Here is your first look at the editorial content for the upcoming September issue of Photonics Spectra.
Kilowatt Femtosecond Lasers
Femtosecond lasers are trending toward kilowatt power levels, where their high average power is finding application in microprocessing and glass-cutting applications. Solid process know-how and various beam modulation schemes are driving the conversion of more power into more output. On the science side, the higher average powers of these lasers will be crucial for fusion and particle acceleration. Both industry and science benefit from these developments and ensure ongoing development of laser sources, compression schemes, and beam modulation technology.
Key Technologies: Femtosecond lasers
Freeform Optics
In applications where lightweight high-performance imaging is mission critical, then freeform optics could be the solution. However, there are several critical points to consider before manufacturing can physically begin. Unlike traditional optics, freeforms need more thought given to each stage in the process chain. Known as concurrent engineering, freeforms essentially need to be designed, not sequentially, but in parallel with other critical aspects of system engineering to avoid expensive redesign cycles.
Key Technologies: Freeform optics, white-light interferometry, computer generated holograms
Laser Optics
Laser-induced contamination is a key concern for ultraviolet (UV) laser systems. Contamination resulting from the environment or outgassing has been consistently seen to reduce the system performance of high-power UV laser systems over time. These effects can even lead to total system failure. Understanding the core concepts of UV contamination of optics is critical for tackling UV laser applications. Long-term UV experiments on laser-induced contamination of UV optics in different environments have revealed key insights into how this contamination forms, mitigation strategies, and cleaning techniques to potentially recover contaminated optics.
Key Technologies: Laser optics, UV lasers, UV optics
Imaging Optics
SCHOTT discusses how chalcogenide glass can replace germanium in the infrared imaging market, including statistical data on how the CPK value of chalcogenide glass has improved over the last eight years. Its article further outlines the broad portfolio of mechanical properties of these materials.
Key Technologies: Imaging optics, Infrared optics, chalcogenide glass
Design for PICs Packaging
PHIX Photonics highlights five common mistakes PIC designers that can significantly increase the feasibility and cost of their PIC packaging
Key Technologies: PICs, silicon photonics, fiber arrays
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