Federico Capasso

New laser paves way for better imaging, communications

Terahertz frequency device opens large, underused region of electromagnetic spectrum

Science|

DateNovember 15, 2019November 15, 2019

Spider jumping from one platform to an insect on another.

Inspired by jumping spiders

SEAS researchers design depth sensor that could be used in microrobotics, augmented reality, wearable devices

Science|

DateOctober 28, 2019October 29, 2019

Ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi breakthrough

For the first time, researchers transmit sound data via a semiconductor laser

Science|

DateApril 25, 2019July 9, 2019

Breakthroughs seen in artificial eye and muscle technology

Adaptive metalens ‘can change its focus in real time, just like the human eye’

Science|

DateFebruary 23, 2018March 6, 2018

This flat metalens is the first single lens that can focus the entire visible spectrum of light — including white light — in the same spot and in high resolution. It uses arrays of titanium dioxide nanofins to equally focus wavelengths of light and eliminate chromatic aberration.

Single metalens focuses all colors of the rainbow in one point

Ground-breaking lens opens new possibilities in virtual and augmented reality

Science|

DateJanuary 1, 2018January 2, 2018

Federico Capasso, the Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering, is being recognized with the Rumford Prize.

Harvard’s Federico Capasso co-recipient of Rumford Prize

American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes Capasso and Alfred Cho for invention, application of laser technology

News|

DateDecember 10, 2015

Douglas Melton (from left) presented Star Family Challenge awards to five Harvard faculty: Joshua Greene, Paola Arlotta, Federico Capasso, David Keith, and accepting for Daniel Schrag was research assistant Lauren Benson Kuntz.

Innovative faculty research receives support

Three climate change-related projects among recipients of Star Family Challenge grants

News|

DateApril 17, 2015March 8, 2019

Behind the scenes in the Center for Nanoscale Systems, Mikhail Kats, Ph.D. ’14, demonstrated the fabrication process for ultrathin coatings that shine in vivid colors. Kats and Professor Federico Capasso have shown that these interference effects work on rough materials like paper.

Crafting ultrathin color coatings

In Harvard’s high-tech cleanroom, applied physicists produce vivid optical effects on paper

Science|

DateJanuary 13, 2015

Artist's rendition of the experimental setup used to measure the reflectivity of the vanadium-sapphire device. Modified from an illustration by Kirill Nadtochiy

New device hides from infrared cameras

Tunable material boasts nearly 100% absorption on demand

Science|

DateNovember 27, 2012July 26, 2019

The different colors in this photograph are a result of tiny variations in thickness: just 10-15 atoms of germanium separate the pink color from the violet, and another 10-15 atoms change the color from violet to dark blue. A penny is shown for size comparison.

Needle beam stays on point

Harvard researchers create a light wave that propagates without spreading

Science|

DateSeptember 11, 2012June 19, 2019

A new ultrathin, flat lens focuses light without imparting the optical distortions of conventional lenses. The flat lens eliminates optical aberrations such as the “fish-eye” effect that results from conventional wide-angle lenses.

$"By incorporating a gradient of phase discontinuities across the interface, the laws of reflection and refraction become designer laws, and a panoply of new phenomena appear," said Zeno Gaburro, a visiting scholar in Capasso's group who was co-principal investigator for this work. "The reflected beam can bounce backward instead of forward. You can create negative refraction. There is a new angle of total internal reflection."$

From a flat mirror, designer light

An optical phenomenon that defies laws of reflection and refraction

Science|

DateSeptember 1, 2011June 26, 2019

Researchers demonstrate highly directional terahertz laser rays

Advance in metamaterials leads to a new semiconductor laser suitable for security screening, chemical sensing and astronomy

Science|

DateAugust 9, 2010July 19, 2019

Applied physicists create building blocks for a new class of optical circuits

Devices exhibit customizable optical properties suitable for wide range of applications

Science|

DateMay 30, 2010

Researchers see exotic force for first time

Discovery may be ‘pivotal’ in building nanoscale devices

Science|

DateJanuary 7, 2009November 13, 2018

Scientists demonstrate highly directional semiconductor lasers

Innovation opens the door to a wide range of applications in photonics and communications

Science|

DateJuly 28, 2008

Creating semiconductor lasers

Science|

DateJuly 24, 2008

Researchers develop new technique for fabricating nanowire circuits

Technique may someday be suitable for high-volume commercial production

Science|

DateJune 26, 2008

Compact, wavelength-on-demand Quantum Cascade Laser chip created

Device offers ultra-sensitive chemical sensing

Science|

DateFebruary 5, 2008November 12, 2018

Laser advance could open up new markets

News|

DateMay 25, 2006November 13, 2018

Harvard scientists develop ‘plug and play’ laser

Raman injection laser represents several key innovations

News|

DateMarch 10, 2005

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Terahertz frequency device opens large, underused region of electromagnetic spectrum

SEAS researchers design depth sensor that could be used in microrobotics, augmented reality, wearable devices

Portable camera that sees light vibrate could be used in machine vision, autonomous vehicles, security, atmospheric chemistry, and more

For the first time, researchers transmit sound data via a semiconductor laser

Adaptive metalens ‘can change its focus in real time, just like the human eye’

Ground-breaking lens opens new possibilities in virtual and augmented reality

American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes Capasso and Alfred Cho for invention, application of laser technology

Three climate change-related projects among recipients of Star Family Challenge grants

In Harvard’s high-tech cleanroom, applied physicists produce vivid optical effects on paper

Tunable material boasts nearly 100% absorption on demand

Change thickness by 15 atoms and you can change the color

Harvard researchers create a light wave that propagates without spreading

Ultrathin wafer focuses telecom wavelengths without distortion

An optical phenomenon that defies laws of reflection and refraction

Advance in metamaterials leads to a new semiconductor laser suitable for security screening, chemical sensing and astronomy

Devices exhibit customizable optical properties suitable for wide range of applications

Discovery may be ‘pivotal’ in building nanoscale devices

Innovation opens the door to a wide range of applications in photonics and communications

Technique may someday be suitable for high-volume commercial production

Device offers ultra-sensitive chemical sensing

Raman injection laser represents several key innovations