Lidar for Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous vehicles need to monitor everything fixed or moving in their immediate environment. Next-gen lidar will play a vital role in achieving that comprehensive view.

by Jeff Hecht

Neuromorphic Photonics

Photonic neural networks have the potential to revolutionize the speed, energy efficiency and throughput of modern computing—and to give Moore’s law–style scaling a new lease on life.

by Mitchell A. Nahmias, Bhavin J. Shastri, Alexander N. Tait, Thomas Ferreira de Lima and Paul R. Prucnal

Laser Wakefield Accelerators: Next-Generation Light Sources

A new breed of compact particle accelerators, capable of producing electron-beam energies in the GeV range, could soon bring some of the experimental power of synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers to a tabletop near you.

by Félicie Albert

Newsroom

Research and Industry News

Tiny methane sensor; tweaking fundamental constants; from on-chip to in-chip; inkjet-printed nanophotonics; structural colors in a heartbeat; jellyfish-inspired skin; Ford partner buys Princeton Lightwave; smart-car joint ventures feature optics; imaging blood flow; a photonic abacus.

Viewpoint

AVs: The Supply-Chain Angle

A new manufacturing ecosystem will be required to enjoy the tremendous opportunities that autonomous vehicles offer for integrated photonics.

OIDA Market Report

What’s Hot in Optics and Photonics?

The answer depends largely on where you look.

Engineering

Exceptional Points: An Emerging Tool for Sensor Applications

Leveraging singularities in non-energy-conserving optical systems could open up a new route to ultrasensitive devices.

President's Message

Opening New Doors

Looking Back

30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in OPN

OSA Update

News from the Society

OSA Fellow stories; World Science Day; New York start-up accelerator; Tucson Industrial Affiliates; Light, Energy and Environment Congress; new Honorary Members; awards for Winzer and Leuchs; Invented at Duke; IONS Okinawa; Thanks, volunteers and editors.