next-generation laser technology comes to munichiopp.fileburst.com/old/old_02_129.pdf · korean...
TRANSCRIPT
INTERVIEW
Vice-president ofTRUMPF sees futurein thin-disc lasers
Optical refrigeratoroffers new solution to cryogenic cooling
COOLERS
CMOS-chip camerastackle high-speedimaging applications
PRODUCT GUIDE
NEXT-GENERATIONLASER TECHNOLOGYCOMES TO MUNICH
LASER 2005
The European magazine for photonics professionals
June 2005 Issue 129
NEWS
5 Business Roadmap cries for convergence • US–Ukraine venture
targets design • Nanotubes enter flat-panel market
13 Editorial The demise of the CRT
15 Analysis Can plasma TVs fight off LCDs?
TECHNOLOGY
17 Applications Single head performs laser cutting and
welding • Cryptography secures video link • CLEO/QELS highlights
20 R&D Liquids create efficient display • Liquid mirrors are smooth
22 Patents LED signalling jacket may improve cyclists’ safety
FEATURES25 Technium energizes Welsh entrepreneurs
Photonics in North Wales is being given a new lease of life, thanks to atechnology centre with bold plans. Oliver Graydon pays a visit.
29 Extreme UV lithography preserves Moore’s lawEuropean firms are busy developing the optical equipment that will make the microchips of the future. Rob van den Berg finds out more.
33 Pharmaceutical industry adopts terahertz wavesJohn Paul Cerroti, vice-president of product development at Teraview, tells Jacqueline Hewett about applications for the technology.
37 Laser fridge comes of ageLaser-powered cooling chambers that use light to remove heat could soon be a rival to conventional chillers. Oliver Graydon reports.
40 TRUMPF embraces kilowatt disc laser technologyJacqueline Hewett spoke to Peter Leibinger about the market prospects for current and next-generation laser technologies.
43 CMOS cameras rise to speed challengeCameras based on CMOS image sensors are proving to be a hit in high-speed imaging. Gerhard Holst describes the latest technology.
47 All-optical sensing deals with vehicle emissionsOptical technology can help monitor combustion efficiency and tackle the problem of vehicle emissions. James Tyrrell investigates.
EOS NEWSLETTER
51 The latest news and events from the European Optical Society.
L ASER 2005. WORLD OF PHOTONICS PREVIEW
55 An overview of this year’s show in Munich and exhibitors’ products.
REGUL ARS
77 People
78 Calendar
EDITORIALEditor Oliver GraydonTel: +44 (0)117 930 1015 [email protected]
Technology editor Jacqueline HewettTel: +44 (0)117 930 [email protected]
Reporter James TyrrellTel: +44 (0)117 930 [email protected]
Production editors Clare Sturges, Lucy FarrarTechnical illustrator Alison Tovey
EUROPE/ROW SALESInternational advertising sales manager Adrian ChanceTel: +44 (0)117 930 1193 [email protected]
Sales executives Cadi Jones/Joanna HookTel: +44 (0) 117 930 1090/[email protected]/[email protected]
US SALES OFFICENorth American advertising sales manager Rob FisherIOP Publishing Inc, Suite 929, 150 SouthIndependence Mall West, Philadelphia PA 19106, USATel: +1 215 627 0880 Fax: +1 215 627 [email protected]
ADVERTISING PRODUCTIONAdvertising production coordinator Teresa HoneyTel: +44 (0)117 930 1040 [email protected]
Advertising production editor Tanwen Haf
CIRCULATION AND MARKETINGProduct manager Angela PeckTel: +44 (0)117 930 1025 [email protected]
ART DIRECTORAndrew Giaquinto
PUBLISHERGeraldine Pounsford Tel: +44 (0)117 930 1022 [email protected]
PUBLISHING DIRECTORRichard Roe
OPTO & LASER EUROPEDirac House,Temple Back, Bristol BS1 6BE, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 929 7481 Editorial fax: +44 (0)117 925 1942 Advertising fax: +44 (0)117 930 1178 Internet: optics.org/oleISSN 0966-9809 CODEN OL EEEV
SUBSCRIPTIONSComplimentary copies are sent to qualifyingindividuals (for more details see optics.org/ole/subscribe). For readers outside registration requirements: £111/7160 ($199 US and Canada)per year. Single issue £10/714 ($18 US, Canadaand Mexico). CONTACT: IOPP Magazines, WDIS Ltd,Units 12 & 13, Cranleigh Gardens Industrial Estate,Southall, Middlesex UB1 2DB, UK.Tel: +44 (0)208 606 7518. Fax: +44 (0)208 606 7303.E-mail: opto&[email protected]
© 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd. The contents of OLE donot represent the views or policies of the Institute ofPhysics, its council or its officers unless so identified. This magazine incorporates Opto & Laser Products.Printed by Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH, UK.
I ssue 129 June 2005 Contents
Roadmap headaches: issilicon the answer? p5
Single solution: combi-headwelds and cuts p17
Terahertz waves revealhard-to-find secrets p33
Snapshot: CMOS camerasaid ultrafast imaging p43
INTERVIEW
Vice-president ofTRUMPF sees futurein thin-disc lasers
Optical refrigeratoroffers new solution to cryogenic cooling
COOLERS
CMOS-chip camerastackle high-speedimaging applications
PRODUCT GUIDE
NEXT-GENERATIONLASER TECHNOLOGYCOMES TO MUNICH
LASER 2005
The European magazine for photonics professionals
June 2005 Issue 129
For the latest news on optics and photonics don’t forget to visit optics.org
Cover (TRUMPF) A high-power laser performing awelding operation. p40
Korean electronics firm Samsunggrabbed the limelight at lastmonth’s SID show in Boston, US,with news of two record-breakinggigantic flat-panel TVs: the world’sfirst 82 inch TFT-LCD and the first40 inch active-matrix OLED.
The giant LCD has dimensions of1.875 × 1.08 ×0.045 m, and offershigh-definition viewing, with a res-olution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. It is17 inches larger than the previousrecord holder, which was a 65 inchmodel from Sharp.
The Samsung LCD was devel-oped at the company’s new sev-enth-generation production facilityin Tangjeong, Korea, which is aboutto become operational. The facility
uses glass substrates that measure1.87 × 2.2 m – allowing two hugedisplays to be made from one pieceof glass, or eight 40 inch displays.
The development shows howquickly LCD manufacturing tech-nology has progressed, with thesize of LCD screens doubling inthe past four years. (In August2001, Samsung reported the first40 inch model.)
In contrast, OLED technology isstill in its infancy, but it is develop-
ing rapidly. While applications todate have focused on small screensfor portable electronics, such asmobile phones and MP3 players,manufacturers are beginning toscale up the technology.
Just six months ago, the largestOLED screen measured 21 inches;with Samsung’s latest offering,this has jumped to 40 inches.
The 40 inch OLED display has a1200 × 800 pixel widescreen for-mat and is driven by an amor-
phous silicon backplane, to enablefast video response times and lowpower consumption.
As OLED screens are emissive(pixels emit light directly whendriven by an electrical current),there is no need for a colour filter orbacklight. They also benefit from awide viewing angle.
“Our development of a 40 inchOLED will provide a firm basis fromwhich we can become the unassail-able market leader in the flat-paneldisplay markets of the future,” saidKyuha Chung, vice-president ofSamsung Electronics’ LCD researchand development centre. “We’retaking an early leadership positionin the next-generation display mar-ket, building on Samsung Electron-ics’ success in TFT-LCDs.”
The SID show took place in Boston,US, on 24–27 May.
Roadmap cries for convergence
NEWSBUSINESS 5 EDITORIAL 13 ANALYSIS 15
5OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Samsung unveilsgiant displays
DISPLAYS
By Jacqueline HewettFor the optical communicationsindustry to prosper in the longterm, electronics and photonicsmust converge and provide tele-coms devices that are cheaper tomanufacture, in much larger vol-umes. That’s the verdict of a com-prehensive four-year study releasedby the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT) last month.
At the height of the telecomsboom in 2000, MIT’s Micropho-tonics Center Industry Consortiumcommissioned the communicationtechnology roadmap (CTR) to eval-uate the vast array of technologiesfound in the telecoms industry.
According to the report, thefuture of optical components tech-nology will be driven by the needfor electronic–photonic conver-gence and short-reach (less than1 km) interconnections that arehigh speed, but low cost.
“The next technological frontieris the coupling of communication-based optical devices with the I/O ofelectronic processors,” said theCTR. “That frontier will require
average sales prices that are factorsof 100 to 1000 lower than currentcommunication-based opticaldevices, while exhibiting similarlevels of performance.”
The study looked in detail at thethree materials technologies thatseem most promising for satisfyingfuture needs: silicon, III-V mater-ials and organics. Involving morethan 40 companies and universi-ties, the roadmap concluded that
III-V materials typically led interms of performance. Silicon fol-lowed, with its trend towards high-volume low-cost manufacturing,and organics have the greatestpotential for supporting hybridintegration and packaging.
“These roles are not expected tochange, but the importance ofhigh-volume manufacturing willbecome the dominant issue,” saidthe CTR. “The key challenges for a
cost-effective, planar technologyare large-scale substrates and com-ponent integration capability.”
In addition, the CTR suggeststhat market economics need tochange. Despite massive restruc-turing over the past few years, itsays there are still too many sup-pliers vying for a share of the com-ponent market. According to thereport, the root cause of the prob-lem is that economies of scale formanufacturing photonic compo-nents are only reached in volumesof 10 000 to 100 000 units.
“The number of suppliers con-tinues to be very large, reducingthe opportunity for any one com-pany to reach effective economiesof scale,” said the report. The CTRproposes that the solution is for theindustry to follow one of twopaths. Option one is to move to anoutsourced fabrication model,where large-scale production isperformed by a small number ofindependent contract manufac-turers in low-cost regions. Optiontwo is yet further consolidation ofthe current supply base.
Silicon could be the answer to electronic–photonic convergence and low-cost large-volume manufacturing in the optical communications industry. This prototype siliconlaser from Intel is based on a low-loss S-shaped silicon-on-insulator rib waveguide.
Demise of the cathode ray tube? Samsung’s record-breaking achievements in flat-panel displays: an 82 inch LCD (left) and a 40 inch OLED (right).
Sam
sung
Inte
l
Commercially available class 3Agreen laser pointers can cause vis-ible harm to the eye’s retina afterexposure times as short as 60 s,according to ophthalmologist Den-nis Robertson from the Mayo Clinicin the US (archives of Ophthal-mology to be published).
Robertson performed his testson a patient whose eye was due to
be removed because of a ringmelanoma. He used a commer-cially available class 3A greenpointer with an average power ofless than 5 mW.
The tests involved pointing thelaser at the eye’s fovea for 60 s,then 5 min on a site 5° below thefovea, followed by 15 min on a site5° above the fovea. Colour photo-graphs of the eye were taken beforeand after exposure.
Twenty-four hours after expo-sure, Robertson found retinaldamage at the fovea and the
15 min exposure site. The retina atboth sites was discoloured, show-ing that the retina’s pigment layerwas damaged, although this didnot cause a measurable decreasein the visual function of thepatient’s eye.
“People should be cautious whenusing green laser pointers not topoint them directly at someone’seye or face,” said Robertson. “This isa potential hazard to people’s eyes,but it is rarely going to be a practicalhazard because the aversion reflexwe have will naturally cause a per-
son to blink or turn away.” Headded that the use of laser pointersthat are more powerful than 5 mWcould damage a person’s vision.
Robertson has previously pub-lished research on red laser point-ers. “I tested different powers up to5 mW and could not create recog-nizable damage in the human eye,”he said. “We know that the retina isinfinitely more sensitive to shorterwavelengths. The green lasersappear much brighter because ofthe shorter wavelength, and cancause more damage.”
US–Ukraine venture targets design
NEWSBUSINESS
OUTSOURCING
Doctor sees riskswith green pointers
6 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
By employing a team of experi-enced engineers in Ukraine, asmall US consultancy has found away to provide optical design ser-vices at an unprecedented price.
“The big difference is that weonly charge around $40 (731)per hour for our design services,while many firms here in the UScharge $150 or more,” John Ellis,president of Massachussets-basedOptics for Hire, told OLE. “We’vedone everything from the designof endoscopes and spectrometers,to underwater cameras and auto-motive lighting.”
Since it was founded two-and-a-half years ago, Optics for Hire haswon contracts from 30 customers,including well known names suchas Laser Components and GEEngines. Following the success of its
aggressive computer design pricing,the consultancy is now expandingto offer small-scale prototypemanufacturing in Ukraine.
According to Ellis, Optics forHire can provide a wide variety ofservices – from lens design to theproduction of complete opto-
mechanical and laser systems.“We have 18 scientists based inLviv, Ukraine, who have manyyears of experience in optical,mechanical and electrical design,and we are now recruiting formore,” said Ellis. “As well as pro-ducing designs on a computerusing packages like Zemax, we canalso perform prototype manufac-turing using local machines.”
The firm was founded after thedemise of a company called Con-stellation 3D – a designer of opticaldisk drives – at which Ellis was vice-president of marketing. Constella-tion was employing Ukrainiandesigners and, after it went bust,Ellis came up with the idea of creat-ing an optical design consultancythat made the most of their skills,and Optics for Hire was born.
Design expertise: Optics for Hire employs a team of 18 engineers in Lviv, Ukraine, toperform aggressively-priced optical design and small-scale prototyping.
SAFETY
Opt
ics
for
Hire
Nanotubes enter flat-panel market
NEWSBUSINESS
DISPLAYS
8 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
LCD, plasma and OLED displayscould soon be in competition with anew challenger. Motorola Labs, theapplied research arm of Motorola,has unveiled a prototype nano-emissive display (NED) based oncarbon nanotubes (CNTs).
“Our NED display is basically athin, flat CRT with thousands ofelectron guns at each pixel,” aspokesperson for Motorola toldOLE. “The prototype has full-colourvideo, high brightness, uniformityand colour purity in the rangesrequired for a commercial product.It shows NEDs have a promisingfuture for use in flat-panel displays.”
Key to the development is Motor-ola’s ability to grow CNTs directlyonto the display’s glass substrate. Inthe past, CNTs have been eitherpasted or printed onto a surface, but
the quality of the resulting displayhas, to date, been disappointing.
“On a back plate, only 3 mmbehind each sub-pixel, we place asmall structure that containsabout 1000 CNTs arranged suchthat a properly applied voltageexcites each CNT to bombard thecolour phosphors with electrons,”explained the spokesperson.
With a thickness of just 3.3 mm,the prototype is a 5 inch diagonalsection of a 42 inch 1280 × 720high-definition television, and hasa refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Motorola estimates that a42 inch NED running typical videowould consume 75 W. In compari-son, the firm says a similar LCDwould consume around 180 W
because it requires a 60 W back-light and matrix switching.
The company now plans tolicense the technology to panelmanufacturers. “Motorola is readyto deliver this technology to manu-facturers today,” revealed thespokesperson. “We estimate that itcan be commercialized in the verynear term, depending on theaggressiveness of licensees.”
The prototype has also beengiven the thumbs-up by displayanalysts. “Motorola’s NED technol-ogy offers full-colour video withgood response time,” said BarryYoung, CFO of DisplaySearch.“According to a detailed cost-modelanalysis conducted by our firm, weestimate the manufactured cost fora 40 inch NED panel could beunder $400 [7320].”
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Motorola believes its NED is ready to take on existing flat-panel display technologies.
Mot
orol
a
Start-up develops FEDs
NEWSBUSINESS
DISPLAYS
UV Filters, NBP
LWP, SWP, Custom
Fluorescence
Colour imaging
Raman spectroscopy
Microscopy
CO2 ZnSe, Ge, Si
Diffractive Optical
Elements
UV grade high power
Gaussian Mirrors
Internet Stocklist
Pulsed Laser
Diodes
CW Laser Diodes
Custom Electronics
VCSEL, DFB
Lead Salt, QCL
APDs, PbS/PbSe
SiC (UV), Si (vis)
InGaAs (NIR)
MCT, Thermopile
Pyroelectric
Colour Sensors
Fibre Patchcords
Collimators
Splitters, WDM
CWDM, Isolators
Fibre Cable
Sapphire Fibre
OPTICAL FILTERSLASER OPTICS LASER DIODES DETECTORS FIBRE OPTICS
LASER COMPONENTS (UK) LTD Tel: 01245 491499 Email: [email protected] www.lasercomponents.co.uk
Quantum Filament Technologies(QFT), a one-month-old spin-offfrom the universities of Dundeeand Surrey, UK, believes it has hitupon a technology that will allowthe cost-effective production ofhigh-quality flat screens known asfield-emission displays (FEDs).
FEDs are essentially flat CRTsthat are a few millimetres thick. Inthe past, several firms have tried tocommercialize them, but attemptshave been abandoned owing tomanufacturing difficulties.
QFT’s solution lies with produc-ing an array of micrometre-sizedtips on the surface of an amor-phous silicon backplane. These tipsthen direct electrons towards eachpixel on a phosphor-coated screen.
“QFT has come up with a realiz-able solution to produce FEDs,” RoyClarke, the company’s managingdirector, told OLE. “The method is
based on standard materials andprocessing methods. It creates atrue flat CRT with all the associatedbenefits [of a CRT], such as bright-ness, speed and viewing angle, butwith the size and geometry of anLCD or a plasma display.”
QFT’s approach uses a laser toproduce a unique internal struc-ture within the amorphous silicon.“The internal processing createsstructures that produce the highlydesirable field emission properties,”explained Clarke. “A lot of the fieldenhancement takes place withinthe internal structure of the siliconand not in the geometry of the tips.”
On the back of this idea, QFT hasjust secured first-round funding inexcess of 71 m. This will enable aprototype development programmeto be run in collaboration with theuniversities of Dundee and Surrey,as well as a university in Korea.
QFT’s current prototypes canonly be demonstrated in a vac-uum. However, this new pro-gramme will allow the companyto produce stand-alone devicesthat show off all the features of itsfield-emission technology.
Clarke says the technology isscalable and could be used in anydisplay. “In the near term we knowthat niche markets, such as themedical and avionics industries, areseeking high-performance displaysto replace conventional instrumen-tation in life-critical environments,”he revealed. “But the technology isequally suited to mass-market sec-tors, such as wall-hanging TVs.”
QFT’s ultimate goal is to see itsidea used across all display sectorsand to license the technology tomajor manufacturers. Accordingto Clarke, QFT is already talking toseveral Asian display companies.
OP T I CA L S T O R AG E
Toshiba of Japan has unveiled atriple-layer HD DVD-ROM (read-only) disk with a capacity of 45 GB,enough to record 12 h of high-definition content. The companyhas also released a double-sided,dual-layer hybrid ROM diskcomprised of a dual-layer 30 GB HD DVD-ROM side and a dual-layer8.5 GB DVD-ROM side.
AC Q U I S I T I O N S
Fabrinet is to acquire JDSUniphase’s operations in Fuzhou,China. The manufacturing-servicesprovider will take on all assets andoperations related to the Fuzhouplant, including research anddevelopment, and the manufactureof products such as crystals andprecision optics. The acquisition isexpected to be completed by theend of June 2005.
CO N T R AC T S
e2v Technologies, UK, hasreceived a $5.7 m (74.5 m) orderfor customized CCD sensors from US-based Dentrix Dental Systems.Delivery will commence in June2005. Dentrix will incorporate theCCDs into its digital dental X-rayimaging system.
CO N T R AC T S
Thales Laser Diodes (TLD) hasbeen awarded a 72 m contract bythe European Space Agency. TLDwill supply laser diode stacks foruse in the agency’s ADM-AEOLUSprogramme, a satellite that willstudy the circulation of windenergy on Earth and phenomenasuch as El Niño.
IN BRIEF
QFT will exploit Ravi Silva’s (left) and Mervyn Rose’s (middle) work. Also shown: Roy Clarke (seated) and chairman Peter Dervyer.
Even
ing
Tele
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Singapore sees domesticphotonics industry grow
NEWSBUSINESS
MARKETS
10 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
By Manoj Aravindakshan Although less well-known on thephotonics scene than its neigh-bours China and Japan, Singaporeis now targeting the sector with agrowing number of start-ups andlocally-developed products. Arecent indicator of this trend wasthe increased number of domesticfirms at Photonics World 2005,held in Singapore last month. Thethree-day event, which took placeon 4–6 May, featured a total of 160exhibitors from about 23 countries.
“We are increasingly seeing theemergence of start-up compa-nies,” said A B Goh, president ofthe Singapore Photonics Associa-tion, which was established in2000 and now has 40 members.“Singapore companies are doingwell catering to applications suchas display devices for watches,energy-saving lighting, plasticlenses, high-quality lenses, objec-tive systems for microscopes andprojectors, for example.”
Singapore’s core strength seemsto be its fabrication expertise inhigh-precision optics and instru-mentation. Capabilities are com-parable to, and sometimes evenbetter than, those available in theUS or Europe, claims Mike Leong,secretary of the association.“Moreover, our research institu-tions are quite strong in the areasof high-brightness LEDs and bio-photonic sensors,” he added.
Examples of successful local
firms include SIF Universal, whichspecializes in fibre-optic sensors andis a licensed manufacturer of fibreBragg gratings (FBGs). At Photon-ics World, the company displayedits new fibre-optic inclinometers forgeotechnical measurements.
Opto-Precision Pte Ltd is anotherlocal company that has created aniche for itself in the South-EastAsian market. Besides offering opti-cal thin-film coating services, itmakes lenses, prisms and mirrors.
Advanced displays also form amajor thrust of the country’s opto-electronics industry. Currently,there is a big push on the develop-ment of OLED technology andplastic electronics, and Innoledand NESS Display (of Korea) haveboth set up OLED fabrication facili-ties (see OLE May p6).
Importantly, Singapore’s gov-
ernment has recognized theimportance of photonics to thefuture growth of its economy.“The domestic photonics clusterhas grown rapidly in the past fiveyears, pervading a host of indus-tries such as medical, informationtechnology, telecoms and elec-tronics,” said Hawazi Daipi, seniorparliamentary secretary for edu-cation and manpower.
“It is a strategic growth area,”he added, “and the industry hassought to attract manufacturingof key components and advancedmaterials, high-end coating pro-cesses, and the development ofnew optical devices.”
Manoj Aravindakshan is director ofOn Target Media (www.ontarget-media.com), a Singapore-basedprovider of technology news.
By Manoj AravindakshanForward Versatile Disc (FVD), ahigh-capacity red-laser data-stor-age format pioneered in Taiwan,has received a boost with the newsthat a US firm plans to developminiature optical drives that usethe technology.
Dataplay (DPHI), a Colorado-based maker of micro-drives andoptical media, has signed a memo-randum of understanding (MOU)with Taiwan’s Industrial Technol-ogy Research Institute (ITRI) tofurther develop FVD technology.
“The MOU covers all of theapplicable technology for our sys-tem, including the engine, mediaand content-protection system,”said Bill Almon, CEO of DPHI. “Itwill allow us to create a micro-optical system standard forportable/mobile applications,license our technology and OEM acomplete system.”
FVD is a DVD-like format for stor-ing HDTV content and was devel-oped jointly by ITRI and TaiwanAdvanced Optical Storage ResearchAlliance (AOSRA). It was formallylaunched in Taiwan at the end ofMarch. Unlike other HDTV discssuch as Blu-ray and HD-DVD whichuse blue lasers, FVD is red-laserbased. It is capable of storing 5.4–6GB on a single-layer disc or 9.8–11GB on a dual-layer disc.
By exploiting Microsoft’s Win-dows Media Video-9 compressiontechnology, FVD can play a 135minHDTV film with a resolution of1920 × 1080i. The first players areexpected on the Taiwan market thismonth, costing $175 (7140).
A scene from Photonics World 2005: the event in Singapore last month was a clearindicator of the increased activity in the country’s optics industry.
Next-gen red-laserdiscs prove a hit
DATA STORAGE
NEWSBUSINESS
12 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
L A S E R S
Second-quarter net income at Rofin-SinarTechnologies of Germany was up 55% year-on-year to $8.7 m (76.9 m). Net sales for thequarter increased 26% to $95.3 m, comparedwith $75.9 m in the same quarter of 2004.
PH O T O N I C S
Sales at the Jenoptik Group, Germany, rose by31.3% to 72.52 bn in 2004. The group alsomanaged to reduce its net debt for the year by7133.6 m to 7238.8 m. Annual sales atJenoptik’s photonics division rose by 27.3% to7359.8 m, with earnings reaching a record level of734.5 m. The order intake for the photonicsdivision also reached an all-time high of 7418.6 mfor 2004, compared with 7328.1 m in 2003.
TE L E C O M S
Lucent Technologies, US, has reported a net incomeof $282 m (7224 m) for its second quarter of fiscal2005. This compares with a net income of $174 mfor the previous quarter and $68 m for the secondquarter of fiscal 2004. Revenues for the secondquarter were flat sequentially at $2.34 bn, but up6% year-on-year. “We continue to expect Lucent’sannual revenues for fiscal 2005 to increase on apercentage basis in the mid-single digits,” saidLucent’s chief financial officer Frank D’Amelio.
DI S P L AYS
Corning, US, has announced first-quarter sales of$1.05 bn (7835 m), up 2% on sales of$1.033 bn in the previous quarter and anincrease of 24% over last year’s first-quarter sales
of $844 m. A strong performance by thecompany’s display-technologies divisioncontributed to the rise. Net income for thedisplays business increased to $161 m,compared with $151 m in the previous quarter.“We believe that, in the second quarter, our panelcustomers will continue to ramp up capacity attheir Gen 6 and Gen 7 plants in anticipation ofincreasing LCD television demand,” said WendellWeeks, Corning’s president.
L A S E R S
Newport, US, has announced sales for the firstquarter of 2005 of $97 m (777 m). New ordersreceived during the same period came in at$101.3 m. “Had the financial results of Newportand Spectra-Physics been combined for the firstquarter of 2004, sales would have beenapproximately $94.9 m and orders approximately$93.6 m,” said Newport’s president RobertDeuster.
PH O T O N I C S
LINOS of Germany has posted a first-quarterrevenue of 721.2 m, up 70.3 m compared withquarter one of 2004. First-quarter net incomeincreased to 71.3 m compared with 70.1 m inthe prior year quarter. Revenue at both the firm’sinformation technology and communications, andhealthcare and life sciences divisions increased17.3% and 2.9% to 75.8 m and 76.7 m year-on-year respectively. Compared with the same quarterin 2004, the industrial manufacturing divisionrecorded a fall of 7.7% to 78.9 m, which itattributes to the weak semiconductor market.
IM AG I N G
FLIR, US, has announced first-quarter net earningsof $14.7 m (711.7 m), an increase of 16% year-on-year. Revenue for the quarter was flat at$108.3 m, compared with the first quarter of2004. Year-on-year revenues from FLIR’sthermography division increased 18%, whilerevenue from its imaging division fell 9%. FLIRsays the slow order placement by the USgovernment and delays in receiving exportlicences contributed to the decrease.
L A S E R S
Coherent, US, has posted sales of $131.2 m(7104.3 m) and a net income of $19.6 m for itssecond quarter of fiscal 2005. Sales and netincome for the corresponding prior year quarterwere $125.8 m and $3 m respectively. Incomparison, the immediately preceding quarter’sresults were sales of $126 m and a net income of$5.4 m. Orders received during the second quarterwere $129.4 m compared with a record high of£137.4 m in the same period of last year and$128.6 m in the previous quarter.
TE L E C O M S
Bookham, US, has announced revenue of $49.9 m(739.7 m) for its third quarter of fiscal 2005, up9% on the previous quarter. Net loss for the thirdquarter was $129.6 m, but this included a $98.1 mgoodwill write-down charge. Cash and cashequivalents at the end of the third quarter totalled$42 m, compared with $77.8 m for the previousquarter. A highlight of the quarter was a $100 morder from Nortel that will run until March 2006.
FINANCIAL FOCUS
The demise of the CRT
NEWSEDITORIAL
13OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Displacing incumbent technologies is nevereasy, but when the time for change is ripe itcan all happen very rapidly. Judging by thenews from last month’s SID show in Boston,US, this is exactly the case for the humblecathode-ray tube (CRT) TV. Having been aregular piece of furniture in living roomsaround the world for the past 50 years, it nowlooks as though the CRT TV’s demise is nigh.
With production of LCD flat-panel displaysrocketing and prices plunging, CRTs are aboutto be replaced by their flatter cousins on agrand scale. One only has to try to buy a newcomputer to realize that CRTs are alreadyviewed as relics from the past.
However, this year’s SID was about muchmore than bigger and better LCDs. Despitenews of the world’s largest LCD TV, a giant82 inch version from Samsung, it wascompeting technologies that grabbed most ofthe attention.
Large amounts of investment andinnovation in the displays industry mean thatseveral up-and-coming technologies havemade huge strides recently. And all of themare vying for a slice of the action.
For example, organic light-emitting diode(OLED) technology has scaled at atremendous pace, and in just a few yearsdisplays have progressed from monochromeversions a couple of inches in size to TV-sizedversions and larger. One of the highlights ofSID was Samsung’s news of a prototype full-colour high-definition OLED TV that is40 inches in size.
Another possible contender for the high-definition TV of the future is the surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) –an architecture that combines the slimness offlat-panel displays with the performance ofCRTs. News of a 36 inch demonstrationmodel by SED Inc and Canon of Japan also hitthe headlines at SID.
Last but not least, Motorola demonstrated ananoemissive display (NED) that uses carbonnanotubes to create an ultrathin CRTalternative. And that’s without evenmentioning all the improvements in rear-projection TVs based on either TexasInstruments’ digital micromirror technologyor liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LcoS) chips.
It seems unlikely that LCDs will have theluxury of relying on the dominance that CRTsenjoyed for so long.
Oliver Graydon, editorE-mail [email protected]
“CRTs areabout to bereplaced bytheir flattercousins ona grandscale.”Oliver Graydon
Can plasma TVs fight off LCDs?
NEWSANALYSIS
DISPLAYS
15OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Despite issues with picture-quality,high prices and, in some cases,high running costs, the market forplasma display-panel (PDP) TVshas grown steadily over the lastfive years. In some ways, PDP TV isto consumer electronics what thesport utility vehicle is to the auto-motive industry: popular, big,heavy, power-hungry and, somewould say, ostentatious.
Market dynamicsMany analysts believe PDPs havehad their day and that the technol-ogy was only a stop-gap solution;the question is when, not if, otherdisplay technologies will overtakePDP. The most obvious contender isthe liquid-crystal display (LCD).
LCD TVs already dominate themarket for small- and medium-sized flat-panel TVs. In recent years,manufacturers have overcome pro-duction difficulties and can nowmake screens in excess of 32 inch.Large (37 inch) LCD TVs arealready competing with 42 inchPDP TVs. Furthermore, a joint ven-ture between Sony and Samsung,S-LCD, is planning to open a plant toproduce 40 inch LCD screens.
Price is unlikely to be an issue inthe battle of the flat-panel tech-nologies, given that the prices ofboth PDP and LCD TVs are falling.In 2003, SRI Consulting BusinessIntelligence predicted that sales of30 inchand larger LCDs would sur-pass sales of PDPs by 2008.
However, the transition seems tobe happening much quicker, espe-cially in Japan. A recent survey byGfK Marketing Services Japanclaimed that sales of large-screenLCD TVs overtook sales of PDP TVsin February of this year. But keyPDP manufacturer MatsushitaElectric Industrial Co was quick torespond, claiming that PDPs stillaccount for 90% of the global mar-ket for large-screen TVs.
Bad newsThe past few months have seen anunprecedented amount of badpress concerning plasma displays.While some of these reports aretrue, others are based on problemsrelating to early PDP displays anddo not account for improvementsthat manufacturers have made.
Key areas of criticism includepoor image-quality, low product-lifetime and high power-consump-tion. These problems are not new,but are a surprise to many con-sumers. Makers of PDP TVs haveaddressed many concerns withtheir new models, but the probabletruth is that the early PDP TVs con-
sumers bought 4–5 years ago arenow developing major problems.
Early PDP consumers are highlylikely to buy replacements that useother flat-panel technologies likeLCD TVs because of their bad expe-riences with plasma-screen TVs.Several companies that producePDP TVs, such as Panasonic andSamsung, have acted quickly torebuke this criticism.
Energy issuesPerhaps the biggest area of criti-cism that PDP TVs are currentlyfacing is power consumption. Forexample, one recent report, whichused data from the UK govern-
ment’s Department of Environ-ment, Food and Rural Affairs, notesthat PDP TVs consume signifi-cantly more energy than CRT TVs:around 450 W in comparison to90 W. However, proponents ofplasma displays claim that suchdata do not account for the fact thatPDPs simply have a larger screen-size than typical CRTs.
That said, there is no doubt thatPDP TVs certainly do consumemore power per unit screen-sizethan competing technologies. Arecent test by Consumer Reportsconcluded that a 30 inch LCD TVconsumed just 134 W, whereas a42 inch PDP TV consumed 347 W.Although these figures are not asbad as critics of PDP technologysuggest, it remains that large PDPTVs are relatively power hungry.
ImplicationsIf the bad press relating to plasma-screen TVs continues to increasethroughout 2005, manufacturersmay have difficulty convincing con-sumers that they have improved theperformance of their productsenough. Once the reputation of atechnology becomes tainted, recov-ery is often very difficult.
Plasma-screen TVs could evenbecome unfashionable. This devel-opment would play into the handsof many competing technologies,especially now that LCD TVs areavailable in sizes greater than40 inch. All things considered,PDP TVs will probably lose marketshare very quickly this year.
Plasma display-panels have dominated the commercial market for large-screen TVs for five years. Asalternatives such as LCDs reach larger sizes, Robert Thomas asks if the days of plasma displays are over.
Robert Thomas is principal at SRIConsulting Business Intelligence, abusiness and technology research
consultancy spin-offfrom the formerStanford ResearchInstitute. See www.sric-bi.com or [email protected].
Survival of the fittest: can plasma displays (top) fight off the challenge oftechnologies such as LCDs (bottom) in the large-TV flat-panel display market?
NEC
Single head tackles bothlaser cutting and welding
TECHNOLOGYAPPLICATIONS 17 R&D 20 PATENTS 22
17OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
MATERIALS PROCESSINGULTRASHORT PULSES
The days of buying separate lasersystems for cutting and weldingcould soon be over, thanks to thework of engineers in Germany. Ateam from the Aachen-basedFraunhofer Institute for LaserTechnology (ILT) has devised a“combi-head” that enables bothfunctions to be performed with asingle laser.
The approach looks set to savethe industry both time and money.“Because you can cut and weld inone machine, you can increase thespeed of production and reducethe necessary investment,” DirkPetring from Fraunhofer ILT toldOLE. “You also avoid downtimecaused by reclamping, headexchange and transportation fromone machine to the other.”
The Fraunhofer ILT combi-headcan be integrated into either YAGlasers or CO2 lasers. According toPetring it is getting an enthusiasticresponse from the car industry,which is testing the technology.
“We have tested this head withYAG lasers in the power range ofup to 4 kW, and with CO2 lasers upto 12 kW,” he said. “With a CO2
laser we have realized cutting and
welding with up to 10 mm stain-less steel, but we see the biggermarket in the combination of YAGlasers and robots with this head.”
When devising its dual-purposeunit, Petring’s team also had tothink very carefully about thedesign of its gas nozzle, as cuttingand welding operations have verydifferent requirements. “The weld-ing process needs a very smoothgas jet for protecting the interac-tion zone from oxidation,” heexplained. “In addition, you need across-jet or air curtain to protectthe optics from spatter or smokecoming from the weld.” In con-trast, laser-cutting tools require a
high-pressure gas jet to eject mat-erial out of the cutting kerf.
ILT’s new nozzle design satisfiesboth criteria and, says Petring,switching between cutting andwelding operations is straightfor-ward. “We are only changing thetype of gas – which is simply doneby a magnetic valve – the pressureand the distance between the laserhead and the workpiece,” he said.“During welding, the distance isbigger, and during cutting the dis-tance is reduced to give better cou-pling of the high-pressure gas jet.”
The Fraunhofer ILT team will bedemonstrating its design at LASER2005 (stand B3 145).
A new way to scan light beamsthat relies on a stretchable siliconediffraction grating has beendemonstrated by scientists in theNetherlands. According to thedevelopers at Delft University ofTechnology, the advantages of theapproach are that it is inexpensiveand leads to thin, high-perfor-mance components that are easyto integrate into devices (Optics Let-ters 30 949).
The scanner consists of a0.4 mm thick sheet of viscoelasticsilicone elastomer which contains
a corrugated diffraction gratingwith either rectangular or triangu-lar grooves. The grating is made bypouring the elastomer into anetched silicon master mould andthen curing it at 60 °C for 8 h untilit has polymerized.
The cured material has a refrac-tive index of 1.43 and transmitsvisible and near-infrared light. Itcan be stretched by up to 20% andstill return to its original shape.
To make a scanner, a mechani-cal actuator simply deforms thegrating to alter its pitch and
change the diffraction angle of anincident light beam. In tests with ared (633 nm) HeNe laser, the anglewas tuned from 6.6 to 5.4° with aconstant diffraction efficiency ofabout 17%. The researchersbelieve that higher efficiencies arepotentially possible.
What’s more, by connecting theelastomer to an electromechanicalactuator it is possible to performhigh-speed dynamic scanning.“The bandwidth of the scanner isdetermined by the grating size andthe type of actuator used. In our
case, an 18 mm-long grating wasdriven by a voice coil and a band-width of 1 kHz was reached,”explained Aleksey Simonov fromTU Delft’s Electronic Instrumenta-tion Laboratory. “We believe thatwith a shorter grating driven by apiezoactuator, the maximum fre-quency can be increased by at leastan order of magnitude.”
Simonov and his colleagues arenow aiming to use the technologyto make a range of deformable opti-cal devices for use in adaptive optics,spectroscopy and interferometry.
Dual purpose: Fraunhofer ILT’s ‘combi’ laser cutting and laser welding head couldsave firms time and money. It will be on show in Munich this month at LASER 2005.
A new type of optic that overcomesthe troublesome issue of gain nar-rowing when amplifying ultra-short pulses with a Ti:sapphirelaser has been developed by AlpineResearch Optics (ARO), US.
Thanks to a transmission spec-trum that is opposite in shape tothe Gaussian gain of the laser, theoptic ensures that the shape of apulse is unaffected by the amplifi-cation process.
According to ARO, the avail-ability of the new fused silica opticmeans that researchers withultrafast systems can now take a20 fs pulse and amplify it all theway from nanojoules up to milli-joules, while still ending up withpulses that are 20 fs wide. Thegain-flattering optic is designedfor operation at a wavelength ofaround 800 nm, and tilting ittunes its centre wavelength oftransmission.
“This optic allows for amplifica-tion without gain narrowing, andhas enormous advantages over thepellicle-type etalons currently inuse,” said ARO. “Unlike pellicles, itis virtually immune to thermalshifts and so can operate at anyamplifier pulse rate. It is alsorobust, with a long-lived coatingthat can be cleaned like any otherhigh-performance optic.”
Stretchable silicone optics create light scanner
Optics aids ultrafastpulse amplification
DEFORMABLE OPTICS
Cryptography secures video link
TECHNOLOGYAPPLICATIONS
COMMUNICATION
18 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Toshiba Research Europe has usedthe science of quantum crypto-graphy to transmit voice and videoover a secure fibre link that is pro-tected by the laws of physics.
The demonstration is significantbecause it shows that the single-photon encryption technology isnot only compatible with real Inter-net Protocol traffic, but is alsorobust enough for deployment oncommercial fibre networks.
Toshiba’s “quantum key server”can generate up to 100 quantum(single-photon) keys per second,which is enough to encrypt eachvideo frame with a separate key. Inaddition, it features an automaticmanagement system that contin-ually monitors and adjusts thesystem’s optical pathlength. This
enables the server to operate con-tinuously without any need foruser intervention.
“We demonstrated encryptedvideo because we wanted to showtwo things: first of all, that we canencrypt a large amount of informa-tion; secondly, that we can regularlychange the encryption key,” saidAndrew Shields, leader of Toshiba’sQuantum Information Group.
“We’ve also carried out sometests with the global communica-tions provider MCI and have seenthat our system can operate on itsnetwork continuously for a monthwithout any problems.”
Toshiba’s cryptography systemoperates at the telecoms wave-length of 1.55 µm over standardoptical fibre. At the present time, the
company uses heavily attenuatedlaser pulses to generate the quan-tum key, and customized avalanchephotodetectors to detect it.
However, according to Shields,the firm is now busy developingquantum-dot-based LEDs anddetectors that can generate anddetect single photons.
“This technology [quantum-dot]is not only potentially low-cost, butcould also allow higher bit-ratesand longer fibre lengths,” Shieldstold OLE. “We have prototypedevices for both and are integratingthem into our cryptography sys-tem, but it will be 2–3years before itis used routinely.”
Toshiba now has plans to com-mercialize the system and is keen totalk with potential end-users. In
2003, the firm announced anotherworld first when it succeeded inperforming quantum crypto-graphy over an optical fibre linkmore than 100 km long.
Communication with quantumcryptography is inherently securebecause it takes advantage of thephysical properties of single pho-tons. In the technique, each trans-mitted bit of a cryptographic key isencoded upon a single photon.
The sender and recipient eachhave a key with which to decode thephoton stream, but any attempt tohack into the link and capture thekey is doomed to failure, as it altersthe quantum state of the inter-cepted photons. These changes areeasily detectable, revealing the pres-ence of the hacker.
The system was shown to financial institutions and government representatives in London in May 2005 (left). Andrew Shields in the laboratory, putting the final touches toToshiba’s quantum cryptography system (right). The quantum key server generates up to 100 keys per second – enough to encrypt each video frame separately.
Imag
es:
Tosh
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TECHNOLOGYCLEO/QEL S 2005
19OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
your European destination for optics and electronics
www.ELCAN.com/europe
LEDSUS team uses photonic crystal toboost LED efficiency by 30%
Taesung Kim and colleagues at the University ofIllinois, US, have used a photonic crystal (PC)pattern to boost the external wall-plug efficiency ofa GaN LED by 30%. The researchers found thattheir PC-enhanced device showed almost identicalspectral properties to a conventional LED emittingat 450 nm. “The only difference between theconventional and PC LED was the presence of theholes of the PC pattern inside the inner-ringcontact,” say the authors in their paper. Amaximum output power of about 200 µW wasobtained for a drive current of 80 mA. Paper CMR3
L ASERSSemiconductor quantum-dot laseroffers ultra-low lasing thresholdResearchers at the University of California at SantaBarbara, US, have made a semiconductor laserwith an ultra-low lasing threshold by embeddingInAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) into photonic-crystal microcavities. The optically pumpedstructure has a lasing threshold of around 160 nW
and offers singlemode lasing of between 910 and975 nm, making it an attractive option for cavity-quantum electrodynamics experiments and single-QD lasing. The team optically excites its QD laserby piezo-scanning 780 nm continuous-waveemission from a laser diode over the surface. Paper QWA1
OPTICAL POSITIONINGScientists in Japan optically alignnanoparticles onto an Si wedgeThe task of sizing, positioning and separatingnanoparticles could soon become much easierthanks to the work of scientists in Japan. A teamfrom Japan Science and Technology Agency andTokyo University has managed to align goldnanoparticles on the edge of an Si wedge bycontrolling particle–substrate andparticle–particle interactions with an optical near-field. Illuminating through the Si substrate with690 nm light for 60 s transported particlestowards its top edge, where the optical near-fieldenergy is enhanced. The researchers explain thattheir set-up could form the basis of a nano-dotcoupler for guiding electromagnetic energy. Paper CThL1
PUL SE SHAPINGMEMS and fibre Bragg gratingcreate compact pulse-shaper
Scientists at the University of Michigan, US, havecreated a programmable on-chip ultrashort-pulseshaper by combining a micromachined actuator
array with a chirped fibre Bragg grating (CFBG). Thedevice works by applying a local pressure of up tohundreds of micro-Newtons to the CFBG, usingmicromachined silicon actuators. The tiny pressure-actuators mechanically strain the fibre at a numberof positions along its length, altering its refractiveindex and shifting the local Bragg-wavelength. Ininitial proof-of-principle experiments, the devicewas able to increase the duration of pulsesgenerated by a chirped-pulse amplification set-upfrom 1.5 to 4 ps (FWHM). The team says that thetechnique can generate arbitrary pulse shapes in atime window from 10 ps to 1 ns. Paper CFK6
IMAGINGFluidic ‘imager on a chip’ couldsimplify biomedical screening
A Caltech team has fabricated a microfluidic circuitthat contains a compact optical “imager on a chip”.The chip could potentially perform tasks such asscreening for cancer cells or white blood-cells. Thefluid sample flows over a gold film containing anarray of sub-micron-sized holes that function as lightreceivers (see figure above). The sample isilluminated from above, and a CCD sensor belowthe gold film images the cells as they pass over theholes. By using state-of-the-art nanofabricationtechnology, the scientists feel it should be possibleto create an imager with sub-100 nm resolution. Paper CFF4
CLEO/QEL S 2005
Research highlights from the recentCLEO/QELS event in Baltimore, US.
illumination
microfluidicchannel
pattered gold layer of micro-holes
linescan CCD sensor
flow
Liquids create efficient display
TECHNOLOGYR&D
DISPLAYS
20 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
L E N S T E S T I N G S Y S T E M SMTF - EFL - Distortion - Field Curvature
www.image-science.co.uk
By James TyrrellA team from the University of Cin-cinnati and spin-off companyExtreme Photonix, both in the US,has devised a low-cost electrowet-ting display technology that it feelscould rival LCDs. The researchers’backlit display consists of high-transmission light-valves contain-ing a mix of chromophore-dopedoil and de-ionized water (AppliedPhysics Letters 86 151121).
“The real advantages of electro-wetting valves are transmissionefficiency and potential manufac-turing cost savings,” Jason Heiken-feld of Extreme Photonix told OLE.“[Unlike LCDs] electrowettinglight-valves transmit light at anyview-angle or polarization.”
Heikenfeld explains that electro-wetting valves should bring cost-savings when the devices go intoproduction as they are simpler toconstruct than LCDs. In addition,because they are more efficient, itmay be possible to replace expen-sive backlighting with cheaper,low-power alternatives.
The light-valves are fabricated ona glass substrate that is coated witha film of indium tin oxide to give aseries of transparent electrodes.Each electrowetting cell contains asmall quantity of black oil and de-ionized water. To laterally confine
the oil, the substrate is patternedwith an oil-repellent grid.
Applying a voltage across theelectrowetting valve causes the oilfilm to bead up in the centre of thecell, allowing light to pass on eitherside (see diagrams above). Thetransmission of the cell can bemodulated from around 5% tomore than 80% by increasing thevoltage across the electrodes from0 to 30 V. Switching speed depends
on the cell size and ranges from10 ms for a 1 mm2 cell to 100 msfor a 3 mm2 cell.
As Heikenfeld explains, one ofthe most challenging elements ofthe work has been reducing lightleakage. However, by doping theoil with around 1 wt% of non-polar organic chromophores, theresearchers have managed to cre-ate a light-blocking film that isable to absorb across the entire
visible spectrum.Extreme Photonix was founded
in 2001 by Heikenfeld and his col-league Andrew Steckl (imageabove) to industrialize their elec-trowetting valve technology. Withits first products due for releasewithin five years, the companyplans to realize $10–20 m(78–16 m) in revenues by 2008through a combination of salesand licensing activities.
diffuse lightguide
water
oil
+ + + + + + + +- - - -- - - -
LEDs
diffuse lightguide
hydrophobic dielectric
coverplate
water
oil
substrate
hydrophilic gridtransparentelectrode
Displays based on electrowetting valves could bring benefits in terms of efficiency and the cost of manufacture (left). Principleof operation: an electrowetting valve in its on (light-transmission) (top) and off (light-blocking) (bottom) modes of operation.
Extr
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Phot
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on state
off state
Fluid mirrors are super-smooth
TECHNOLOGYR&D
ADAPTIVE OPTICS
21OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
www.pi.ws/olebPhysik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
HEXAPOD
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A liquid mirror that changes itsshape when heated by a HeNelaser could be an inexpensive andsimple alternative to traditionalforms of adaptive optics.
According to its developers atLaval University in Canada, poten-tial applications include compen-sating for polishing defects inprimary mirrors in telescopes(Applied Optics 44 1595).
The team creates its liquid mir-ror by depositing a 150 nm-thickmetal liquid-like film (MELLF)onto a 5 mm-deep layer of wateror oil in a Petri dish. The MELLF iscomposed of a layer of self-assem-bled colloidal particles and pro-vides a smooth optical-qualitysurface of better than λ/20 at
632.8 nm – ideal for a mirror. TheCanadian group has alreadymade prototype mirrors with adiameter of around 10 cm andsays that it should be possible to
manufacture larger versions. To deform the liquid mirror, the
scientists heat the surface with a red(632.8 nm) beam from a 4.1 mWHeNe laser. Any changes in the mir-
ror’s shape are monitored using aFizeau interferometer.
For a silicon–oil substrate, thelaser heating produces a Gaussian-shaped bump on the mirror’s sur-face that is 440 nm high and hasan full-width half-maximum diam-eter of 3.6 mm. The team can tunethe deformation by adjusting theliquid’s viscosity, and the laser’spower and spot-size.
Monitoring the mirror over atwo-month period, the researchersobserved no degradation in reflec-tivity, which is currently at around80%. “With further improvementswe should be able to obtain thebulk reflectivity of silver or gold,”Ermanno Borra from the LavalGroup told OLE.
A high-resolution velocity-profilesensor made in Germany couldhelp to improve the design of aero-plane turbines. Scientists from theTechnical University of Dresdenhave developed a compact, laser-based velocity-profile sensor withsub-micron resolution in order tostudy turbulent flow.
The team used two superposed
fan-like fringe systems (one conver-gent; the other divergent) to boostthe resolution of the laser Dopplerapparatus by two orders of magni-tude (Applied Optics 44 2274).
Conventional laser Doppler ane-mometry systems measure anaveraged velocity in a small probevolume, where the spatial resolu-tion is defined by the amount ofoverlap between two intersectinglaser beams. A typical measure-ment volume is 0.1 × 0.1 × 1 mm,with a resolution of around 50 µm.
“Our method is different [as] we
also measure the position of tracerparticles along the optical axisinside this volume of intersection,”researcher Lars Büttner told OLE.“This enhances the spatial resolu-tion to the sub-micrometre range.”
The sensor features two fibre-coupled laser diodes emitting at660 and 825 nm. It uses a specialarrangement of dispersive opticsto create two superposed interfer-ence fringe systems.
Analysing the light scatter fromtracer particles reveals their veloci-ties. “By evaluating a number of
particles, the complete velocity pro-file in the probe volume can berecovered,” explained Büttner.
The team has, to date, achieveda spatial resolution of 650 nm inthe centre of the measurementvolume. According to Büttner, thecompact sensor is, potentially, veryconvenient and compact, with allthe components fitting into a 1 cm-diameter tube.
In the near future, the Germanresearch team plans to probe theairflow around a turbine blade inan aircraft engine.
Laser-based sensorprobes velocity
SENSORS
New approach to adaptive optics: red HeNe laser beam illuminating and heating thesurface of a liquid mirror. Localized heating causes the mirror to deform.
Lava
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TECHNOLOGYR&D/PATENTS
22 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
INFRINGEMENTOsram Opto Semiconductors filesinfringement suit against CitizenOsram Opto Semiconductors, Germany, isbringing a patent infringement lawsuit againstCitizen Electronics of Japan in DusseldorfRegional Court. In its suit, Osram alleges thatCitizen is infringing its patents by importing andselling certain white LEDs in Germany.
The products detailed in the legal action arewhite LEDs that use a colour-conversion technologythat Osram has patented. Specifically, it concernsblue-emitting InGaN chips that use a phosphor toproduce white light. Typical applications includemobile-phone backlights and car radios. Osramnow hopes to obtain a restraining order and isapplying for compensation.
LICENSINGUDC licenses phosphorescentOLED patent to Samsung SDISamsung SDI of South Korea and UniversalDisplay Corporation (UDC) have signed an OLEDpatent licensing agreement. Samsung intends tointroduce UDC’s phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED)materials and associated technology into its initial
active-matrix OLED products. Samsung says that PHOLEDs have been shown
to be up to four times more efficient thantraditional fluorescent OLEDs, resulting in lowerpower consumption, less heat generation andlonger operating lifetimes.
APPLICATIONSLED signalling jacket may make a difference to cyclists’ safetyCyclists, horse riders and other road users may beinterested in the signalling clothing described byGerman firm Infineon in international patentapplication WO 2005/034663. The jacket featuresmeasuring sensors that determine the angle of thewearer’s arms relative to their torso. Armmovements such as indicating to turn automaticallyactivate a series of LEDs placed around the jacket’scuff, alerting surrounding traffic to the forthcomingmanoeuvre. The clothing includes a rechargeableenergy source or battery pack.
Ultraviolet LEDs help to create alow-voltage disinfection lampElectronics giant Philips is attempting to patent amercury-free, low-voltage disinfecting lamp that
uses ultraviolet (UV) LEDs emitting over the250–280 nm wavelength band. “The germicidalaction curve shows that the maximum germicidalaction is obtained from UV light with a wavelengthof 265 nm,” said the applicants. The Philipsscientists mix different semiconductor compoundssuch as InN, InGaN, AlN or AlGaN to create an LEDwith a conduction band of approximately 4.7 eVand an emission wavelength of 265 nm. Moreinformation can be found in international patentapplication WO 2005/031881.
Coherent pioneers efficient wayto intracavity-triple CW laser lightUS laser manufacturer Coherent is trying to patenta more efficient way of performing intracavity third-harmonic conversion in a continuous-wave laser.By converting residual second-harmonic radiationback into its fundamental mode and re-using thisradiation in the tripling process, the firm claims tobe able to improve the third-harmonic generatingefficiency by a factor of two or more. The set-upfeatures two nonlinear crystals and would suitsemiconductor or Nd:YVO4 gain media. Furtherdetails can be found in international applicationnumber WO 2005/038999.
PATENTS
To search for recently published applications, visit http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/ and http://ep.espacenet.com.
By Belle DuméPhysicists in the US have made anoptical superlens from a thin layerof silver. The lens has a negativerefractive index and images struc-tures with a resolution of aboutone-sixth the wavelength of light,meaning that it overcomes the dif-fraction limit (Science 308 534).
Xiang Zhang and his colleaguesat the University of California atBerkeley say the lens could havemany applications, such as imag-ing nanoscale objects with light.
Conventional positive-refractive-index lenses create images by cap-turing the light waves emitted byan object and bending them. How-ever, objects also emit “evanescent”waves, which contain a lot of infor-mation, at very small scales. Thesewaves are much harder to measurebecause they decay exponentially
and never reach the image plane.In 2000, John Pendry of Imper-
ial College in London, UK, sug-gested that a material with anegative refractive index – one thatbends light in the opposite direc-tion to an ordinary material –could capture and “refocus” theseevanescent waves.
In 2003, Zhang’s group showedthat optical evanescent waves couldindeed be enhanced as they passedthrough a silver superlens. Theyhave taken this work a step furtherand have imaged objects as small as40 nm across with their superlens,which is just 35 nm thick.
In contrast, current opticalmicroscopes can resolve objectsonly down to around 400 nm,which is approximately one-tenthof the diameter of a red blood cell.“Our work provides a new imag-
ing method that can beat the opti-cal diffraction limit and that hastremendous potential to revolu-tionize a wide range of technolo-gies,” said Zhang.
Applications include: detailedbiomedical imaging in realtimeand in vivo; optical lithography, tomake higher-density electronic
circuits; and faster fibre-opticcommunications.
“This paper represents a criticalstep forward,” David Smith ofDuke University, US, commented.“It provides confirmation of Pen-dry’s original conjecture that anegative refractive element canfocus near-fields and demonstratesclearly that evanescent refocusingoccurs to create an image.”
“The work is a remarkableaccomplishment,” affirmed Pen-dry. “Although superlensing haspreviously been demonstrated atmicrowave frequencies, this is thefirst true super-resolution at opti-cal frequencies, where the greatestrewards in terms of applicationsare to be had.”
Belle Dumé is science writer atwww.physicsweb.org.
Superlens breaks diffraction limitIMAGING
The red line tracks the evanescent wavesas they pass through the superlens.
Xian
g Zh
ang
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Metalbearbejdningens verden The world of metalworking
Le monde de l’usinage des métaux El mundo de la elaboración de metales
Photonics in North Wales is being given a new lease of life, thanks to the creation of aninnovative technology centre with bold plans. Oliver Graydon decided to pay a visit.
Technium energizesWelsh entrepreneurs
INNOVATION
25OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
The optoelectronics industry in Walesreceived a welcome boost earlier this yearwith the official opening of the OpTIC Tech-nium, a £15 m (721.8 m) technology andincubation centre in St Asaph, near the northcoast. The aim of OpTIC is to act as an enginefor entrepreneurship in the region that willkeep optics alive and kicking in Wales.
“The idea came out of the Welsh Opto-electronics Forum, which wanted Wales tobe responsible for its own sustainablegrowth,” explained Dave Rimmer, manag-ing director of OpTIC. “We needed to find away to keep expertise here and allow it toflourish, rather than losing it.”
First impressions suggest that OpTIC isdoing just that. Since it opened for business,a dozen high-tech start-ups, developingeverything from optical-fibre sensors tothree-dimensional (3D) image scanners (seebox below), have moved in. An undeniablebuzz of innovation surrounds you as youwalk through the front door.
OpTIC is effectively divided into three parts:an incubation centre with 24 incubationunits each offering 50 m2 of space; a businesssupport centre; and a technology centre with
2000 m2 of laboratory space. The project hasbeen supported by funds from the EuropeanUnion, the Welsh Development Agency andprivate industry. There is also a plan to estab-lish a technology park in the area aroundOpTIC, so that start-ups can move into
premises there when they need more space. The beautiful hills of the Welsh countryside
may seem like a remote and odd setting forsuch a high-tech venture, and its state-of-the-art solar-panelled exterior does look slightlyout of place. However, the choice of
OpTIC’s incubation centre features 24 business units, each offering 50 m2 of space. Start-ups also haveaccess to OpTIC’s business support centre to gather advice on raising funding or filing for patents.
Optopreneurs This company of 15 staffmanages OpTIC’s Business Support Centreand the running of OpTIC. It also helps toorganize training programmes and events. Itis hoping to expand to 25 people before theend of the year. ORS Optical Reference Systems (ORS) wasfounded in November 2000 to developcommercial instruments and software formonitoring the deposition of semiconductorthin-films. The firm specializes in makinghighly accurate interferometer-based systemsfor analysing thin layers as they are beingfabricated by molecular-beam epitaxy ormodified organic chemical vapour deposition. Solus Sensors This start-up is developingoptical fibre sensors for detecting leaks inpipelines carrying oil or other fluids, such as a
solvent or gasoline. The firm is commercializingtechnology that has been developed andpatented at Strathclyde University, UK. Solushas an exclusive licence to create commercialproducts on the design, which detects leaks byinjecting light into a special fibre-cable andchecking for any regions of reflection that arehigher than usual.Spiral Scratch Spiral Scratch was formed byMatthew Reed and John Wilson in 2002 todevelop three-dimensional (3D) scanningtechnology based on the principle ofdefocusing. It has built several prototypesystems for capturing the 3D shape of objectsand is busy developing a system that is able toperform the scanning in realtime. Potentialapplications include the animation industry. Gluco A new venture developing specialist
heat- and light-activated thermoplasticadhesives and photoreactive polymers. Itsactivities are strongly linked to research beingperformed at nearby Bangor University andthe Polymer Centre of Expertise at OpTIC. Ealing Catalog The well-known supplier ofoptical components and laboratoryequipment has an office at OpTIC. Nano Imaging Devices Nano ImagingDevices provides biotechnology andpharmaceutical firms with confocalmicroscopy and fluorescence imagingsystems, so that they can image three-dimensional cellular structures at thenanometre scale. Applications for the high-resolution imaging techniques are in researchand development, and quality-controloperations.
Who’s who at OpTIC: some optoelectronic firms that have rented space
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location is understandable when one consid-ers that the region is home to many well-known names in the industry, such asThales Optics, Phoenix Glass, Pilkington Spe-cial Glass and Tyco Electronics. The Universityof Bangor, with its Centre for Industrial andCommercial Optoelectronics, is just a shortdrive away. “There’s a rich history of opticshere,” said Rimmer. “The world’s first com-mercial clad-silica fibre was drawn less thanhalf a mile away from here by Pilkington.”
According to Rimmer, OpTIC is differentfrom other incubation facilities, such as thosefound on universities and science parks, forseveral reasons. First, as its name implies, it isprimarily dedicated to optics and opto-electronics. Second, its technology and busi-ness support centres provide valuable extrasupport for start-ups. Rimmer says this is aunique benefit that allows fledgling ventures
to gain access to a specialized piece of metrol-ogy equipment or business advice from expe-rienced industry veterans, for example. It isalso run on strictly commercial lines, toensure a self-sustainabe future.
The business support centre helps start-ups by providing ongoing guidance andadvice on issues such as writing businessplans and raising funding, filing and pro-tecting intellectual property, and marketingand recruitment.
On the technology side, OpTIC is in theprocess of setting up a metrology laboratoryand four centres of expertise in: ● modern optics● ultra-precision surfaces (UPS) ● optical polymers and analytical services● metal organic chemical vapour deposition(MOCVD) fabrication.
The Centre for Modern Opticsspecializes inholography, 3D imaging, interferometry andlithography. It has moved to OpTIC from itsformer location at De Montfort University inLeicester and boasts five optics labs equippedwith lasers, and three dark rooms. Its currentservices include state-of-the-art colour holog-raphy, the study of new recording materials,nanolithography and vibration measure-ments by holographic interferometry.
INNOVATION
26 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Iconic building: the 2400 solar panels on OpTIC’s exterior give it a unique and recognizable appearance.
The OpTIC Technium is now up and running, busyequipping its technology centre. More than 12high-tech start-ups have already moved in.
OpT
IC
The UPS Centre is also located at OpTIC. Ithas been given a £4.2 m grant by the UKResearch Council to develop the capabilityto fabricate the super-smooth mirror seg-ments that will be required by future gener-ations of extra-large telescopes. Suchtelescopes are expected to need primarymirrors as large as 30–100 m, with a sur-face-form error of less than 25 nm.
The centre is being equipped with threepolishing and shaping machines that willallow the fabrication of optics up to 1 m indiameter, and of the required smoothnessand accuracy. The machines are: a free-formCNC grinding machine being built by Cran-field University; a Zeeko hybrid polishingmachine; and a reactive atomic plasmamachine. The UPS Centre is a partnershipbetween University College London, Cran-field University, Zeeko and OpTIC.
The plan regarding optical polymers andanalytical services is to develop the facilitiesto produce a wide range of optical-gradepolymers for use in lenses, photoactive mat-erials and novel substrates. The laboratorywill also be equipped with a suite of analyti-cal equipment for performing spectrometry,chromatography and thermomechanicaltesting of samples. Much of the equipment atthe time OLE visited in April was on order.
OpTIC is also in the process of installing aMOCVD reactor for growing specializednitride and oxide materials and devices, suchas high-brightness GaN LEDs. It plans tocarry out studies on improving the yield ofGaN wafer production. The reactor will be upand running later this year.
In addition to these centres of expertise,OpTIC is busy preparing a metrology labora-tory that will contain a wealth of equipmentfor characterizing optical samples. WhenOLE visited, the lab had just installed a NikonNexiv 3D laser-profiler for highly accurateshape measurements, video microscopyequipment and an interferometer for check-
ing the flatness of optics.As well as making all of this equipment
available to start-ups at OpTIC, the idea is touse it to generate revenue by performingcontract research for third parties. “Themetrology lab is expected to be up and run-ning by the end of June,” said sales managerPeter Williams. “We are also planning torun training courses on metrology topicssuch as microscopy from July.”
OpTIC also has a conference room capableof holding 120 people, which means that it is
capable of hosting events and industrial sem-inars, providing yet another option for rev-enue generation. Within a few years it ishoped that OpTIC will be self-financing,thanks to money from these activities andthe rent from start-ups.
Given the number of ideas and enthusiasmat OpTIC, it’s easy to imagine that it will besuccessful. As OLEwas going to press, anothernew venture, Optical Integration Limited, wasabout to move in and start unpacking – surelyan encouraging sign for the future. ■■
INNOVATION
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27OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Super smooth: OpTIC has been selected as thelocation for a Centre of Excellence on ultraprecision surfaces that will be able to fabricatemirrors for extremely large telescopes.
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European firms are making good progress in developing the optical equipment that willbe needed to make the microchips of the future. Rob van den Berg finds out more.
Extreme UV lithographypreserves Moore’s law
CHIP MANUFACTURE
29OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Moore’s law – the doubling of the number oftransistors on a chip every two years – cele-brates its 40th birthday this month. And it isstill going strong. Even though the end of its“shelf life” has regularly been forecast, con-tinual advances in the imaging resolution ofoptical lithography have kept the law ontrack by enabling the creation of ever-smaller features on semiconductor chips.
The key to improving lithography is theuse of shorter-wavelength light, and lenseswith a higher numerical aperture (NA).Since the mid-1980s, the wavelength usedfor lithography has steadily come down fromthe 436 nm g-line of mercury to the 193 nmemission of an ArF excimer laser, which isthe current basis for chip manufacturing.While further incremental reductions inwavelength do not seem feasible, scientistsare investigating immersing the lithographyoptics in a fluid such as demineralized water,to increase their NA from the current valueof 0.93 to values beyond unity.
However, there’s a problem: according toMoore’s law and the Lithography Roadmap –a kind of industry consensus about wherethe technology is heading – feature sizes onsemiconductor chips should reach 32 nm bythe end of this decade. The challenge is thatmaking features this small will require anentirely new approach to lithography.
In order to save Moore’s law, researchers atCarl Zeiss Semiconductor ManufacturingTechnologies (SMT), Germany, have beenworking with leading equipment manufac-turer ASML Optics for the last 10 years todevelop extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.This ambitious approach performs lithogra-phy at a wavelength of just 13.5 nm – 14times shorter than today’s systems – and pre-sents its own set of technical challenges.
For a start, EUV radiation is absorbed byall materials, including air, so EUV lithogra-phy has to be performed in a vacuum.What’s more, as there are no materials thatcan be used to make refractive optics (lenses)that operate at this wavelength, the lightmust be focused using only specially shapedreflective optics (mirrors).
These are just some of the challenges being
addressed at Zeiss’s brand-new productionand research facility, which is located justoutside the old town of Oberkochen.
Winfried Kaiser, manager of product strat-egy at Zeiss, explained in more detail: “Inconventional refractive objective designs,lens elements are added in order to improveperformance. A single lithographic ‘lens’may therefore consist of up to 60 surfaces. Inan EUV system the goal is to minimize thenumber of components, since even the bestreflective surfaces at this wavelength reducethe number of photons by 30%.”
One of the problems has been finding asuitable reflective coating for the mirrors,and Zeiss has settled on alternating layers ofmolybdenum (Mo) and silicon (Si). “Thesecoatings were originally developed for astro-nomical telescopes, which were sent into theupper atmosphere with balloons to detectsoft X-ray radiation,” Kaiser told OLE. “EachMo/Si layer only has a minor reflectivity, but,by adding up to 40 or 50 layers, an accept-able reflectivity of 70% is obtained.”
Manufacturing the reflective optics pre-sents another challenge. The mirrors have aspecial aspheric shape and are made by acomputer-controlled figuring and polishingprocess. To complicate matters, the coatingthickness must be adjusted across the mirrorsurface to correct for the change in the angleof incidence of the light.
Requirements for the optical quality of themirror surfaces are also staggering. For amirror 100 mm in diameter , the acceptableroot-mean-square surface roughness is only0.2 nm. In addition, the thickness variationsof the individual layers of coating must becontrolled to within 0.1% – a mere 7 pm.
In a painstaking process that may takeweeks, polishing slurries and ultra-accurateion beams are used to achieve the requiredshape and roughness. Kaiser explained: “Tento fifteen years ago, we would rely on manualpolishing – people with ‘golden hands’ – butwith these kinds of requirements, an auto-mated system is indispensable.”
High-performance surface metrology
EUV anticipation: Carl Zeiss SMT scientists with prototype illumination equipment for an EUV lithographysystem. It is hoped similar tools will be used to make microchips with a feature size of 32 nm in the future.
Carl
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CHIP MANUFACTURE
30 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
equipment is required to check the figure androughness of the mirror. To this end, Zeisshas developed special interferometers whichcan make measurements with a repeatabil-ity of 27 nm and a reproducibility of 46 pm –more than accurate enough to determine thecharacteristics of the mirrors.
To date, five of the six mirrors needed fora first-demonstration EUV lithography toolhave been fabricated and have withstoodreflectivity and lifetime tests. In order to suituse in a commercial system, the lithogra-phy optics need to be able to function formore than 30 000 h.
The lifetime of the optics is reduced by sur-face oxidation, which is irreversible, and thedeposition of carbon, which can, in princi-ple, be removed. Preliminary tests undercontinuous synchrotron exposure at thesynchrotron BESSY in Hamburg are so farpromising, but it’s still early days.
Another big technical challenge for EUVlithography is to develop an appropriate lightsource that can generate sufficient outputpower at 13.5 nm. The source of EUV radia-tion is a hot plasma, which is generatedeither by a laser or by a gas discharge.
Having an EUV source with sufficientoutput power is critical because it directlyrelates to production throughput. Cost-
effective chip production calls for the expo-sure of about 120 wafers per hour. “Weneed to get the EUV throughput up to a levelthat customers are accustomed to gettingfrom their tools now [based on 193 nmexcimer lasers],” said Noreen Harned, vice-president of ASML .
Several manufacturers are working hardto deliver the more than 100 W of EUVrequired at the entrance of the illuminationsystem. This may sound like a lot, but, afterseveral reflections in the projection optics,there are only a few millijoules per square
centimetre left at the wafer. One leading manufacturer is XTREME
technologies: a joint venture betweenLambda Physik in Göttingen and Jenoptikin Jena that was founded with the purposeof to develop plasma sources for EUV lithog-raphy. In September of last year, XTREMEgenerated a record 200 W of power from axenon gas discharge plasma.
General manager Uwe Stamm explainedhow the EUV light is generated: “With a cou-ple of electrodes we generate a peak currentof 60 000 A in a low-pressure, pre-ionizedxenon gas. The hot, dense plasma thatresults has a temperature of 200 000 °C, andemits light at 13.5 nm. Only 1–3% of theinput energy gets converted in this way, how-ever, so taking away the excess heat and pre-venting the electrodes from melting is amajor problem.” As a result, XTREME hasput a lot of effort into developing novel cool-ing solutions using porous metals andincreasing the plasma–wall distance toenlarge the cooling surface.
According to Stamm, even higher outputpowers are, in principle, not a problem:“With tin vapour we have even reached400 W. Overall, there has been an increasein power by almost three orders of magni-tude over the last three years.”
A prototype EUV lithography system that is underdevelopment at ASML.
XTREME is not the only firm consideringthe use of a tin-vapour discharge to generatehigh output-powers. Philips Extreme UV – ajoint venture between Philips Lighting andthe Fraunhofer Institute – also believes thattin has much to commend it.
“The broadband characteristics of xenonsources result in too much energy absorp-tion outside the mirrors’ narrow reflectiveband,” said Joseph Pankert, general man-ager of Philips Extreme UV. “Tin sourcesradiate in a much narrower bandwidth andrequire much less input power to provide thenecessary exposure on the wafer, as com-pared to xenon.” Pankert’s firm has recentlydemonstrated a tin-plasma discharge source,which generates 40 W of useable EUV power,and is well on course to developing indus-trial-scale EUV sources.
However, tin vapour does have a draw-back: it can condense on the collector opticsand contaminate them, resulting in a loss ofreflectivity. This could cause problems forproduction tools which have to operate for atleast one year, during which time the sourceis on for some 3000 h or 100 billion pulses.To get around the problem, Philips is experi-menting with the use of a buffer gas betweenthe source and the optics that sweeps the tinvapour onto a foil trap.
Once both the EUV source and optics areready, there is the question of using them toconstruct a complete lithography system. Inorder to prove that this will be possible,smaller prototype lithography machineshave recently been built.
Exitech, UK, has produced so-called EUVmicro-exposure tools (with XTREME’s gas-discharge plasma sources and Zeiss optics)and installed them at Intel and InternationalSEMATECH. Such micro-exposure toolsdeliver the required chip-resolution of 32nm,but at a much smaller field-of-view than in acommercial production tool.
Zeiss and ASML are currently finishing theassembly of a larger alpha-demo tool, whichcontains a Philips source. By the first quarterof 2006, this will be delivered for testing tothe Interuniversity Microelectronics Center(IMEC) in Belgium – the largest independentmicroelectronics research and developmentcentre in the world. Another one will beinstalled at around the same time in the US.
It is hoped that the demonstration of theseprototypes will boost the confidence of thesemiconductor industry to make the switch
from 193 nm and immersion optics to EUVtechnology. “The only way that immersion[optics] will impact on EUV is if there is theinvention of a new fluid that is cost-effectiveand continues to extend immersion,” saidASML’s Harned. “Otherwise, our leading-edge customers feel that 2010 is a reason-able timeframe to have EUV tools in volumeproduction.” ■■
Rob van den Berg is a freelance science journalistbased in the Netherlands.
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Studying drug coatings is just one use the pharmaceutical industry has found for terahertzradiation. John Paul Cerroti, vice-president of product development at Teraview, tellsJacqueline Hewett about its current research and potential markets for the technology.
Pharmaceutical industryadopts terahertz waves
TERAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY
33OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
UK-based firm Teraview professes to be theworld’s first company solely devoted to thecommercial exploitation of terahertz (THz)radiation. Founded in April 2001 as a spin-off from Toshiba Research Europe, the firmhas raised £10 m (714.6 m) in venture-cap-ital funding since its inception.
JH: What application areas isTeraview targeting?JPC: We have three application groups:analytical, medical and security. The analyt-ical group is primarily focused on thepharmaceutical industry and is producingspectrometers and imagers. The medicalgroup is concentrating on identifying can-cers, particularly skin cancers. This is at thepreclinical stage and we have not yet startedclinical trials. We are working with excisedtissue just now and we can differentiatebetween healthy and cancerous areas.
The security group is studying the use ofTHz radiation in applications such as scan-ners at airports. In THz spectroscopy, the con-trast mechanism is the refractive index. Thismeans we can see things such as ceramicknives, which cannot be picked up by metaldetectors or X-ray machines. We can also geta spectroscopic fingerprint of plastic explo-sives, so we can tell they are there and, gener-ally, identify what kind they are.
These three distinct groups are at differentcommercialization stages. The most advancedin terms of products is the analytical group.We have a spectrometer and an imager on themarket, and have just launched a versatileversion of the spectrometer. We also have anumber of systems in well known pharma-ceutical companies.
The next-most-advanced is the securitygroup, although we are still some way fromselling commercial products. We are work-ing in partnership with Smiths Detectionand are at the proof-of-principle stage at themoment. Once this stage is completed, wewill develop prototypes that can be tested inairports, for example. After that, there willbe another iteration to take the product tofinal sale.
How is THz being used in thepharmaceutical industry?A big issue in the pharmaceutical industry ispolymorphism. This is where you have a par-ticular chemical entity that can crystallize inmany different ways. The trouble is that thedifferent crystallized forms dissolve at differ-ent rates. These rate differences can be enor-mous – the rate ratio between one form andanother being as much as 500:1.
The kinetics of a drug dissolving in thestomach determine the release of the drugand it is important to have close control ofthis. Although there are a number of differ-ent techniques to observe crystal form,almost all of them have problems under cer-tain circumstances.
For example, Raman spectroscopy heatsthe sample, which can change a poly-morphic state from one type to another. X-ray diffraction is a good technique, exceptwhen you get preferred orientation of thecrystal. THz radiation seems to be immune tomost of these problems because we are look-ing not so much at the vibration of the atoms,but at the vibrations between molecules.
Another THz radiation application is theimaging of drug coatings, which can be com-plicated and multilayered. A coating can be
designed to dissolve at a specific rate to controlthe release of a drug. Making sure that thecoating structure is right is crucial. Existingtechniques require the tablet to be sliced, butusing THz we can do 3D volumetric imaging.
We fire pulses into the tablet and seereflections when there is a refractive-indexchange between the different layers. We canalso make spectroscopic measurements. Weget the pulse back in the time domain, butcan Fourier-transform it into the frequencydomain and get a spectrum of differentparts of the tablet. Nobody else can com-bine those two aspects as far as we areaware. We have done a lot of work on tabletcoatings, homogeneity and integrity.
How do you generate THz radiationat present and are you looking atalternative technologies?We use a Ti:sapphire laser producing sub-100fs pulses at 80MHz. The pulses hit a semi-conductor target with an applied bias voltagethat essentially acts like a synchrotron on achip. When the pulse arrives, electrons moveinto the conduction band and accelerateunder the influence of the field. The resultingbroadband THz radiation is diffraction-limitedand covers 40 GHz–4 THz.
Imaged using a standard camera, the sole of this shoe looks normal (left). THz radiation reveals thepresence of a ceramic blade and plastic explosives in the shoe (middle). Removing the sole of the shoeexposes the hidden items (right). The differences in refractive index provide the contrast.
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We are running a number of research pro-grammes, including one on quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs). The trouble is, QCLs aresingle wavelength and have to be tied to a spe-cific application. They are unlikely to replacepulsed systems for broadband THz generation.
Do you plan to reduce the size andprice of your products?In the long term, yes. The instruments arecurrently the size of a photocopier and thatwill come down to a bench-top system. Weare currently selling instruments at up to£500 000. The price will fall over the next5–10 years, but is unlikely to change a greatdeal during the next three years.
We are largely controlled by the cost of thefemtosecond laser. The market for thesedevices is relatively small, but over the5–10 year timescale, prices will come downsignificantly. The usual economies of scaleshould kick in as we start selling 10 to 100systems per year and this should bring theprice of the laser down.
There is also increasing competition inthe marketplace. A couple of years ago,there were one or two players making theseultrafast sources, but now there are at leastfive firms, so it is getting more competitive.We also expect laser-makers to move on tosecond-generation products, which willhopefully be cheaper.
What problems do you face ingetting products to the market?The biggest problem we have is the timescaleof the decision-making [of a potential cus-tomer]. When you are selling instruments at£250 000–500 000, you don’t get a decisionin five minutes. You need to do a lot of trialswith people and they need to be convinced ofthe business benefit to them.
It is typically 18–24 months between firststarting to talk to someone and the orderbeing placed. This is the biggest challenge.We are a venture-capital-funded companyand venture capitalists want their moneyback in reasonably short periods of time. Cre-ating new markets usually takes a lot of time,so we are trying to focus our efforts.
What are Teraview’s plans for thefuture?The intention is to carry on with the pharma-ceutical industry for our main sales effort andbranch out into new applications. We arelooking at applications involving inter-molecular relations such as those found in liq-uid crystals, where their behaviour dependson the position of the molecules with respectto one another. Over the next few years, wewill also be improving and bringing out sec-ond- and third-generation products. ■■
TERAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY
OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
4 mm
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A basal cell carcinoma can occupy a small area on the skin’s surface (left). THz radiation can penetrate1 mm into the skin and reveal the depth and spread of the cancer below the skin’s surface (right).
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Laser-powered cooling chambers that use light to remove heat could soon be a rival toconventional chillers. Oliver Graydon reports that the technology is maturing rapidly.
Laser fridge comes of ageOPTICAL REFRIGERATION
37OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
The development of compact laser-poweredrefrigerators that can cool to cryogenic tem-peratures has taken a leap forward, thanks torecord-breaking research in the US. Scien-tists at Los Alamos National Laboratory inNew Mexico have cooled a small bar of ytter-bium-doped fluoride glass to a temperatureof 208 K (–65 °C) using nothing but laserlight – a new record for optical refrigeration.
In theory, by placing a small component,such as an infrared detector, in thermalcontact with the glass, it too can be cooled.As a result, the technique could lead to anew breed of cooler that is cheap to make,powerful and highly reliable.
“Our goal is to develop laser-driven cryo-genic refrigerators – rugged, all solid-statedevices – that are compact and have novibration,” said Richard Epstein, leader ofthe Los Alamos research team. “The earlyapplications for such laser refrigeratorscould be to cool infrared instruments onsatellites, or high-temperature supercon-ductor electronics, for example.”
The principle of optical refrigeration issimple and is, effectively, a laser operated inreverse. A suitable material is pumped withlaser light, which is absorbed and then emit-ted as fluorescence. However, if the energy ofthe fluorescence photons is slightly largerthan the pump photons, there is a net energyloss. This is compensated for by the absorp-tion of thermal energy (phonons) from thematerial, which gets colder.
“Our cooling fluid is light, which is used tosuck entropy out of the glass,” said Epstein.“You put a photon in and it gets absorbedand then re-emitted at a higher energy. Eachtime this happens, you remove heat that isequal to about 1% of the photon’s energy.”
For the scheme to work, it is important touse a material that has appropriately spacedenergy levels. To date, the favourite choice is afluoride glass called ZBLAN, which is dopedwith the rare earth element ytterbium.
The performance of the cooling is stronglydependent on the purity of the glass. Anyimpurities can potentially block the path ofthe “cooling” photons and cause the energyof the injected photon to be lost as heatinstead. “If the excitation degrades as heat,then you get 100 times as much energydumped into the glass than a single cooling-photon removes,” said Epstein. “This is
cold fingervacuum chamber
stand
mirroredYb:ZBLAN
pump fibrefrom laserdiode
laser-focusinglenses
selective absorbing/mirror coating
device tobe cooled
metal backingmirror
sapphirethermal link
Laser cooling requires ultrapure fluoride glass (above), and the Los Alamos team is building a fabricationfacility to guarantee its own supply. A schematic and real-life image of the optical refrigerator (below andbottom right). An energy-level diagram showing the underlying physics (bottom left).
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phonon absorption cools host glass
laser pumping
energy level 3
energy level 2
energy level 1
coolingradiative transition
what we are fighting. If you do it at all wrong,then you get a heater, not a cooler.”
The current Los Alamos prototype opticalfridge consists of an 8 × 8 mm Yb-dopedZBLAN glass cylinder, housed in a match-box-sized vacuum chamber. Both endfaces ofthe glass cylinder are coated with a dielectricmirror. One end features a 1 mm-diameterpinhole to admit the cooling laser beam.
When the cylinder was pumped with up to11 W of 1.02 µm light from a diode-pumpedYb:YAG laser, the glass started to cool and,
after about two hours, reached the record-breaking temperature of 208 K. However,Epstein is confident that lower temperaturescan be reached by using purer glass.
“Theory suggests that, if we can decreasethe impurities by a factor of between threeand five, we should be able to get down tobelow 150 K,” he told OLE. This would be animportant achievement, as, according toEpstein, today’s thermoelectric coolers thatuse the Peltier effect can’t reach below 170 K.Instead, Stirling engines are needed to reach
the low temperatures, but an optical coolerwould have several advantages.
First, there is no vibration or electro-magnetic noise, and coolers as small as 1 cm3
that feature laser-diode chips as a pump-source may be feasible. What’s more, as thereare no moving parts, the reliability of an opti-cal cooler is limited purely by the lifetime ofthe pump laser, which could last tens ofthousands of hours. In principle, the coolersshould be easy and cost-effective to constructas there are no precise mechanical or electri-cal assemblies to worry about.
To push the technology further, the LosAlamos team is in the process of building itsown $1 m (70.8 m) glass-fabrication facility.This will allow it access to a regular supply ofultrapure glass. “It’s hard to get samples withthe reliability and purity we need. To motivatean external company to do this is more expen-sive than doing it ourselves,” said Epstein.“There’s a facility in Berne, Switzerland, thatwe’ve been using and we are going to copy thedesign of that. We should be up and runningby November and producing glass that coolsby the end of the year.”
Theoretical calculations predict that tem-peratures as low as 50 K are achievable withZBLAN glass. For even more demandingapplications, it may be possible to get to 10 Kby replacing the glass with a semiconductorsample with an appropriate energy-bandstructure. Neither the Los Alamos team noranyone else in the field has yet managed todemonstrate cooling in semiconductors, butthis is an active area of investigation.
Elsewhere in the US, Ball Aerospace hasreceived financial support from NASA to fur-ther develop laser-cooling technology. Theintention is to make compact, noise-freecoolers in space applications, such as con-trolling the temperature of IR-detectorarrays in scientific equipment.
To date, Ball has made a prototype opticalrefrigerator that is also based on Yb-dopedZBLAN glass. It succeeded in cooling a smallload (an aluminium cylinder 10 mm indiameter, 6 mm in length and weighing1.1 g) 15.6 °C below the temperature of itssurroundings. The Yb-doped ZBLAN samplewas pumped with 14 W of 1030 nm lightfrom a Yb:YAG disc laser.
Ball believes that the result is highly signif-icant and now has a roadmap to buildsmaller, more efficient coolers and test themin a variety of environments. “We haveachieved a breakthrough in the proof of con-cept of an optical refrigerator in attaching thefluorescent element to a load,” commentedthe firm in a presentation on the topic.
One thing is for sure, the work at LosAlamos and Ball Aerospace suggests thatcryogenic laser coolers are not far away. ■■
OPTICAL REFRIGERATION
38 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
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TRUMPF is a household name when it comes to lasermaterials processing. Jacqueline Hewett spoke to PeterLeibinger, head of its laser division, about the marketprospects for current and next-generation technologies.
TRUMPF embraces kilowaINTERVIEW
40 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
JH: How large is the TRUMPF group?PL: Our revenue today is roughly 71.25 bn,with about two-thirds of this – 7800 m –coming from lasers. This total includes thesale of laser sources, as well as lasers used incombination with machine tools.
When we started working with carbondioxide (CO2) lasers in 1979, our revenuewas below 7100 m for the entire group.This really shows you what the laser hasmeant to us.
We are convinced that, today, we are thelargest maker of lasers for the manufac-turing industry. The TRUMPF group hasroughly 6000 employees and over 40 sub-sidiaries in roughly 30 countries. We alsohave manufacturing facilities in Europe,North America and Asia.
Europe is our largest market, although ourNorth American and Asian businesses arealso well developed. The company’s sales aresplit approximately 25% for the Germanmarket, 20% North America, 20% for Asia,25% Western Europe and 10% rest of world.
Which lasers does TRUMPF offer?We produce solid-state and gas lasers. Ourgas lasers are solely CO2, ranging from 1 to20 kW, and are used for cutting and welding.These are based on both fast-axial-flow anddiffusion-cooled designs.
On the solid-state laser side, we make bothlamp-pumped and diode-pumped systems.Our lamp-pumped pulsed lasers start at 20Wand go up to 500 W, and continuous-wave(CW) sources from 500 W to 4 kW.
Our diode-pumped rod lasers start at1 kW and go up to 4.5 kW. We also makediode-pumped disc lasers starting at 250 W(CW), up to 4 kW.
We are also launching a diode-pumped Q-switched laser. This has diffraction-limited output and emits extremely stablepulses in the nanosecond range. Theselasers are intended for micromanufacturingapplications such as drilling and engravingof fuel injectors for automobiles, and struc-turing cylinder surfaces or solar panels. Weare offering this laser at 1064 nm; green at532 nm and ultraviolet wavelengths arealso under development.
We are one of the largest manufacturersof diode-pumped Q-switched solid-statelasers for marking applications worldwide.
What is your most importantmarket? This is a hard question to answer! You cansegment CO2 lasers into two markets: cuttingand welding. Most lasers emitting less than7 kW go into cutting applications, whereasall those above 7 kW go into heavy-dutywelding applications such as steel manufac-turing and ship building.
On the solid-state side, it’s a lot more com-plicated. We have a diverse customer base atup to 1 kW. Applications range from thewelding of the housing of pacemakers andminiature devices in electronics, to cuttingvery fine metal parts.
Almost all of the lasers above 1 kW areused for the macrowelding applicationsfound in production lines in industry. Manyof these go into the automotive industry. Wehave had great success selling our systemsinto production environments in the past fiveyears, especially for the welding of car bodies.
Continuous-process welding applications,such as tube manufacture, are anotherimportant market for us. The vast majority ofstainless-steel tubes today are welded with alaser, many with a TRUMPF laser.
I am convinced that micromanufacturingwill be an important market in the future. Thelaser has unique strengths and can createstructures that cannot be made in any otherway. I am absolutely certain that the trend tomake things smaller will coincide very wellwith the abilities of the laser as a tool.
Have you seen a shift from gas lasersto solid-state lasers? No, not really. The CO2 laser is ideal for cuttingand also has a very attractive price point.Compared to many solid-state lasers availabletoday, the CO2 laser still has very favourablebeam characteristics. The physics of the cut-ting process favours the CO2 laser, in relationto the energy absorbed by the metal.
The CO2 laser is also eye-safe, which istremendously important. The cost con-nected with making a solid-state laser eye-
safe is not to be underestimated. TRUMPFhas tried to introduce solid-state laser-cut-ting machines because we have both tech-nologies in-house, but the success has beenlimited. In our mind, the CO2 laser has a longlife ahead of it with regard to cutting.
Welding demands high flexibility when itcomes to manipulating the laser beam – youneed to use a robot. Here, the solid-state laserhas unique advantages in terms of beamdelivery. There are also certain welding appli-cations where the YAG laser is plainly better.For example, if you want to weld on the sur-face as opposed to a deep weld, this cannot bedone with the CO2 laser because of its absorp-tion characteristics. The YAG laser also hasadvantages in pulsed applications such asfine welding and fine manufacturing.
Are you developing fibre and disclasers?We have a range of disc lasers and considerourselves the technology leader in this field.TRUMPF is convinced that the disc laser isthe best concept for multi-kilowatt laser sys-tems when you consider the cost per watt.
Having said that, we think the fibre laser is atremendously interesting concept. We arelooking at the fibre laser, but we think the con-cept is still at an early stage of development.
Peter Leibinger (top right) believes that carbon dioxide lasers ha
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We think that the disc laser is where theturbocharged direct-injection diesel engineis in the car industry today, and the fibrelaser is where the hydrogen engine is. Inother words, the fibre laser is a promisingconcept that might have important appli-cations in the future. We are not exactlysure, as yet, what niche the fibre laser will fitinto. It is still too early to say if this is anindustry-worthy product.
We are not interested in setting worldrecords in terms of power. We are interestedin setting the world record in industry-worthiness. That has been our success in thepast and we will follow this track in thefuture. We will only introduce technologyand offer it to our customers when we areabsolutely certain it is industry worthy.Today, we can say that this is the case for thedisc laser, but not the fibre laser.
What applications will the disc laserfind and what technology will itdisplace?We think that the disc laser will replace theconventional lamp-pumped solid-state laserto a large degree. It offers everything that thelamp-pumped laser offers and it has the beamquality necessary for remote welding. Thebeam on-times will be 90% for the disc laser, in
typical industrial applications, versus 50% forthe lamp-pumped source.
The time between exchanges of the pumpsource is also an issue. In the case of thelamp-pumped laser, we have to exchange thelamps between, say, 1000–2000 h. The disclaser’s diodes have to be replaced after10 000 h at the soonest, but we expect thediodes to last at least 20 000 h. The wall-plugefficiency will go up to 20%, compared with3–4% for the lamp-pumped laser.
There are still many applications where thelamp-pumped system is preferable. But if youlook at car-body welding, you see the disc laserreplacing the lamp-pumped system. The disclaser is the laser of choice in this application.
How is the market for lasers andlaser systems in Asia growing?We are seeing 20–30% annual growth interms of materials processing with lasers.The strong markets are Korea, China, Tai-wan and Japan. This is for both systems andlasers over the full range of applications.
Europe – and especially Germany – is still,to my mind, the most important laser marketin the world, and I am certain it will remainstrong. The level of sophistication of our cus-tomers in Europe and Germany is very highand the cost pressure on these customers is
also high. They need to look for ways to dif-ferentiate themselves, which they can dothrough advanced manufacturing methods.
Therefore, I think the laser market willremain strong in Europe. I do not expect theGerman and Western European markets togrow at high rates – those markets are alreadylarge and other markets are growing faster. ■■
41OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
att disc laser technology1923 Christian Trumpf and two partnersacquire Julius Geiger GmbH – a machine shopin Stuttgart, Germany.1933 Growth at the firm requires a move tolarger production premises in Weilimdorf.1934 The company manufactures the firstmotor-driven hand shears for cutting sheet-metal.1937 Julius Geiger is renamed TRUMPF & Coand now has over 100 employees.1950 TRUMPF develops stationary tools wherethe metal is pushed through the machine.1955 A second factory is opened in Hettingen.1957 The company applies for a patent for co-ordinate guides – the first step towardsnumerically controlled movement of the metal.1963 TRUMPF establishes its first foreigncompany in Zug, Switzerland, and now has439 employees.1969 A US subsidiary is founded inFarmington, Connecticut. Farmington hassince become the second-largest TRUMPFlocation worldwide.1972 Further growth sees TRUMPF move itsheadquarters to Ditzingen, Germany.1978 The company establishes an Asiansubsidiary. 1979 The CO2 laser becomes important forTRUMPF. The company manufactures its firstcombination punch-laser machine, using alaser purchased in the US. Laser output isbetween 500 and 750 W.1985 TRUMPF decides to make its own CO2
lasers. Its 1 kW source is the first compactlaser resonator with RF excitation.1987 A flatbed laser-cutting centre isintroduced where the processing head “flies”across the metal.1988 TRUMPF Lasertechnik GmbH is formed.1992 TRUMPF acquires Haas Laser – a makerof solid-state lasers. 1998 A new laser factory is opened at theDitzinger headquarters.2000 TRUMPF has 4803 employees andachieves sales of 71 bn.
TRUMPF’s history
ave distinct advantages for cutting applications (left), whereas solid-state lasers are ideal for welding (bottom right).
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Cameras based on CMOS image sensors are providing a new cost-effective way toperform high-speed imaging. Gerhard Holst describes the latest technology on offer.
CMOS cameras riseto speed challenge
PRODUCT GUIDE
43OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Advances in CMOS image-sensor technologyare making it possible for a new breed of high-speed cameras to capture events previouslyimpossible to image by conventional CCDcameras. Improvements in chip design andmanufacturing have enabled CMOS camerasto become a cost-effective, high-performancesolution for imaging a wide range of transientphenomena, ranging from car crash-testsand ballistics, to muscle contractions and ani-mal movements. Nevertheless, for extremelyfast imaging at frame rates of more than a fewthousand frames per second (fps), specializedmechanical or image-intensified camerasthat use CCD sensors are still required.
CMOS and CCD characteristicsThere are several inherent advantages CMOSsensors offer over traditional CCD sensors inhigh-speed imaging. Firstly, high-speedimaging requires high frame-rates. Thisnecessitates short exposure times and strongillumination, which can cause blooming(regions of overexposure) and smear(unwanted stripes) in CCD sensor images. Incontrast, the high-speed response and widedynamic range of CMOS sensors means thatbloom and smear are not usually a problem.
Prior to recent improvements in semicon-ductor manufacturing, CMOS sensors were
limited by a sensitivity far inferior to CCDs.But now, higher pixel fill-factors, combinedwith the use of light-gathering microlenses,make it possible to achieve similar sensitivi-ties. What’s more, the higher dark-current(noise) of CMOS sensors is not an issue inhigh-speed applications, because the expo-sure times are so short.
The most important advantage of CMOSimage sensors is, without doubt, theirhighly parallel architecture. This enables avery fast read-out that can reach severalthousand frames per second (see the tablebelow). It is impossible for CCD image sen-sors to reach the high read-out rates ofCMOS cameras because the pixel data isoutput through a serial scheme.
Further advantages of CMOS cameras arethat they use single-voltage supplies andhave low power-consumption, which isimportant for high data-rates. The only dis-advantage is the higher fixed-pattern noise ofCMOS sensors caused by small differences inpixel gain. However, this can be correctedlater on, when the images are recorded.
Performance todayDue to the absence of mass-market appli-cations, there is a lack of high-speed CMOSimage sensor chips on the market. As a
▲▲
HG-100K phantom v9.0 ultima APX-RS visario g2 pco.1200 hsmanufacturer Redlake Vision Research Photron Weinberger PCOresolution 1504 × 1128 1600 × 1200 1024 × 1024 1536 × 1024 1200 × 1024[pixel × pixel]frame rate, 1000 1000 3000 1000* 636full frame [fps]dynamic A–D [bit] 8 10 10 10 10camRAM, 4 12.26 16 4 4maximum [GB]minimum 5 1 2 10 0.05exposure [µs]
*The camera uses a specific read-out scheme to achieve the frame rate: only half the number of pixels is read out and, by sophisticated algorithms,the image is reconstructed.
Typical performance of a high-speed CMOS camera
Transient phenomena: a sample of the imagesequence of a chocolate biscuit falling into a dish ofmilk (top), a water droplet into water (middle) andthe contraction of a muscle cell (bottom).
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PRODUCT GUIDE
44 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
result, most high-speed camera manufac-turers specify and order their own propri-etary CMOS sensors. However, off-the-shelfCMOS image sensors are available from fromMicron (Photobit) and Cypress (FillFactory).
In terms of performance, the table on p43gives an overview of the typical cameraspecifications available today. The maxi-mum frame-rate is around 1000 fps at afull-frame pixel resolution of 1600 × 1200,with 10-bit analogue-to-digital (A-D) con-version. Unfortunately, in many cases, noinformation is given about the dynamicrange of the cameras, but this is often likelyto be in the region of 59 dB.
All the manufacturers listed in the tableoffer monochrome and colour versions oftheir cameras. As today’s camera interfacescannot cope with high frame-rates, all thecameras have built-in camRAM (primary-configured image memory), which can beexpanded according to customer needs.
Although the shortest exposure times arein the microsecond and nanosecond regimes,the achievable value is often limited by thequality of the illumination of the object.
As for pixel read-out speeds, multiplyingthe frame rate by the image resolution givesspeeds of the order of 3–4 Gpixel/s. Noiselevels are typically 25–35 electrons, with
the exact level determined by the inherenttransitor noise (kTC noise) of the pixels’photodiodes (light-sensitive elements of apixel). The achievable dynamic range isaround 60 dB or more, depending on thedepth of the A-D conversion.
Purchasing advice As is common when purchasing scientificequipment, it is the application that deter-mines which parameters to consider whenbuying a high-speed camera. The primaryfactors are sensitivity, resolution, frame rate,
noise, shutter speed and price. Depending onthe application area, other important para-meters might include the following: ● visible image quality (signal-to-noise ratio,dynamic range, colour conversion), espe-cially in the case of TV and broadcasting;● high geometrical accuracy for 3D-trackingapplications;● synchronization of multiple-camera andtrigger options for crash-tests and ballistics; ● size of the camera’s camRAM;● the features of software supplied, for exam-ple, the availability of application programinterfaces (APIs) for common software pack-ages, and software-development kits.
A related issue is the amount of image datagenerated during an imaging task – 4 GB ofcamRAM can easily be filled up with a coupleof seconds of imaging. With this in mind, it isvital to have a fast interface, such as Camera-Link, to transfer the data to the PC for process-ing. Interfaces based on the new PCI XPressbus could improve this situation in the future.
Last, but not least, a critical and often over-looked factor is illumination of the target.This issue should not be underestimated,because, as frame rate increases, exposuretimes per frame get shorter. Short exposuretimes require powerful arc-lamp lighting,which is driven by AC voltage and thus
Crash-test image taken with a Weinberger visario g2.W
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repeatedly turned on and off. This can causeflicker in imaging at high frame rates. It isadvisable that, in addition to spending timeselecting the right camera system for anapplication, the user also thinks about themost appropriate illumination system (DC-driven LEDs might be one solution).
Emerging applications What are the most popular applications forsophisticated CMOS camera systems? His-torically, aside from scientific research, theautomotive industry has used high-speedcameras to analyse the deformation of carsas they crash. As a result, it has been a strongdriver in improving high-speed imaging.
In crash tests, G-stable camera systems aremounted inside the car and external camerasalso record the crash sequence. In order to getexact measurements, the precision of the trig-gering of the cameras is crucial.
Another increasingly important appli-cation area is the life sciences, where high-speed cameras can help to analyse fastbiological events, such as muscle contrac-tions. In this field, sensitivity is an impor-tant factor, as many applications requireimaging via a microscope.
In TV and broadcasting, high-speed sys-tems are often used for super-slow-motionsequences in sports, movies or adverts. Manyreaders will be familiar with advertisingvideo sequences showing beverages beingpoured into glasses in slow motion.
In industry, high-speed systems can help toperform materials testing – imaging themoment when a piece starts to break, orinvestigating malfunctions in productionmachines that cannot be seen with the nakedeye. Fluid and gas flow can also be visualizedby high-frame-rate imaging techniques suchas particle image velocimetry (PIV). PIV sys-tems are used to study many phenomena,including the injection processes in engines,water-wave development in geochemical
research, and aerodynamics in wind tunnels.CMOS cameras are so versatile that only
very high-speed applications are outsidetheir reach. Applications such as sparkanalysis, ballistics of space debris and mag-netic field effects may require 10 000 fps,which, today, can only be achieved using spe-cial mechanical solutions that deliver expo-sure times in the range of 3–5 ns.
However, continual improvements in semi-conductor and computer technology meanthat the performance of CMOS cameras is
likely to get faster in the future. This will openthe door to the high-quality, cost-effectivevisualization of even more events. ■■
Gerhard Holst is head of the science and researchdepartment at PCO AG, a provider of high-performance CMOS and CCD cameras based inKelheim, Germany. See www.pco.de.
AcknowledgementsJoost Seijnaeve, FillFactory (Cypress) and ChristianBackert, Weinberger GmbH.
PRODUCT GUIDE
45OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Super-slow-motion recording of single water drops.
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Europe is turning to optical technology to monitor combustion efficiency and help tacklethe problem of vehicle emissions. James Tyrrell catches up with the latest research.
All-optical sensing dealswith vehicle emissions
SENSORS
47OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
A combination of optical-temperature sens-ing, spectroscopy and microwaves could helpmake Europe’s vehicles cleaner and cheaperto run, according to research presented atthe Optical Fibre Sensor (OFS-17) conferenceheld in Bruges, Belgium, last month.
The European Union is on a mission todrive down vehicle pollution and is fundingresearch on the topic ahead of its Euro Vemissions directive, due to be implemented in2008/2009. Over the past 13 years, Euro-pean legislation has reduced acceptable lev-els of carbon monoxide (CO) from 4.5 to1.5 g/kWh. Smoke and particulate emissionshave also come under scrutiny.
Currently, vehicles rely on an electrochem-ical oxygen detector, known as a Lambda sen-sor, to regulate emission. Pollution isminimized when the engine is burning fuelcorrectly, and the Lambda sensor maintainsthe optimum fuel:air ratio by measuring theamount of oxygen in exhaust gases.
However, the sensor cannot quantify pol-lutants such as CO, hydrocarbons and oxidesof nitrogen in exhaust gas. And, under theEuro V standard, car-makers will be lookingto extract exactly this information. Fortu-nately, a six-partner European projectdubbed Opto-Emi-Sense thinks it has comeup with an optical sensor that fits the bill.
“It is a spectroscopy sensing technique –you irradiate the exhaust and monitor theabsorption lines of the individual gases,” ColinFitzpatrick, of project partner the University ofLimerick, Ireland, told OLE. “The really novelpart is that we are actually looking at the mid-infrared [mid-IR], which is where the mostsensitive absorption lines for these gasesexist.” For example, CO has a strong absorp-tion at 4.7 µm, carbon dioxide (CO2) at4.23 µm and nitrogen monoxide at 5.2 µm.
By detecting individual pollutants as theyleave the exhaust, engine-makers will be ableto create a highly tuned combustion processthat minimizes pollution. This win–win sce-nario promises cleaner exhaust gas, thanksto more efficient combustion and vehiclesthat are cheaper to run.
Optical fibre enables the sensor’s emitterand detector electronics to be placed a safe
distance from the exhaust manifold, protect-ing the set-up from a highly corrosive envir-onment that can reach temperatures of500 °C. In the lab, the Limerick team are ini-tially targeting CO2 measurements and willmove on to more hazardous gases once thesystem has been optimized.
“We are almost 18 months into our projectand can now detect CO2 using the actualfibres,” said Fitzpatrick. “The aim is that, bythe end of the 36-month project, we will betesting it on an engine at Fiat.” Chalcogenidefibre links the sensor’s mid-IR emitter – a hotnichrome filament – to a test cell and thenguides the radiation from the measurement
site to a pyroelectric detector.“The biggest challenge has been the fact
that the emitters and the detectors are notoptimized for use with fibres, so we have hadto make our own couplers,” explained Fitz-patrick. The team uses a calcium fluoridelens to collimate the emitter’s pulsed mid-IRradiation, transmitting the signal across thegas-measurement cell.
A key benefit of the optical technology is itsfast response. “The electrochemical [Lambda]sensors have in-built delays, whereas opticaltechniques are theoretically instantaneous,”explained Fitzpatrick. This means that, inprinciple, an optical sensor could resolve
On a mission: engineers in Europe are busy developing compact and robust all-optical exhaust sensors(right) that quantify pollutants and suit integration with microwave-based clean-up technology (left).
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engine performance on a cylinder-by-cylinderbasis – a vision held by project partner CentroRicerche Fiat. Optical sensors are also muchless susceptible to cross-sensitivity and cannotbe poisoned by pollutants.
However, profiling exhaust-gas species isonly part of the combustion-control picture.Exhaust-gas temperature also plays a criticalrole in Opto-Emi-Sense’s diagnostic scheme asit enables the Limerick team to correct forthermal drift when processing optical-absorp-tion spectra. Again, optical sensing is the pre-
ferred way of protecting sensitive electronicsfrom a corrosive working environment, giv-ing a long operating life.
City University, London, UK, has been busydeveloping optical-temperature detectors forthe Opti-Emi-Sense project. “We have a coupleof [temperature] sensors: one is a fibre-Bragg-grating-based sensor and the other is a fibre-optic fluorescence-decay time-based sensor,”Ken Grattan, of City University, told OLE. “Thefluorescence sensor measures temperature bymonitoring the rate at which fluorescence
falls off from a sample.”City University’s fibre-Bragg grating works
by detecting the shift in peak wavelength asthe grating expands with temperature. “Wewrite the grating at 1550 nm and illuminateit with a laser diode,” added Grattan.
Researchers have taken a dual approach toassess which design stands up best to thetough engine conditions. “It seems that thefibre-Bragg grating is less sensitive to vibra-tion,” said Grattan. “[But] we are working onrestructuring the fluorescence-based sensorso that it is less vibration-sensitive.”
Microwave clean-upOpto-Emi-Sense’s all-optical approach meansthat the sensor is immune to electromagneticradiation and is the perfect partner for themicrowave-exhaust-gas clean-up technologybeing developed by Ahmed Al-Shamma’a andcolleagues at the University of Liverpool, UK.
“The microwave-plasma system usesexactly the same unit as a microwave oven,”said Al-Shamma’a. “The microwaves ionizethe exhaust gases, generating a plasma thatbreaks down the polluting gas species.” Unlikecatalytic converters, which only operate effec-tively when exhaust gases reach 300 °C, themicrowave unit begins working immediatelyand also avoids the need for expensive mater-ials such as platinum and palladium.
A big advantage for diesel engines is theway that the microwave unit is able to burnout fine and ultrafine particulates in theexhaust gases. Catalytic converters have torely on a system of filters, which, as Al-Shamma’a explains, is not ideal. “Current fil-ters only stop particulates larger than50 µm,” he explained. “They are not success-ful in stopping the ultrafine particulates thatcan cause lung cancer.”
The filters also have to be cleaned, whichadds to operating costs. Al-Shamma’a andhis colleagues have tested their microwaveunit on a commercial fork-lift truck, wherethey were able to embed the compact devicedirectly into the vehicle’s exhaust manifold.
At its halfway stage, Opto-Emi-Sense isalready generating promising results, andproject partners feel confident that their opti-cal technology will suit the market. “We havestayed away from the types of componentsthat are intrinsically very expensive,” com-mented Fitzpatrick. “To be accepted by theautomotive industry, everything has to bescalable down in price with mass production.”
The project, which also includes Fiber-ware and Rostock University of Germany,appears to have found a real need for theoptical technology that has spilled over fromcommunications and thermal-imaging sec-tors. “Bringing us together has been theessential thing,” concluded Grattan. ■■
SENSORS
48 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
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September sunshine:the island of Capri inItaly is the location ofan EOS meeting onoptical microsystemsthis autumn.
The EOS is holding a topical meeting on opticalmicrosystems this autumn. The event will takeplace on the beautiful Italian island of Capri, nearNaples, on 15–18 September. It will focus on arange of technologies, such as silicon-based opto-electronics and MOEMS; photonic crystal andnanophotonics; nonlinear and quantum optics;integrated optics; microsensors; and new charac-
terization methods for materials and devices. The meeting is being chaired by three local
Italian scientists:● Ivo Rendina, CNR-IMM, Naples ● Eugenio Fazio, Università La Sapienza, Rome ● Pietro Ferraro, CNR-INOA, Naples.
For more information about this event, pleasevisit the EOS website at www.myeos.org.
NEWSLETTERT H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E E U R O P E A N O P T I C A L S O C I E T Y
EOS shortlists eighttechnologies for newfocus groups.
Following a recent survey of its members, theEOS has identified eight areas of photonics forits new focus groups – the series of networks itaims to set up for scientists and engineers work-ing in particular fields of optics.
The topics about which members haveexpressed the greatest interest are: ● optical MEMS● terahertz and microwave radiation ● optical fabrication● photonic crystals● colorimetry● information optics● physiological optics● metrology.
This announcement follows the report in thelast EOS Newsletter (OLE February 2005) thatthe Society has recently established its firstfocus group. The group is looking at the topicof imaging, and is being chaired by former EOSpresident Chris Dainty.
In each of the above technology areas, Europehas an active and strong research communitythat will benefit from increased networkingbetween leading scientists, relevant companiesand potential end-users. This approach is alsoconsistent with the recommendations of a recentreport sent to the European Commission. Thereport, “Photonics for the 21st century: a consoli-
dated European photonics research initiative”(see OLE May 2005), highlights the need for bet-ter co-operation and networking within Europe.
“The aim of establishing the focus groups is,among other things, to bring together special-ists in particular fields and organize dedicatedtopical meetings for their subject areas,” saidKlaus Nowitzki, executive director of the EOS.“The focus groups will act as the centre of dis-cussion for determining new trends in scienceand technology.”
If you are interested in getting involved in anyof these focus groups, then please contact theEOS at [email protected].
Key technology areas to receive focus groups
Autumn topical meeting goes to Amalfi Coast
J U N E 2 0 0 5
MEMS, photonic crystals, physiological optics and opti-cal fabrication are just four of the eight technologies thatwill be covered by the new focus groups.
The EC aims tounite photonicsresearch througha new commoninformationplatform.
Munich andLondon host EOStopical meetingsthis month.
The European Commission (EC) has launcheda new project within its Sixth Framework Pro-gramme (FP6) which aims to strengthen com-munication and networking between Europeanphotonics research initiatives.
The goal of the project, named “Optics andPhotonics in the European Research Area”(OPERA 2015), is to create a central informa-tion platform that lists all of the relevant Euro-pean (FP6) projects and national initiatives onphotonics. The idea is that by pooling informa-tion on research activities, OPERA 2015 willenable more efficient and easier informationexchange between interested parties.
Altogether, 19 countries are involved in thedevelopment of OPERA 2015, with input fromthe EOS and other important players, includingthe European Photonics Industry Consortium(EPIC), the Association of German Engineers(VDI), Enterprise Ireland and the Optics Valleyin France, among others.
The platform is also expected to helpstrengthen the interaction between Europeanand international organizations such as EOS,SPIE, VDI, EPIC, EUREKA, EUROM and theEPS, as well as relevant companies. Ultimately,OPERA 2015 hopes to create a common strat-egy between industry and research in the pho-tonics area.
There is no doubt that this common strategy
would be of great benefit. Photonics is one of themost important key technologies for Europe inthe 21st century, but in order to be able to com-pete with tough competition from low-wagecountries, the powers of industry, research andpolitics need to be brought together.
(Please note that this new project should notbe confused with a different FP6 project alsocalled OPERA, which is carrying out researchinto power-line communication systems.)
OPERA 2015’s key tasks are:● the development of an information and com-munications platform in the Internet;● the development of a European informationmedium (e.g. a newsletter) on publicly-fundedresearch projects. The Internet platform and thenewsletter will list all enterprises carrying outphotonics research and development activities,research institutes in this field and organizationsof research politics;● the development of stable Europe-wide com-munication structures between national andinternational clusters and networks;● to represent national and international sup-port programmes and structures;● to represent the state-of-the-art of currentEuropean support projects in optical technolo-gies and photonics;● the development of a common strategy forresearch and industry.
E O S N E W S L E T T E RJ U N E 2 0 0 5
NEWS FROM BRUSSELS
OPERA to improve networking
Imaging season is under wayRegistration is now open for the EOS topicalmeetings taking place in Germany and the UKthis month. The first of the two events is thethree-day Munich-based EOS conference onindustrial imaging and machine vision, which isheld in conjunction with LASER 2005. Worldof Photonics on June 13–17.
Danièle Fournier from the Pierre & MarieCurie University, Paris, France, kicks off pro-ceedings on Monday with the first of the meet-ing’s four themed sessions entitled ImagingMethods, Sensors and Processing. The sessionplans to explore the broad spectrum of sensoroperation, from X-rays to terahertz radiation,touching on the theory and application of imag-ing sensors and methods.
On Tuesday, it is the turn of Pieter Jonker ofthe University of Delft, The Netherlands. Hechairs the meeting’s Shape and Pattern Recog-nition session, which aims to emphasize subjectssuch as shape perception, shape description instochastic geometry, reinforcement and shapereconstruction from multiple views.
Two sessions take place on Wednesday,which is the event’s final day. Imaging inRobotics is chaired by Ulrich Schmucker,Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation andAutomation, Magdeburg, Germany, and fea-tures the exploits of industrial, mobile andautonomous robots.
Don Braggins, of Machine Vision SystemsConsultancy in the UK, takes the helm for theconference’s Machine-Vision Session. Atten-dees can expect discussion on a wide range oftopics, such as sub-pixel metrology, high-speedweb inspection, innovative illumination, andcamera evaluation and matching.
The second EOS topical meeting taking placein June, entitled Advanced Imaging Techniques,is being held in London at Imperial College onJune 29–July 1 and focuses on a number of novelmethods introduced to meet the challenges ofmulti-dimensional imaging.● Further details on both topical meetings, suchas registration rates for students and non-mem-bers, can be found by visiting www.myeos.org.
Ivan Kovshdescribes thetrends at thisyear’s LIC Russiatrade show.
There is no better way to gain an insight intoRussia’s laser market than by attending the LICRussia Lasers Optics Electronics trade show. Thisyear’s event took place in Moscow on 1–4 Marchand was organized by the Laser Association andMVK – International Exhibition Company.
LIC Russia stands for “Laser InnovationCapabilities in Russia” and neatly summarizesthe key theme of the show. About 110 domes-tic laser and optics manufacturers attended asexhibitors and took advantage of the opportu-nity to showcase a wide range of high-qualityoptical and photonics products.
Although most of the firms were Russian,companies from Belarus, Ukraine and Lithua-nia were also well represented. The range ofexhibits included laser sources of radiation(from HeNe to fibre, and continuous-wave up tofemtosecond-pulse generators), laser optics,materials-processing machines and devices forindustrial measurement and diagnostics, ecol-ogy monitoring, and materials analysis.
Other products included laser-medical appa-ratus, image-processing devices and opticalequipment for scientific research (e.g. mono-chromators, spectrometers and positioningequipment). Among the items that receivedparticular interest from attendees were the Cu-vapor industrial laser for high-pression cut-ting in the electronic industry, laser instrumentsfor cosmetic surgery, and a laser-marking systemthat produces colour pictures on steel plates.
A large number of exhibitors mentioned tothe organizers that the event had been commer-cially worthwhile. The chief reason behind theshow’s success is that LIC Russia is carefully ori-ented to the needs of the internal market anddomestic customer.
By analysing the show, a number of usefulconclusions can be drawn about the laser marketin Russia and CIS countries:● More than 60% of laser equipment in CIScountries is manufactured by small enterprises; ● The majority of laser and optics manufactur-ing firms are located in a few geographicregions, with well developed industry and engi-neering in Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg,Volga region and Novosibirsk), in Belarus(Minsk) and in Ukraine (Kiev);● Domestic laser companies often use importedparts and, as a result, the reliability and mainte-nance of local products does not differ muchfrom Western analogues, which usually havesignificantly higher prices;● The introduction of laser and optical technolo-gies in Russian industrial firms and medical insti-tutions is impeded by a lack of qualified end-users;● The start-up boom, which caused a dramaticincrease in the number of small laser-opticalenterprises, is over in Russia, as well as otherCIS countries. In contrast with recent years,the laser business community is now stable,with little change in the main players servingthe domestic market.
As well as giving attendees a chance to see thelatest optical technologies and purchase prod-ucts, LIC Russia 2005 featured a business pro-gramme that included a series of seminars anddiscussions. Topics covered innovation, venturefinancing and creating a company, among others.The Moscow Laser Innovation Center, which isorganized by a partnership between the LaserAssociation and Laser Zentrum Hannover, alsogave a presentation on its activities.
Ivan B Kovsh is president of the Laser Association.
Russian laser market updateFOCUS ON RUSSIA
E O S N E W S L E T T E R J U N E 2 0 0 5
Activities at LIC Russia 2005: scenes from this year’s four-day event, which took place in March in Moscow.
D A T E E V E N T L O C A T I O N
June 6–7 Workshop on Building European OLED Cambridge, UKInfrastructure 2005
June 8–11 Photonics Prague 2005 Prague, Czech Republic
June 12–16 European Conference on Biomedical Optics Munich, Germany
June 12–17 CLEO Europe and EQEC 2005 Munich, Germany
June 13–15 EOS Conference on Industrial Imaging and Machine Munich. GermanyVision 2005
June 13–17 SPIE International Symposium on Optical Metrology Munich, Germany
June 29 – July 1 EOS Topical Meeting on Advanced Optical Imaging London, UK
July 13–15 OPTOEL 2005 Elche (Alicante), Spain
July 23–25 Informal Quantum Information Gathering 2005 Paris, France
September 3–7 Diffractive Optics 2005 Warsaw, Poland
Are you a member of EOS?
E O S N E W S L E T T E RJ U N E 2 0 0 5
For more information on any of these events, please visit www.myeos.org
To contact the EOS board:Executive director Klaus [email protected] Joseph Braat [email protected] Peter Török [email protected] Daniel Dolfi [email protected]
To learn more about your nationalEOS branch, please contact:Belgium Yvon Renotte [email protected] and Slovak republicsPavel Tomanek [email protected] Steen Grüner Hanson [email protected] Harri [email protected] Francoise [email protected] Cornelia Denz [email protected] Aladar [email protected] Anna Consortini [email protected] NetherlandsBernhard [email protected] Aasmund Sudbo [email protected] Katarzyna Macukow [email protected] Laurentiu [email protected] Ivan [email protected] Joachin Campos [email protected] Fredrik Laurell [email protected] Peter Seitz [email protected] Peter [email protected]
EOS Newsletter is produced forthe European Optical Society by Institute of PhysicsPublishing Ltd
Editor Oliver [email protected]: +44 (0)117 930 1015
Individual members are eligible for:● a regular EOS Newsletter e-mail● reduced conference fees● reduced prices for EOS journals● free subscription to Opto & Laser Europe● 20% discount on Institute of Physics Publishing books● members living outside Germany are entitled to a 50% discount on subscription to the German-language journalPhotonik, published by AT-Fachverlag
Additional benefits for corporate members:● a company profile in the EOS directory● a presence on the EOS website● free advertisements for jobs in the EOS market● reduced conference fees for all employees
Look at the benefits
EOS 2005 membership feesIndividual members (who do not belong to a branch or affiliated society of the EOS): 740Students (who do not belong to a branch or affiliated society of the EOS): 710Corporate members (regardless of the number of employees of the company or members of the institute): 7200
Individual members of the branches DgaO (Germany), SFO (France), SSOM (Switzerland), SOS (Sweden) and SIOF (Italy) areautomatically full individual members of the EOS. Individual members of the affiliated societies Promoptica and CBO-BCO(Belgium), CSSF (Czech and Slovak Republic), DOPS (Denmark), FOS (Finland), the Optics Division of the Norwegian PhysicalSociety (Norway), the Optics Division of the Polish Physical Society (Poland), ROS (Romania), SEDO (Spain), LAS (Russia)and the Optical Group of the IOP (UK) are automatically associate members of the EOS.
Membership informationTo find out more about joining EOS, contact: Klaus Nowitzki, executive director, Hollerithallee 8, D-30419 Hannover,Germany. Tel: +49 (0)511 2788 115; e-mail: [email protected]; web: www.myeos.org
Calendar Contact
55OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
EXHIBITION INFORMATION Photonics specialists from all over the worldwill gather in Munich on 13–16 June 2005,when everything at the New Munich TradeFair Centre will focus on light. Well estab-lished market leaders as well as innovativestart-ups will be presenting their productsand technological breakthroughs.
The LASER 2005. World of Photonics exhi-bition is divided into two categories: photonicsapplications and photonics components. The
components category, called Innovative Pho-tonics, Marketable Products, is divided intolasers and optronics; optics; sensors, test andmeasurement technology; production tech-nology for optics; and services. In the Indus-
trial Applications, Complete System Solutionssegment, visitors will find optical systemsorganized into the categories of productiontechnology; optical measurement systems;medical device technology and biotechnol-ogy; imaging; and illumination.
Exhibition opening hoursMonday 13 June: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.Tuesday 14 June: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.Wednesday 15 June: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.Thursday 16 June: 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Official catalogueThe visitor catalogue has been availablesince mid-May, priced 719. Tickets for theexhibition cost 727 (day pass), 748 (two-day pass) or 764 (permanent pass). Priceincludes catalogue.
LASER 2005. WORLD OF PHOTONICSEXHIBITION 55 CONGRESS 56
FIBERCOMM 2005: THE ESSENTIALS FiberComm 2005 will be co-located withLASER 2005. World of Photonics. The eventruns from 13–15 June and will comprise botha conference and an exhibition on all threedays. Both aspects will run concurrently inHall B0 of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.
The conference and trade show will coverall aspects of the optical communications sec-tor, from components, systems and networkdesign to test and measurement, productionand network installation. A full conferenceprogramme will be available at the show.
Day one of the conference features onefull-day and two half-day tutorials. The full-day tutorial will cover technologies that theoptical industry will need, from advanceddevices to protocols and software. Firms suchas Marconi, CoreOptics and Agilent will bemaking presentations throughout the day.
The two half-day tutorials are entitled“From the Edge to FTTx – current view and
latest innovations” and “The advanced TCAinitiative catching the Telecom–IT conver-gence wave”. Speakers at these two tutorialsinclude representatives from Genexis, Motor-ola, Siemens, Pinon Horizon and OptoVia.
Market analysis and opinions on the stateof the optical communications sector willtake centre stage on the morning of day two.Stéphane Téral from RHK will make his
presentation at 9.15 a.m., followed by speak-ers from CIBC and ElectroniCast. The remain-der of day two will focus on next-generationnetwork architectures and applications ofpolymer optical fibre.
Delegates attending the morning sessionson day three will have a chance to hear aboutapplications and business models for core andmetro networks, as well as enterprise net-working and services. This will be followed byan afternoon session entitled “Network study– cost-effective evolution of IP and optics”.
Free time has also been built into the pro-gramme to give delegates a chance to walkthe floors of the dedicated FiberComm tradeshow and visit firms in the LASER 2005.World of Photonics exhibit who are show-ing related products.
Visitors with passes for the main LASER2005. World of Photonics exhibition willfind their badge also gives them access to theFiberComm exhibition.
Photons in Production, Hall B3The live demonstrations, lectures andinterviews with experts at the Photons inProduction area will focus on hybridmanufacturing methods. This special exhibitarea is organized by leading researchinstitutions, together with Messe München.Photonics Forum, Hall B2The Photonics Forum will give experts fromexhibiting companies a chance to discuss theirlatest products and applications. TheFraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology willhost a panel discussion on “Lasers forbiophotonics”, and an overview of different
photonics cluster regions in Europe has beenorganized by the Bayern Photonics network. Analysts’ Conference and Investors’ DayLASER 2005. World of Photonics also aims tocreate a link to the financial world and open upways to gain information about photonicscompanies. Analysts from Deutsche Boerse inFrankfurt will attend the analysts’ conference onWednesday 15 June in conference room B41 tolearn about the activities of leading photonicscompanies. The investors’ day (also on 15 June)provides venture-capital companies, analystsand investment bankers with information ontechnologies and the markets. Contact for
Investors’ Day: Lars Unnebrink. Tel:+49 (0)211 621 4598.Laser MarketplaceThe Seventh International Laser Marketplace willbe held on Wednesday 15 June at the DorintNovotel (next to the Trade Fair Centre). The eventhas been organized by market analyst OptechConsulting, Switzerland, and the magazineEuroLasers. It features 12 presentations onmarkets, applications and technologies relatedto laser materials processing.
The complete programme of related events isavailable at www.laser.de.
REL ATED EVENTS PROGRAMME
LASER 2005. World ofPhotonics opens its doors inMunich on 13 June. Thefollowing two pages previewthe exhibition and congress.
The exhibition will be held in Halls B1, B2 and B3.
More than 80 firms will be exhibiting at FiberComm.
CONGRESS INFORMATIONThe World of Photonics Congress is a uniqueevent with nearly all leading internationalscientific associations contributing to the pro-gramme. Experts from the fields of science,research and engineering will present theirlatest innovations, and will be discussing thestatus and future of optical technologies.
The congress is made up of six individualconferences. The European Conference onLasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO Europe) andthe European Quantum Electronics Confer-ence (EQEC 2005) will offer a cross-section ofthe best in optical research. The EuropeanOptical Society’s Conference on IndustrialImaging and Machine Vision will be held forthe first time at LASER. World of Photonics.The remaining conferences are Lasers inManufacturing (LIM) 2005, the EuropeanConference on Biomedical Optics (ECBO),Optical Metrology, and the 15th AnnualMeeting of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Laser-medizin (DGLM). A congress admissionbadge also allows access to the LASER. Worldof Photonics exhibition. Congress attendeeswill be able to check their e-mails at the on-site Internet café, and poster presentationswill be available electronically for the dur-ation of the congress.
The FiberComm trade show and confer-ence will run from Monday 13 June toWednesday 15 June in Hall B0. FiberCommgives a complete assessment of the optical
networking market. The conference, entitledFiberComm Meets Business and Markets –Enabling Strong Networking, focuses on thelatest market developments, industry analy-sis and business processes, and examines thelatest advances in technology to understandtrends and economics. Visitors attending theFiberComm trade show will find their admis-sion badge also gives them access to the mainLASER exhibition.
Register onlineAll visitors must register for LASER 2005.World of Photonics. The organizers recom-mend pre-registering online to reduce queue-ing when you arrive at the fair. Visitors can
register and pay for tickets by following theinstructions at www.laser.de/ticket.
There are some new services this year tomake it easier and more convenient for con-gress attendees to prepare their schedule.Before attending the event, make sure youvisit www.laser.de. Services include anonline search for lectures, sessions andexhibitors by keywords, as well as an orga-nizer function that enables attendees to puttogether a personalized agenda.
Further information on the World of PhotonicsCongress and the FiberComm trade show andconference can be found at www.laser.de andwww.fibercomm.de.
SHOW PREVIEW
56 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
WORLD OF PHOTONICS CONGRESS
ECBO-Plenary room 5Molecular imaging: from mouse to manChristoph Bremer, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität of Münster, Germany. Sunday 12 June 1.30–2.30 p.m.● With recent advances in molecular biology,new imaging targets have been defined whichpotentially allow for early, sensitive andspecific diagnosis of disease, or monitoring oftreatment response. Different approaches,including MRI, optical imaging andscintigraphic techniques, will be explored todetect these markers of disease in vivo. A briefoverview of currently available imaging andtracer technology will be given.
Opening Plenary Talk of CLEO/EQEC room 1Fiber lasers and amplifiers – status andperspectivesAndreas Tünnermann, Friedrich SchillerUniversity of Jena, Germany.Monday 13 June 9.30–10.30 a.m.● The capability of fibre systems for extracting
pulse energies as high as several millijoules atnanosecond-pulse durations has beendemonstrated recently in Yb-doped fibres.Fundamentals of fibre lasers and amplifiers willbe presented, including a historical review ofthe developments. The current status andperspectives of continuous-wave and short-pulse fibre laser systems will be discussed.
LIM-Keynote Presentation room 1Robscan technology as an alternative toresistance spot welding in car-body productionJosef Haepp, DaimlerChrysler AG, Germany Monday 13 June 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. ● By using modern robot systems and the latestbeam sources, large working distances forwelding applications can be achieved. Thismeans that laser focus can be “remotecontrolled” by the hand-axes of robots, so thatonly the agile parts of the handling system willbe active. Robscan technology is to beintroduced, and the potential to partially replaceresistance spot-welding will be discussed.
LIM-Panel Discussion room 1Fibre versus disc laserMonday 13 June 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. (following the keynote presentation)Moderation David Belforte of BelforteAssociates, US. Podium Peter Wirth (Rofin-Sinar, Germany),Peter Leibinger (Trumpf, Germany), Bill Shiner(IPG, US), Andreas Tünnermann (Fraunhofer IOF, Germany). ● In recent years, solid-state lasers haveachieved higher levels of output power andbeam quality, comparable to CO2 lasersystems. Two competing systems are up-and-coming in the laser market: fibre lasers and disclasers. Both use the ytterbium crystal as thelaser-active medium, but integrate it in differentgeometric forms. The fibre laser uses a long,thin geometry, whereas the crystal in the disclaser is built in a disc shape. The advantagesand disadvantages of the two systems arediscussed against a background of productionand process technologies.
KEYNOTE TALKS
The World of Photonics Congress runs on 12–17 June in parallel with the exhibition.
Laser Diode DriversFor High Power CW/QCW Applications
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Diode-laser modulesunique-m.o.d.e
Unique-m.o.d.e ofGermany will display itsUM30k series of fibre-coupled diode-lasermodules at this year’sexhibition. The devicesoffer 30 W of power at
810 nm through a 400 µm-diameter detachablefibre with a numerical aperture of 0.2. The highbrightness is said to make the modules suitablefor medical applications such as dental surgeryand coagulation. The device achieves highbrightness by transforming the asymmetricradiation from the laser-diode bar into asymmetrical beam using patented micro-optics.The modules are equipped with a 635 nm, 1 Waiming beam and come in a compact,hermetically sealed package.www.unique-mode.deStand B1 358
Cylinder lensesKaleido Technology
Kaleido Technology ofDenmark will beexhibiting its range ofmolded cylinder lenseswith aspheric profiles.The company currentlyoffers aspheric cylinderlenses with a localradius of curvaturefrom 1.5 mm, and lens
dimensions of up to 30 × 30 mm. The lensescan be made in a wide range of precision-molded glasses.
“Traditional manufacturing of cylinder lenseswith aspheric profiles is associated with highcosts that prohibit their use in manyapplications,” said Palle Geltzer Dinesen,Kaleido’s technical director. “By deploying ourfree-form ultraprecision machining capabilitiesfor tooling and our cost-effective precision-molding technology, we have driven the cost ofthese lenses down.”www.kaleido-technology.comStand B2 223
Pockel’s cellCristal Laser
Cristal Laser will bedisplaying its range ofRTP Pockel’s cells at itsbooth in Hall B2. Therange is available withapertures from 2 × 2 to9 × 9 mm, which the
firm says is ideal for Q-switching near-infraredsolid-state lasers, either at high repetition ratesor when the switching voltage must be keptlow. The devices can also be used to selectsingle pulses from a femtosecond pulse train.According to the firm, the advantages of RTPover other electro-optical materials are lowswitching voltages and the lack of piezo-electric ringing. The material is not hygroscopicand also features a high damage threshold.www.cristal-laser.frStand B2 527
Dye laserLambda Physik
The ScanMatePropulsed dye laser fromLambda Physik is saidto deliver a narrowlinewidth and highspectral purity across
its tuning range of 320–860 nm. The firm saysthat plug-in bandwidth-reduction optics allowcontinuous scanning at a linewidth of less than0.08 cm–1. The product is available withimproved etalon scanning, enabling wavelengthscanning at 0.03 cm–1. According to the firm, anoptional internal optogalvanic unit can providean absolute wavelength accuracy of 5 pm orbetter. The ScanMatePro can be fitted witheither an Nd:YAG or excimer pump laser.www.lambdaphysik.comStand B3 239
Green diode laserPhotop Technologies
A series of green diodelasers is available fromPhotop Technologies ofChina. The compact,continuous-wave unitsemit at 532 nm.Available in a standard9 mm TO package tosuit OEMs, the devicesare said to be welladapted for a range ofapplications such as
beam alignment, laser pointing and scanning.www.photoptech.comStand B2 123
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59OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
On the following pages we bring you asneak preview of some of the productsthat LASER 2005. World of Photonicsexhibitors will be promoting on theirstands. For more details, please contactthe firm directly or visit the company atthe show (see the stand number at theend of the product description). Forfurther information about the event,including a list of exhibitors, visit theLASER website at www.laser.de.
OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Ultrafast oscillatorFemtoLasers
Visitors interested inultrafast sources shouldstop at FemtoLasers’booth, where it will bedemonstrating itsRainbow Ti:sapphire
oscillator. According to the company, theRainbow offers carrier-envelope phase-stabilizedpulses of less than 7 fs, and an average power ofmore than 200 mW, which corresponds to about0.35 MW of peak power. The laser has abandwidth of 300 nm (–10 dB) at a centrewavelength of 800 nm and a repetition rate of78 MHz. It comes in a temperature-stabilizedhousing measuring 29 × 15 inches, whichincludes the integrated pump laser.www.femtolasers.comStand B1 314
Direct-diode laserDILAS Diodenlaser
A direct-diode lasersystem is now availablefrom DILAS Diodenlaser,based on its DLx30platform. Optionsinclude an integratedon-axis camera and an
integrated on-axis pyrometer, which enablesonline process control in industrial applicationssuch as soldering and plastic welding.
Output powers of up to 300 W with a spot sizeof 1.4 × 0.6 mm are available as standard,although DILAS says the laser head can be fittedwith a variety of custom optics to suit specificapplications. The power supply and control unitcan be read out by a CAN-bus, which meansthat a computer can be used for logging data, aswell as allowing diagnosis via a modem.www.dilas.deStand B3 507
Power meterSpiricon Power Products
A universal, portable,dual-channel powerand energy meter isnow available fromSpiricon PowerProducts. Called theMPE-2500, the meter
interfaces to thermopile, pyroelectric,semiconductor and temperature probes.
The MPE-2500 features digital and analogueread-outs, and a graph-plotting facility on a high-resolution backlit LCD screen. Interfaces includean SD-card slot and a USB port to connect toLabVIEW on Windows, Mac and Linux operatingsystems. Other features include a dual-batteryoption for extended operation, simultaneousmeasurement of average power, and individual
pulse-energy and ambient-temperature tracking.www.spiricon.deStand B2 542
Laser-safety spectaclesGPT GlendaleGPT Glendale, a subsidiary of safety-equipmentmanufacturer Bacou-Dalloz, has released laser-safety spectacles based on polymer lenses thatoffer protection against femtosecond lasers. EN 207-certified by Din Certco in Aalen,Germany, the FS-800 design features alightweight lens that is comfortable to wear andhas a visible transmission of greater than 45%.www.bacou-dalloz.comStand B1 485
Q-switched lasersGWU-Lasertechnik
GWU Lasertechnik willdisplay Xiton Photonics’range of Q-switchedsolid-state lasers.Xiton’s SLM-series issaid to be ideal for
nonlinear processes, including parametric lightgeneration. The SLM sources produce 12 nspulses at a repetition rate of 10 kHz. Otherspecifications include a beam-quality of M2 lessthan 1.2, pulse energies of 0.5 mJ and a
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60
SIOS Meßtechnik GmbHAm Vogelherd 46
D-98693 Ilmenau / GERMANYTel: +49-(0)3677-6447-0Internet: www.sios.de E
Fax: -6447-8mail: [email protected]
·
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Nominal wavelength632,9910 ± 0,0002 nm
Frequency stability± 1·10
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Internal thread for installing opticsand fiberoptic couplers
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See us at LASER in hall B2, stand 643
linewidth limited to 50 MHz. The combination of an SLM laser system with
Xiton’s OPG-series nonlinear module is said togenerate tunable, narrow-bandwidth light in the400 nm to 5 µm range. Applications includespectroscopy, holography, LIDAR and nonlinearfrequency conversion.www.gwu-group.deStand B1 161
Customized detectorsElectron Tubes
Visitors looking forcustomized light-detector modulesshould visit ElectronTubes’ booth in Hall B2.The companyspecializes in photoncounting, pulsed light
and analogue detection and can adapt itsdetectors to suit particular applications.According to Electron Tubes, its modules canincorporate any combination of photomultiplier,power supply, voltage divider, electromagneticand electrostatic screening, counter-time/RS232 connection and signal-processingelectronics.www.electron-tubes.co.ukStand B2 531
PhotoreceiversFEMTO
The FWPR-20 series ofphotoreceivers fromFEMTO can detect low-level light-signals downto the femtowatt range.Two models areavailable, with either abuilt-in silicon or anindium gallium arsenidephotodiode, to coverthe 320–1700 nmwavelength range.
The photoreceiversincorporate atransimpedanceamplifier with very lownoise and extremelyhigh gain of up to 1012
VA. The resulting noiseequivalent power is 0.7 fW / √ Hz, whichpermits the direct detection of optical powersdown to 50 fW.
When combined with an optional lock-inamplifier, FEMTO says that sub-femtowattsensitivity can be achieved. The FWPR-20 seriesis said to be a compact, low-cost replacement forAPDs and PMTs as no high-voltage power supplyor cooling system is required. www.femto.deStand B2 540
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US Headquarters: 603-746-2000 / US Sales: 858-695-2895Germany: +49 (0) 7556-9299666 / France: +33 (0) 1 69 07 21 84
61OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
UV modulatorsGooch & Housego
A range of high-qualityacousto-optic andoptical products for useat ultraviolet (UV)wavelengths is nowavailable from Gooch & Housego.Examples include high-damage-threshold
Brewster window modulators, high-efficiencyantireflection-coated modulators and fast rise-time modulators, all for operation in the240–400 nm range. Other optical products,such as windows and prisms, are available inmaterials including calcite, MgF2 and crystalquartz, and are suitable for use at UVwavelengths down to 215 nm.www.goochandhousego.comStand B1 113
Beam profilerMetroLux
MetroLux of Germanywill launch a USB laser-beam profiler at thisyear’s exhibition.According to the firm,the product works withUSB2.0 cameras andits small size
(50 × 50 × 40 mm) makes it ideal for whenspace is limited. The beam profiler comes with arange of accessories such as beam expandersand splitters, all of which can be easilyintegrated into the set-up.
The company will also introduce version 2.0of its BeamLux software. According to MetroLux,the software can handle up to 32 camerassimultaneously. Single-pulse detection up to arepetition rate of 32 kHz is also possible.www.metrolux.deStand B2 650
High-speed camerapco
The pco.1200hs CMOScamera from Germanfirm pco will make itsdebut at this year’sexhibition. The camerahas a frame rate of
636 frames per second (fps) at a resolution of1280 × 1024 pixels. According to pco, theframe rate can be increased to 1357 fps byreducing the imaging area.
The 10-bit monochrome camera comes withan on-board memory of up to 4 GB. A coloursensor with 30-bit colour depth is alsoavailable. Due to its ring-buffer operation mode,post triggers can be used to catch a sequenceof interest. According to pco, the user simply
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Solutions in Optics.
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Custom lens arrays and diffrac-tive elements, optimized for your needs.
www.axetris.comLeister Process TechnologiesAxetris DivisionCH-6060 Sarnen, SwitzerlandPhone +41 41 662 74 74Fax +41 41 660 20 [email protected]
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Axetris, the Microsystems Division ofLeister, is a leading provider of highperformance standard and custommicro-optics solutions. We provideOEM partnership from initial opticaldesign support via prototypes to volume production.
Micro-opticsSolutions
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62 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
waits until the moment has passed, pressesstop and the history is preserved. The cameraconnects to a PC via standard interfaces suchas IEEE1394 and CameraLink.www.pco.deStand B2 602
SpectroradiometerInternational Light
International Light’sRPS900 widebandspectroradiometer willbe on show during thisyear’s exhibition.According to the firm,the NIST-traceablespectroradiometermeasures from220 to 1050 nm at
1 nm resolution, with a sensitivity of better than0.005 µW/cm2/nm visible and 0.1 µW/cm2/nmin the ultraviolet and near-infrared.
The device weighs 1.02 kg and has a 2 m-longfibre-optic and cosine diffuser. It also includesinternally shock-mounted components forrugged applications. A robust enclosure withwaterproof connectors is an optional extra foruse in the field or harsh environments. TheRPS900 features a 2048-element CCD and hasa user-controlled integration time as little as25 ms and 16-bit conversion accuracy. www.intl-light.comStand B1 446
CCDHamamatsu
Image-sensor makerHamamatsu will beshowing its latestrange of low-noiseCCDs at LASER 2005.Fabricated in the firm’s6 inch silicon-waferfacility, the devicesexhibit a very low read-out noise as little asfour electrons RMS,and consist of
0.5 × 0.5 inch chips. Devices are available asan uncooled compact DIL package, as ahermetically sealed four-stage Peltier-cooledunit, or as an “open plate” design that offerslow thermal mass and can be placed in verysmall places. The S9736 series is availablewith 512 × 512 pixels at a pitch of 24 µm andthe S9737 series features 1024 × 1024 pixelsat a pitch of 12 µm. Applications listed by thefirm include low-light-level imaging,fluorescence and bioluminescencemeasurements, astronomical observation andRaman spectroscopy.www.hamamatsu.comStand B2 461
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The fastest scanners on the market…just got faster.Some might say we’re obsessed with speed. Perhaps that explainshow we can consistently deliver the industry’s fastest and mostaccurate galvanometers and servo drivers. Like our new H line of62xx galvos – pushing the technology envelope with betterperformance and speeds that are 25% faster than what’s availablein today’s market.
We’re also introducing two new servo-driver boards. A dual-axisanalog servo that provides a 50% board space reduction andhigher speed at lower cost, and a self-tuning digital servo driverthat delivers speeds faster than analog servo technology.
■ New 6215H GalvanometerHighest frequency galvo in the marketIdeal for high-speed raster scan applications
■ 62xxH Series Galvanometers25% torque increase for higher speedsCompatible with 62xx standard product line
■ DC900 State-SpaceDigital Servo DriverSelf-tuning – no adjustment potsUp to twice as fast as analog servos
■ MicroMax 673xxDual-Axis Analog Servo DriverHalf the size of 2 single-axis servosThe most attractive combination ofsize, speed and cost
Talk is cheap. Our prices are not bad, either.While the rest of the industry talks about performance, wedeliver it. So go ahead, put us to the test. We’re making iteven easier by increasing performance without increasing prices.
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63OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
UV diode laserOmicorn
Omicron has developedan ultraviolet (UV)diode laser that canwrite structures below200 nm in UV photoresist. Thethermoelectrically
cooled module emits at 375 nm and features350 MHz analogue modulation. According tothe firm, its high-speed lasers are an alternativeto gas lasers for applications such as DVDmastering, photolithography and reprography.The lifetime, price, form factor and powerconsumption are all said to compare favourablywith UV gas lasers.www.lasersystem.deStand B2 179
Fizeau interferometerESDI
Optical-metrologymanufacturer ESDI hasreleased a phase-shifting Fizeauinterferometer that itsays is vibration-insensitive and can
capture events of 10 µs duration. The IntelliumH1000 suits a shop-floor environment and canaccommodate machined parts and wafersmeasuring up to 24 inches. The device uses itspatented I-Phase module to produce threephase-shifted interferograms that are acquiredsimultaneously and processed to give a three-dimensional surface map.www.engsynthesis.comStand B1 413
Compact coolerHelix Polycold Systems
Helix Polycold Systemswill introduce the PCCcompact cooler – thenext generation of itsCryotiger technology –at LASER 2005.
According to the firm,the PCC is a robust cooling system for high-performance CCDs and other detectors used inlife-sciences research, analytical chemistry,materials analysis, semiconductor inspectionand astronomy.
Helix says the PCC cold end can be used inany orientation and is remote enough from thecompressor to provide temperatures of as lowas –150 °C at the point of use. The PCC usespatented, non-flammable gas blends and coolsdown in around 20 min using a standardelectrical outlet.www.helixtechnology.comStand B2 445
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64 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Femtosecond fibre laserToptica Photonics
The FemtoFibrefemtosecond fibre laserfrom Toptica Photonicswill make its debut atLASER 2005. Thesystem features amode-locked ring
oscillator as the master laser and up to twoamplifier arms producing sub-100 fs pulses withan actively stabilized repetition rate of 100 MHz.
The wavelength can be automatically tunedbetween 500 nm and 2 µm. The averageoutput power is 200 mW per amplifier arm at acentral wavelength of 1550 nm; 80 mW at780 nm; 30 mW in the near-infrared; and morethan 1 mW in the visible spectral range. Anadditional module can generate asupercontinuum extending from950 to 2000 nm. www.toptica.comStand B1 278
Nanopositioning systemPhysik InstrumentsPI will display its mostadvanced six-axis piezonanopositioning andscanning system: the
P-587.6CD. Offering six-axis digital control oversix degrees of freedom, the system is said to suitapplications such as nanomanufacturing,nanometrology, scanning, microscopy, opticsand mask alignment.
Specifications include long travel distances ofup to 800 µm, nanometre resolution, activetrajectory error compensation and millisecondresponse times. The P-587.6CD features aparallel metrology design in which all sensorsmeasure the position of the same movingplatform against the same stationary reference.This is said to improve multiaxis precision. Thesystem also comes with LabVIEW drivers andDLLs for easy set up and integration.www.pi.wsStand B1 450
Diode-laser moduleDiode Laser ConceptsUS-based Diode Laser Concepts hasintroduced a range of diode-laser modules thatcovers the wavelength range 635–830 nm.Distributed in Germany by LASOS Laser, thedevices offer 1–30 mW of singlemode outputwith a pointing accuracy of less than 2 mrad.Modules are available in 9.5, 12.7 and19.1 mm neutral-coloured or black anodizedpackages with a two-year warranty. Unitsrequire a 5 V DC operating voltage and functionover the –10 to 70 °C range.www.diodelaserconcepts.comStand B1 341
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65OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Fibre laserSPI
SPI’s “redPOWER”series of fibre lasersincludes pulsedmodules emitting at
1550 nm and a high-power 100 W unitdelivering either continuous-wave or modulatedoutput at 1090 nm.
According to the UK-based company, its fibrelasers are reliable (350 000 h mean-time-to-failure tested diode lifetime), 3–10 times asefficient as Nd:YAG systems and extremelystable (less than 1% output-power variationover a 12-hour shift). Installation times aretypically less than 30 minutes.
When compared with alternativetechnologies, the low-noise fibre-lasers aresaid to offer improved line speeds, higher-quality machining and greatly reduced cost ofownership. Potential applications includemicromachining, marking and engraving, andgraphic-imaging processing.www.spioptics.comStand B3 103
Laser mirrorsCVI
Optical componentsspecialist CVI islaunching its FLM rangeof laser mirrors,optimized for commonfibre-laser wavelengths:
780, 1030, 1070, 1090, 1550, 1850 and1900 nm. The firm can also supply antireflection-coated beamsplitters, zero and multiple-orderquartz waveplates and partial reflectors to suitthe same wavelengths. Based on the results ofdamage-threshold testing, products are able towithstand continuous-wave power densities ofmore than 10 MW/cm2 at 1064 nm.www.cvilaser.comStand B2 220
Laser-safety eyewearLaserVisionLaserVision is now offering the P1001 filter intwo styles of laser-safety eyewear. Both modelsprovide full protection according to EN 207 from600 to 820 nm and carry the CE mark. They alsocomply with the requirements of thermal andultraviolet resistance (EN 168), along withsplinter protection (EN 166), and material andsurface quality (EN 167).
According to LaserVision, the LAMBDA-ONEframe style has a curved shield that makes itcomfortable to wear and clings to almost anyhead shape. For people wearing prescriptionglasses, the P1001 filter is also available inLaserVision’s over-the-glasses SKYLINE model.www.lvg.comStand B1 607
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Paul Hoess KGP.O. Box 950240, 81518 Munich, GermanyPhone: +49 (0)89 652029Fax: +49 (0)89 654817E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.stanfordcomputeroptics.com
U.S.A.: Stanford Computer Optics, Inc.780 Cragmont Avenue,Berkeley, CA 94708, USAPhone: +1 (510) 527-3516Fax: +1 (510) 558-9582
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66 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Interference coatingmso jena
German firm mso jenais offering a range ofcustomized interferencecoatings. Suitable forsatellite-basedmultispectral cameras,the spectral filter’sperformance can beadjusted to thesensitivity of Si-photodiodes. This is
achieved using an all-dielectric coating with noabsorbing glasses. The company manufacturesits optical components by plasma-ion-assisteddeposition under cleanroom conditions.
According to the firm, the facility supportsprototype manufacturing, as well as serialproduction. The coating process is supported bythin-film design software and the company’steam of experienced engineers.www.mso-jena.deStand B2 446
Picosecond laserLumera LaserLumera Laser of Germany has launched apicosecond laser that produces 10 ps pulseswith a pulse energy of up to 40 µJ and a peakpower of up to 4 MW. Dubbed RAPID, thecompact, diode pumped Nd:YVO4 laser delivers2 W average power at 1064 nm. With a beamquality of M2 less than 1.2, the laser is able tofocus on very small areas and reach peak-powerdensities in the TW/cm2 range. Hermeticallysealed, the laser head features closed-loopinternal water cooling. The compact unitsupports single-pulse operation and burst-modeTTL triggering. Applications includemicromachining along with the generation ofterahertz waves, satellite ranging andpicosecond spectroscopy.www.lumera-laser.comStand B3 527
Beam profilerOphir Optronics
Ophir Optronics isreleasing its BeamStarFX v1.10 beam-profilingsystem at LASER 2005.Based on a user-friendly interface, the
package includes new features such asautomated report generation (text, graphic ormixed output), elliptical fit, point-to-pointdistance measurement and automation usingActive X controls. A feature dubbed “M2 Mentor”is available to guide the user through theprocess of M2 measurement. www.ophiropt.comStand B2 620/B1 421
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
68 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Power meterGentec-EO
Canadian firm Gentec-EO supplies a range ofpower meters for usewith high-energy pulsedYAG lasers. The UP19K-VM/VH seriescombines a broad-band high-energyvolume absorber withthe firm’s Ultra-disktechnology, to detectemission over thedeep-ultraviolet tonear-infrared range atpeak powers of up to100 GW/cm2. OEMversions are availableand units can beconfigured with severaloutput-signal andconnector options.www.gentec-eo.comStand B1 459/B2 441
Optical-pump sourceLaser Quantum
UK-based LaserQuantum has launchedan optical-pump sourcedubbed finesse. Thelow-noise unit (lessthan 0.5% RMS from1 Hz to 5 MHz) delivers
more than 4 W of 532 nm continuous-waveemission. The device employs a long-lifetimediode (more than 20 000 h mean-time-between-failure), includes stress-free optical mounts forpermanent alignment and comes with a full two-year warranty. Additional features includeRS232 remote control, medium-format LCDscreen, and software to rigorously maintain theuser-defined power level.www.laserquantum.comStand B1 521
Light-measurement systemLabsphereUS firm Labsphere has released Spectral andPhotopic light-measurement systems that testand characterize LEDs and HID lamps at theclick of a mouse. Both systems are said toconform to the latest CIE 127-recommendedgeometry for LED measurement and CIE 84-recommended geometry for total-fluxmeasurement. The Spectral light-measurementsystem is coupled with a powerful spectrometerto fully characterize bright LED fixtures andlamps. Visitors to LASER 2005 can find moreinformation at the firm’s booth.www.labsphere.comStand B1 439
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
DPSS laserCobolt
Swedish firm Cobolt isoffering a new compactcontroller unit for itsBlues and Sambadiode-pumped solid-state lasers emitting at473 and 532 nm. Thecontroller, which can beoperated remotely viadigital or analogueinterfaces, measures150 × 70 × 25 mm andhas standard
connectors for power supply (5 V and 8 A) andcontrol signals. According to the firm, its laserssuit applications such as spectroscopy,holography, interferometry and reprographics.www.cobolt.seStand B1 114
Component testingMicrotec
Microtec of Germanycan provide electro-optical characterization,and failure and risk-analysis services for arange of componentsincluding lasers,displays, active andpassive fibre-opticcomponents, and LEDs.Testing, examination,characterization and
qualification is performed according to industry-specific standards, such as DIN, ISO and MIL,Telcordia and IEC, and MOST. The firm alsooffers production testing of CMOS imagesensors at a wafer and package level.www.microtec.deStand B0 108
Laser-protection glassesB & M Optik
B & M Optik has addeda series of laser-protection glasses to itsrange of opticalproducts. The lensesare available in achoice of quartz andBK7 materials, withcustomer-specifiedantireflection coatings.Components are55 mm in diameter and1.5 mm thick as
standard, with other shapes (round and square)and sizes available from the firm on request.www.bm-optik.deStand B2 245
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70 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
www.stockeryale.com
LINESCANILLUMINATOR
COBRATM
Copyright ©2005 StockerYale, Inc. All rights reserved.
• 220,000 lux @ 630 nm• 630 nm, 740 nm, 395 nm,
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Applications include:• Linescan• Web inspection• Inspection of currency, lumber, FPD,
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Generates a uniform, bright stripe of illumination for linescan
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■ Highest FOM material available■ Absorption in the 0.4 to 7.0/cm
Alpha 514 range ■ Tunable from 0.66 to 1.2 µm■ Free of internal scatter■ 100 mm diameter and larger
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Laser-diode arraysHigh Power Devices
High Power Devices(HPD) of the US isoffering 10-elementshort-pulsed laser-diode linear arrays at905 nm and 810 nm.The elements can beconfigured in series or
as individually addressable devices. Availablesource apertures range from 100 µm to 400 µm,with uniform near-field patterns.
Other specifications include peak powers inexcess of 250 W and pulse durations of 200 ns.According to HPD, wavelengths can becustomized for applications including weaponssimulation and LIDAR.www.hpdinc.com
CCD cameraQImaging
QImaging, a US makerof high-performancedigital cameras, hasreleased the Retiga4000R. Available inmonochrome or colourmodels – with orwithout cooling – the
12-bit, high-quantum-efficiency camera makesuse of 4.19 million pixels to capture high-quality visible and fluorescence images.
The Retiga 4000R uses an IEEE 1394FireWire digital interface and comes withsoftware that enables realtime image previewand capture facilities for both Windows andMac-based systems.www.qimaging.com
Ultrafast laserHigh Q Laser
The picoNOVA andfemtoNOVA families ofmodelocked laseroscillators are nowavailable fromHigh Q Laser of Austria.The firm says the lasers
deliver pulse energies of up to 1 µJ atrepetition rates of up to 1 MHz and pulsedurations down to 300 fs.
By dumping the intracavity energy of amodelocked oscillator into one pulse, theNOVA series can increase the pulse energy byseveral orders of magnitude without usingcomplex amplifier schemes. High Q says thisallows it to maintain high repetition-rates. TheNOVA series is available with Ti:sapphire(800–900 nm) and ytterbium (1040 nm) forfemtosecond, and Nd:vanadate (1064 nm) forpicosecond operation.www.highqlaser.at
PRODUCTS
OpticalSolutions
over7,200ProductsIn-Stock
www.edmundoptics.de
+49.0.721.6273730
Edmund Optics (UK) Ltd.Phone: +44-(0)1904-691469 Fax: +44-(0)1904-691569e-mail: [email protected]: www.edmundoptics.co.uk
www.edmundoptics.co.uk
+44.0.1904.691469
Edmund Industrie Optik GmbHPhone: +49-(0)721-6273730 Fax: +49-(0)721-6273750e-mail: [email protected]: www.edmundoptics.de
72 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
Gaussian mirrorsLaser Components
Laser components saysthat its Gaussianmirrors help to producea high-quality laserbeam with lowdivergence in unstableresonator systems. Infrequency-doubled set-ups, the variablereflecting mirrors can
be used to boost pump efficiency. Available ina number of versions to suit 755, 1030, 1064and 1315 nm wavelengths, the firm is nowoffering its mirrors at a lower price, thanks toimprovements in manufacturing. Detailedspecifications are available to download fromthe company’s website.www.lasercomponents.com
Laser design softwareLight Tec
European distributorLight Tec is nowsupplying the Paraxia-Plus laser-design tool, developedby US firm Sciopt. The
laser-resonator and beam-propagation softwareincludes a glass and component library,automatic-optimization functions and scroll barsfor the evaluation of system dynamics. Additionalfeatures include automatic M2 calculation forcavities with restricting apertures, a spreadsheeteditor and automatic tolerance analysis. Paraxia-Plus requires Windows ’95, ’98, ME, 2000, XP orWindows NT, a 486 or later processor computer,with a minimum of 16 MB RAM, 6 MB free hard-disk space, a CD-ROM disk-drive, and a 25-pinparallel printer port.www.lighttec.fr
Fibre laserNP Photonics
NP Photonics hasexpanded its line ofScorpion single-frequency fibre laserswith the introduction of
a high-power version. The new laser provides0.5–5 W of output power and emits between1530 and 1565 nm, as well as 1030–1080 nm.Based on a MOPA configuration, the laser issaid to have a linewidth of less than 3 kHz andlow phase-noise.
The laser’s output is delivered via apolarization-preserving singlemode fibre and issaid to have excellent spatial-mode propertiesand a high polarization:extinction ratio. NP candeliver the high-power lasers in eight weeks at abase starting price of $30 000 (723 873). www.npphotonics.com
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73OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
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Solid-state laserPicarro
Picarro of the US hasreleased a solid-statelaser emitting 40 mW ofsinglemode power at awavelength of 488 nm.According to the firm,the new model isavailable in the same
compact and thermally efficient package as its10 and 20 mW versions.
The 40 mW cyan source is based on Picarro’sdoubled-external-cavity semiconductor laserdesign. Picarro adds that the laser has lownoise, excellent beam-pointing stability and longlife. The laser head has the same output beam-characteristics and is mechanically identical toits 20 mW predecessor, making it easy toupgrade instrumentation.www.picarro.com
CCD cameraJAI PULNiX
The latest high-speedCCD camera fromJAI PULNiX – the TM-6740GE – capturesup to 200 frames persecond (fps) at full-VGA
resolution. Using partial-scan and binningmodes, the firm says that a frame-rate of up to3205 fps is achievable. The camera alsofeatures both analogue and gigabit Ethernetoutput that is 8-bit or 10-bit software-selectable.
Measuring 50.8 × 50.8 × 85.1 mm, the TM-6740GE also features full asynchronous resetwith electronic shutter speeds of up to1/64000 s, or pulse-width control, which allowstriggered image capture and processing.www.jaipulnix.com
Handheld thermal and visible cameraArmstrong Optical
Armstrong Optical ofthe UK is offering a low-cost, handheld thermaland visible camera thatcan be used to performtemperature
measurements with a sensitivity of around0.1 °C. A thumb-operated keypad providesaccess to a range of functions such as objectemissivity, single- and multiple-pointtemperatures, isotherms and the camera’selectronic zoom.
Weighing less than 300 g, the compact M4camera has 8 Gb of on-board data storage forthermal and visible images, plus up to 300 s ofvoice annotation per image pair. Stored data can
PRODUCTS
t : +44 (0)161 975 5300f : +44 (0)161 975 5309www.laserquantum.com
Cool, pure&quiet.The Finesse from Laser Quantum.Ultra low noise >4W CW @532nmFibre fed (no chiller), compact, high stability, power feedback (rigorouslymaintains set power).Noise <0.5% rms (1Hz - 6 MHz) M2 <1.1
The Finesse is designed for:Femto Ti:S pumping, ophthalmology, optical pumping, low-noise apps, PIV and similar applications.
See theFinesse at
LASER 2005
June 13/16th
Hall B1, Stand 521
74 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
be transferred to a PC through the camera’s USBinterface. A suite of Windows-based software isincluded with the device, providing a range oftemperature-measurement, image-processingand report-generating options. Applicationslisted by the firm include energy managementand the testing of electrical switchgear.www.armstrongoptical.co.uk
LED lamps with bayonet basesLEDtronics
LEDtronics hasintroduced a range ofLED lamps foraeroplane cabins,passenger trains andcoaches. Areplacement for
incandescent bulbs, the energy-efficient LEDdevices suit 28 V reading-light fixtures and areavailable with 9 or 15 mm single-contactbayonet bases. Each lamp contains 28 warmwhite 5 mm LEDs and generates little heat, withbulb and fixture remaining nearly at roomtemperature. Drawing between 1.5 and 2 W, theLED unit is reported to consume much lesspower than incandescent equivalents.www.ledtronics.com
PIV systemNew Wave Research
New Wave Researchhas added the Solo120XT and Solo 200XTto its range of particleimage velocimetry(PIV) systems. Theflashlamp-pumped,
dual Nd:YAG laser set-up is said by the US firmto be rugged and compact. Dubbed an I-beamdesign, the resonator frame is machined froma single aluminium block. The 120XT suppliesup to 120 mJ of light output and the morepowerful 200XT unit can deliver 200 mJ. Bothmodels provide emission at 532, 355 or266 nm and suit liquid- and air-based PIVexperiments.www.new-wave.com
Laser-diode socketsBFi OPTiLAS3M Textool miniaturelaser-diode test andburn-in sockets arenow available from
European distributor BFi OPTiLAS. Thecompact, discrete sockets are said toaccommodate most TO package formats withpin-circle options of 0.079 inches (2 mm) or0.1 inches (2.54 mm). Rated up to 1 A andfrom –55 to 150°C, the units are availablewith three or four contact options andfunnelled entry-holes to assist lead insertion.www.bfioptilas.com
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OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
PEOPLETo advertise your job vacancies, contact Rob Fisher (tel: +44 (0)117 930 1260; e-mail: [email protected]).
77OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
US
QPC employs Rudy asmarketing and sales chief
Paul Rudy has joinedQuintessencePhotonicsCorporation (QPC), amanufacturer ofhigh-powersemiconductor lasers,as senior vice-president ofmarketing and sales.
Rudy has more than eight years’ experiencein the laser industry and was director ofmarketing at Coherent’s SemiconductorBusiness Unit, where he led the firm’stactical and strategic marketing activities.
SWEDEN
Ögren secures strategicposition at ComlaseSwedish semiconductor laser andoptoelectronic device specialist Comlase hashired industry veteran Nils Ögren as chief
operating officer and vice-president ofoperations. Ögren’s responsibilities willinclude day-to-day operations managementand strategic road-mapping of thecompany’s diode-laser-passivation service,dubbed Nitrel. Before joining Comlase,Ögren was manager of process integrationand quality at Infineon Technologies. Heholds a masters degree in applied physics.
GERMANY
Osram supervisory boardelects Goetzeler as CEO
Osram’s supervisoryboard has electedMartin Goetzeler tosucceed Wolf-DieterBopst as the lightingfirm’s CEO. Bopst, whohas led the firm since1991 and been withthe company for over37 years, doubled
Osram’s market share to 20% and almosttripled sales to 74.2 bn. Goetzeler joined in1999 and was most recently chief financial
officer of Osram’s North American business:Osram Sylvania. He has also acted for thecompany in Italy and has been managingdirector of Osram in the UK and Ireland.
US
Kreutzer brings focus andvision to Lambda sales
Lambda Research, aUS developer ofoptical design andmodelling software,has appointed AllanKreutzer as vice-president of sales andmarketing. Kreutzerhas over 25 years ofmanagement
experience, including executive positions atSCHOTT and Heraeus Amersil. “Allan bringsa breadth and depth of experience toLambda that will help the company continueto grow,” said the company’s CEO EdFreniere. “His addition to our team willstrengthen our customer focus and bringvision to our sales and marketing efforts.”
Rudy: developing markets.
Kreutzer: sales wisdom.
Goetzeler: leading role.
AF Opticals Co www.afoptical.com 67Alpine Research Optics www.AROCORP.com 28EMO Hannover www.emo-hannover.de 23Avantes BV www.avantes.com 36Bandwidth Semiconductorwww.bandwidthsemi.com 34
Berliner Glas KGaA www.berlinerglas.com 62BFI Optilas Internationalwww.bfioptilas.avnet.com 31
Breault Research Organizationwww.breault.com IFC
B&W Tek Inc www.bwtek.com 66Cambridge Technology Incwww.cambridgetechnology.com 63
Canadian Photonic Laboratorywww.cplab.com 45
Cerac Incorporated www.cerac.com 50Cobolt AB www.cobolt.se 75Cristal Laser SA www.cristal-laser.fr 64Crystal Systems Incwww.crystalsystems.com 71
Crystran Ltd www.crystran.co.uk 57CVI Laser www.cvilaser.com 4Diode Laser Concept Incwww.diodelaserconcepts.com 42
Duma Optronics Ltd www.duma.co.il 73Eagleyard Photonics GmbHwww.eagleyard.com 32
Edmund Industrial Opticswww.edmundoptics.de 72
EKSPLA Ltd www.eksma.com 50ELCAN Optical Technologieswww.elcan.com 19
Electron Tubes Ltdwww.electron-tubes.co.uk 77
Engineering Synthesis Design Incwww.engsynthesis.com 28
Excel Technology Europe GmbHwww.continuumlasers.com 24
Femto Messtechnik GmbH www.femto.de 68Fujian Castech Crystals Incwww.castech.com 61
GPD Optoelectronics Corp www.gpd-ir.com 42GWU Lasertechnik Vertriebs GmbHwww.gwu-group.de 12
Hamamatsu Photonics
www.sales.hamamatsu.com 13, 57HC Photonics Corporation 30ILEE AG www.ilee.ch 32ILX Lightwave Corporationwww.ilxlightwave.com 70
Image Science Ltdwww.image-science.co.uk 20
IMT Masken und Teilungen AGwww.imtag.ch 14
Intelligent Photonics Control Corpwww.photonicscontrol.com 76
ITF Optical Technologieswww.itfoptical.com 76
Jenoptik Laserdioder GmbH www.jold.com 65Daitron Inc www.i-chipstech.com 10Kaleido Technologywww.kaleido-technology.com 73
Kapteyn-Murnane Laboratorieswww.kmlabs.com 76
Kentek Corp www.kentek-laser.com 34Labsphere Inc www.labsphere.com 48Lambda Research Corporationwww.lambdares.com 27
Laser Components (UK) Ltdwww.lasercomponents.co.uk 9
Laser Lines www.laserlines.co.uk 64Laser Quantum Ltd www.laserquantum.com74Lasermet Ltd www.lasermet.com 42Leister Process Technology www.leister.com62LIMO Laser Systems www.limo.de 44Lumina Power Inc www.luminapower.com 57Master Bond Inc www.masterbond.com 50Melles Griot, US www.mellesgriot.com OBCMetrolux Optische Messtechnik GmbHwww.metrolux.de 32
Micro-Controle SA 42Microtec GmbH www.microtec.de 77Möller-Wedel Optical GmbHwww.moeller-wedel-optical.com 46
MSO Jena GmbH www.mso-jena.de 68New Focus Inc www.newfocus.com 38Newport Corp Photonics Divisionwww.newport.com 11
nLight Photonics www.nLight.net 7Northrop Grumman Synopticswww.northropgrumman.com 39
NUFERN USA www.nufern.com 58Ocean Optics BV www.oceanopticsbv.com 71Ophir Optronics Ltd www.ophiropt.com IBCOptarius Ltd www.optarius.co.uk 50Optec SA www.optec.be 76Optical Research Associates Incwww.opticalres.com 8
Optikos Corp www.optikos.com 59Paul Höess KGwww.stanfordcomputeroptics.com 66
PCO AG www.pco.de 60Photonic Productswww.photonic-products.com 75
Photop Technologies Incwww.photoptech.com 67
Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co KGwww.pi.ws/oleb 21
Piezosystem Jena www.piezojena.com 46Powerlase Limited www.powerlase.com 23Primes GmbH www.primes.de 67Quantel www.quantel.fr 65Scitec Instruments Ltd www.scitec.uk.com 34Sill Optics GmbH & Co KG www.silloptics.de 6SIOS Meßtechnik GmbH www.sios.de 60Southampton Photonicswww.southamptonphotonics.com 35
Spectrogon AB www.spectrogon.com 46Spere Optics-Hoffmanwww.sphereoptics.com 61
Spiricon Laser Beam Diagnostics Incwww.spiriconpower.com 69
Stanford Research Systems www.srsys.com 26StockerYale Canada Incwww.stockeryale.com 46
StockerYale Ltd (IRL) www.stockeryale.com 71TeraXion www.teraxion.com 49Testbourne Limited www.testbourne.com 16Toptica AG www.toptica.com 69Trioptics GmbH www.trioptics.com 36Umicore Coating Serviceswww.coatingservices.umicore.com 72
Unaxis Balzers AG www.optics.unaxis.com 49Wahl Optoparts GmbHwww.wahl-optoparts.com 36
XenICs www.xenics.com 32Xmark Media Ltd www.photonex.org 18
78 OLE • June 2005 • optics.org
June 20–23 12th International Metrology Congress Lyon, France Collège Français de www.cfmetrologie.comMétrologie
June 20 – July 1 4th Summer School in Visual Optics Crete, Greece University of Crete www.ivo.gr/summerschool/en/index.php
June 22–24 4th IEEE/LEOS Workshop on Fibres Palermo, Italy CRES, IEEE, LEOS leos.cres.it/wfopc/
July 10–14 International Symposium on Optical Honolulu, Hawaii, US OSA www.osa.org/meetings/Memory and Optical Data Storage topicals/ISOM_ODS
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CALENDARFor a more comprehensive list of events, including links to websites, visit optics.org/events.
