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Inside the Internship: Gabriel Wardall, Lockheed Martin Space

Charles Ferrer — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:17:50 +0000

Inside the Internship: Gabriel Wardall, Lockheed Martin Space Charles Ferrer Mon, 01/26/2026 - 12:17

Gabriel Wardall (ElEng'26) has used his experience and expertise from all aspects of life to gain career success. Wardall interned with Lockheed Martin's Deep Space Exploration division for the past four years as an electrical engineer technician.

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An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:32:04 +0000

An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster Charles Ferrer Wed, 01/14/2026 - 14:32

A team of engineers has developed a new device that works like a laser but, instead of light, generates incredibly small vibrations called surface acoustic waves.

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ECEE welcomes new faculty for spring 2026

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:43:41 +0000

ECEE welcomes new faculty for spring 2026 Charles Ferrer Wed, 01/07/2026 - 08:43

Charles Ferrer

ECEE at CU ��ý�� is welcoming three new faculty members including Assistant Professor Logan Horowitz and and Assistant Professor Gonzalo Constante Flores. Additionally, award-winning physicist Matt Eichenfield, the inaugural Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair of Quantum Engineering, joined this semester.

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Engineers develop real-time membrane imaging for sustainable water filtration

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:49:56 +0000

Engineers develop real-time membrane imaging for sustainable water filtration Charles Ferrer Tue, 12/16/2025 - 08:49

Charles Ferrer

Observed 3D volume calcium sulfate and calcium bicarbonate crystal growth (Credit: Lange Simmons)

CU ��ý�� researchers have introduced a solution to improving the performance of large-scale desalination plants: stimulated Raman scattering (SRS).

Published Dec. 16 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the laser-based imaging method allows researchers to observe in real time membrane fouling, a process where unwanted materials such as salts, minerals and microorganisms accumulate on filtration membranes.

Worldwide, 55% of people experience water scarcity at least one month a year and that number is expected to climb to 66% by the end of the century.

Desalination—turning saltwater into fresh water—is critical for communities globally as demand increases.

Modern reverse osmosis (RO) plants make up about 80% of the world’s desalination facilities, placing greater importance on having them run efficiently.

“Reverse osmosis membranes are critical for desalination,” said Juliet Gopinath, professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering and physics. “Our work aims to monitor and provide early warning for membrane fouling.”

RO systems rely on thin polymer membranes to filter out buildup.

A set of three real-time, in-situ calcium sulfate crystal scaling images. The growth of three unique crystal morphologies over time emphasizes the importance of having both the image along side the chemical identification that stimulated Raman spectroscopy provides. (Credit: Lange Simmons and Jasmine Andersen)

This accumulation reduces filtration efficiency and increases both energy use and operating costs for desalination plants.

Detecting fouling early remains one of the biggest challenges in desalination.

“We can learn a lot about materials and molecules by shining light on them,” said Postdoctoral Researcher Jasmine Andersen. “Depending on the type of light you use, you’ll get different light coming back, and that tells you what’s inside the material.”

This principle underlies Raman scattering, where the color—or wavelength—of the scattered light shifts in ways that reveal a material’s molecular structure and composition.

The team used SRS to observe crystal growth on RO membranes, tracking how the molecules vibrated revealing the chemical makeup of the material.

To test the system, researchers observed calcium sulfate and calcium bicarbonate, ions commonly found in seawater. SRS provided both high-speed imaging and chemical identification.

“Watching these crystals form as it happens, getting volumetric data and identifying the chemical all at once is pretty exciting,” Andersen said. “Previously, you could get volume data or chemical identification, but not at the same time.”

Andersen notes this level of insight is something industry tools cannot currently provide.

Supporting sustainable water systems

Understanding what forms on a membrane and when can help operators maximize filtration, notes Professor Emeritus Alan Greenberg, an expert in membrane performance and characterization.

“It is well known that RO desalination plants can be more productive and operate at lower cost if fouling is reduced and cleaning is more efficient,” Greenberg said.

Beyond calcium sulfate, the team expects SRS could help study more complex mixtures of organic, inorganic and biological materials that contribute to fouling in both seawater and brackish water systems.

“As our freshwater resources shrink, we’re going to rely more on desalination,” Andersen said. “If we can make that process more efficient and sustainable, we can help ensure people have reliable access to clean water.”

Key collaborators on this project included Victor Bright, professor of mechanical engineering; Y. Lange Simmons physics doctoral graduate; and Mo Zohrabi, senior research scientist. This project received funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, the National Science Foundation and a CU ��ý�� Research and Innovation Seed Grant.

CU ��ý�� researchers have developed a laser-based imaging method called stimulated Raman scattering to improve the performance of desalination plants by allowing real-time detection of membrane fouling. The advance could help make desalination more efficient and reliable as global demand for clean water rises.

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Tiny new device could enable giant future quantum computers

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:33:05 +0000

Tiny new device could enable giant future quantum computers Charles Ferrer Thu, 12/11/2025 - 09:33

Charles Ferrer

Researchers have made a major advance in quantum computing with a new device that is nearly 100 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

Published in the journal Nature Communications, the breakthrough optical phase modulators could help unlock much larger quantum computers by enabling efficient control of lasers required to operate thousands or even millions of qubits — the basic units of quantum information.

Optical chip developed in the study with laser light from an optical fiber array. (Credit: Jake Freedman)

Critically, the team of scientists have developed these devices using scalable manufacturing, avoiding complex, custom builds in favor of those used to make the same technology behind processors already found in computers, phones, vehicles, home appliances — virtually everything powered by electricity and even toasters.

Led by Jake Freedman, an incoming PhD student in the Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering; Matt Eichenfield, professor and the Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair in Quantum Engineering; and collaborators from Sandia National Laboratories, including co-senior author Nils Otterstrom, they created a device that is not only tiny and powerful, but also practical and inexpensive to mass-produce.

Their device uses microwave-frequency vibrations, oscillating billions of times per second, to manipulate laser light with extraordinary precision.

These ultra-fast vibrations give researchers direct control over the phase of a laser beam, allowing the chip to generate new laser frequencies with high stability and efficiency, all essential for building quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum networking technologies.

Why quantum computers depend on precise optical frequency control

3D rendering of the device including the optical waveguide, piezoelectric actuator and metal routing layers essential for quantum computing. (Credit: Jake Freedman)

Among the leading approaches to quantum computing are trapped-ion and trapped-neutral-atom systems, which store information in individual atoms.

To operate these qubits, researchers “talk” to each atom using precise laser beams, allowing them to give the instructions to do computations.

Each laser’s frequency must be tuned with extreme accuracy, often to within billionths of a percent or even smaller.

“Creating new copies of a laser with very exact differences in frequency is one of the most important tools for working with atom- and ion-based quantum computers,” Freedman said. “But to do that at scale, you need technology that can efficiently generate those new frequencies.”

Today, those frequency shifts are made using bulky table-top devices that consume significant amounts of microwave power.

Current setups work well for small lab experiments and quantum computers with small numbers of qubits, but they cannot scale to the tens or hundreds of thousands of optical channels required for future quantum computers.

“You’re not going to build a quantum computer with 100,000 bulk electro-optic modulators sitting in a warehouse full of optical tables,” Eichenfield said. “You need some much more scalable ways to manufacture them that don’t have to be hand-assembled and with long optical paths. While you’re at it, if you can make them all fit on a few small microchips and produce 100 times less heat, you’re much more likely to make it work.”

The device can generate new frequencies of light through efficient phase modulation that consumes roughly 80 times less microwave power than many commercial modulators.
Using less power reduces heat and allows many more channels to be placed close together, even on a single chip.

Together, these features turn the chip into a powerful, scalable system for managing the complex dance that atoms must perform to make quantum computations.

Built using the world’s most scalable manufacturing technology

One of the most significant aspects of the project is that it was produced entirely in a "fab" or foundry, the same type of facility used to make advanced microelectronics.

“CMOS fabrication is the most scalable technology humans have ever invented,” Eichenfield said.

“Every microelectronic chip in every cell phone or computer has billions of essentially identical transistors on it. So, by using CMOS fabrication, in the future, we can produce thousands or even millions of identical versions of our photonic devices, which is exactly what quantum computing will need.”

According to Otterstorm, they’ve taken modulator devices which were previously expensive and power hungry and made them more efficient and less bulky.

“We’re helping to push optics into its own ‘transistor revolution’, moving away from the optical equivalent of vacuum tubes and towards scalable integrated photonic technologies,” Otterstorm said.

The team is now developing fully integrated photonic circuits that combine frequency generation, filtering and pulse-carving on the same chip, bringing the goal of a complete operational chip closer to reality.

Moving forward, they will collaborate with quantum computing companies to test versions of these chips inside state-of-the-art of trapped-ion and trapped-atom quantum computers.

“This device is one of the final pieces of the puzzle,” Freedman said. “We’re getting close to a truly scalable photonic platform capable of controlling very large numbers of qubits.”

This project was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Quantum Systems Accelerator program, a National Quantum Initiative Science Research Center.

Researchers have developed a device that can precisely control laser light using a fraction of the power and space required today. Because it can be manufactured just like modern microchips, this tiny device could unlock quantum computers capable of solving problems far beyond the reach of today’s technologies.

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Top-down image of the on-chip phase-modulator devices taken with a microscope. (Credit: Andrew Leenheer)

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Top-down image of the on-chip phase-modulator devices taken with a microscope. (Credit: Andrew Leenheer)

Anika Mathur earns college Community Impact Award

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:56:24 +0000

Anika Mathur earns college Community Impact Award Charles Ferrer Tue, 12/02/2025 - 14:56

Charles Ferrer

Anika Mathur

Anika Mathur, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, has earned the fall 2025 Community Impact Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The award recognizes graduating undergraduate students who contribute to improving their community at the department, program, college, university and community level.

Mathur has served as treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Engineers Without Border (EWB) since September 2023.

“Anika leads by example, inspiring others to take action while fostering an inclusive environment,” said Professor Melinda Piket-May. “Through her leadership roles, she promotes collaboration and encourages participation from students of all backgrounds. By modeling these values, Anika strengthens the college community and sets a standard for future leaders.”

Mathur’s impact with other student organizations supported by the Campos Student Center has spread positive ripples for their leadership boards.

“Anika has mentored multiple students into leadership roles and actively promotes collaboration between student organizations,” said Amanda McKenzie, coordinator of student societies. “Her financial expertise has made her a trusted student leader. She also ensures that all students feel welcome, often going out of her way to engage quieter or newer members in conversation.”

We sat down with Mathur as she reflected on her leadership and community involvement at the college.

You’ve mentioned that your community journey started before you even arrived at CU ��ý��. How did that experience shape everything that followed?

When I visited CU as a high school senior, I attended Mocktail Night, an event for admitted students hosted by SWE and the dean’s office. The women I met that night inspired me so much and they were the reason I chose CU. I walked away feeling seen, welcomed and reassured that I could belong here. That moment stayed with me. So, when I came to campus as a first-year student, I sought out SWE at the Be Involved Fair on my very first day because I wanted to join the community that had already made such an impact on my life.

Your involvement with SWE has grown significantly over the years. What has that experience meant to you?

Early on, I went to as many SWE events as possible from friendship bracelet nights to resume reviews. By the end of that year, I wanted to help build the same supportive space I had benefited from. Becoming director of events allowed me to create welcoming environments through our weekly “Totally Tuesday” meetings. Now, as Treasurer for a second year, I help maintain the organization’s financial health and guide committees in planning events that bring women engineers together. What I value most is helping others feel encouraged and confident. Engineering can be overwhelming, and sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from checking in on someone who looks uncertain or saying “I’ll go with you” to a first-time attendee.

Mathur (middle left) along with student leadership member of the Society of Women Engineers at the 2025 National Conference in New Orleans, La.

You also hold a major role in Engineers Without Borders. What has your work on the Nepal team taught you?

EWB has taught me how important it is to slow down and listen before deciding what “help” looks like. We work with communities, not for them, and that approach has changed the way I think about engineering. It’s not just about designing a solution, it’s about understanding people’s needs, priorities and perspectives. Being able to support that kind of long-term, relationship-focused work means a lot to me.

Tell us more about your STEM outreach work with TeachEngineering. What impact did that have on you?

Creating hands-on STEM education videos for the TeachEngineering Digital Library allowed me to reach K-12 teachers and students across the country. Knowing that these videos might be the first time a student sees engineering is incredibly meaningful. Not everyone grows up knowing an engineer, so if a student watches an experiment and thinks, “Maybe I could do this too,” then I’ve made a difference.

What drives you to show up for your communities?

It honestly has been rooted in creating spaces where students can grow with confidence, especially during moments when engineering can feel overwhelming or isolating. Some of the most meaningful contributions happen in the small moments: showing up consistently, checking in when someone seems unsure, saying “I’ll go with you to this event,” or simply making room for someone to try something new. Those moments build trust and connection. I hope to continue creating communities where we lift one another up, celebrate each other’s achievements and move forward together.

What are some of your favorite aspects about the ECEE department during your undergraduate career?

One of my favorite parts of the ECEE department has been how genuinely inclusive it feels. Even though the field is very male-dominated, I’ve never felt lesser than my peers here and a huge part of that is because our professors and staff are intentional about creating a welcoming, encouraging environment. I’ve also received an incredible amount of support throughout my time in the department, from professors who take time to help you truly understand the material to advising staff who always make sure you’re on the right track. That level of support has meant everything and has shaped a big part of my experience.

What about electrical engineering excites you?

I love how versatile electrical engineering is. There are so many directions you can go and the skill set opens doors in almost every industry. That range keeps the field exciting for me. I also love the mix of theory and hands-on problem-solving. Electrical engineering gives you the tools to build meaningful, real-world technology while still leaving endless room to explore.

What advice would you give future engineering students who want to make an impact?

My advice to future students is that if you want to make an impact here, start small. Just show up. Walk into that first meeting, even if you feel nervous. Ask someone how they’re doing, and really listen to the answer. Say yes to opportunities that feel new or a little uncertain. Community is built through consistent, simple acts of showing up for each other.

Lead with kindness. Engineering is challenging, and people often carry more than they let on. A supportive word, a shared moment or a genuine conversation can make a real difference. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, and be that source of encouragement for others too.

And most importantly: you are already enough. You don’t need to prove that you deserve to study engineering, you already do. What matters is that we keep lifting each other up, step by step, so we all continue to grow, learn and shine here. The most meaningful part of my experience at CU has been the people and the community we’ve built together. Being part of helping others feel supported, confident, and valued is something I am genuinely proud of, and I hope every student who comes after me carries that forward.

What’s next?

I’m continuing my studies in the Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s Program at CU ��ý�� to complete my master’s in electrical engineering with a concentration in high speed digital engineering. After that, I hope to work in industry, likely in hardware or signal integrity. I really enjoy the intersection of engineering and people, so I’d love a role that lets me solve technical challenges while working closely with others.

I’d love to thank the people who’ve supported me throughout my journey. I’m incredibly grateful to Professor Piket-May and Professor Bogatin for their guidance, as well as the advising staff who have always been there to help. I also want to thank Amanda for her constant encouragement and for creating such a supportive environment for all of our student orgs. Most of all, I want to thank my fellow SWE board members. They have been my strongest support system, and I truly couldn’t have gotten here without them. Their teamwork, kindness and friendship have made this experience meaningful and I’m grateful for everything we’ve built together.

Mathur, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, has earned the fall 2025 Community Impact Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Mathur has served as treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers and Engineers Without Border during her time at CU ��ý��.

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Low SWaP frequency comb team named Lab Venture Challenge 2025 winners

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:31:04 +0000

Low SWaP frequency comb team named Lab Venture Challenge 2025 winners Charles Ferrer Tue, 10/28/2025 - 10:31

Postdoc Tsung-Han Wu and Professor Scott Diddams named Lab Venture Challenge winners for their low SWaP frequency comb for quantum applications. The team formed a startup, Chi3 Optics, to bring their innovation to market.

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Exploring Colorado’s untapped geothermal energy potential

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:49:22 +0000

Exploring Colorado’s untapped geothermal energy potential Charles Ferrer Tue, 10/21/2025 - 09:49

Charles Ferrer

Professor Bri-Mathias Hodge

A major question looms over Colorado’s energy future: why does geothermal energy — a natural renewable resource — remain virtually untapped?

Professor Bri-Mathias Hodge, based in the Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering, along with Assistant Teaching Professor Shae Frydenlund from the Center for Asian Studies, will examine the technological and social barriers that have held back geothermal development in Colorado.

Geothermal energy comes from the natural heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface. It’s harnessed by tapping underground reservoirs of steam or hot water to produce electricity or provide direct heating.

Colorado is home to significant geothermal areas including the areas of Mount Princeton Hot Springs, Waunita Hot Springs and the San Luis Valley — yet no geothermal power plants currently operate in the state. That could soon change, thanks to growing collaboration among researchers, energy companies and policymakers.

“We know there is an abundant amount of geothermal energy potential in our state,” said Hodge, who brings two decades of experience in renewable energy integration and power systems simulation. “What we need is a better understanding of the social, economic and regulatory factors that influence its development.”

Bridging technology and community

Assistant Teaching Professor Shae Frydenlund

Frydenlund’s work with Indigenous communities in Indonesia, some of whom oppose geothermal projects due to environmental justice concerns, sparked an interdisciplinary collaboration with Hodge.

“I became very interested in bringing together physical science and social science perspectives,” Frydenlund said, “and to understand why a place as geothermal-rich as Colorado hasn’t tapped into this natural resource.”

Her research, together with Geography Professor Emily Yeh, revealed that struggles over geothermal projects emerge in and through the politics of indigeneity, land tenure and uneven development.

“There are concerns over land rights, sacred territories, livelihoods and environmental justice,” she said. “We need to bring those perspectives as we think about using geothermal here.”

To capture both the human and technical sides of geothermal development, the CU ��ý�� team will combine tools, such as power systems modeling, spatial statistics and GIS mapping along with community forums, surveys and interviews. Gaining community input will be integral for this project.

One of their main goals is to create an interactive map tool of Colorado showing potential geothermal sites, layered with data on social and technological factors.

“Just because an area has strong potential doesn’t mean it’s a good place to develop geothermal energy,” Frydenlund said. “If it’s not culturally appropriate or desired by the community, resources can be wasted and projects can fail.”

The issue isn't unique to Colorado.

“We’ve seen this already in the U.S.," Hodge said. "Hawaii has been a leader in decarbonization goals and has great geothermal resources. Yet, there’s very little being developed there because you have to be mindful of the traditions in Hawaiian culture.”

The planning phase for the project includes three major steps: campus-wide town halls to connect with geothermal experts, identifying industry and community partners across the state and gathering preliminary data through stakeholder engagement. Between January and March 2026, Frydenlund will conduct fieldwork at six sites across Colorado, including Steamboat Springs, Buena Vista and Sterling Ranch in the South Metro area.

Building toward carbon neutrality

Geothermal exploration speaks directly to CU ��ý��’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and the Western Governors Association’s Heat Beneath Our Feet initiative, which announced $7.7 million in funding in May 2024 to advance geothermal technology in Colorado.

Geothermal technologies can operate at multiple scales from single buildings to community thermal networks to large-scale power generation.

“What’s really interesting from a power systems standpoint is that geothermal affects not only electricity supply, but also demand,” Hodge said. “If ground-source heat pumps became widespread, Colorado’s power grid could shift from a summer to a winter peak system.”

However, these technological advances alone can’t drive an increased transition to geothermal.

“Understanding the intimate relationships that people have with land and with energy and with each other will make for a much richer picture of what kind of future geothermal energy has in this state,” Frydenlund said.

The project is funded by a Research & Innovation Office New Frontiers Grant.

A major question looms over Colorado’s energy future: why does geothermal energy, a renewable resource, remain virtually untapped? CU ��ý�� researchers will examine the technological and social barriers that have held back geothermal development in the state.

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Geothermal power station (Credit: Adobe)

Diddams inducted into National Academy of Engineering

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:09:21 +0000

Diddams inducted into National Academy of Engineering Charles Ferrer Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:09

Charles Ferrer

Diddams was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering at their annual meeting on Oct. 5 in Washington, DC.

Scott Diddams, professor and Robert H. Davis Endowed Chair in Discovery Learning, was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Election to the NAE is one of the highest professional distinctions granted to engineers in academia and industry.

Diddams, based in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering and the Department of Physics, was recognized for his outstanding contributions in optical frequency combs and their applications. He joins 128 new U.S. members and 21 international members to the Class of 2025.

“Each day when I get up, I feel fortunate that my job allows me to be curious, attempt to solve hard problems and work with students and motivated people doing the same,” Diddams said. “I am truly humbled by this honor.”

Diddams carries out experimental research in the fields of precision spectroscopy and quantum metrology, nonlinear optics, microwave photonics and ultrafast lasers.

One of his current projects is a collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that aims to use an optical atomic clock, to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity atop Mt. Blue Sky. This endeavor marks one of the first efforts to take ultra-precise quantum technology out of the lab and into the natural environment, opening new opportunities for navigation, geosciences and timekeeping.

I am most grateful to the students, postdocs, colleagues and mentors who have made me a better scientist, engineer and person. I am also thankful to my family for their personal support in many unseen ways.

Diddams received his PhD degree from the University of New Mexico in 1996 and completed his postdoctoral work at JILA. He also spent time as a research physicist, group leader and fellow at NIST. As a postdoc, Diddams built the first optical frequency combs in the lab of CU ��ý�� Nobel Laureate John Hall. Throughout his career, he has pioneered the use of these powerful tools for optical clocks, tests of fundamental physics, novel spectroscopy and astronomy.

In 2022, he joined the CU ��ý�� faculty, where he also assumed the role of faculty director of the Quantum Engineering Initiative in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

His work has resulted in more than 750 peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, and invited talks, and has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medals, the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE) and the C.E.K. Mees Medal. Diddams is also a Fellow of OPTICA, IEEE and the American Physical Society.

“As a member of the NAE, it is my hope to give back to the community and country that has provided me with so much as a scientist and engineer.”

Scott Diddams was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering Class of 2025 for his outstanding contributions in optical frequency combs and their applications.

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Researchers pioneer fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:55:50 +0000

Researchers pioneer fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging Charles Ferrer Tue, 10/14/2025 - 15:55

Charles Ferrer

Quiroz with the laser scanning microscope used for the optical scanning research project.

Darwin Quiroz is exploring new frontiers in miniature lasers with major biomedical applications.

When Quiroz first started working with optics as an undergraduate, he was developing atomic magnetometers. That experience sparked a growing curiosity about how light interacts with matter, an interest that has now led him to a new technique in optical imaging.

Quiroz, a physics PhD student in the lab of Professor Juliet Gopinath in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, and also co-advised by Professor Victor Bright from Paul M. Rady in Mechanical Engineering, is co-first author of a new study that demonstrates how a fluid-based optical device known as an electrowetting prism can be used to steer lasers at high speeds for advanced imaging applications.

The work published in Optics Express, conducted along with mechanical engineering PhD graduate Eduardo Miscles and Mo Zohrabi, senior research associate, opens the door to new technologies in microscopy, LiDAR, optical communications and even brain imaging.

“Most laser scanners today use mechanical mirrors to steer beams of light,” Quiroz said. “Our approach replaces that with a transmissive, non-mechanical device that’s smaller, lower-power and potentially easier to scale down into miniature imaging systems.”

Traditional laser scanning microscopy works by directing a focused beam of light across a sample like a grid one line at a time. This method provides powerful, high-resolution images of cells and neurons, but it requires fast, precise steering of the laser beam.

That’s where the electrowetting prism comes in. Unlike solid mirrors, the prism uses a thin layer of fluid whose surface can be precisely controlled with voltage. By altering the liquid’s shape, researchers can bend and steer light beams without moving mechanical parts.

Previous work with electrowetting prisms was limited to slow scanning speeds or one-dimensional beam steering.

Quiroz and Miscles pushed the technology further, demonstrating two-dimensional scanning at speeds from 25-75 hz, a milestone toward making the devices practical for real-world imaging.

“A big challenge was learning how to drive the device in a way that produces linear, predictable scanning without distortion,” Quiroz said. “We discovered that the prism has resonant modes like standing waves that we could actually leverage for scanning at higher speeds.”

The promise of this technology extends far beyond the lab. Since electrowetting prisms are compact and energy efficient, they could be integrated into miniature microscopes small enough to sit on top of a mouse’s head.

“Imagine being able to watch brain activity in real-time while an animal runs through a maze,” said Quiroz. “That’s the kind of in-vivo imaging this technology could enable and it could transform how we study neurological conditions like PTSD or Alzheimer’s disease.”

The project builds on earlier work in the Gopinath and Bright labs, where former PhD student Omkar Supekar first integrated an electrowetting prism into a microscope system for one-dimensional scanning.

By extending the technique into two dimensions and higher speeds, Quiroz and Miscles established a framework for calibrating and characterizing electrowetting scanners for a wide range of applications.

Looking ahead, Quiroz hopes this research not only improves imaging systems but also inspires future collaborations across fields.

“This work shows what’s possible when you combine physics and engineering approaches,” Quiroz said. “The ultimate goal is to build tools that help us see and understand the brain in ways we couldn’t before.”

Researchers explored a fluid-based optical device known as an electrowetting prism to steer lasers at high speeds for advanced imaging applications. This new frontier in miniature lasers opens the door to new technologies in microscopy, LiDAR, optical communications and even brain imaging.

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