Image of the Week

Interference with a white LED

Experimental interference fringes observed when a commercial LED is used as the illumination source of a Michelson Interferometer. The broad spectrum generates multicolor fringes that can be seen on a narrow difference length between the arms of the interferometer.

—Víctor M. Rico, CICESE, Mexico

18 Mar 2019

Fluorescent emission

Fluorescent emission of foam formed by a dissolving vitamin B2 tablet tossed in a small glass vial filled with water.

—Frederik N. Hasselmann and Mathias Hünecke, WWU Münster

11 Mar 2019

The Spiral Bow Laser

As a spiral bow laser scatters in a glass cylinder, the light rays split and bounce back and forth, making the long-term prediction of the rays’ trajectories very difficult. [Honorable mention, 2018 After Image photo contest.]

—Albetro A Tufaile, Soft Matter Lab, EACH-USP

04 Mar 2019

Extraordinary Solar Halos

Captured at lunchtime on a cold December 14 near Utendal, Sweden the image includes the relatively ordinary 22 degree halo, sundogs (parhelia) and sun pillars. The extensive array of rarer halos has been identified along with previously unknown features. All the patterns are generated as sunlight (or moonlight) is reflected and refracted in flat six-sided water ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere. In this case, likely local contributors to the atmospheric ice crystals are snow making machines operating at at nearby ski center.

—Magnus Edback, Sweden

25 Feb 2019

Super Tree Show

The light show in the super tree grove in Singapore's Garden by the Bay

—Michael Duncan, OSA

18 Feb 2019

Green Flash

"Green Flash" at sunset on the Pacific ocean. Cape Arago State Park on Oregon coast. The green flash is one of the last images of the sun as it sets. It is a rare event only when conditions are right, in this case layers of warm air over a cold ocean.

—Robert Schalck, Senior Member

11 Feb 2019

Fern Sorus

Structures producing and containing spores. [2nd Place, 2018 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition; image courtesy of Nikon Small World]

—Rogelio Moreno Gill, Panama

04 Feb 2019

Blue Power

Welding with 500 W of blue laser light.

—James P. Tucker, Nuburu, Inc.

28 Jan 2019

Interference Pattern

This SEM image is the center of a resolution test for optical lithography (ultraviolet) using vacuum contact. While the straight lines were lost at the submicron scale of the pattern’s center, a beautiful interference pattern was created. [Honorable mention, 2018 After Image photo contest.]

—Alexander C. Walhof, University of Iowa

21 Jan 2019

Birefringent Flower

An arrangement of plastic flutes between a linear- and a circular-polarizer. The colors represent wavelength-dependent retardance paths that rotate the polarization orientation through different angles. [Honorable mention, 2018 After Image photo contest.]

—Samuel F. Pellicori, Senior Member OSA

14 Jan 2019

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