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Volume 14 Issue 9，2025
News & Views
Abstract：A microcomb-based coherent free-space optical link achieves a record-high bandwidth of 8.21 Tbps. Novel beam stabilisation and carrier phase retrieval schemes are employed for turbulence suppression and error correction.24|13|0Updated：2025-09-30- Abstract：Tip-enhanced vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy is proposed and demonstrated. Incorporation with the plasmon cavities leads to significant signal amplification—up to 14 orders of magnitude.18|8|0Updated：2025-09-30
- Abstract：A new strategy has been presented to overcome the long-term dilemma of simultaneously achieving high numerical aperture, large aperture size, and broadband achromatism of flat lenses. A stepwise phase dispersion compensation (SPDC) layer is introduced as a substrate on which the meta-atoms are positioned.12|11|0Updated：2025-09-30
Light People
Abstract：Prof. Lei Zhou is a leading figure in metamaterials and metasurfaces. His pioneering works on developing gradient-index metasurfaces and utilizing ultrathin anisotropic materials for polarization control have co-shaped the foundational framework of metasurfaces. In addition to his research achievements, Prof. Zhou serves as Vice President of Fudan University - one of China’s most prominent universities - and was recently appointed as the Head of Fudan’s College of Future Information Technology. With such roles, he’s been deeply involved in many strategic initiatives and policies that contribute to the well-being of the scientific community. To shed light on the above, Light: Science & Applications invited Prof. Lei Zhou for an in-depth conversation.9|2|0Updated：2025-09-30Research Highlight
Reviews
Abstract：Inverse lithography technology (ILT) is a promising approach in computational lithography to address the challenges posed by shrinking semiconductor device dimensions. The ILT leverages optimization algorithms to generate mask patterns, outperforming traditional optical proximity correction methods. This review provides an overview of ILT’s principles, evolution, and applications, with an emphasis on integration with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. The review tracks recent advancements of ILT in model improvement and algorithmic efficiency. Challenges such as extended computational runtimes and mask-writing complexities are summarized, with potential solutions discussed. Despite these challenges, AI-driven methods, such as convolutional neural networks, deep neural networks, generative adversarial networks, and model-driven deep learning methods, are transforming ILT. AI-based approaches offer promising pathways to overcome existing limitations and support the adoption in high-volume manufacturing. Future research directions are explored to exploit ILT’s potential and drive progress in the semiconductor industry.9|9|0Updated：2025-09-30- Abstract：Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are unipolar quantum devices based on inter-sub-band transitions. They break the electron-hole recombination mechanism in traditional semiconductor lasers, overcome the long-lasting bottleneck which is that the emission wavelength of semiconductor laser is completely dependent on the bandgap of semiconductor materials. Therefore, their emission wavelength is able to cover the mid-infrared (mid-IR) range and the “Terahertz gap” that is previously inaccessible by any other semiconductor lasers. After thirty years development, QCLs have become the most promising light source in the mid-IR and THz regime. In this paper, we are going to present the strategies and methodologies to achieve high-power, high-wall-plug-efficiency (WPE) QCLs with high-brightness in room temperature continuous-wave (cw) operation at 3–300 μm. We will also review the recent breakthroughs in QCL community, especially the high-power, high WPE intersubband lasers in room temperature cw operation.10|12|0Updated：2025-09-30
Original Articles
Abstract：Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) metal halide perovskite (MHP) ferroelectrics, characterized by spontaneous polarization and semiconducting properties, hold promise for functional photoferroelectrics in applications such as optical storage and in-memory computing. However, typical quasi-2D perovskite films contain multiple quantum wells with random width distribution, which degrade optoelectronic properties and spontaneous polarization. Here, we introduce phase-pure quantum wells with uniform well width by incorporating the inorganic salt MnBr2, which effectively controls crystallization kinetics and restricts the nucleation of high n-phases, producing high-quality films. The resulting (BA)2CsPb2Br7 (BA = C4H9NH3) film demonstrates ferroelectric hysteresis behavior, clear in-plane ferroelectric domain switching, and a high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) of 88.7%. Significantly, we observed a nonvolatile, reversible in situ photoluminescence (PL) modulation of Mn2+ in this ferroelectric MHP film under an applied electric field, attributed to lattice distortion from ferroelectric polarization orientation. These findings enabled the development of a simple system comprising gallium nitride (GaN) light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ferroelectric films to implement multi-state signal encoding and a logic AND gate. This work advances the fabrication of efficient ferroelectric MHP films and highlights their potential for advanced optoelectronic applications.12|16|0Updated：2025-09-30- Abstract：The biggest challenge in using CRISPR technologies, which limits their widespread application in medicine, is off-target effects. These effects could, in principle, be minimized by ensuring that CRISPR is activated primarily in the targeted cells, thereby reducing the likelihood of unintended genetic modifications in non-target tissues. Therefore, the development of a light activatable CRISPR approach to dynamically control gene activation in both space and time would be highly beneficial. A drawback is that the overwhelming majority of recently introduced light activatable CRISPR systems require UV or blue light exposure, severely limiting the penetration depth of light in tissue at which CRISPR can be activated, and, in the case of UV light, raising safety concerns. A small number of systems that activate CRISPR using longer wavelengths are hindered by either slow light activation or issues related to toxicity and biocompatibility of the proposed techniques in humans. To address this, we developed a split-Cas9/dCas9 system in which activation is achieved through a near-infrared photocleavable dimerization complex. This photoactivation method can be safely used in humans in vivo, easily adapted to different split-Cas9/dCas9 systems, and enables rapid, spatially precise light activation across various cell types.9|9|0Updated：2025-09-30
- Abstract：Cup-like nuclear morphological alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts have been widely correlated with Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutations. NPM1-mutated AML has earned recognition as a distinct entity among myeloid tumors, but the absence of a thoroughly established tool for its morphological analysis remains a notable gap. Holographic tomography (HT) can offer a label-free solution for quantitatively assessing the 3D shape of the nucleus based on the volumetric variations of its refractive indices (RIs). However, traditional HT methods analyze adherent cells in a 2D layer, leading to non-isotropic reconstructions due to missing cone artifacts. Here we show for the first time that holo-tomographic flow cytometry (HTFC) achieves quantitative specificity and precise capture of the nucleus volumetric shape in AML cells in suspension. To retrieve nucleus specificity in label-free RI tomograms of flowing AML cells, we conceive and demonstrate in a real-world clinical case a novel strategy for segmenting 3D concave nuclei. This method implies that the correlation between the "phenotype" and "genotype" of nuclei is demonstrated through HTFC by creating a challenging link not yet explored between the aberrant morphological features of AML nuclei and NPM1 mutations. We conduct an ensemble-level statistical characterization of NPM1-wild type and NPM1-mutated blasts to discern their complex morphological and biophysical variances. Our findings suggest that characterizing cup-like nuclei in NPM1-related AML cells by HTFC may enhance the diagnostic approach for these tumors. Furthermore, we integrate virtual reality to provide an immersive fruition of morphological changes in AML cells within a true 3D environment.5|2|0Updated：2025-09-30
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