July/August 2023 Issue
Feature Articles
James Webb Space Telescope: A Sparkling Optical Success
Superlatives strain to characterize the excellent performance of the astronomical community’s latest infrared telescope, which is beaming back dazzling and confounding images of the universe.
by Patricia Daukantas
In a biennial feature, OPN throws the spotlight on a selection of creative scientists and engineers—and the enterprises they’re building.
by OPN Staff
Quantum Promise Becomes Commercial Reality
Companies are starting to capitalize on quantum science—taking the technology out of the lab and into the market.
by Susan CurtisDepartments and Columns
Energy-efficient bitcoin mining / Fiber-based smart textiles / Attosecond electron emission / Topology may not prevent losses / Detecting dark photons / Webb telescope imagery / Industry news
The beautiful images from the James Webb Space Telescope begin as infrared-light observations beyond what our eyes can detect. Here we look at the process for one of JWST’s first observations, the Tarantula Nebula.
How machine learning is shaping the photonics industry.
William A. Eddy and His Aerial Vistascope
Eddy’s kite-borne camera obscura allowed real-time imaging.
Rethinking Education in Light of AI
A professor emeritus of physics education discusses GPT’s implications for instruction and assessment.
Also in this Issue
Patience and Passion in Science
The long-term patience and discipline that leads to breakthroughs is science and engineering’s hidden story.
30, 20, and 10 Years Ago in OPN
Environmental optics; Islamic optics achievements; underwater imaging
Industry summit / PSP anniversary / Biophotonics Congress / “Possible Through Light” campaign / Photonics21 / Optica Fellow stories / Congressional Fellow joins DOE / CLEO 2023 / Thank you, editors and meeting chairs
Optica Election for 2024 Offices
Review the candidates for Optica's 2024 Vice President and Directors-at-Large election.
An intense infrared ultrafast laser focuses in a low-vacuum dusty plasma chamber.
![Manual probe system with needles for test of semiconductor on silicon wafer. [A. Morozov / Getty]](https://opnmedia.blob.core.windows.net/$web/opn/media/images/articles/2025/1125/departments/202511-cover-web.jpg?ext=.jpg)
![Researcher Clara Saraceno in the lab. [Image by Carsten Behler Photography]](https://opnmedia.blob.core.windows.net/$web/opn/media/images/articles/2025/1025/departments/202510-cover-web.jpg?ext=.jpg)
