News | Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences

New chip-sized optical amplifier can intensify light 100 times

Energy-efficient and small enough to fit in a smartphone, an optical amplifier developed at Stanford could improve fiber optic networks and spur new technologies in biosensing, data communications, and more.

Close up of an optical amplifier chip, similar to the one detailed in the new study, that is being developed in the lab of Stanford physicist Amir Safavi-Naeini. A red laser light shines from an optical fiber on the left to help with aligning the fiber to the chip.

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February 27, 2026

A life-changing shift from neuroscience to cystic fibrosis research

Stanford psychologist Jeff Wine dedicated his career to improving outcomes for cystic fibrosis patients, including his own daughter.

Jon Simon with the cavity array microscope

January 28, 2026

Light-based platform sets the stage for quantum supercomputers

A new “parallel interface” developed at Stanford enables quick data extraction from quantum computers and has the potential to scale into networked quantum supercomputers.

Morehshin Allayari in her Stanford studio

November 21, 2025

How artists can ‘interrupt’ artificial intelligence

Stanford digital media artist Morehshin Allahyari uses AI in her studio and the classroom to bring creative, critical thinking to the use of the technology that is rapidly becoming ubiquitous.

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