Medical imaging is pivotal in early disease diagnosis, providing essential insights that enable timely and accurate detection of health anomalies. Traditional imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computer Tomography (CT), ultrasound, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), offer vital insights into three-dimensional structures but frequently fall short of delivering a comprehensive and detailed anatomical analysis, capturing only amplitude details. Three-dimensional holography microscopic medical imaging provides a promising solution by capturing the amplitude (brightness) and phase (structural information) details of biological structures. In this study, we investigate the novel collaborative potential of Deep Learning (DL) and holography microscopic phase imaging for cancer diagnosis. The study comprehensively examines existing literature, analyzes advancements, identifies research gaps, and proposes future research directions in cancer diagnosis through the integrated Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) and DL methodology. This novel approach addresses a critical limitation of traditional imaging by capturing detailed structural information, paving the way for more accurate diagnostics. The proposed approach comprises tissue sample collection, holographic image scanning, preprocessing in case of imbalanced datasets, and training on annotated datasets using DL architectures like U-Net and Vision Transformer (ViT’s). Furthermore, sophisticated concepts in DL, like the incorporation of Explainable AI (XAI) techniques, are suggested for comprehensive disease diagnosis and identification. The study thoroughly investigates the advantages of integrating holography imaging and DL for precise cancer diagnosis. Additionally, meticulous insights are presented by identifying the challenges associated with this integration methodology.
WASHINGTON — Researchers have developed a new type of optical memory called a programmable photonic latch that is fast and scalable. This fundamental memory unit enables temporary data storage in optical processing systems, offering a high-speed solution for volatile memory using silicon photonics.The new integrated photonic latch is modeled after a set-reset latch, a basic memory device used in electronic devices to store a single bit by switching between set (1) and reset (0) states based on inputs.“While optical communications and computing have seen significant progress over the past decades, data storage has been predominantly implemented using electronic memory,” said the study’s author Farshid Ashtiani from Nokia Bell Labs. “Having a fast optical memory that can be used with optical processing systems, as well as other optical systems used in communications or sensing, would make them more efficient in terms of energy and throughput.”In the Optica Publishing Group journal optics express, the researchers describe a proof-of-concept experiment in which they demonstrated the photonic latch using a programmable silicon photonic platform. Features such as optical set and reset, complementary outputs, scalability and compatibility with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) make this approach promising for faster and more efficient optical processing systems.“Large language models like ChatGPT rely on massive amounts of simple mathematical operations, such as multiplication and addition, performed iteratively to learn and generate answers,” said Ashtiani. “Our memory technology could store and retrieve data for such systems at high speeds, enabling much faster operations. While a commercial optical computer is still a distant goal, our high-speed optical memory technology is a step toward this future.”
Advancing integrated optical memory
Optical technologies have been instrumental in advancing communication systems, from long-haul data transmission and data center connectivity to emerging technologies like optical interconnects and computing. However, data storage remains predominantly electronic due to its scalability, compactness and cost-effectiveness. This presents challenges for optical processing systems because transferring optical data to electronic memory — and back — increases energy consumption and introduces latency. Although there has been extensive research in the area of optical memory, most implementations rely on bulky, costly and energy-intensive setups or specialized materials that are not typically offered in commercially available silicon photonic processes, leading to higher costs and lower yields. To overcome these challenges, the researchers created an integrated programmable photonic latch based on optical universal logic gates using silicon photonic micro-ring modulators. These devices can be implemented in commercially available silicon photonic chip fabrication processes. They combined two optical universal logic gates to create an optical latch that can hold optical data.
Creating memory that is scalable and fast
Ashtiani says that one key advantage of the new system is its scalability. “Because each memory unit has an independent input light source, it is possible to have several memory units working independently without affecting each other through optical power loss propagation,” he said. “The memory units can also be co-designed with the existing silicon photonic systems and be built reliably and with very high yields.” Another advantage is the photonic memory unit’s wavelength selectivity, which allows it to work seamlessly with WDM. This is because the unit’s micro-ring modulators are designed to operate at specific wavelengths, enabling multi-bit data storage within a single memory unit. Additionally, it enables fast memory response time, measured in tens of picoseconds, outpacing the clock speeds of advanced digital systems and supporting high-speed optical data storage.To demonstrate this approach to optical memory before making dedicated chips, the researchers used a programmable photonic platform to implement the universal logic gates and the optical latch through experiments and realistic simulations. The researchers tested the gates under different input scenarios. Even in the presence of random variations, the gates reliably generated the desired outputs. Similarly, the latch also performed all functions — set, reset, hold — accurately in the presence of input power variations.Next, the researchers would like to pursue several research directions to make the new memory units more practical. This includes scaling the technology to a larger number of memory units and fabricating dedicated photonic memory chips. This, combined with the WDM compatibility, would enable higher on-chip photonic memory density. They would also like to develop a way to use a single manufacturing process to integrate both the photonic memory circuit and the electronics needed to control it.
Caption: This new type of optical memory unit, called a programmable photonic latch, is fast and scalable. It could offer a high-speed silicon photonics solution for volatile memory.
Magnetic nanoparticles of Nd2Fe14B prepared by ethanol assisted wet ball milling technique Younes Mehrifar, Hamed Moqtaderi, Seyedeh Mehri Hamidi, FaridehGolbabaei, Mahdi Hasanzadeh & Somayeh Farhang Dehghan
The magnetic material Nd2Fe14B is one of the strongest magnetic materials found in nature. The demand for the production of these nanoparticles is significantly high due to their exceptional properties. The aim of the present study is to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles of Nd2Fe14B using ethanol in the wet ball milling technique (WBMT). Nd2Fe14B powder an average particle size(APS) of 730 nm was subjected to wet ball milling in stainless steel cup containing 5 mm diameter steel balls.The powder was milled for 12 h at 400 rpm, with intervals of 15 min and a 15-second pause each time. The morphology of the powder and nanoparticles, crystallinity, changes of the samples under temperature, magnetic properties, and the structural bonds were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The microstructural images revealed that the shape of the particles changed from flat(730 nm) to spherical(76 nm) after WBMT. The crystallinity results indicated a hexagonal crystal structure, with the average crystallite size being 17.1 nm. In the spectrum of the synthesized Nd2Fe14B nanoparticles, a peak appeared at a wavenumber of 803 cm−1, along with peaks at wavenumbers of 1037 cm−1 and 1083 cm−1, which are associated with the stretching vibrations of Nd-Fe, Fe-B, and Nd-B bonds, respectively. Numerical results of magnetic performance parameters indicated the ferromagnetic properties of the particles(HC=6097.47, Mr=34.65 and MS=49.11).It appears that in WBMT, the operational parameters significantly affect the average crystallite size, saturation magnetization, as well as the size and shape of the nanoparticles. Additionally, the ferromagnetic nature of Nd2Fe14B in the hysteresis loop plays an important role in the thermal stability of the nanoparticles.
Over recent years, there has been increasing interest in the development of magneto-plasmonic nanostructures for advanced sensing applications, many of which have been produced using various lithography and sputtering deposition techniques. This research examines the magneto-plasmonic properties of nickel nano-rings with diameters between 200 and 600 nm, aimed at applications in sensing technologies. Nickel-silver-boron (Ni-Ag-B) nanoarrays were fabricated on ITO substrates through a combination of nano-sphere lithography and selective electroless deposition in a Ni-B and silver nanoparticle bath. Compared to conventional methods, this fabrication process is simpler, more cost-efficient, and produces durable coatings due to the formation of strong covalent bonds. Additionally, the electroless method generally leads to the formation of uniform coatings on complex surfaces. The distinct shape of the nano-rings enhances plasmonic effects by generating a highly concentrated electromagnetic field, outperforming other nanostructures. Unlike thin films, light reflectivity tests showed that the nano-rings exhibited surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the 470-614 nm range at a 45° incident angle. In the next step, ellipsometry parameters were calculated. To further investigate the nano-rings’ effect, focus on the effective ellipsometry parameters. Additionally, Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) measurements revealed narrow Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) peaks at 512 nm and 560 nm, demonstrating their strong potential for highly sensitive detection compared to conventional SPR and ellipsometry-SPR. Finite element simulations using COMSOL further explored how magnetic fields influence the electromagnetic response of the nickel nano-rings, revealing promising applications in optical communication and sensing technologies.
Temperature effects on the conversion coupling efficiency in dye based Plasmonic Random Laser gain media
Mariam Kadhim Jawad, J. M. Jassim, S. F. Haddawi, S. M. Hamidi
The impact of temperature on the conversion coupling efficiency between Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) dye and hybrid nanoparticles, composed of gold (Au) and copper (Cu), and its influence on the performance of random lasers is investigated. The study focused on the interaction between the photophysical properties of Rh6G dye molecules and the plasmonic and thermal effects of Au/Cu nanoparticles (NPs) at varying temperatures. We analyzed the interaction between the dye molecules and nanoparticles as a function of pumping energy and temperature focusing on laser parameters laser threshold, full width at half maximum (FWHM), and peak intensity. Our results show that increasing pumping energy and temperature significantly affects the FWHM’s narrowing, and peak intensity enhancement. We found that with increasing pumping energy, the FWHM narrowed to about 8 nm for Au and Cu nanoparticles, and the peak intensity was enhanced to about 40,000 a.u. for AuNPs and 28,000 a.u. for CuNPs. While, we found that with increasing temperature, the FWHM decreased to about 0.6 nm for AuNPs and 0.8 nm for CuNPs, and the peak intensity increased to about 5400 a.u. for AuNPs and 9400 a.u. for CuNPs. This study provides insight into optimizing random laser performance through temperature control, potentially advancing the development of tunable photonic devices.
Chitosan-C3N4-Plasmonic Nanocomposite as a Generation of Scatterer Points for Random Laser Application
S.F. Haddawi, Amir Reza Sadrolhosseini, R.A. Ejbarah, S. M. Hamidi, Mahmood Kazemzad
The random laser is a unique optical device based on multi-light scattering, and the scatterer point was used to provide the reflection mechanism. Therefore, selecting the scatterer points is significant in designing the random laser. In this study, plasmonic (gold nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles) chitosan -C3N4 nanocomposites were prepared using a laser ablation technique. The prepared samples have been characterized using analytical methods. So, the chitosan-C3N4– gold nanoparticles and chitosan-C3N4-silver nanoparticles have formed with a particle size of about 24 nm. The experiment confirmed the chitosan-C3N4– gold nanoparticles are suitable for random laser and the threshold is higher than other chitosan-C3N4– silver nanoparticles and chitosan-C3N4 nanocomposites.
Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency (CVD), is a prevalent ocular disorder that hinders distinguishing different colors, a challenge experienced by a considerable portion of the global population (8−10% of males and 0.4−0.5% of females). CVD patients are frequently restricted from crucial professions such as military or police, and cannot recognize colors in public places or media like watching TV. Despite ongoing efforts, there is no definitive cure for color blindness; however, various color filter-based devices such as tinted glasses and contact lenses have been introduced to assist CVD people. Recently, plasmonic nanostructures have attracted significant attention for CVD management by replacing chemical dyes due to their outstanding properties and the adjustability of plasmonic resonances. This study reviews the different wearables utilized in CVD management, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, with a special emphasis on the innovative plasmonic eye wearables that have emerged in recent advances. The capability to modify the plasmonic properties by manipulating their morphology provides novel perspectives for CVD management and smart ophthalmic wearables.
Congratulations for our new paper in The European Physical Journal Plus:
Plasmonic nanostructures for color vision deficiency (CVD) management
N. Roostaei, S. M. Hamidi
Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency (CVD), is a prevalent ocular disorder that hinders distinguishing different colors, a challenge experienced by a considerable portion of the global population (8−10% of males and 0.4−0.5% of females). CVD patients are frequently restricted from crucial professions such as military or police, and cannot recognize colors in public places or media like watching TV. Despite ongoing efforts, there is no definitive cure for color blindness; however, various color filter-based devices such as tinted glasses and contact lenses have been introduced to assist CVD people. Recently, plasmonic nanostructures have attracted significant attention for CVD management by replacing chemical dyes due to their outstanding properties and the adjustability of plasmonic resonances. This study reviews the different wearables utilized in CVD management, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, with a special emphasis on the innovative plasmonic eye wearables that have emerged in recent advances. The capability to modify the plasmonic properties by manipulating their morphology provides novel perspectives for CVD management and smart ophthalmic wearables.
Researchers have discovered a way to recycle the tiny particles used to create supraparticle lasers, a technology that precisely controls light at a very small scale. The breakthrough could help manage these valuable materials in a more sustainable way.
Supraparticle lasers work by trapping light inside a tiny sphere made of special particles called quantum dots, which can absorb, emit, and amplify light very efficiently.They are made by mixing quantum dots in a solution that helps them stick together in tiny bubbles. However, not all attempts succeed, and even successful lasers degrade over time. This leads to wasted materials, which can be expensive.
Recycling method
The idea to recycle these particles came up during a team discussion about the high cost of wasted quantum dots. Dillon Downie, a Ph.D. student in the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde, suggested a potential solution, and with the support of team leader Dr. Nicolas Laurand, they tested the idea. To their surprise, they were able to recover and reuse the particles to make new lasers.
Dillon said, “Supraparticle lasers are already beginning to be used for targeted drug delivery and sensing applications, as well as for components in compact electronic systems. Nanoparticle aggregates and supraparticle lasers are expected to play an increasingly prominent role in everything from wearable medical devices to ultrabright LEDs.
“Our recycling method reduces costs and environmental impact by minimizing the need for new nanoparticles and the disposal of old ones, and it should be applicable to any colloidal nanoparticle species, especially rare-earth ones.”
In a paper titled “Recycling self-assembled colloidal quantum dot supraparticle lasers,” published in the journal Optical Materials Express, the Strathclyde researchers describe how they recycled quantum dots from used lasers to make new ones that work just as well as the originals.
Dillon said, “We envision this method being used to extend the life cycle of supraparticles, which could be repurposed for various applications such as medical biosensors, representing a significant advance toward sustainable nanoengineering.”
Simple method
The recycling process starts by breaking apart the used lasers by heating the particles and exposing them to sound waves. The quantum dots were then separated from impurities using a mix of oil and water, followed by filtering and coating the particles to restore their properties. Finally, the research team tested the recycled dots to ensure they could still emit light effectively and used them to create new lasers.
This method recovered 85% of the original quantum dots, which still performed almost as well as new ones. The recycled dots were then used to make lasers that worked just like the originals.
The team plans to study how recycling affects the performance of the quantum dots over time and to develop ways to recycle more complex or specialized particles.
Dillon added, “Our simple method doesn’t need fancy equipment, so it can be used in most labs. This is a big step toward making advanced materials more sustainable.”
Shahid Beheshti University’s magnetoplasmonics laboratory unveiled the first Iranian atomic clock in the fifth photonics and laser exhibition of Iran in 4th November of 2024. This laboratory started its activity a few years ago in the field of construction and design of atomic steam cells and also has the history of building the first Iranian rubidium atomic steam cell in its portfolio. This atomic clock based on rubidium atom vapor cell with microwave stimulation is the first atomic clock made in Iran. Dr.Hamidi, the professor of Shahid Beheshti university , is the supervisor of this project.
