Ultrashort-pulse (USP) lasers excel at many forms of micromachining. Here, a TRUMPF USP laser has drilled a large array of microholes in polyimide foil. Applied Energetics (Tuscon, AZ) has fortified its own USP laser development by acquiring some assets of Applied Optical Sciences.
Lasers & Sources
Applied Energetics gets contract for frequency-agile fiber laser system for defense

In addition, AE has acquired some assets of Applied Optical Sciences, aiding AE's ultrashort-pulse (USP) laser development.

John Wallace
Jul 15th, 2019
Shown is the official logo for Luminate--a competition that awards development dollars to optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) startups to accelerate future businesses in New York State.
Optics
Luminate awards photonics startups $2M in year two of its five-year $25M program
Gail Overton
Jun 28th, 2019
A promotional picture shows NEC’s NeoFace facial recognition technology.
Software & Accessories
AI-propelled facial recognition still has technology and legal challenges
Gail Overton
Jun 27th, 2019
Perovskite solar cell volume manufacturer Saule Technologies has achieved consistent efficiency performance for its solar cell modules.
Detectors & Imaging
Saule prints flexible perovskite square-meter solar modules with consistent 10% efficiency
Gail Overton
Jun 27th, 2019
Microlens array (right) fabricated by Nanoscribe's Quantum X (left).
Optics
At LASER World of Photonics, Nanoscribe launches Quantum X for microoptics fabrication
John Wallace
Jun 25th, 2019
A diagram shows NIST’s ion trap used for reversible “quantum squeezing” to amplify and measure ion motion. The ion (white ball) is confined 30 microns above the trap surface by voltages applied to the eight gold electrodes and the two red electrodes. Squeezing--that reduces the uncertainty of motion measurements--is achieved by applying a specific signal to the red electrodes. The ion is moved by applying another type of signal to one of the gold electrodes. Then the squeezing is reversed, and the blue electrodes generate magnetic fields used to decode the amplified motion measurements.
Lasers & Sources
NIST quantum squeezing and amplification technique advances quantum computing
Gail Overton
Jun 25th, 2019
Danke 720
Commentary
An era ends
Andreas Thoss
Jun 24th, 2019
Sld Blue Module (1)
Lasers & Sources
Blue laser module technology from SLD Laser debuts
Laser Focus World Editors
Jun 24th, 2019
Thousands of young women and girls have had the chance to explore the world of science, engineering, and light technologies thanks to a European photonics research consortium that has created their girls in STEM ecosystem, a series of 33 workshops and 11 Photonics Challenger projects across 10 European countries in a bid to tackle the underrepresentation of women in science.
Home
European PHABLABS to tackle underrepresentation of women in photonics through STEM
Gail Overton
Jun 23rd, 2019
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has agreed to purchase Xmark Media, including Photonex Europe, Photonex Scotland, Photonex London, and Vacuum Expo.
Optics
SPIE to acquire UK’s Xmark Media and its Photonex events
Gail Overton
Jun 21st, 2019
Laser-based frequency combs are being used to both generate and receive radio frequency (RF) signals.
Lasers & Sources
Frequency combs trick a laser into producing/receiving an RF signal
Gail Overton
Jun 21st, 2019