Could life exist outside of Earth? All we know for sure is that scientists will keep exploring this question until they have a definitive answer. A compact spectroscopy instrument has been developed for use in planetary exploration. The system, called the standoff ultra-compact micro Raman (SUCR) instrument, is capable of inspection and identification of minerals, organics and biogenic materials within several centimeters (2 to 20 cm) at a 10-µm resolution. This active remote sensor system is based on a 532-nm laser and a miniature spectrometer. Researchers from NASA Langley...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESSimpler Approach Produces Highly Chirped Laser PulsesResearchers at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics have produced ultrashort, extremely high-energy (chirped) laser pulses using a spectral filter in a Kerr resonator. Kerr...Photonics Spectra September 2021 IssueHolographic Space Telescope Takes Aim at the Next 'Planet Earth'To support the discovery of planets outside the solar system, scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) created an experimental space telescope that can directly analyze the spectra of an...Photonics.com 10/27/2021NASA Puts Psyche Mission Launch on HoldNASA will delay the launch of its Psyche asteroid mission, an operation that is designed to explore a metal-rich asteroid and test optical communication technologies. Due to the late delivery of the...Photonics.com 6/30/2022Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning Team Up to Predict Immunotherapy Response in PatientsUsing Raman spectroscopy and machine learning, a team at Johns Hopkins University developed a noninvasive technique to assess how cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy. The researchers used...Photonics.com 10/21/2021PRODUCTSLidar Laser ModuleThe Model 1790 high-power laser module from EMCORE Corp. is a 1550-nm device for lidar and optical sensing, particularly in autonomous driving. The module was developed for use as...Photonics Spectra January 2021 IssueFiber Frequency CombThe FFC-100 erbium-based fiber frequency comb from Vescent Photonics LLC features the MLL-100 mode-locked laser with a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror (SESAM) mode locker for longevity. ...Photonics Spectra October 2020 IssueHolographic GratingsVolume phase holographic (VPH) gratings from Thorlabs Inc. are manufactured in-house for high first-order diffraction efficiencies across broad bandwidths and low polarization dependence loss. ...Photonics Spectra October 2021 IssueWITec ParticleScout™ Enhanced for 2021WITec’s ParticleScout is an analytical tool for the alpha300 Raman microscope series that finds, classifies and identifies microparticles over large sample areas. It automatically detects and...Promoted Content May 2021 IssuePHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESAcousto-Optic Devices: Charts showing the characteristics of acousto-optic scanning devices, acousto-optic figures of merit, and solutions for common problems with acousto-optic processor devices.ACOUSTO-OPTIC SCANNING DEVICES: CHARACTERISTICS MODULATORS Material Bandwidth (MHz) Rise Time (ns) Acousto Input Power (W) (Saturation) Material Wavelength Range...Photonics HandbookSpectroscopy: The Tools of the Trade: Understanding the whys and wherefores of a technology goes a long way toward solving your problem. Putting that knowledge to work requires an understanding of the tools of the trade and how to use them.All optical spectrometry techniques rely on the measurement of radiant power. The configuration of the instrument varies based on the measurement technique: absorption, emission, luminescence, or...Photonics HandbookSpectroscopy: Mastering the Techniques: Spectrochemical analysis employing optical spectroscopic methods is used to monitor the water we drink, the food we eat, the status of human health, and the quality of the environment. Such methods are also crucial to the development of safe and valuable industrial processes.The scope of optical spectroscopic instrumentation is indeed very broad. Many analytical methods rely on the interaction of radiation with matter and are often described in the context of quantum and...Photonics HandbookLens Aberrations: Avoiding Defects in Imagery: A perfect lens can produce a perfect image. But seven primary lens aberrations can blur or distort the image instead, and they should be considered when creating an optical system.A lens collects light from a point on an object and focuses it to a corresponding conjugate point on an image. Under most conditions, the lens fails at this task because of some error in the...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSRaman Spectroscopy as a Tool for Studying Polymer Phase TransitionsSemicrystalline polymers, such as polyethylene, are the largest group of commercially produced plastics. Heating and cooling between phase transitions is used in industry for shaping these polymers...Photonics.com 1/28/2021Are You Facing any Problems Securing Optical Parts?You need just a couple of pieces for trial. You need to achieve an exact specification. You need to keep the same quality in every order. You cannot find the best fit material for your design. You...Photonics.com 7/13/2021Optimisation of SERS for Glucose SensingRaman spectroscopy is a rapid, non-destructive vibrational spectroscopy technique used for the identification and quantification of chemical composition. One drawback of Raman scattering is a very...Photonics.com 9/1/2020Knight Optical Meets Customer's Quality ExpectationsIt is with great pleasure that Knight Optical – the industry-leading supplier of metrology-tested, on-spec optical components – announces a 99.9% pass rate from its state-of-the-art Metrology...Photonics.com 9/9/2020WEBINARSBioPhotonics Conference: October 26 - 28The publishers of BioPhotonics invite you to attend a free virtual conference spanning three days. The BioPhotonics Conference will feature insights and innovations in microscopy, spectroscopy, flow...Photonics.com 10/26/2021Wavelength-Selective Optical Filters: Providing More Signal and Less Background to PCR InstrumentsEngineers face many unique challenges when creating polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrumentation. These challenges are seen in both the qualitative detection of nucleic acid sequences, using...Photonics.com 7/7/2022Current Status of Solar Photovoltaic Technology Platforms, Manufacturing Issues and ResearchQuestions, Answers & Comments from the Webinar Current Status of Solar Photovoltaic Technology Platforms, Manufacturing Issues and Research Thursday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. EDT ...Photonics.com 9/27/2012European Photonics Manufacturing Services Funded by ECThis event is supported by the European initiatives presented and is moderated by EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium. The European Commission is helping companies access the...Photonics.com 6/30/2021PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSlaser spectroscopyThat part of the science involved in the study of the theory and interpretation of spectra that uses the unique characteristics of the laser as an integral part in the development of information for...EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. 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For the...Photonics.com 7/2/2018Supporting the Photonics Industry from the Laboratory - LIGHT MATTERS 01.2018On this month's episode of Light Matters, we take you to central Massachusetts as Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Quinsigamond Community College take on a comprehensive joint photonics laboratory...Photonics.com 1/18/2018PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESLaser ShuttersRaman CellsBeam ExpandersA beam expander is a system of optical components designed to increase the diameter of a radiation beam. Usually an afocal system.Laser OpticsCOMPANIESFOCtek Photonics Inc.FOCtek provides customers with all types of custom manufactured lenses, Precision Optical Components, Polarizing Optics, Prisms, Filters, Coatings, Optical Systems, Crystals, Nonlinear Crystals,...Photonics Buyers' GuideMLD Technologies LLCExperts In Thin-film Coating Design We practice a design-before-quote approach to help customers refine specifications and minimize technical risk. We understand how coated optical elements...Photonics Buyers' GuideOZ Optics LimitedEstablished in 1985, OZ Optics is a leading worldwide supplier of fiber optic components, test equipment and sensors. OZ Optics manufactures its products in three locations, Ottawa (Canada),...Photonics Buyers' GuideOhara Corporation, Western OfficeOhara manufactures precision optical glasses: strip/slab, cut/molded blanks, pressings, high homogeneity blanks, fine gobs, polished ball lenses, near-UV transmitting i-Line glass, ceramic...Photonics Buyers' Guide