Imagine being able to watch light itself move in slow motion, capturing events so fast that they were once thought impossible to see.
Scientists at Caltech have achieved just that—developing a camera capable of capturing a mind-blowing 1 trillion frames per second.
This is not just an incremental upgrade to existing imaging technology; it is an entirely new way to see the unseen.
What makes this even more remarkable?
Unlike previous ultrafast cameras that could only capture visible objects, this new system can image transparent materials and invisible phenomena—from shockwaves in water to the ultra-subtle signals that pass through neurons in the brain.
This could change everything from medical imaging to fluid dynamics.
Capturing the Unseeable
Lihong Wang, Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Caltech, has long been at the forefront of high-speed imaging.
Over a year ago, his team developed a camera that could shoot 10 trillion frames per second, allowing them to visualize light as it moved.
But there was a problem—speed alone isn’t enough if the subject is invisible.
Think about it: If you aim the world’s fastest camera at clear glass, what do you see? Nothing.
That’s because transparent objects don’t reflect or absorb much light, making them incredibly difficult to capture using traditional imaging techniques.
Wang’s latest innovation, phase-sensitive compressed ultrafast photography (pCUP), tackles this challenge by combining ultrafast imaging with a method first pioneered nearly a century ago: phase-contrast microscopy.
Using Old Science to Power New Technology
Most people assume that cutting-edge imaging technology must rely on entirely new principles.
But Wang’s approach is different: he revisits an old method and transforms it for modern applications.
Phase-contrast microscopy, invented by Dutch physicist Frits Zernike, works by exploiting the fact that light moves at different speeds depending on the material it passes through.
For example, when light enters glass, it slows down, and when it exits, it speeds up again.
These tiny shifts in speed change the light’s phase, creating subtle differences that can be detected and visualized.
By integrating phase-contrast microscopy with his ultrafast imaging system, Wang has built a camera that can capture transparent objects and high-speed processes in ways never before possible.
One Shot, No Second Chances
Typical ultrafast cameras take multiple images in sequence, requiring the event being filmed to repeat itself. This is a major limitation because many phenomena—like shockwaves or laser pulses—are one-time events. If you miss it, there’s no second chance.
Wang’s system is different.
His fast-imaging technology, called Lossless Encoding Compressed Ultrafast Photography (LLE-CUP), captures everything in a single shot.
This means it can freeze moments in time that no other camera could.
In their experiments, the Caltech team successfully captured:
- Shockwaves propagating in water
- Laser pulses traveling through a crystal
These visualizations prove that pCUP can reveal previously hidden details in physics, biology, and beyond.
Where Will This Technology Take Us?
The ability to see the unseen opens entirely new possibilities across multiple fields:
1. Neuroscience and Medical Imaging
- Tracking neuronal signals as they move through the brain
- Imaging intracellular processes in real-time
- Observing live-cell interactions without invasive techniques
2. Chemical and Material Science
- Capturing the exact moment a chemical reaction occurs
- Studying molecular interactions at speeds never before possible
- Investigating phase transitions in advanced materials
3. Energy and Environmental Science
- Visualizing combustion reactions in real-time, leading to cleaner fuels
- Studying shockwave propagation in different materials
- Monitoring fluid dynamics in ways never possible before
4. Defense and Security
- Tracking high-speed projectiles and explosions
- Improving forensic analysis of impact events
- Enhancing surveillance and motion detection technology
What’s Next?
This breakthrough is just the beginning.
Wang and his team are already looking ahead to future enhancements, including even faster imaging speeds and more refined phase-sensitive techniques.
Their work could pave the way for applications in fields we haven’t even imagined yet.
“If we have a network of neurons, maybe we can see their communication in real time,” Wang speculates.
And beyond neuroscience, the implications stretch to everything from optical communications to space exploration.
This technology isn’t just a camera—it’s a new way to experience reality.
The invisible is about to become visible, and the world of science will never be the same.
