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  • New
  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7030030
Femtosecond Laser Microfabrication and Magnetic Manipulation of Functional Magnetic Microspheres
  • Apr 24, 2026
  • Optics
  • Jingwen Wang + 8 more

The precise fabrication and controllable actuation of magnetic microspheres hold significant application value in biomedicine, microfluidic chips and other fields. Based on femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization technology (FLTPP), two methods are adopted to prepare magnetic microspheres in this study. Magnetic microspheres are fabricated via photoresist modification and post-treatment processes. Meanwhile, a 3D magnetic actuation system composed of a three-axis movable magnetic drive module and a real-time imaging system is constructed, enabling the flexible 3D actuation and real-time dynamic monitoring and visualized observation of magnetic microspheres. The results demonstrate that the magnetic microspheres exhibit sensitive magnetic response characteristics. The constructed magnetic actuation system features large travel range (XY: ±6.5 mm, Z: 10 mm), high precision (20 μm) and flexible manipulation, enabling stable locomotion of the microrobots in straight channels, L-shaped channels, and square channels. This study provides a technical reference for the fabrication and manipulation of magnetic micro/nano devices, and lays a foundation for their subsequent integrated applications in microfluidic systems.

  • New
  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020028
Toward Real-Time, Scalable Vis–SWIR Diagnostics: Evaluating Machine-Learning Classification Performance with Reduced-Spectra Acquisition Protocols
  • Apr 14, 2026
  • Optics
  • Antonio Currà + 8 more

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is increasingly studied as a non-invasive optical investigation tool for in vivo tissue characterization, including applications to skeletal muscle and brain regions. In this context, previous studies have demonstrated reliability in differentiating muscle sites, typically relying on dense acquisition schemes (≥50 spectra acquired per site) to ensure signal stability. However, this requirement may limit throughput and hinder real-world clinical translation. Optimizing the trade-off between acquisition burden and classification performance represents a key design problem for device scalability and feasibility of bedside deployment. In this study, we explored the impact of spectral sampling density on machine learning-based muscle discrimination. Thirty healthy adults provided 50 Vis–SWIR (Visible–Short-Wave Infrared; 350–2500 nm) reflectance spectra per biceps and triceps muscle sites (3000 spectra). Seven datasets were generated by random subsampling, progressively reducing the number of spectra (from 50 to 1 spectra/muscle/subject). All datasets underwent an identical preprocessing pipeline and were subjected to Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) classification. PLS-DA achieved near-perfect discrimination from 50 to 5 spectra per muscle with a mean cross-validation (CV) accuracy ≥ 99.5%, whereas performance collapsed abruptly at three spectra (CV accuracy ~39%) and one spectrum (CV accuracy ~15%). Therefore, high machine learning classification performance is retained even when the number of acquired spectra is substantially reduced. These findings support the feasibility of acquisition-efficient protocols that may enhance device portability and reduce measurement time, thus enabling NIRS integration into clinical workflows. From a biomedical engineering standpoint, spectra number reduction without loss of predictive performance represents a key step toward scalable, real-time, and patient-centered Vis–SWIR diagnostic platforms.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020023
Photomechanical Sensing from Spectral Shifts in Graphene-Doped Polydimethylsiloxane Reflection Gratings
  • Mar 27, 2026
  • Optics
  • Abigail Deaton + 2 more

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films doped with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) with an embossed surface-relief grating were investigated as photothermal actuated sensors. The films were initially characterized using controlled environmental heating where the wavelength of a diffracted white-light probe beam measured at a fixed angle increased monotonically with temperature due to thermal expansion of the grating. An asymmetric double sigmoidal function tracked the shift in peak diffraction wavelength. The observed thermal response is consistent with the thermal expansion of a freestanding PDMS composite film. When a continuous-wave (CW) laser was incident on the film, intensity-dependent photothermal expansion caused a transient deformation in the grating. The photomechanical behavior of the grating, tracked by the diffracted probe beam with a miniature spectrometer, was then shown to act as a laser power meter. These results demonstrate that photomechanical materials can be used as add-ons to existing optical spectroscopy devices for power-sensing applications.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020021
First-Principles Study of Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Fe-, Co-, and Ni-Doped MoS2 Monolayer
  • Mar 23, 2026
  • Optics
  • Soufyane Aqiqi + 2 more

In this work, a comprehensive first-principles investigation of the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of pristine and Fe-, Co-, and Ni-doped MoS2 monolayers is presented within the framework of density functional theory. Substitutional transition-metal doping at the Mo site is shown to induce spin-polarized impurity states within the pristine band gap, leading to significant modifications of the electronic structure, including metallic, semimetallic, or half-metallic behavior depending on the dopant species. The calculated spin-resolved band structures and projected density of states reveal a strong hybridization between the dopant 3d orbitals and the Mo-4d/S-3p states, giving rise to sizable magnetic moments and dopant-dependent exchange splitting. When spin–orbit coupling is included, the combined effect of exchange interactions and relativistic effects leads to an effective valley splitting at the K and K′ points, whose magnitude and sign depend sensitively on the chemical nature of the dopant. Optical properties are analyzed within a linear-response framework, showing pronounced dopant-induced modifications of the optical spectra. While the pristine monolayer exhibits well-defined excitonic features, transition-metal substitution introduces low-energy optical transitions associated with impurity-related states. Consequently, the exciton binding energies estimated from the difference between the electronic and optical gaps are interpreted as effective measures of dopant-induced perturbations to optical transitions, rather than as quantitative many-body excitonic binding energies in the strict sense. These results provide microscopic insight into the interplay between magnetism, spin–orbit coupling, and optical response in doped MoS2 monolayers, highlighting the potential of transition-metal substitution as a route to engineer spin- and valley-dependent phenomena in two-dimensional materials.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020020
Optical System Design of an Echelle Spectrometer Based on a Digital Micromirror Device
  • Mar 11, 2026
  • Optics
  • Jia Liu + 5 more

The echelle spectrometer utilizes an echelle grating as the primary dispersive element, combined with a prism or planar grating for cross-dispersion, to form a two-dimensional spectral image on an area-array Charge-Coupled Device (CCD). Compared with traditional spectrometers, this configuration provides superior spectral resolution, broader wavelength coverage, enhanced transient direct-reading capability, and higher energy throughput within a similar footprint. However, the use of area-array detectors significantly increases system cost, limiting adoption in cost-sensitive applications. To reduce cost while maintaining performance, we introduce a digital micromirror device (DMD) as a spatial light modulator to replace the traditional area-array detector, paired with a highly sensitive photomultiplier tube (PMT) for signal acquisition. The designed system operates across a wavelength range of 270 to 800 nm within a compact footprint of approximately 307 mm × 210 mm × 150 mm. The focused spot is accurately positioned on the DMD surface across the entire band, with the root mean square (RMS) spot radius smaller than a single micromirror’s size. Spectral information is efficiently coupled into the PMT via a focusing mirror by selectively flipping the DMD micromirrors for detection.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020019
Iron-Induced Optical Enhancement of Strontium Titanate for Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Applications
  • Mar 9, 2026
  • Optics
  • Stefani Petrova + 3 more

In this study, sol–gel-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by various physicochemical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TG). The as-obtained powders were tested for their antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, as well as the fungal strains Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, the photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated under simulated solar light. The results are promising for possible environmental applications. The antimicrobial assessment also revealed notable effects, with varying degrees of growth inhibition observed across the tested microorganisms. The main approach in this study consists of the combination of physicochemical characterization with antibacterial and photocatalytic evaluations, resulting in promising multifunctional materials.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7020018
Geometric Correction for Line-Scan Imaging: A 1D Projective–Polar Mapping for Highly Reflective Cylindrical Surfaces
  • Mar 3, 2026
  • Optics
  • Jian Qiao + 6 more

Optical inspection of highly reflective cylindrical components—such as stainless-steel vessels featuring both planar and curvilinear surfaces—presents significant challenges due to complex geometric distortions in single-pass imaging. This study proposes a line-scan imaging framework that integrates synchronized kinematic control with geometry-aware distortion correction. The system addresses shape deformations through three coordinated modules: (1) parametric synchronization between rotational motion and image acquisition ensures full-surface coverage; (2) scanline-specific 1D projective transformations correct perspective distortions on toroidal sidewalls; and (3) adaptive polar coordinate remapping restores radial symmetry on circular bases. Experimental results demonstrate subpixel-level geometric correction accuracy, validating the proposed framework’s effectiveness in eliminating geometric aberrations with low computational complexity and without reliance on data-driven training, while maintaining compatibility with defect detection and quantitative surface analysis of specular cylindrical specimens.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7010017
Monitoring of Wool Stretching Process Using Polarized Second Harmonic Generation
  • Feb 13, 2026
  • Optics
  • Bing Zhou + 5 more

Wool fibers undergo significant structural changes during industrial stretching, which directly impact their mechanical properties and textile performance, making monitoring of the stretching process essential for optimizing wool products. In this study, we demonstrate the effective use of polarized second harmonic generation (P-SHG) imaging for monitoring the wool fiber stretching process. P-SHG is highly sensitive to non-centrosymmetric structures, enabling clear observation of changes in α-keratin alignment and the reconstruction of cortical interfaces during stretching. Quantitative P-SHG analysis revealed a significant decrease in the effective pitch angle (θe) from 54° ± 1° to 33° ± 3° after stretching, confirming the dipole orientation changes in keratin molecules. These findings were further validated through additional characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The results show that the industrial stretching process of wool alters the morphology at the surface scale, enhances the alignment of macroscopic fibers, and induces a transition from α-helix to β-sheet. Our technique is simple, effective, and capable of in situ monitoring of the structural changes in wool fibers, making it highly promising for applications in the wool industry.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7010016
Power Flow of Electric Dipole Radiation Extinction in an Absorbing Host Medium
  • Feb 12, 2026
  • Optics
  • Henk F Arnoldus

We have studied the extinction power flow for a dipole in a laser beam, and embedded in a dissipating medium. The power flows along the field lines of the Poynting vector. We have shown that near the particle, the field lines form closed loops, which start and end at the location of the dipole. A closed-form expression for these loops has been derived, and we have shown how the orientation direction of a loop is determined by the permittivities and permeabilities of the host medium and the particle. It is also shown that the spatial extent of these loops is determined by singularities in the flow pattern. It is shown that the extent of the loop structure near the dipole diminishes strongly when there is dissipation in the medium. This is due to the appearance of singularities very close to the particle, which are due to the damping. At greater distances, flow lines run off to the far field or they come in from the far field. Most flow lines change from incoming to outgoing, or vice versa, so they turn around somewhere in the flow field. Singularities, points where the Poynting vector vanishes, appear on the coordinate axes. At these points, field lines split. Off the axes, singularities appear as the centers of vortices. Near a vortex, energy swirls around the singular point. Field lines can come out of the center of a vortex or end there.

  • Open Access Icon
  • Research Article
  • 10.3390/opt7010014
Angle-Dependent Glare Behavior in LED Luminaires: A Unified cosm Model for Urban Observers
  • Feb 5, 2026
  • Optics
  • Juan De Dios Unión-Sánchez + 3 more

Glare is a critical factor in the design of LED luminaires for street lighting, particularly in environments where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers coexist. Generally, glare assessments are performed for fixed geometries and a single observer, limiting their applicability to real urban environments. This study examines the effect of angular redistribution of the beam on glare and illuminance by introducing the relative angular parameter α into the photometric model and the UGR calculation. A generic LED luminaire is modelled using a cosine-type luminous intensity distribution raised to a power, and the emitting surface is also discretized to evaluate the luminance, solid angle and Guth position index at the patch level. This approach is applied to three distinct observer geometries—pedestrian, cyclist and driver—allowing direct comparison using a unified mathematical formulation. The results show that beam redistribution affects each observer differently, reducing glare for pedestrians while simultaneously increasing it for drivers, whereas cyclists show limited sensitivity to angular changes. Although relative illuminance and UGR show similar monotonic trends, their physical and perceptual interpretation is different. This paper presents a novel tool for the preliminary analysis of trade-offs between visual comfort and luminous efficiency in urban lighting design.