Optics & Photonics News - September 2014

Optics & Photonics News Magazine
September 2014 Issue

Feature Articles

Laser Fusion: The Uncertain Road to Ignition

In early 2014, the U.S. National Ignition Facility announced that it had achieved a fusion reaction that produced net positive energy. Fusion scientists have applauded that step—but the path to sustainable fusion energy remains a long and uncharted one.

by Melinda Rose

Diamond Raman Lasers

Scientists are using high-purity synthetic diamonds to create novel devices that offer increased laser power, brightness and wavelength reach.

by Richard P. Mildren, Aaron McKay, Robert J. Williams and Ondrej Kitzler

Optical Networks Come of Age

Big data and insatiable consumer demand for broadband are driving a new generation of intelligent, programmable, energy-efficient networks—powered by optical switching—to support Internet services reaching terabit-per-second speeds.

by Daniel Kilper, Keren Bergman, Vincent W.S. Chan, Inder Monga, George Porter and Kristin Rauschenbach

Departments and Columns

Scatterings

Scatterings News

Headliners, policy news, industry updates and book reviews.

Viewpoint

Fueling the Photonics Workforce

Resolving a near-term shortage in qualified photonics technicians will require innovative cross-training approaches for employed techs from other specialties.

Reflections in Diversity

Multi-Tiered Role Models in Career Workshops

Career workshops using multi-tiered role models can support and advance minority scientists at all career stages.

Conversations in Optics

Overcoming Limits for Nanophotonic Devices

Q&A with Jung Park, Pablo Postigo, Volker Sorger and Fengnian Xia, hosts of OSA’s incubator meeting, “Nanophotonic Devices: Beyond Classical Limits.”

Global Optics

Finding a Voice for Photonics

International efforts to promote awareness—and funding—reflect different regional approaches and priorities.