About
19 September 2023
Optica Laser Congress plenary speakers explore the past, present and future of laser technology and its applications.
TACOMA—Since the first demonstration of a working laser in 1960, the field of solid-state laser science has grown exponentially to become a thriving industry. Innovations in the underlying technology power new types of lasers and drive new applications in fields from communications to manufacturing. The 2023 Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition, held from 8 to 12 October in Tacoma, Washington, will highlight advances in solid-state lasers and the variety of applications made possible by new research in the field.
The Optica Laser Congress comprises two co-located topical meetings: The Advanced Solid-State Lasers Conference and the Laser Applications Conference. This year, Laser Congress will be co-located with the Frontiers in Optics (FiO) Conference, held in partnership with the American Physical Society’s Division of Laser Science (DLS). Registrants will be granted access to both events.
The Optica Laser Congress will feature plenary speaker Mary Spaeth, Chief Technologist for the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Spaeth will speak on the 50 years of laser research at LLNL that led to the first groundbreaking achievement of fusion ignition last year.
Mary Spaeth, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Mary Spaeth earned her MS in physics at Wayne State University in 1962, and spent the next 10 years honing her skills as a physicist and systems engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company. While at Hughes, she imagined and then demonstrated the original tunable dye laser. In 1972, she joined LLNL, becoming the leader of laser development for the Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) Program. Spaeth became the lead systems engineer for NIF, and in 1999 she joined Ken Manes to complete the fabrication, installation, commissioning and operation of the new facility. Her presentation, titled “50 Years of Laser Development Leading to NIF Breakthrough” will follow the challenges and solutions from 1970 to present that led to the NIF laser ignition driver.
About the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition
The Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition comprises two topical meetings: the Advanced Solid State Lasers Conference, which highlights new sources, advanced technologies, components and system design to extend the operation and application of solid-state lasers; and the Laser Applications Conference, which focuses on materials processing and applications for high power lasers.
In 2023, the conference is co-located with Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science. Registrants can freely access technical sessions and other programs offered from both events. The congress will be held as an in-person event featuring live contributed and invited talks with additional on-demand content available for online viewing. Archived recordings of in-person talks or prerecorded videos from remote presenters will be available on demand either during the event or soon after it concludes. Media registration is free with credentials. Digital assets are available on request.
About Optica
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more at: Optica.org
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