Optics and Photonics News

Optics in 2007: Introduction

This special issue of Optics & Photonics News (OPN) highlights the most exciting research to emerge in the preceding 12 months in the fast-paced world of optics. “Optics in 2007” offers readers a unique opportunity to access, in a single source, summaries of cutting-edge optics research reported in the peer-reviewed press. The areas covered in 2007 include biophotonics, communications, holography, lasers, micro-optics, microscopy, nonlinear optics, photonic structures, plasmonics, quantum optics, slow light, solitons and ultrafast optics.

Biophotonics

Optics has provided key tools for advancing both modern and traditional biology.

Communications

Although there has been a decrease in telecom research since 2000, significant optical engineering advances continue to provide important contributions to wide-bandwidth communications.

Holography

Through a careful analysis of numerically reconstructed holographic images, it is possible to obtain 3D information from a single high-aperture EUV Gabor hologram.

Lasers

Researchers have demonstrated the optical cooling of a laser.

Micro-Optics

What unique performance can be provided by micro-optical systems? Is there a limit to the reduction we can make in optical systems? Researchers have taken steps to address these questions.

Microscopy

Investigators have found new ways to provide the biological community with more powerful tools.

Nonlinear Optics

Phase matching is a necessity, but what happens in the extreme? Can we use the nonlinear processes to create the necessary phase matching?

Photonic Structures

The field of photonic structures now includes not only the identification of naturally occurring structures and the production of conventional optical operations, but the observation of disordered optical structures.

Plasmonics

Surface plasmons are finding interesting applications in nano-optics, where the attenuation does not dominate.

Quantum Optics

Interestingly, quantum optics is being used to solve problems in classical optics.

Slow Light

We are finally observing slow light without having to make heroic efforts.

Solitons

We can now create structures to form solitons.

Ultrafast Optics

Short optical pulses provide useful material processing capability.

Vision

A new intraocular lens has been developed to correct coma. Another finding about metamerism shows that the eye-brain connection stills surprises.

Education: Educating Science Educators about Optics

At the 2007 OSA Science Educators’ Day, pre-college teachers learned how to enliven their science classes with demonstrations on fluorescence, lasers, microscopes, basic quantum mechanics and more.

OPN Talks with Robert M. Metcalfe

Our conversation with Robert M. Metcalfe, Ethernet inventor and OFC/NFOEC plenary speaker.

Carolina Consortium Promotes Photonics Technologies

There is a classic gap between research and the realization of commercial opportunity—often called the “valley of death.” A new consortium of universities in the Carolinas intends to bridge that chasm through a collaborative effort aimed at commercializing photonics technologies.

Understanding Patent Reform

The U.S. patent system is desperately in need of an overhaul—and Congress may soon be ready to pass reform legislation.

Surface-Vein Scans Track Cancer Spread

A team from Purdue University and the Mayo Clinic is developing technology to scan cancer patients for tumor cells circulating in their bloodstream.

Did You Know?

California prison operates optical lab.

Laser Pioneer’s Solution to Interstellar Puzzler

Surface-vein scans track cancer spread; laser pioneer’s solution to interstellar puzzle; California prison operates optical lab.

Book Reviews

OSA Foundation: Year-End Giving

OSA Today

President's Message

Optics Limericks Contest