Hall 6 APPLICATIONS OF OPTICS

 

Introduction to the Hall

Welcome to the hall of APPLICATIONS OF OPTICS. This hall showcases the significance of optical research by highlighting its applications in military, industry, agriculture, transportation, medicine, and aerospace. The exhibition area covers 1,024 square meters, with red as the dominant color theme.

Special Imaging–Tracing the Invisible

This exhibit is Tracing the Invisible, part of the special imaging section. Please take a close look at the water tank and the screen—can you guess what is hidden underwater? Press the Start button to activate the infrared laser source, then gently turn the red handle. To your surprise, targets that were once “invisible” now appear clearly on the screen. This works because light in water is absorbed and scattered, making ordinary visible light nearly useless in murky or deep-water conditions. Infrared lasers, however, have stronger penetration and directionality, enabling clear imaging of underwater targets under specific conditions. This technology is invaluable in marine resource exploration, underwater archaeology, search and rescue operations, and military reconnaissance, continuously advancing our ability to explore the deep sea.

Special Imaging–Illuminating the Faintest Light

This exhibit is Illuminating the Faintest Light, another special imaging display. At night, under dim starlight or moonlight, the human eye cannot effectively detect, recognize, or observe objects. Look through the two viewing windows of the box. Rotate the knob to adjust the brightness, then compare what you see through both sides, and try the interactive game on the touchscreen. You will notice that the left window shows only darkness, while the right window reveals clear outlines and details. The right side is equipped with a low-light night-vision device, which uses an image intensifier to amplify the few photons reflected from the target, converting an almost invisible image into a visible one. This technology is widely used in military night operations, traffic monitoring, border patrols, and security surveillance, truly embodying the science of “seeing light in the dark.”

Special Imaging–Seeing Through the Fog

This exhibit is Seeing Through the Fog, another special imaging showcase. Press the Start button on the screen, and the box fills with fog, making the flower inside invisible to the naked eye. But when viewed with an infrared thermal imager, the infrared radiation emitted by the flower is converted into a thermal image, which then appears clearly on the display. Why does this work? Any object with a surface temperature above absolute zero (–273°C) emits electromagnetic radiation. Since the human eye cannot perceive infrared wavelengths, a thermal imager is required to capture this information. Infrared thermal imaging is widely applied in firefighting and rescue, nighttime monitoring, medical diagnostics, and wildlife observation. It has become a vital tool in applying modern optical technology for the benefit of society.

Infrared Reconnaissance

This exhibit is Infrared Reconnaissance, presented in the form of a sand table. Use the thermal imager to locate hidden targets and complete your reconnaissance mission. When the surface temperature of an object rises above absolute zero (–273°C), it begins to emit electromagnetic radiation. As the temperature changes, the intensity and wavelength distribution of this radiation also change. By detecting the infrared radiation from a target with an infrared detector, we can generate a detailed infrared image of the object.

Dual-Band Imaging

Welcome to the exhibit Dual-Band Imaging. Here, “dual-band” refers to visible light and infrared light. At night, due to insufficient brightness and poor contrast, the human eye alone struggles to clearly distinguish targets and surroundings. The advent of infrared imaging technology solved this problem. A dual-band imaging device contains both an infrared thermal imager and a visible-light camera, presenting the same scene simultaneously in infrared and visible-light images.

On the graphic wall ahead, you will see two infrared images. Through the imaging system, you will notice that certain details invisible under visible light become visible in the infrared band. You can even press your hand on the wall and use the infrared imager to observe the lingering heat imprint left behind. Try rotating the device horizontally to observe the hall, and compare what you see under visible light and infrared imaging.

Infrared imaging technology has a wide range of applications. In the military, it provides advanced night-vision equipment and equips aircraft, ships, and tanks with all-weather forward-looking systems that play critical roles in warfare. In addition, the thermal radiation property of objects allows for non-contact temperature measurement and thermal state analysis, making it an essential diagnostic tool for industrial production, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. It is also widely applied in fire detection, industrial inspection, aerospace, and many other fields.

Light of Navigation

This exhibit is called Light of Navigation, which highlights the applications of optical technology in maritime navigation. The display consists of four parts: optics in submarines, optical instruments for maritime positioning, the evolution of visual navigation markers, and signal communication by lights and flags.

In front of you are optical navigation instruments and their models. Before the advent of satellite navigation, ships primarily relied on optical devices for positioning, such as the sextant and the zenith telescope. These instruments measured the positions of celestial bodies and, combined with star charts and time readings, helped determine a ship’s exact bearing and geographic coordinates—making them indispensable tools for early long-distance voyages.

Finally, let us take a look at the “language of the sea”—light signals and flag signals. In the era before wireless communication, ships mainly exchanged information visually. Light signals conveyed messages through specific flashing rhythms or color changes, while flag signals used different patterns and arrangements of signal flags to represent letters or navigational commands. These visual languages were highly standardized, enabling effective communication between ships of different nations, and remarkably, they are still in use today.

Light of Automobiles

This exhibit is called Light of Automobiles. Through displays, multimedia, and graphic panels, it showcases the applications of optics in vehicles, including rearview mirrors, automotive glass, headlights, signal lights, night-vision assistance systems, and head-up display systems. Solar radiation consists of about 3% ultraviolet light, 44% visible light, and 53% infrared light. Ultraviolet rays can damage human skin, while infrared and visible light generate substantial heat.

First, observe the infrared insulation test. Behind the insulation film are two infrared detectors showing how automotive films absorb infrared radiation. By adding heat-absorbing adhesives or other absorbing materials into the film, infrared rays can be absorbed, thereby reducing heat transmission. The detector in front of the film demonstrates infrared reflection: by embedding one or more metallic layers within the film, infrared rays are reflected outward, achieving the same insulating effect.

Next is the ultraviolet insulation test. Ultraviolet light ranges from 100 to 400 nanometers in wavelength. Automotive films can block ultraviolet radiation because they are manufactured with large amounts of UV absorbers, materials specifically designed to prevent UV wavelengths from passing through. Two ultraviolet detectors demonstrate the effectiveness of automotive films in blocking ultraviolet rays.

Body Temperature Measurement

This exhibit is called Body Temperature Measurement. Infrared thermometers make use of an invisible form of “heat light” — infrared radiation. In nature, any object with a temperature above absolute zero (-273 °C) constantly emits infrared radiation. An infrared thermometer collects this radiation with a dedicated sensor and converts it into signals, which are then processed into thermal images. In this way, doctors and inspectors can quickly obtain the surface temperature distribution of the human body without physical contact. This method is fast, accurate, and non-invasive, making it particularly suitable for epidemic prevention, large-scale temperature screening, and medical diagnostics. This exhibit highlights the sensitivity of optical detection technology and represents an important shift in medical equipment—from contact-based methods to non-contact, intelligent solutions.

Laser Blood Sampling

This exhibit is Laser Blood Sampling. Unlike traditional methods, laser blood sampling does not rely on needles. Instead, it uses a high-energy laser beam that penetrates the outer layer of the skin within an extremely short time, achieving minimally invasive sampling. Because the penetration depth of the laser is precisely controlled and limited to the epidermis, it does not reach the pain-sensitive nerves. As a result, the process is virtually painless. This technology is particularly suitable for groups sensitive to pain, such as children, the elderly, or patients with chronic illnesses who require frequent testing. It offers a more comfortable, safer, and more humane medical experience. Laser blood sampling not only reflects the people-centered philosophy in medical device innovation, but also demonstrates how optical technology can make subtle yet meaningful improvements in the details of daily health management.

X-Ray Technology

How does X-ray technology “see through” the structure of our bodies? The story begins in 1895, when German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen accidentally discovered a mysterious type of radiation that could pass through black paper and even the human body. He named it the X-ray. This groundbreaking discovery opened a new era for modern medical imaging and diagnosis. On display here is a modern digital X-ray imaging system. When X-rays pass through the human body, different tissues—such as bones, muscles, and fat—absorb varying amounts of radiation. Bones absorb more X-rays and thus appear lighter, while soft tissues absorb less and appear darker. The transmitted X-ray signals are captured by detectors, converted into digital images, and displayed on a computer, producing a clear and readable visualization of internal structures. Today, X-ray technology is widely applied in medical diagnostics, industrial inspection, and security screening. You can even place your hand into the small imaging area here to personally experience the fascinating power of X-rays.

Shadowless Lamp

The Shadowless Lamp is an indispensable lighting device in operating rooms. As its name suggests, its most remarkable feature is that it produces “no shadows.” The principle lies in multiple light sources illuminating the surgical table from different angles simultaneously. The shadows cast by each light source are “filled in” by the others, causing the umbra to disappear and the penumbra to weaken, resulting in illumination that is virtually shadow-free. In other words, it can be understood as the combined effect of multiple beams of light working together to eliminate one another’s shadows. Typically installed above the operating table, the shadowless lamp provides steady and uniform illumination of the surgical site, preventing uneven lighting or shadows cast by the surgeon’s head and instruments. This minimizes visual errors and ensures surgical precision and safety. The advent of the shadowless lamp is not only a milestone in optical applications but also a true guardian of safety in modern surgical practice.

CT Diagnosis

This exhibit presents the CT Diagnosis System. CT stands for Computed Tomography, an advanced medical imaging technology that combines X-rays with computer-based image reconstruction. In simple terms, CT uses X-rays to capture cross-sectional images of a body part from multiple angles around the patient. The computer then processes these two-dimensional projections to reconstruct a clear tomographic image, as if slicing the body into layers to examine its internal structures.

Compared with conventional X-ray imaging, CT offers remarkable advantages. It can clearly display bones, organs, blood vessels, and even diseased tissues. The procedure is fast, safe, noninvasive, and painless, capable of revealing lesions that traditional X-rays cannot clearly present, thereby greatly improving diagnostic accuracy. Today, CT has become widely used across all areas of medicine and is recognized as one of the most important optical imaging methods in clinical diagnostics.

Medical Microscope

In biological and medical research, the microscope is an indispensable tool. Whether it is studying tissue sections, cell structures, bacteria and microorganisms, or culturing live tissues and analyzing fluid sediments, microscopes make it possible to observe in depth. These microscopic units of life form a “hidden world” beyond the reach of the naked eye. In this exhibit, you can operate a microscope yourself to examine various types of biological specimens and experience the fascinating journey from the macroscopic to the microscopic world. The illustrated panels explain the basic principles and optical construction of microscopes, demonstrating how the combination of lenses, light refraction, and magnification mechanisms makes the invisible visible.

Endoscope

This exhibit features the medical endoscope, an advanced optical instrument indispensable in modern medical diagnosis and surgery. The main structure of an endoscope consists of a flexible insertion tube, a cold light source, and a set of high-precision lenses, integrated with fiber-optic transmission, imaging, and digital image-processing technology. In clinical applications, doctors can insert the endoscope into the human body through natural orifices—such as the nasal cavity, oral cavity, or esophagus—or through surgical incisions. The fiber optics transmit real-time internal images to a monitor, enabling physicians to directly observe subtle changes on organ surfaces for diagnosis, lesion localization, or minimally invasive procedures. The advent of the endoscope has greatly reduced surgical trauma while improving diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. In this exhibit, you can operate the endoscopic probe yourself to discover what lies hidden inside these “black boxes,” simulating a doctor’s process of navigating inside the human body—an experience that brings to life the “visual magic” of integrating optics with medicine.

Skin Health

This exhibit presents skin health diagnostics, which combines fiber-optic microscopy and computer-based image processing to produce high-precision images of skin and hair. During the examination, the system displays magnified high-definition images on the screen, helping us assess whether the skin or hair is in good condition or shows signs of dryness, enlarged pores, uneven oil secretion, or damage. Visitors can place a hand into the device to test their own skin health. The wall panels illustrate the applications of various optical instruments in medicine. Additionally, several small boxes on the wall contain hands-on devices, such as a finger pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen levels, and a fluorescence observation unit that demonstrates how ultraviolet light excites fluorescent reactions—showing the application of fluorescence technology in medical testing.

Optical Remote Sensing—Earth Observation

You are now at the Earth Observation section of the Optical Remote Sensing exhibit. Optical remote sensing refers to using detectors to record the optical characteristics of a target from a distance, without direct contact, and then analyzing the data to reveal the target’s properties and changes. This comprehensive detection technology is widely applied in cartography, meteorology, resource exploration, and environmental monitoring.

Optical Remote Sensing — Deep Space Exploration

This section highlights Deep Space Exploration within the Optical Remote Sensing exhibit. Humanity’s understanding of the universe began with the invention of the astronomical telescope. Here, you can explore the development of observatories and telescopes through interactive touchscreens and illustrated panels. Space telescopes, operating above Earth’s atmosphere, are free from atmospheric turbulence and thus produce clearer images. In addition to viewing the space telescope model on display, you can also browse information on other space-based telescopes and the high-definition images they have transmitted back to Earth. Since the launch of the first lunar probe in 1958, humans have been exploring the Moon for more than fifty years. Displayed here is the model of China’s Chang’e-1 satellite, launched on October 24, 2007. It carried multiple optical instruments, including a CCD stereo camera, a laser altimeter, and an imaging spectrometer. Through panels and multimedia, you can learn about these instruments and the images they sent back from space.

Mapping Home

Now we arrive at the Mapping Home section within the industrial and agricultural production area. Optical surveying instruments play an irreplaceable role in cartography and land measurement. Here you can try operating a laser rangefinder and observe other optical surveying instruments on display, such as the plane table, theodolite, and total station.

Optical Industry

Welcome to the Optical Industry exhibit. The models and graphic displays here showcase typical applications of optical technologies in industrial production, including laser cutting, laser engraving, and laser welding. Thanks to its high energy concentration, precision, and controllability, laser technology has become an indispensable tool in modern manufacturing. Laser cutting enables fast, precise cutting of metal sheets with smooth edges requiring no further finishing. Laser engraving achieves intricate and detailed designs on surfaces such as glass, wood, and leather. Laser welding is widely applied in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries to perform high-speed, high-strength precision welding. Optical technology is transforming traditional industry, enhancing efficiency and precision while driving the evolution toward intelligent manufacturing and green production.

Optical Agriculture

This exhibit is Optical Agriculture. At its core is the spectral detection area, composed of interactive devices and testing instruments. These instruments operate based on the principle of spectral analysis. Spectral detection refers to analyzing the absorption, emission, or reflection characteristics of light to determine the composition and structural properties of a substance. Different materials produce unique spectral “fingerprints” under specific wavelengths of light, allowing for rapid and non-destructive identification of substance types, as well as evaluation of their content and condition. In agricultural production, this technology is widely applied in soil quality testing, crop nutrition assessment, evaluation of fruit and vegetable ripeness, and pest and disease detection. With spectral detection, farming has become more scientific, precise, and efficient.

Fluorescent Warriors

This exhibit is Fluorescent Warriors. In the story, the Dark Legion spreads darkness wherever they go, wearing special cloaking materials. The Fluorescent Brothers rise to defend their homeland. Dr. Light discovered that these cloaking materials emit fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet or X-rays. By setting up the right excitation devices, their glow can be triggered—exposing them all at once.

Game Unit 1: Press the “Start” button to activate visible-light fluorescent materials. As the excitation light gradually scans across the surface, the pattern becomes complete, revealing a six-frame comic strip. Dr. Light realizes this is the material used in the past. However, the enemy now uses a special up-conversion fluorescent material, which works in the opposite way—requiring long-wave excitation to emit short-wave fluorescence. Conveniently, the Red Light Elf’s long-wave sword can be put to use.

Game Unit 2: This simulates the challenge. Among 12 squares, there are 6 pairs of matching patterns. Players must rely on memory to find them. Use the infrared light to reveal and match the pairs. Complete all matches to pass the challenge.

Game Unit 3: The Red Light Elf enters the enemy’s base but is blocked by a giant maze. Using the infrared light, players must illuminate the correct sequence of patterns to find the way out.

Game Unit 4: This is not a challenge but a demonstration of mechanoluminescent materials. Press the “Start” button, and the material vibrates rapidly, emitting light to showcase the phenomenon of force-induced luminescence.

Brilliant Life with Light

This section is Brilliant Life with Light, which introduces the diverse applications of optical technology in our modern daily lives.

Vision Correction

In our daily life, eyeglasses are not only tools to shield strong light, but more importantly, they are essential for vision correction. At present, there are three primary methods to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism: wearing prescription glasses, contact lenses, and laser surgery.

Prescription glasses are the most common and safest option, though some people find them less appealing in appearance or inconvenient for sports. Contact lenses fit directly on the cornea, making them more discreet and flexible, but they require more careful use and maintenance. For those wishing to completely free themselves from glasses, laser surgery is another option. Among them, femtosecond laser surgery has been in use for more than 20 years. As early as 1997, American doctors performed the first excimer laser corneal surgery, which reshapes the curvature of the cornea with precise laser ablation to achieve vision correction. Here, you can also test your eyesight on the interactive wall and learn about the different features of various lenses.

Eye of the City

This exhibit is Eye of the City, presenting the vision of a smart city under global surveillance. It demonstrates how modern video monitoring technology serves urban life. Step up to the large screen, take hold of the joystick, and experience what it feels like to manage the city with a single command—enjoying the technological power of “overseeing everything at a glance.”

Optical Sports

This exhibit is Optical Sports. Here, you can control characters in the games through gestures and motion-sensing technology, participating in various sports events and experiencing the fun of combining optics with interactive play.

Optical Phantom

This exhibit is Optical Phantom. Look at the LCD monitor on the wall—at first, it seems blank. But when you view it through the mirror opposite, the hidden images magically appear!

The secret lies in the principle of light polarization. A polarizer acts like a filter that only allows light waves vibrating in a specific direction to pass through. If the vibration direction of the light matches the “filtering direction” of the polarizer—if they are parallel—the light passes, and we see an image. If they do not align, the light is blocked, and the screen appears completely dark. In fact, this monitor is functioning normally, but its original polarizing filter has been removed, so from the front you cannot see the image. The mirror opposite, however, contains a polarizing film that realigns the light’s polarization, allowing the hidden image to “reappear before your eyes.”

Magical Graffiti

Welcome to Magical Graffiti. Turn on the flashlight function of your mobile phone, and you can “paint with light” on the wall, creating luminous drawings. This effect is achieved with long afterglow luminescent materials. Their working principle is as follows: when exposed to ultraviolet light, electrons are captured and stored in trap energy levels at a certain depth. After the UV excitation stops, these trapped electrons are gradually released under thermal disturbance at room temperature. As the electrons return from the excited state to the ground state, they emit light—producing a visible long afterglow.

Light Painting Space

This exhibit is Light Painting Space. When you walk in front of the display wall, the system uses time-lapse photography and computer image processing to capture and record your motion, transforming it into a magical scene that would normally be invisible to the naked eye.

Laser Maze

This exhibit is the Laser Maze. A laser security system creates a sensing “net” by arranging multiple laser beams. When the beams remain unbroken, the system stays on standby and the alarm remains off. The moment someone touches or interrupts a beam, the light path is broken, and the system instantly detects the signal change, triggering an alarm to alert security personnel. Thanks to its rapid response and high accuracy, this technology is widely applied in various security scenarios. Now, you can experience the fun of navigating through a “web” of lasers yourself—see if you can skillfully avoid the beams and complete the challenge!

Photoelectric Racing Cars

Welcome to the Photoelectric Racing Cars exhibit. This installation demonstrates the principle of a solar-powered vehicle. Here, laser light is used to simulate sunlight. When the beam strikes the solar cell mounted on top of the miniature racing car, light energy is converted into electrical energy, powering the car’s motor and driving it forward. The exhibit includes two control levers, each corresponding to a racing car on one of the two tracks. By manipulating the laser light, you can guide your solar car along the track. When a car passes under the elevated section of the course, it no longer receives light and thus loses power, coming to a stop. At this point, the lighting system beneath the overpass turns on, shining onto the car and reactivating its solar cell, allowing it to regain energy and smoothly complete its run through the overpass section.

You have now completed your visit to the World of Radiance Hall. Please proceed to the hall of A VISION OF OPTICS IN THE FUTURE to continue your exploration.