the boundary between two different

Electro-Optic Effects: Tuning Light with Electric Fields

The electro-optic effect refers to the phenomenon where a material’s optical properties change in response to an applied electric field.

Acousto-Optic Modulators: Using Sound to Control Light

Acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) are devices that use sound waves to modulate the properties of light, such as its intensity, frequency,

Optical Tweezers: Laser Beams That Grip Microscopic Objects

Optical tweezers are scientific tools that use highly focused laser beams to trap and manipulate tiny particles, such as cells,

Negative Refraction: Bending Light Backward

Negative refraction occurs when light passes from one material into another and bends in the opposite direction compared to what

Metamaterials: Engineered Materials with Exotic Properties

Metamaterials are artificially designed materials engineered to exhibit properties not typically found in natural substances, such as a negative refractive

Plasmons: Collective Oscillations of Free Electrons

Plasmons are quasiparticles that represent the collective oscillations of free electrons in a material, usually in a metal or plasma.