ILX Lightwave donated $12,000 worth of laser diode instrumentation to the Weld research group at the University of California at Santa Barbara last month. Laser diode instrumentation is used to precisely control a laser diode’s optical output while protecting it from thermal or electrical damage during operation. ILX’s donation included a precision laser diode controller, a high-power laser diode driver, a thermoelectric temperature controller and a laser diode mount. “The high-stability laser driver and temperature control equipment being donated will enable us to further our development of innovative experimental techniques for cooling and controlling ultracold atoms, and ultimately allow us to better pursue our goal of exploring fundamental physics and many-body quantum mechanics,” said Dr. Eric Corsini, the member of Dr. David Weld’s team who initiated and submitted the proposal to ILX. “Our goal with the university donation program is to provide cutting-edge equipment to colleges and universities so they can continue their mission of expanding frontiers of science and developing future generations of photonics researchers and engineers,” said Patrick Gale, ILX Lightwave product marketing manager. ILX Lightwave, a brand of Newport Corp., has donated up to $20,000 worth of equipment annually to colleges and universities and will award another $20,000 worth of equipment in 2014. Applications are now being accepted. For more information, visit: www.newport.com