Optics & Photonics News - November 2009

Optics & Photonics News Magazine
November 2009 Issue

Feature Articles

High-Resolution Imaging with Large Ground-Based Telescopes

When Hubble’s heyday ends, astronomers will look toward ground-based instruments to provide high-resolution photos of our universe. Lucky Imaging uses the stochastic nature of atmospheric turbulence to produce Hubble-quality images at visible wavelengths.

by Craig Mackay

Optical Biopsy with Confocal Microendoscopy

Using optical biopsy methods, doctors can potentially identify cancer and other conditions more accurately, in less time, and earlier in the course of disease than they can with standard screening techniques.

by Arthur F. Gmitro and Andrew R. Rouse

A Brief History of Spectral Analysis and Astrospectroscopy

From Newton’s first insight into the composition of sunlight to the discovery of helium on the sun two centuries later, scientists’ work on the measurement and analysis of light has led to important discoveries that have greatly expanded our knowledge of physics, chemistry and astronomy.

by Barry R. Masters

Optical Microangiography: High-Resolution 3-D Imaging of Blood Flow

Using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography, researchers have developed a new method for producing 3-D images of microvascular blood flow.

by Ruikang K. Wang and Hrebesh M. Subhash

Departments and Columns

Scatterings

Nanolasers Sneak Past Diffraction Limits

Within a month, two groups demonstrated visible-light lasers generated from devices far smaller than the light’s wavelength.

Scatterings

Driving Blind

Robotics researchers at Virginia Tech are developing optical technologies that will allow blind people to drive.

Scatterings

Did You Know?

Using laser light to manipulate proteins

Optics Innovations

Training Photonics Technicians

Here are two words you never thought you’d hear in this economy: help wanted. Two Florida programs are seeking to attract photonics technicians for jobs with optical technology companies.

Light Touch

The Pull of the Tractor Beam

This science-fiction staple has remarkably little science behind it—but that may be changing, at least on the micro scale.

Global Optics

Optics in Argentina

Like other parts of South America, Argentina has had its share of political and economic upheavals—which caused the exodus of many promising scientists over the years. But the nation is now looking to rebuild its scientific community by injecting money into public and private research and forging links between universities and industry.

The History of OSA