Turnkey photonic systems have opened up entirely new fields of research, as previously unavailable laser types (such as ultrafast femtosecond lasers) are now available to scientists in applied areas such as biology, chemistry, and materials processing. Metamaterials, plasmonics, and photonic-crystal-based structures are leading to sub-diffraction imaging, integrated nano-optical circuits, and new types of biosensors. Petawatt-laser fusion and laser electron acceleration produce high-speed particles suitable for basic science and medical therapy. Continuing refinement of adaptive optics provides Hubble-quality imaging to ground-based telescopes. These and other trends are bringing photonics-oriented science and research into almost every aspect of our lives.
Topics covered include:
Applied optics, applied physics, astronomy & astrophysics, high-energy physics, life sciences/biophotonics, materials research, photonic devices & materials, plasmonics, ultrafast or time-resolved studies
Optics have been integral to defense and security since mirrors were used for signaling with sunlight and telescopes to see distant ships at sea. Today's military makes increasing use of optics, fibers, and optoelectronics to accomplish its missions. From directed-energy weapons based on lasers to infrared (IR) countermeasures and from fiber-optic sensing to night-vision systems, the defense, security, and sensing applications rely on a broad range of specialized photonics technologies including optics, optical fibers, cameras, and lasers, to OLED displays and even photovoltaics.
Topics covered include:
Forensics, IR countermeasures, laser weapons, night vision, sensing & monitoring
This Topic Center encompasses a broad range of materials-related applications that includes all types of metal and plastics processing (such as welding, cutting, annealing, drilling, additive manufacturing); semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing (such as lithography, inspection, control, defect analysis and repair, and via drilling); marking of all materials including plastic, metals, and silicon; optics manufacturing; and other applications such as rapid prototyping, desk-top manufacturing, and micromachining.
Topics covered include:
Metal & plastics processing, semiconductor & microelectronics, marking & engraving, micromachining, optics manufacturing
In research and at the clinical level, photonics and optics technologies are impacting the life sciences, advancing both medical diagnostics and therapy. Laser-based diagnostic tools like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multiphoton microscopy, for instance, have gained acceptance for noninvasive imaging; and optical sensors are finding a place in the detection and monitoring of diseases. Therapeutic applications include ophthalmology (including refractive surgery and photocoagulation) and cosmetic and general surgery. At the molecular level, developments in biomedical optics are routinely enabling increased understanding of biological processes leading to better disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as aiding related fields like drug discovery. Find out the latest developments and learn the fundamentals underlying this vast arena.
Topics covered include:
Biomedical imaging, dermatology & cosmetic surgery, microscopy, spectroscopy, ophthalmology, OCT, cytometry & cell sorting, oncology, molecular imaging, DNA sequencing & analysis, cell biology
From photovoltaic (solar) energy generation to advanced sensing for environmental monitoring and effective power generation and delivery, and from new low-power display and communications technologies to efficient solid-state lighting solutions, photonics is at the core of developing and delivering solutions that enable greater energy efficiency, smaller carbon footprints, and promoting economic growth. Find out more about these advanced technologies, as well as (laser-based) clean manufacturing techniques in this Topic Center
Topics covered include:
Environmental monitoring & sensing, lighting & illumination, solar/photovoltaics, displays & signage, clean manufacturing
The concepts embodied in today's long-distance fiber-optic communications systems resulted in a 2009 Nobel Prize for Charles Kao whose insight in the 1960s enabled optical communications over extended distances. More recent developments include techniques like dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM), which has boosted traffic density over fiber; and integrated photonics that enables more efficient handling of data via monolithic photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Communications is not limited to long-distance. Short-distance techniques include optical interconnects (used in computers--board-to-board, interchip, and even intrachip) and free-space communications (between buildings on a campus, for instance).
Topics covered include:
Free-space communications, integrated photonics, optical & quantum computing, optical communications, optical data storage, optical fiber
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