Researchers from Shandong Normal University and the Australian National University have developed a new class of metasurfaces that integrate coupled-resonator optical waveguide physics into planar structures. The design produces photonic flatbands with ultrahigh quality factors and enables chiral responses to circularly polarized light, overcoming long-standing challenges in metasurface engineering. Verified through both simulations and experiments, the approach demonstrates multifunctional high-Q metasurfaces that can uniformly trap and control light across wide angles. The findings open pathways for applications in quantum optics, sensing, communications, and flat-optics devices.

Researchers have developed an optical "knob" using Poincaré sphere engineering to continuously tune topological states in ferroelectric materials. Unlike prior methods relying on abrupt electrical or mechanical changes, this approach manipulates structured light’s orbital angular momentum to smoothly create and control skyrmions, antiskyrmions, and hybrids on ultrafast timescales, promising new routes for dynamic, precise topological control in nanoscale memory and photonic devices.

To increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of hydrogen fuel production, Fanglin Che, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is leveraging the power and potential of machine learning and computational modeling. The multi-university team she leads has completed a research study that was just published in Nature Chemical Engineering.

Researchers have created a chip-based device that can split phonons, which could help connect various quantum devices via phonons, paving the way for advanced computing and secure quantum communication.