Lasers & Optics

To learn about the properties of materials under changing temperatures and pressures, researchers typically combine laboratory experiments with theoretical models and computer simulations. It’s an iterative process: The models help in designing the experiments and interpreting the results, and the results “constrain,” or fine-tune, the models so they can effectively guide future experiments. But what if experiments alone could provide accurate, clear-cut data without needing to rely so heavily on the predictions of models?

Optics researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have refined their novel metasurface process to create taller features without increasing feature-to-feature spacing, an advance that unlocks exciting new design possibilities. The result is reported in a new paper, “All-Glass Metasurfaces for Ultra-Broadband and Large Acceptance Angle Antireflectivity: from Ultraviolet to Mid-Infrared.” It will be the cover story for the December 2023 issue of Advanced Optical Materials.

The Krell Institute has awarded LLNL physicist Tammy Ma with its 2023 James Corones Award Leadership, Community Building and Communication.

A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory engineer is among those sharing a Department of Energy award for contributions to building the world’s newest observatory.

Time has named Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory design physicist Andrea “Annie” Kritcher to its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Staff scientists Alison Christopherson and Art Pak have been elected Kavli fellows of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

A series of experiments conducted at the Omega Laser, part of the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics, provide new insights into magnetic reconnection.