Making light work

Sept. 1, 2006
The recent decision by BP to shut down its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska because of pipeline corrosion takes about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil off world markets.

The recent decision by BP to shut down its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska because of pipeline corrosion takes about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil off world markets. That figure represents only about 8% of the total U.S. oil production, yet the disruption ignited prices and created turmoil in the global oil markets-amplifying widespread general concerns about the precarious nature of the oil supply and our global dependence on it. The reaction also underscores the historically lackluster quest for alternative and renewable energy sources. One benefit of higher oil prices though, will likely be to re-energize this search for alternatives. And besides seeking other energy sources, the way in which we use energy is also coming under scrutiny. Efficiency is key-be it in terms of energy production or energy usage. Photonics technologies promise some solutions to these challenges. They range from solar energy production to more efficient management and utilization of our natural resources. Our Special Report this month details several of these varied options (see “Photonics and the energy crisis,” on p. 68).

High-output LEDs are one potential source of energy-efficient illumination but they may have additional benefits. Their use for backlighting flat-panel displays, for instance, could eliminate the phosphors that are required in current (cold-cathode fluorescent) displays, eventually delivering devices with reduced cost and lower power consumption (see p. 81).

And while on the subject of making the most of natural resources, the use of vision systems for inspecting and sorting vegetables is widespread (see www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/218550), but a system based on near-IR hyperspectral imaging has recently proven to be a reliable method of checking the quality of pickling cucumbers and may substantially speed pickle production (see p. 91). New wavelengths inevitably extend the applications of any imaging system so advances in UV sources, optics, and detectors are creating new opportunities for reflected-UV imaging techniques (see p. 65).

About the Author

Stephen G. Anderson | Director, Industry Development - SPIE

 Stephen Anderson is a photonics industry expert with an international background and has been actively involved with lasers and photonics for more than 30 years. As Director, Industry Development at SPIE – The international society for optics and photonics – he is responsible for tracking the photonics industry markets and technology to help define long-term strategy, while also facilitating development of SPIE’s industry activities. Before joining SPIE, Anderson was Associate Publisher and Editor in Chief of Laser Focus World and chaired the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar. Anderson also co-founded the BioOptics World brand. Anderson holds a chemistry degree from the University of York and an Executive MBA from Golden Gate University.    

Sponsored Recommendations

Next generation tunable infrared lasers

Nov. 28, 2023
Discussion of more powerful and stable quantum cascade tunable infrared lasers, applications, and test results.

What AI demands mean for data centers

Nov. 28, 2023
The 2023 Photonics-Enabled Cloud Computing Summit assembled by Optica took an aggressive approach to calling out the limitations of today’s current technologies.

SLP feature for lighting control available on cameras offering

Nov. 28, 2023
A proprietary structured light projector (SLP) feature is now available on the company’s camera series, including the ace 2, boost R, ace U, and ace L.

Chroma Customer Spotlight - Dr. David Warshaw, About his Lab

Nov. 27, 2023
David Warshaw, Professor and Chair of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Vermont (UVM), walks us through his lab. Learn about his lab’s work with the protein...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!