• Back Issues >
  • Laser Focus World >
  • Volume 45, Issue 10
  • Volume 45, Issue 10

    Research

    Kepler examines its first exoplanet

    Oct. 1, 2009
    The 0.95-m-diameter Kepler telescope—a photometer—was launched into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit on March 6 to detect Earth-size exoplanets.
    Th New Prod 1009 01
    Th New Prod 1009 01
    Th New Prod 1009 01
    Th New Prod 1009 01
    Th New Prod 1009 01
    Optics

    New Products

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Thin-film plate polarizers from Alpine Research Optics are optimized for use with Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4, and Nd:YLF lasers operating at 1064, 1053, 532, 355, and 266 nm.
    Lasers & Sources

    Bridging the green gap

    Oct. 1, 2009
    The announcements earlier this year by Sumitomo (Kyushu, Japan) and Osram Opto Semiconductors (Regensburg, Germany) that they each have developed green-emitting laser diodes (...
    Th Manu P 1009 01
    Th Manu P 1009 01
    Th Manu P 1009 01
    Th Manu P 1009 01
    Th Manu P 1009 01
    Optics

    Manufacturers’ Product Showcase

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Siskiyou top-adjust components let you put many degrees-of-freedom in a small volume.
    Research

    Science & Technology Education

    Oct. 1, 2009
    The Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition was established by the OSA Foundation to recognize the contributions of Dr.Wolf, a professor of optics at the University of...

    More content from Volume 45, Issue 10

    Single-shot FROG measurements of the compressed pulses show spectral (left) and temporal (right) information for both normalized intensity (solid black) and phase (dotted). The spectrum was also recorded by a spectrometer (left, red).
    Single-shot FROG measurements of the compressed pulses show spectral (left) and temporal (right) information for both normalized intensity (solid black) and phase (dotted). The spectrum was also recorded by a spectrometer (left, red).
    Single-shot FROG measurements of the compressed pulses show spectral (left) and temporal (right) information for both normalized intensity (solid black) and phase (dotted). The spectrum was also recorded by a spectrometer (left, red).
    Single-shot FROG measurements of the compressed pulses show spectral (left) and temporal (right) information for both normalized intensity (solid black) and phase (dotted). The spectrum was also recorded by a spectrometer (left, red).
    Single-shot FROG measurements of the compressed pulses show spectral (left) and temporal (right) information for both normalized intensity (solid black) and phase (dotted). The spectrum was also recorded by a spectrometer (left, red).
    Optics

    NONLINEAR OPTICAL EFFECTS: Ultrafast deep-UV pulses have 10× higher energy

    Oct. 1, 2009
    A spectral-broadening technique developed by Tamas Nagy and Peter Simon at the Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen has allowed them to produce sub-25-fs deep-UV pulses with an energy...
    The gain medium of an OPSL has a very short excited-state lifetime, and thus virtually no stored gain. The result for a 532-nm-emitting frequency-doubled OPSL is no “green noise” and low overall noise.
    The gain medium of an OPSL has a very short excited-state lifetime, and thus virtually no stored gain. The result for a 532-nm-emitting frequency-doubled OPSL is no “green noise” and low overall noise.
    The gain medium of an OPSL has a very short excited-state lifetime, and thus virtually no stored gain. The result for a 532-nm-emitting frequency-doubled OPSL is no “green noise” and low overall noise.
    The gain medium of an OPSL has a very short excited-state lifetime, and thus virtually no stored gain. The result for a 532-nm-emitting frequency-doubled OPSL is no “green noise” and low overall noise.
    The gain medium of an OPSL has a very short excited-state lifetime, and thus virtually no stored gain. The result for a 532-nm-emitting frequency-doubled OPSL is no “green noise” and low overall noise.
    Lasers & Sources

    ULTRAFAST-LASER PUMPING: OPSL has no ‘green noise’

    Oct. 1, 2009
    A green-emitting optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) introduced on June 12 by Coherent (Santa Clara, CA) is potentially a big deal in the scientific-laser marketplace,...
    (Courtesy of Universität Karlsruhe)
    A chiral metamaterial (left) composed of close-proximity gold helices acts as a circular polarizer. Basically a series of modified split-ring resonators (right); the collective helical forms have a broadband influence over the polarization of light (top), transmitting either right circularly polarized (RCP) light or left circularly polarized (LCP) light while blocking the other (center and bottom) based on the handedness of the helical structures.
    A chiral metamaterial (left) composed of close-proximity gold helices acts as a circular polarizer. Basically a series of modified split-ring resonators (right); the collective helical forms have a broadband influence over the polarization of light (top), transmitting either right circularly polarized (RCP) light or left circularly polarized (LCP) light while blocking the other (center and bottom) based on the handedness of the helical structures.
    A chiral metamaterial (left) composed of close-proximity gold helices acts as a circular polarizer. Basically a series of modified split-ring resonators (right); the collective helical forms have a broadband influence over the polarization of light (top), transmitting either right circularly polarized (RCP) light or left circularly polarized (LCP) light while blocking the other (center and bottom) based on the handedness of the helical structures.
    A chiral metamaterial (left) composed of close-proximity gold helices acts as a circular polarizer. Basically a series of modified split-ring resonators (right); the collective helical forms have a broadband influence over the polarization of light (top), transmitting either right circularly polarized (RCP) light or left circularly polarized (LCP) light while blocking the other (center and bottom) based on the handedness of the helical structures.
    A chiral metamaterial (left) composed of close-proximity gold helices acts as a circular polarizer. Basically a series of modified split-ring resonators (right); the collective helical forms have a broadband influence over the polarization of light (top), transmitting either right circularly polarized (RCP) light or left circularly polarized (LCP) light while blocking the other (center and bottom) based on the handedness of the helical structures.
    Optics

    METAMATERIALS: Metamaterials enter practical arena as circular polarizer

    Oct. 1, 2009
    In his Photonic Devices and Applications Plenary presentation, “Photonic Metamaterials: Optics Starts Walking on Two Feet,” at the 2009 SPIE Optics and Photonics Conference (Aug...
    (Courtesy of CBrite)
    Detectivities of Si, InGaAs, and polymer photodetectors are plotted as a function of wavelength. Note that high detectivities of the InGaAs detectors require cooling the devices to 4.2 K. Detectivities of the polymer photodiodes were calculated at λ = 500 nm (point A) and λ = 800 nm (point B) biased at -100 mV. The solid blue curve was obtained from the measured photoresponsivity data with absolute magnitude determined by points A and B.
    Detectivities of Si, InGaAs, and polymer photodetectors are plotted as a function of wavelength. Note that high detectivities of the InGaAs detectors require cooling the devices to 4.2 K. Detectivities of the polymer photodiodes were calculated at λ = 500 nm (point A) and λ = 800 nm (point B) biased at -100 mV. The solid blue curve was obtained from the measured photoresponsivity data with absolute magnitude determined by points A and B.
    Detectivities of Si, InGaAs, and polymer photodetectors are plotted as a function of wavelength. Note that high detectivities of the InGaAs detectors require cooling the devices to 4.2 K. Detectivities of the polymer photodiodes were calculated at λ = 500 nm (point A) and λ = 800 nm (point B) biased at -100 mV. The solid blue curve was obtained from the measured photoresponsivity data with absolute magnitude determined by points A and B.
    Detectivities of Si, InGaAs, and polymer photodetectors are plotted as a function of wavelength. Note that high detectivities of the InGaAs detectors require cooling the devices to 4.2 K. Detectivities of the polymer photodiodes were calculated at λ = 500 nm (point A) and λ = 800 nm (point B) biased at -100 mV. The solid blue curve was obtained from the measured photoresponsivity data with absolute magnitude determined by points A and B.
    Detectivities of Si, InGaAs, and polymer photodetectors are plotted as a function of wavelength. Note that high detectivities of the InGaAs detectors require cooling the devices to 4.2 K. Detectivities of the polymer photodiodes were calculated at λ = 500 nm (point A) and λ = 800 nm (point B) biased at -100 mV. The solid blue curve was obtained from the measured photoresponsivity data with absolute magnitude determined by points A and B.
    Detectors & Imaging

    DETECTORS: Polymer photodetectors span the 300 to 1450 nm range

    Oct. 1, 2009
    In September, Laser Focus World reported on quantum-dot-infused polymer photodetectors with responsivity from 300 to 1250 nm.
    (Courtesy of NIST)
    A lithium niobate waveguide (bottom left) combines a pump laser and a near-IR signal, up-converting the signal to a visible wavelength. Two prisms (right) separate the signal from the combined beam and send the signal to an avalanche-photodiode detector (top left), which reads the upconverted signal.
    A lithium niobate waveguide (bottom left) combines a pump laser and a near-IR signal, up-converting the signal to a visible wavelength. Two prisms (right) separate the signal from the combined beam and send the signal to an avalanche-photodiode detector (top left), which reads the upconverted signal.
    A lithium niobate waveguide (bottom left) combines a pump laser and a near-IR signal, up-converting the signal to a visible wavelength. Two prisms (right) separate the signal from the combined beam and send the signal to an avalanche-photodiode detector (top left), which reads the upconverted signal.
    A lithium niobate waveguide (bottom left) combines a pump laser and a near-IR signal, up-converting the signal to a visible wavelength. Two prisms (right) separate the signal from the combined beam and send the signal to an avalanche-photodiode detector (top left), which reads the upconverted signal.
    A lithium niobate waveguide (bottom left) combines a pump laser and a near-IR signal, up-converting the signal to a visible wavelength. Two prisms (right) separate the signal from the combined beam and send the signal to an avalanche-photodiode detector (top left), which reads the upconverted signal.
    Test & Measurement

    SPECTROMETRY: High-sensitivity IR spectrometer has upconversion detector

    Oct. 1, 2009
    It’s not every day that the performance of an optical instrument is boosted by a factor of a thousand.
    (Courtesy of the University of Cologne and Purdue University)
    A holographic optical-coherence-imaging (HOCI) technique records depth-resolved photons scattered coherently from a tissue sample in a photorefractive polymer. Here, individual holographic images (top) are stacked to create a three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric representation of an 800-µm-diameter spheroidal rat tumor (center). The tumor can be analyzed as a whole or through a series of vertical cuts (bottom).
    A holographic optical-coherence-imaging (HOCI) technique records depth-resolved photons scattered coherently from a tissue sample in a photorefractive polymer. Here, individual holographic images (top) are stacked to create a three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric representation of an 800-µm-diameter spheroidal rat tumor (center). The tumor can be analyzed as a whole or through a series of vertical cuts (bottom).
    A holographic optical-coherence-imaging (HOCI) technique records depth-resolved photons scattered coherently from a tissue sample in a photorefractive polymer. Here, individual holographic images (top) are stacked to create a three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric representation of an 800-µm-diameter spheroidal rat tumor (center). The tumor can be analyzed as a whole or through a series of vertical cuts (bottom).
    A holographic optical-coherence-imaging (HOCI) technique records depth-resolved photons scattered coherently from a tissue sample in a photorefractive polymer. Here, individual holographic images (top) are stacked to create a three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric representation of an 800-µm-diameter spheroidal rat tumor (center). The tumor can be analyzed as a whole or through a series of vertical cuts (bottom).
    A holographic optical-coherence-imaging (HOCI) technique records depth-resolved photons scattered coherently from a tissue sample in a photorefractive polymer. Here, individual holographic images (top) are stacked to create a three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric representation of an 800-µm-diameter spheroidal rat tumor (center). The tumor can be analyzed as a whole or through a series of vertical cuts (bottom).
    Research

    BIOMEDICAL IMAGING: Holographic live-tissue imaging uses photorefractive polymer

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Collection of three-dimensional (3-D) data from confocal scanning microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) is lengthy due to the sequential acquisition of image pixels...
    FIGURE 1. Newport’s new benchtop MS257 can be configured as a spectrometer or a spectrograph that covers the UV/VIS/NIR range using three different gratings optimized for the wavelengths of interest and various detectors.
    FIGURE 1. Newport’s new benchtop MS257 can be configured as a spectrometer or a spectrograph that covers the UV/VIS/NIR range using three different gratings optimized for the wavelengths of interest and various detectors.
    FIGURE 1. Newport’s new benchtop MS257 can be configured as a spectrometer or a spectrograph that covers the UV/VIS/NIR range using three different gratings optimized for the wavelengths of interest and various detectors.
    FIGURE 1. Newport’s new benchtop MS257 can be configured as a spectrometer or a spectrograph that covers the UV/VIS/NIR range using three different gratings optimized for the wavelengths of interest and various detectors.
    FIGURE 1. Newport’s new benchtop MS257 can be configured as a spectrometer or a spectrograph that covers the UV/VIS/NIR range using three different gratings optimized for the wavelengths of interest and various detectors.
    Detectors & Imaging

    PRODUCT FOCUS: SPECTROMETERS: Shopping for a spectrometer starts with your application

    Used in nearly every physical science, from astronomy to zoology, spectrometers present buyers with a wealth of choices.
    (Courtesy of Akela Laser)
    In a simple illustration of laser-assisted initiation, a collimated 2 W laser-diode module operating at 1.68 µm ignites a match.
    In a simple illustration of laser-assisted initiation, a collimated 2 W laser-diode module operating at 1.68 µm ignites a match.
    In a simple illustration of laser-assisted initiation, a collimated 2 W laser-diode module operating at 1.68 µm ignites a match.
    In a simple illustration of laser-assisted initiation, a collimated 2 W laser-diode module operating at 1.68 µm ignites a match.
    In a simple illustration of laser-assisted initiation, a collimated 2 W laser-diode module operating at 1.68 µm ignites a match.
    Research

    LASER IGNITION: COD prediction optimizes laser-assisted initiation sources

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Technology once relegated to secret defense laboratories is finally seeing the light.
    (Courtesy of Kerry Vahala)
    Ion-luminescence images of an atom show the transition from random to coherent motion.
    Ion-luminescence images of an atom show the transition from random to coherent motion.
    Ion-luminescence images of an atom show the transition from random to coherent motion.
    Ion-luminescence images of an atom show the transition from random to coherent motion.
    Ion-luminescence images of an atom show the transition from random to coherent motion.
    Research

    LASER COOLING: Single atom performs as a ‘phonon laser’

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Researchers in Germany have demonstrated the long-postulated “phonon laser”—a system for the resonant oscillation and coherent amplification of vibrational energy packets in perfect...
    (Courtesy of the University of Illinois)
    A stretchable ILED display consists of an interconnected mesh of printed micro-ILEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
    A stretchable ILED display consists of an interconnected mesh of printed micro-ILEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
    A stretchable ILED display consists of an interconnected mesh of printed micro-ILEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
    A stretchable ILED display consists of an interconnected mesh of printed micro-ILEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
    A stretchable ILED display consists of an interconnected mesh of printed micro-ILEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
    Research

    LED FABRICATION: ILED array is a true flexible display

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Flexible displays are not known for their durability. Often based on organic LED (OLED) technology, they suffer from a fundamental problem: if the display is to bend, the light...
    FIGURE 1. Specialty fiber is made with various coatings and dual claddings to ensure that it can withstand harsh conditions (below). Fiber with polyimide coatings (above) are designed for applications that involve high-temperature.
    FIGURE 1. Specialty fiber is made with various coatings and dual claddings to ensure that it can withstand harsh conditions (below). Fiber with polyimide coatings (above) are designed for applications that involve high-temperature.
    FIGURE 1. Specialty fiber is made with various coatings and dual claddings to ensure that it can withstand harsh conditions (below). Fiber with polyimide coatings (above) are designed for applications that involve high-temperature.
    FIGURE 1. Specialty fiber is made with various coatings and dual claddings to ensure that it can withstand harsh conditions (below). Fiber with polyimide coatings (above) are designed for applications that involve high-temperature.
    FIGURE 1. Specialty fiber is made with various coatings and dual claddings to ensure that it can withstand harsh conditions (below). Fiber with polyimide coatings (above) are designed for applications that involve high-temperature.
    Fiber Optics

    FIBERS FOR HARSH ENVIRONMENTS: Special fibers address environmental challenges

    Oct. 1, 2009
    The properties of optical fibers can be tailored to match specific operating conditions and enable fiber-optic systems to operate in a broad range of hostile settings.
    Th Silicon 1009 01
    Th Silicon 1009 01
    Th Silicon 1009 01
    Th Silicon 1009 01
    Th Silicon 1009 01
    Detectors & Imaging

    AVALANCHE PHOTODIODES: Silicon photonics reinvents avalanche photodetectors

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Monolithically grown germanium/silicon APDs have high sensitivity, low noise, and world-record gain-bandwidth product.
    (Courtesy of RPI)
    FIGURE 1. Electroluminescence spectra are shown for polar c-plane (left) and nonpolar m-plane (right) LED structures on bulk GaN. With increasing current density, peak emission blue-shifts in the polar structure, while it remains stable at 490 nm in the nonpolar one. This stability allows predictable laser-diode cavity design and is expected to result in lower threshold densities.
    FIGURE 1. Electroluminescence spectra are shown for polar c-plane (left) and nonpolar m-plane (right) LED structures on bulk GaN. With increasing current density, peak emission blue-shifts in the polar structure, while it remains stable at 490 nm in the nonpolar one. This stability allows predictable laser-diode cavity design and is expected to result in lower threshold densities.
    FIGURE 1. Electroluminescence spectra are shown for polar c-plane (left) and nonpolar m-plane (right) LED structures on bulk GaN. With increasing current density, peak emission blue-shifts in the polar structure, while it remains stable at 490 nm in the nonpolar one. This stability allows predictable laser-diode cavity design and is expected to result in lower threshold densities.
    FIGURE 1. Electroluminescence spectra are shown for polar c-plane (left) and nonpolar m-plane (right) LED structures on bulk GaN. With increasing current density, peak emission blue-shifts in the polar structure, while it remains stable at 490 nm in the nonpolar one. This stability allows predictable laser-diode cavity design and is expected to result in lower threshold densities.
    FIGURE 1. Electroluminescence spectra are shown for polar c-plane (left) and nonpolar m-plane (right) LED structures on bulk GaN. With increasing current density, peak emission blue-shifts in the polar structure, while it remains stable at 490 nm in the nonpolar one. This stability allows predictable laser-diode cavity design and is expected to result in lower threshold densities.
    Positioning, Support & Accessories

    SHORTWAVE SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS: Improved epitaxy and crystal quality forges the greenest laser diodes

    Oct. 1, 2009
    With blue laser diodes in wide use in BlueRay DVDs, bridging the green gap from the blue end is a lingering challenge that is being met through improved epitaxial semiconductor...
    (Courtesy of Australian National University, Canberra)
    FIGURE 1. Split-ring resonators are shown arranged in a uniformly spaced array in a negative-index metamaterial for microwave frequencies. Optical metamaterials use nanometer-scale elements.
    FIGURE 1. Split-ring resonators are shown arranged in a uniformly spaced array in a negative-index metamaterial for microwave frequencies. Optical metamaterials use nanometer-scale elements.
    FIGURE 1. Split-ring resonators are shown arranged in a uniformly spaced array in a negative-index metamaterial for microwave frequencies. Optical metamaterials use nanometer-scale elements.
    FIGURE 1. Split-ring resonators are shown arranged in a uniformly spaced array in a negative-index metamaterial for microwave frequencies. Optical metamaterials use nanometer-scale elements.
    FIGURE 1. Split-ring resonators are shown arranged in a uniformly spaced array in a negative-index metamaterial for microwave frequencies. Optical metamaterials use nanometer-scale elements.
    Optics

    PHOTONIC FRONTIERS: METAMATERIALS AND TRANSFORMATION OPTICS: Newest metamaterials promise customized optical properties

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Tailoring the internal structure of metamaterials to vary optical properties controls how they transform light—leading to applications from optical cloaking to the optical counterparts...
    Th 327680
    Th 327680
    Th 327680
    Th 327680
    Th 327680
    Research

    Two research groups build tiny plasmon lasers

    Oct. 1, 2009
    Just after researchers at Norfolk State University (Norfolk, VA), Purdue University (Purdue, IN), and Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) announced a tiny laser fabricated from a ...