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The author of Skulls in the Stars is an associate professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
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Category Archives: Optics
So, what is a “temporal cloak”, anyway?
I’ve been saying for a few years that optical science has entered a truly remarkable new era: instead of asking the question, “What are the physical limitations on what light can do?”, we are now asking, “How can we make … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Optics
5 Comments
A camera fast enough to watch light move?
A few weeks ago, a new optical imaging system grabbed headlines throughout the world. This system, labeled a “picosecond camera”, can seemingly record images so fast that it can actually track the motion of light itself! Consider the following video … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
4 Comments
Getting more with less in imaging: compressive sensing
Update: I felt my original explanations were a little lacking in places, so I’ve added to the post… In recent years, the public has seen remarkable advances in digital imaging technology. In the past few months, for instance, Lytro has … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics, Optics
27 Comments
Faster than a speeding photon? Precursors test whether light can be faster than light
Over the past two weeks, the biggest physics news has been the apparent observation of neutrinos (nearly undetectable subatomic particles) moving faster than the vacuum speed of light. At first glance, this would seem to violate Einstein’s special theory of … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics, Relativity
13 Comments
Infinity is weird… even in infinity mirrors!
Even very simple optics can reveal very interesting and surprising phenomena, if one looks carefully enough! I was recently looking into the optics of a so-called “infinity mirror”, which in its simplest incarnation is simply two parallel mirrors on opposite … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics, Optics
20 Comments
“Visions of invisibility in fiction” in Optics & Photonics News!
I’m very excited — this morning my first popular science article written for a magazine appeared online! ”Visions of invisibility in fiction” appears in the July/August issue of Optics & Photonics News, the news magazine of the Optical Society of … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Optics, Personal
8 Comments
DIEHL research grant services blog!
Just a short note today — I’ve been meaning to draw people’s attention to a recent blog started by my friend and colleague Damon Diehl, who has started a business providing grant-writing assistance. As a researcher in optical science for … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Optics, Personal
2 Comments
My interview on Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour (guest-hosted by ScienceComedian)!
Last night I did an interview on The Twit Netcast Network, on Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour, about a variety of science topics! Brian Malow, aka the Science Comedian, guest-hosted the episode and was the one to invite me on. Here … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Personal
3 Comments
Optics basics: vector fields
In my regular discussions of optics and electromagnetic fields in general, I use a lot of pictures with arrows on them. For instance, my post on Faraday’s law has the curious figure, where the red arrows represent the “electric field” … Continue reading
Posted in Optics basics, Physics
3 Comments
A short promotional post: Math Methods is available on Amazon!
At the risk of turning this blog into a series of shameless self-promotions (perhaps it is already too late), I should note that my textbook is now available on amazon.com! I wasn’t paying close attention, because Amazon originally showed it … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Personal
6 Comments
