Photonics, Lasers & Imaging

A rainbow comes from sunlight refracting, reflecting and dispersing in raindrops. Learn why the observer’s position determines the arc.

Adaptive optics measures atmospheric distortion with a guide star and adjusts a mirror in real time. See why ground-based images sharpen.

Quantum dots can convert incoming light into narrow color bands. Learn why particle size affects color and where heat complicates performance.

Photochromic molecules respond to ultraviolet light by changing how much visible light they absorb. See why a car windshield changes the effect.

Optical stabilization senses camera shake and moves lens elements or the sensor to compensate. Learn what motion it can and cannot correct.

A confocal microscope uses a small pinhole to reject light from outside the focused plane. See how optical sections reveal depth.

Fluorescence microscopy excites labels in a sample and collects their emitted light. Learn why filters and labeling matter.

A DLP projector steers light with a chip of tilting micromirrors. See how rapid switching and color illumination form an image.

OLED pixels emit light from organic layers when current flows. Learn why a backlight is unnecessary and what this means for contrast.

An LCD uses a backlight, polarizers and liquid crystals to control each pixel’s brightness. See how color filters complete the image.