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  • Volume 55, Issue 01

    • Volume 55, Issue 01

    2105 Lfw Lpms Supp 9a
    Research

    Another record year

    John Lewis
    Jan. 31, 2019
    Editor in chief John Lewis invites you to enjoy Laser Focus World’s January 2019 issue, which includes trends in photonics technologies, applications, and markets, along with ...
    Danke 720
    Test & Measurement

    Business Forum: 'Jenoptik is at a decisive moment in its history' - An interview with Stefan Traeger

    Andreas Thoss
    Jan. 2, 2019
    Jenoptik is making a major strategic shift to meet 21st Century challenges.
    FIGURE 1. The parametric process in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) can be perceived as splitting of an incoming pump photon of high energy into two photons of lower energy (usually denoted as signal and idler) and is subject to the conservation principles of photon energy and photon momentum.
    Detectors & Imaging

    Optical Parametric Oscillators: Novel tunable lasers enable new nanoimaging techniques

    Korbinian Hens
    Jan. 2, 2019
    State-of-the-art OPO technology delivers laser light for excitation-tunable tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
    (Courtesy of NIT)
    FIGURE 1. Control for Laser Additive Manufacturing with Infrared (CLAMIR) is a process control system that is based on monitoring via midwave infrared (MWIR) rather than near-IR and visible light. Software operations provide feedback for control of laser power.
    Software

    Process Control: CLAMIR precisely controls advanced laser manufacturing processes

    Jan. 2, 2019
    A mid-infrared camera and software system monitors melt pools more accurately than visible CMOS cameras.
    FIGURE 1. High-power diode laser systems for industry are being augmented with improved beam-delivery optics, compact rack-mounted configurations, and simplified cooling.
    Positioning, Support & Accessories

    High-power Diode Lasers: High-power diode lasers focus on improved utility

    Jan. 2, 2019
    Recent advances in diode packaging and implementation are transforming the utility and economics of applications for high-power diode lasers.

    More content from Volume 55, Issue 01

    FIGURE 1. The attenuation curve of state-of-the-art, telecommunications-grade silica fiber is contrasted with space-produced ZBLAN and the theoretical ZBLAN attenuation.
    Research

    Optical Fiber Manufacturing: Gravity-free optical fiber manufacturing breaks Earthly limitations

    Jan. 2, 2019
    Alternatives to relatively high loss silica optical fibers like ZBLAN have historically been limited by the confines of gravity fed manufacturing processes. However, this could...
    FIGURE 1. Linearity is compared between a traditional source (a) and a TLS source (b); linearity of the traditional source suffers at both the low and high ends of the range.
    Test & Measurement

    Test & Measurement: Spectrally tunable light sources allow advanced sensor characterization

    Trevor Vogt
    Jan. 2, 2019
    LED-based tunable light source (TLS) technology enables modern sensors to be tested with higher precision, accuracy, and speed.
    (Image credit: Sophie Albosh/NPL and the University of York)
    FIGURE 1. In this example of an optical-fiber-based QKD system, the quantum (open) channel is in blue (black). SPD0 and SPD1 are single-photon detectors. Each bit is encoded by a pair of pulses—in phase (antiphase) pulses are separated by nλ ([n+½]λ), where n is an integer and λ is the wavelength of the light, and lead to a detection at SPD0 (SPD1). If Eve tries to measure this separation and resend a copy, she will sometimes change it (see rightmost pair of pulses) and cause a detection in the ‘wrong’ detector.
    Detectors & Imaging

    Quantum Photonics: Ensuring quantum-secured communications

    Jan. 2, 2019
    Field tests are solving the challenges of counting photons and measuring their quantum states in quantum key distribution (QKD)-based optical transmission networks to insure communicati...
    (Courtesy of FBH)
    FIGURE 1. Shown is the structure of a typical diode laser (a); the inset shows the triple-asymmetric active region where the laser radiation is generated. The active diode structures of even high-power diode lasers are quite small, as revealed by a close-up photo (b).
    Lasers & Sources

    Diode Lasers: Research gives high-power diode lasers new capabilities

    Andreas Thoss
    Jan. 2, 2019
    R&D at Berlin Adlershof has resulted in design improvements for high-power diode lasers that are boosting efficiency, peak power, brilliance, and range of emission spectra.
    (Courtesy of National Taiwan University)
    FIGURE 1. Refractive-index variation of polyimide-nanocrystalline-TiO2 materials with wavelength is shown, where F-PHI-b, F-bTP10, F-bTP30, and F-bTP50 contain 0 wt%, 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt% TiO2, respectively; the inset shows the variation of RI with increasing titania content for these samples at 633 nm.
    Optics & Design

    Thin-film Coatings: Nanoparticles enhance performance of optical coatings

    Jan. 2, 2019
    Dispersed nanoparticles provide quantitative and qualitative enhancements to high-refractive-index, antireflective, high-reflection, spectral, and transparent conductive optical...
    FIGURE 1. The Cobolt Skyra multiline laser for flow cytometry (inset) is stable in both output beam power (a) and in pointing stability under temperature excursions (b).
    Research

    Photonics Products: Lasers for Biosciences: Lasers for flow cytometry are small, solid, and reliable

    John Wallace
    Jan. 1, 2019
    Single- and multiline lasers with wavelengths across the visible spectrum and beyond allow matching with numerous applications.
    Content Dam Lfw Print Articles 2019 01 1901lfwcoverflat
    Lasers & Sources

    Annual Laser Market Review & Forecast 2019: What goes up...

    Gail Overton
    Jan. 1, 2019
    After enjoying nine years of growth since the Great Recession, the laser industry sees widespread macroeconomic softening, wondering if “what goes up must come down”.
    FIGURE 1. Results from linear and nonlinear deconvolution are shown in these images depicting original objects before image acquisition, observed confocal image through microscope, and following deconvolution (left). The center panel depicts linear deconvolution with a Wiener filter, resulting in ringing artifacts observable in the beads and crossed filaments. Nonlinear deconvolution results (right) improve image quality, but may create data beyond the cut-off spatial frequency. Case 1 results show artifacting in connections between adjacent beads. When deconvolution parameters are carefully adjusted (as depicted in Case 2 column), good results can be achieved.
    Optics

    Microscopy/Image Processing: A deconvolution revolution for confocal image enhancement

    Jan. 1, 2019
    A combination of advanced algorithms and improved hardware is driving the popularity of deconvolution for optical confocal microscopy.
    The extracted average phase profile of a laser-written flexible waveguide (a) indicates a refractive-index difference between core and cladding of about 0.06. The researchers obtained waveguide transmissivity by measuring transmission through waveguides of different lengths; experimental transmissivities for different wavelength over a 1 cm length are shown (b) for wavelengths of 600 to 800 nm (light blue), 570 to 613 nm (orange), 582 to 635 nm (red), 650 to 700 nm (brown), and 780 to 820 nm (black).
    Research

    Laser Microfabrication: Laser-written flexible waveguide in polymer could spawn new medical devices

    John Wallace
    Jan. 1, 2019
    Using multphoton laser direct writing, optical waveguides with a loss of only 0.03 dB/cm in the 650 to 700 nm spectral range are written into silicon polymer.
    (Courtesy of Ozcan lab, UCLA)
    A laptop-based deep learning system converts low-resolution fluorescence microscopy images (a) into superresolution images (b) that compare favorably with images produced using high-resolution equipment (c); images on the bottom row depict detail from those on the top row.
    Research

    Superresolution Fluorescence Imaging: Laptop system produces superresolution fluorescence imagery

    Barbara Gefvert
    Jan. 1, 2019
    Artificial intelligence (AI) helps transform ordinary optical microscope into superresolution microscopes.
    (Image credit: NRL)
    The all-optical device (inset) routes mid-IR beams in two dimensions within an optical chip that contains a waveguide, liquid crystals, and coupling optics.
    Positioning, Support & Accessories

    Infrared Optics: Nonmechanical on-chip waveguide device steers mid-infrared beams

    Gail Overton
    Jan. 1, 2019
    A solid-state, compact on-chip device that incorporates waveguides and liquid-crystal elements can steer mid-infrared light beams without relying on mechanical components.
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    Research

    Orbital Angular Momentum: Laser-direct-written waveguides enable on-chip twisted light propagation

    Gail Overton
    Jan. 1, 2019
    Twisted light with orbital angular momentum (OAM) shows promise in fiber-optic networks; now, it can even be coupled on and off a chip and transmitted through an integrated waveguide...
    (Image credit: DotLens)
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that drinking water should contain
    Research

    Flexible Optics: Phone-based optical lead testing exceeds EPA standards

    Barbara Gefvert
    Jan. 1, 2019
    A small polymer lens turns a smartphone into a powerful detector of lead in drinking water at the parts-per-billion level.
    (Image credit: Hagen Schmidt and Andrew Ceballos)
    A laser-driven electron accelerator chip made up of two parallel rows of nanopillars is shown on the tip of a finger along with an electron microscope image of the chip.
    Research

    Particle Accelerators: Laser-based microchip electron accelerator can benefit industry and medicine

    John Wallace
    Jan. 1, 2019
    With straightforward fabrication and the production of highly focused electron beams, the accelerator could, for example, fit in an endoscope.
    Content Dam Lfw Print Articles 2019 01 1901lfw Nb F4
    Research

    10-nm-thick photodetector with gold electrodes senses optical fiber’s evanescent field

    John Wallace
    Jan. 1, 2019
    A technique for transferring 2D optoelectronic circuits onto the curved surface of an optical fiber could lead to new types of remote sensors.