Detectors & Imaging

Acronym World

March 1, 2012

Acronyms have been used to simplify communications for thousands of years—the official name for the Roman Republic, and then Empire, was SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus). Today, a technology-based profession like photonics is rife with critical and confusing acronyms, as any engineer or journalist in the field can tell you.

Conard Holton

Acronyms have been used to simplify communications for thousands of years—the official name for the Roman Republic, and then Empire, was SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus). Today, a technology-based profession like photonics is rife with critical and confusing acronyms, as any engineer or journalist in the field can tell you.

For anyone in the industry, the simple act of reading a table of contents in our magazine can be daunting (and we strive for clarity!). For example, our cover story describes how QI (quantitative imaging) adds the advantage of optics to AFM (atomic force microscopy). An article on SC (supercontinuum) lasers shows how an all-fiber design extends the application window into the mid-IR (infrared). And an article on laser projection displays describes a recent design based on 2D (two-dimensional) SLMs (spatial light modulators) that improves upon previous designs, which used a GLV (grating light valve) or GEMS (grating electromechanical systems) and an OPO (optical parametric oscillator).

I could go on with many more examples, but instead I would like to introduce an antidote to acronym confusion. First, we have redesigned OptoIQ.com, which is one of the web sites in our online network that includes LFW (Laser Focus World), ILS (Industrial Laser Solutions), and BOW (BioOptics World). The OptoIQ site is now focused on photonics business and education (EDU).

The EDU side of the site features links and news from and about universities, community colleges, company-sponsored training courses, grants, and awards. It also has regular blogs from our editors and guests, including the weekly blog "Photonics Building Blocks." In it, contributing editor Jeff Hecht not only defines common acronyms, but provides an explanation of the terms along with some amusing insights. A blog is not a cure for all acronyms, but it can be a good guide to translation.

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.