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.