Optics Daily · Wednesday, October 21, 2026
opticsnews
University of Tokyo Captures Ultrafast Processes Spanning Five Orders of Magnitude in 11 Frames
A University of Tokyo team used 11 frames in a single shot to connect dynamics spanning roughly 100 femtoseconds to 10 nanoseconds. Tencent has published the design specification for its 102.4T NPO switch, while silicon carbide AR optical waveguides are moving toward wafer-level manufacturing and small-volume production. AI/AR eyewear funding is shifting toward upstream optical waveguides and microdisplays, and Conant Optics has entered the core lens supply chain for the Qianwen AI Glasses N1 series.
Technology and Research
Phys.org Optics and PhotonicsOptics industryUniversity of Tokyo Tailors Frame Intervals to Capture Ultrafast Processes Across Five Orders of Magnitude
A University of Tokyo team developed a logarithmic ultrafast photography method that uses 11 frames in a single shot to capture dynamics spanning roughly 100 femtoseconds to 10 nanoseconds, across five orders of magnitude. The method introduces band-resolved independent delay generation (BRIDGE) into STAMP, independently adjusting the timing of each band and arranging frames densely at early times and sparsely at later times. The study, published in Optica, shows early changes, subsequent shock waves and material ejection in glass and hydroxyapatite after irradiation by ultrashort laser pulses.
Phys.org Optics and PhotonicsOptics industryInternational Team Achieves Quantum Coherent Control of Helium Electrons with Extreme Ultraviolet Light
An international research team used extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses to control the interference of two stimulated Raman pathways by adjusting the optical field phase, altering the excitation yield of the helium He(2s) bound state. The experiment was carried out at the FERMI free-electron laser facility in Italy, and the results were published in Nature Photonics. The team believes the concept could eventually be used in element-specific imaging and spectroscopy tools to track electron motion and chemical transformations.
Industry and Capital
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIConant Optics Enters Core Lens Supply Chain for Qwen AI Glasses N1 Series
Conant Optics supplies 23 lens SKUs each for the Qwen AI Glasses N1 and N1 Pro, and serves as a core supplier of plano and myopia prescription lenses. It is the exclusive supplier of 1.74 high-index lenses, high-value colorful lenses and smart photochromic lenses. In the first half of 2026, the company's XR business revenue reached about 50.5 million yuan, up about 15-fold year on year, with gross margin rising to 42.9 percent. Its Shanghai base plans to add four dedicated production lines for lens lamination and complete-unit packaging.
Policy, Standards and Conferences
Tencent Publishes 102.4T NPO Switch Design Specification, a Step Closer to Large-Scale Deployment?
Tencent recently released the 102.4T NPO Switch Design Reference Specification, making public its design plans covering system architecture, chassis structure, fiber management, and software operations. The switch carries 32 3.2T NPO modules and 32 ELSFP external light source modules, providing 128 800G MPO16 optical ports. Tencent says that, compared with traditional pluggable switches, total system power consumption is reduced by about 1000W and end-to-end transmission latency by nearly 100ns.
Opinion and Analysis
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AISilicon Carbide Joins the Mass-Production Race as a Next-Generation Material for AR Optics
Silicon carbide AR waveguides are moving toward wafer-level manufacturing and small-volume production, but low-cost, high-volume consumer shipments remain some way off. A recent preprint from the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization, the Institute of Optoelectronics at Westlake University, and the Mude Micro-Nano team presents a full-color silicon carbide diffractive waveguide measuring 0.35 mm thick and weighing 1.98 g, with patterning of four pairs of lenses demonstrated on an 8-inch SiC wafer. The high refractive index helps widen the field of view and enable monolithic full color, but manufacturing challenges remain, including consistency of optical-grade substrates, micro- and nanofabrication of hard and brittle materials, and light leakage at packaging interfaces.
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIXGIMI and Dangbei Enter AI Glasses: Which Optical Capabilities Can Projector Makers Transfer?
XGIMI and Dangbei have entered the AI glasses arena, and the article frames this as a business exploration under pressure in their core projector operations, drawing on their accumulated optical engine and microdisplay expertise. XGIMI MemoMind One began domestic pre-sales on October 15 at 2,294 yuan after the national subsidy; the AI note-taking glasses co-developed by Dangbei and DingTalk launched on October 13, priced from 1,299 yuan. Runto Technology notes that experience in optical engine miniaturization and image quality tuning can be reused, but near-eye imaging, wearable design, software ecosystems and eyewear retail channels remain real challenges.
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIWhere Is AI/AR Glasses Funding Heading in 2026? Waveguides and Microdisplays Draw Capital Faster
In 2026, AI/AR glasses funding is tilting toward upstream waveguides and microdisplays, and the article argues that investment logic is shifting toward mass-production delivery and scarce capacity. According to incomplete statistics, as of October 2026 more than 37 funding rounds had been publicly disclosed across the domestic industry chain, with a total disclosed amount of about 9 billion yuan. Crystal Optech's C+ round exceeded 1 billion yuan, while MicroJewel Optoelectronics raised several hundred million yuan in a MicroLED Pre-A round.