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Volume 15 Issue 1，2026
News & Views
Abstract：The pursuit of high-quality single-photon sources has long been hampered by challenges in improving the performance and robustness. While traditional microcavity structures can achieve impressive performance, they suffer from extreme sensitivity to manufacturing uncertainty, structural disorders, and scatterings. Topological photonics potentially offers a powerful toolbox for solving these problems. A recent breakthrough by researchers from the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, published in Light: Science & Applications, exploits a topological bulk state rather than the already reported edge and corner states to enhance the single photon emission for a quantum dot.21|11|0Updated：2026-01-23- Abstract：Single-pixel imaging (SPI) has long been recognized for its potential in spectral regions where conventional imaging sensors fall short, such as the near-infrared spectrum. Yet, despite its sensitivity, SPI and its complex-field variants have faced critical bottlenecks in speed and throughput, hindering their adoption for real-time applications. A recently proposed approach—frequency-comb acousto-optic coherent encoding (FACE)—places an important step in overcoming these barriers, delivering an unprecedented space-bandwidth-time product. By showcasing its versatility through several compelling proof-of-concept demonstrations in real-time complex-field microscopy, this advance paves the way for transformative progress in optical imaging beyond the visible spectrum. We discuss here advantages, challenges and potential future directions for scaling up this technology.13|11|0Updated：2026-01-23
- Abstract：GeS2, a layered a wide bandgap van der Waals material, is now found to exhibit record-high refractive index and extreme optical anisotropy across blue and near-ultraviolet bands, promising bright future for short-wavelength photonics.9|0|0Updated：2026-01-23
- Abstract：A dynamically programmable, nonlinear beam-shaping and steering system is demonstrated, based on photopatterned, electrically controlled, ion-doped liquid ferroelectrics. This innovative approach elevates the linear liquid-crystal Pancharatnam–Berry optics to the reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam–Berry optics regime, creating new possibilities for dynamic light-matter interactions, multiplexing holography, tunable quantum optics, and many other reconfigurable photonic applications.12|5|0Updated：2026-01-23
- Abstract：Inspired by the snake pit organ’s remarkable ability to perceive mid-wave infrared (MWIR) radiation, researchers have developed a biomimetic artificial vision system that integrates infrared-to-visible upconverters with CMOS sensors. Operating at room temperature, this platform enables direct visualization of both short-wave infrared (SWIR) and MWIR, marking a pioneering demonstration of broadband infrared imaging with high resolution. Such a breakthrough paves the way for low-cost and flexible applications in night vision, agricultural monitoring, industrial inspection, and beyond.9|9|0Updated：2026-01-23
- Abstract：A novel topological edge state cavity has been realized to enhance the quality factor and free-spectral range, simultaneously, which opens avenues for developing robust high-performance photonic integrated devices.10|8|0Updated：2026-01-23
Light People
Reviews
Abstract：Gas sensing technology is widely applied in various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial process control, medical diagnostics, safety warnings, and more. As a detection element, the quartz tuning fork (QTF) offers advantages such as high-quality factor (Q-factor), strong noise immunity, compact size, and low cost. Notably, its resonant characteristics significantly enhance system signal strength. Two spectroscopic techniques based on QTF detection, Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) and light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES), are currently research hotspots in the field of spectral sensing. This paper provides a comprehensive and detailed review and highlights pivotal innovations in these two QTF-based spectroscopic techniques. For QEPAS, these encompass high-power excitation methods, novel excitation sources, advanced QTF detection elements, and acoustic wave amplification strategies. Regarding LITES, the researches on optical cavity-enhanced approaches, modified QTF improvement mechanisms, integration with heterodyne demodulation technique, and combination with QEPAS were analyzed. These advances have enabled quartz-enhanced laser spectroscopy to achieve detection limits ranging from parts-per-billion (ppb) to parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels for trace gases such as methane (CH4), acetylene (C2H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and so on. Additionally, prospects for future technological developments are also discussed in the concluding section.10|11|0Updated：2026-01-23- Abstract：In this paper, we provide an overview and comparison of devices used for optical waveguide-to-waveguide coupling including inter-chip edge couplers, grating couplers, free form couplers, evanescent couplers, cantilever couplers, and optical wirebonds. In addition, technology for efficient transmission of light through chips is discussed including guided mode and free form photonic vias for substrates including silicon, glass, and organics. The results are discussed in the context of potential applications including co-packaged optics switch packages, replaceable biochemical sensors, optically connected memory, optical computing, integrated quantum photonics, and integrated LiDAR systems to show possible improvements in energy efficiency, performance, and cost.11|12|0Updated：2026-01-23
Original Articles
Abstract：In non-Hermitian systems, the dynamic encircling of exceptional points (EPs) engenders intriguing chiral phenomena, where the resultant state characteristics are intrinsically dependent upon the encircling handedness. An ingenious approach using simple leaky optical elements has been presented to emulate this chiral behavior without physically encircling an EP. This innovative simplification of EP properties enables a more straightforward implementation of asymmetric switching of polarization and path. Given that photons inherently possess multiple physical degrees of freedom, the research focus has shifted from single-dimensional to multidimensional asymmetric switching. Hence, there is a fundamental challenge of how to achieve multidimensional asymmetric switching through a simple and universally applicable architecture. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel topology-optimized architecture, termed EP-encirclement emulation tailoring, enabling multidimensional asymmetric switching. Theoretical analysis reveals that our architecture eliminates the 3-dB inherent loss in conventional architecture by replacing couplers with (de)multiplexers. Building upon this architecture, we harness all-fiber devices to implement a high-performance asymmetric switching of polarization, mode, and orbital angular momentum (OAM). To our knowledge, this is the first experimental demonstration of asymmetric OAM switching to date. Our work provides an efficient topology architecture for emulating dynamic EP encirclement, paving the way for universal and flexible asymmetric switching devices.10|12|0Updated：2026-01-23
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