Single-shot hyperspectral wavefront imaging Blochet, B., N. Lebas, P. Berto, D. Papadopoulos, and M. Guillon Nature Communications 17, no. 1 (2026)
Résumé: Single-shot hyperspectral wavefront sensing is essential for applications like spatio-spectral coupling metrology in high-power laser or fast material dispersion imaging. Under broadband illumination, traditional wavefront sensors assume an achromatic wavefront, which makes them unsuitable. We introduce a hyperspectral wavefront sensing scheme based on the Hartmann wavefront sensing principles, employing a multicore fiber as a Hartmann mask to overcome these limitations. Our system leverages the angular memory effect and limited spectral correlation width of the multicore fiber, encoding wavefront gradients into displacements and the spectral information into uncorrelated speckle patterns. This method retains the simplicity, compactness, and single-shot capability of conventional wavefront sensors, with only a slight increase in computational complexity. It also allows a tunable trade-off between spatial and spectral resolution. We demonstrate its efficacy for recording the hyperspectral wavefront cube from single-pulse acquisitions at the Apollon multi-petawatt laser facility, and for performing multispectral microscopic imaging of dispersive phase objects.
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Quantitative in-vivo full-waveform ultrasound tomography workflow integrating reflection imaging and resolution analysis Ulrich, I. E., C. Boehm, P. Marty, S. Noe, N. Korta Martiartu, X. L. Dean-Ben, D. Razansky, and A. Fichtner Physics in Medicine and Biology 71, no. 13, 135039 (2026)
Résumé: Objective. To demonstrate the potential of full-waveform inversion (FWI) for high-resolution ultrasonic imaging using in-vivo data. Approach. Acoustic FWI is applied to in-vivo measurements, accounting for the nonlinear relationship between the ultrasonic wavefield and model parameters. Two key components are investigated: (1) estimation of an effective source wavelet by inverting the source-time function using calibration data in water, and (2) reduction of nonlinearity and sensitivity to the initial model using a graph-space optimal transport misfit functional. A perturbation-based resolution analysis is employed to quantify local spatial smearing. Main results. The proposed approach enables improved spatial resolution in reconstructed models and allows accurate identification of anatomical features in in-vivo data. Significance. These results provide further evidence for the applicability of FWI to in-vivo ultrasonic imaging and highlight methodological components that influence reconstruction quality, offering insight into its potential for clinical applications.
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Enhanced quantum correlations from joint pump and photon pair scattering Safadi, M., N. Kuchuk, O. Lib, Y. Bromberg, and A. Goetschy APL Photonics 11, no. 6 (2026)
Résumé: Scattering of non-classical light is enabling new ways to study and control photon transport. However, advances in this field often rely on simplifying assumptions regarding the quantum light’s generation and its source. In this work, we relax some of these assumptions and probe the behavior of entangled photon pairs passing through a disordered layer after being generated by a randomly scattered pump via spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We experimentally demonstrate that when the photon pairs are generated immediately after the pump is scattered, they retain a sharp angular correlation peak even after propagating through a dynamic scattering medium. Beyond this proof-of-principle experiment, we present a comprehensive theoretical and numerical analysis showing that these correlations persist for arbitrary separations between the pair-generation region and the entrance to the disordered medium, with qualitatively distinct behavior depending on whether scattering occurs before or after pair generation. In particular, we analyze how the width and strength of the angular correlations depend on the distance between the generation region and the disordered layer. When the pairs are generated after the pump is scattered, the correlation width increases with distance, while the correlation strength remains approximately constant. In contrast, when the pairs are generated first and subsequently scattered, the correlation width initially broadens and then narrows, accompanied by a modification in correlation strength. These findings represent a crucial step toward understanding quantum light generation in complex media and potentially exploiting it for quantum technologies.
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Modified Luneburg Lens: How Well Does It Focus Surface Water Waves? Pichard, H., A. Maurel, P. A. Martin, P. Petitjeans, and V. Pagneux Fluids 11, no. 6, 145 (2026)
Résumé: An optical lens focuses light and a similar device can be developed to focus surface water waves. A detailed description of such hydrodynamic lenses is given, for which the focusing is induced by shaping the bathymetry of the bottom. Classically, the Luneburg lens uses a specific radial variation of the refractive index. The modified Luneburg lens (MLL) introduces an extra degree of freedom, permitting the focal point to be tuned. It is shown how to design the MLL for water waves, and then its performance is evaluated. Compared with a simple parabolic-shaped mount, the MLL is shown to be free of spherical aberration, resulting in a focus with larger intensity and smaller size of the focal point. Moreover, the focusing properties can be tuned and enhanced thanks to the possibility of changing the position of the focal point. The focusing quality of the MLL is described in all water-depth regimes (covering dispersive and non-dispersive waves) and the focusing of linear and nonlinear waves is revealed experimentally. The option of moving the focal point outside the lens, where the water depth is constant, may be useful when locating devices for harvesting wave energy.
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Brightness demixing for simultaneous multi-target imaging in 3D single-molecule localization microscopy Le, L., S. K. Sreenivas, E. Fort, and S. Lévêque-Fort Nature Methods (2026)
Résumé: Single-molecule localization microscopy has enabled high-resolution imaging, but the simultaneous detection of multiple fluorophores traditionally relies on spectral-based separation, which is inherently constrained by spectral overlap. Here we introduce brightness demixing, a method for fluorophore discrimination that exploits brightness, which directly depends on the fluorophore extinction coefficient and quantum yield. By oversampling blinking events, we precisely quantify photon flux as a proxy for brightness, enabling robust differentiation of fluorophores independent of their spectral properties, without requiring additional spectral separation. Brightness demixing operates within a single detection channel, eliminating the need for additional spectral filters or cameras. We demonstrate this approach with simultaneous two- and three-target imaging in both two- and three-dimensional configurations. By maintaining single-wavelength excitation and minimizing chromatic aberrations, this method notably enhances multiplexing in single-molecule localization microscopy while remaining fully compatible with existing setups. Brightness Demixing thus offers a simple yet powerful approach for expanding multi-target imaging capabilities in super-resolution microscopy.
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A practical guide to digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) for wavefront shaping Popoff, S. M., L. Malosse, R. Gutiérrez-Cuevas, Y. Bromberg, J. Commère, M. Glanc, R. Galicher, and M. W. Matthès Journal of Physics: Photonics 8, no. 2, Journal of Physics: (2026)
Résumé: Digital micromirror devices have gained popularity in wavefront shaping, offering a high frame rate alternative to liquid crystal spatial light modulators. They are relatively inexpensive, offer high resolution, are easy to operate, and a single device can be used in a broad optical bandwidth. However, some technical drawbacks must be considered to achieve optimal performance. These issues, often undocumented by manufacturers, mostly stem from the device's original design for video projection applications. Herein, we present a guide to characterize and mitigate these effects. Our focus is on providing simple and practical solutions that can be easily incorporated into a typical wavefront shaping setup.
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