The US Naval Research Laboratory’s Electra argon fluoride laser.
Image Credit: J. Steffen, US Navy |
In December 2022, the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) made headlines when it reported that it had achieved the first-ever demonstration of nuclear-fusion ignition. NIF used an “indirect-drive” method of laser fusion, in which laser beams are directed at a tiny gold can, or hohlraum. The resulting X-rays heat a nuclear fuel pellet inside the hohlraum to the point of implosion, creating conditions for ignition.
Researchers in academia, industry and government are also looking at a different approach, however—so called direct-drive laser fusion. In direct drive, the laser beams are trained directly at the fuel pellet, in principal allowing more of the beam’s energy to be transferred to the fuel. A cover story in the June issue of OPN explores this potentially simpler, cheaper route to nuclear fusion—which some experts believe could be the key to competitive fusion energy. |
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| Image Credit: Lintao Peng, Beijing Institute of Technology |
| In this featured article from Optics Letters, researchers developed a simple, high-speed way to help identify hazards while driving by detecting multiple objects' location, size, and category without acquiring images or requiring complex scene reconstruction. |
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 Gisele Bennett
MEPSS, LLC, USA
Image Credit: Gisele Bennett |
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 Turan Erdogan
Plymouth Grating Laboratory, Inc., USA
Image Credit: Turan Erdogan |
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| The candidates for Optica’s Vice President and two Directors at Large have been announced. Visit optica.org/vote to learn more about the candidates and their issues of interest. Members will receive an email with instructions to access their online ballot in July and will have eight weeks to cast their vote. Student members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to select the future leaders of Optica. Confirm your email address is current in your member profile by visiting account.Optica.org. |
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| Image Credit: Getty Images |
| A recent article in the June 2023 member blog celebrates June Pride month in the optics and photonics community. At Optica, we work to support our community to ensure people feel safe, supported, and have access to the resources they need to grow and develop. Everyone in our community deserves to feel valued and included. |
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Participants from the Optica Student Chapters at the University of Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch University
Image Credit: Wits Optics Student Chapter and the Stellenbosch Laser Student Chapter |
| A recent article in the May 2023 member blog explores the importance of fibre optical communications in South Africa and how it works. Discover how the Wits Optics Student Chapter and the Stellenbosch Laser Student Chapter, in collaboration with Google, the Optica Foundation, SPIE, the SubOptic Foundation, Infinera, and WIOCC, recently organized two workshops aimed at spreading awareness of Optical Fibre Communication. |
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Led by Editor-in-Chief Michael G. Raymer, University of Oregon, Optica Quantum is a new Gold Open-Access journal dedicated to high-impact results in quantum information science and technology (QIST) that will publish its first issue in September 2023.
Like its parent journal, Optica, the Journal will provide the same exceptional standards for quality, novelty, and significance. It will also publish theoretical and experimental research as well as technological advances in and applications of quantum optics.
As a benefit to authors, Article Processing Charges will be waived for all articles published this year. Don’t delay. Submit your manuscript today to be one of the first to publish in this new exciting new journal. |
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 Image Credit: Baris Erkman |
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| Fellow Member Insight |
| Baris Erkman has found the ability to effectively communicate ideas and research through written and spoken words essential for success. He firmly believes that these are skills the next generation should develop. |
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| Change the world. |
| Apply by 21 July for the Optica Foundation Challenge and a US$100,000 prize to use photonics and find a solution to a real-world problem in one of three categories: Environment, Health, and Information. |
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 Image Credit: Getty Images |
| Enroll Today. |
| Opt-in for automatic renewal in the My Account's "Membership" section, and your membership will renew automatically before the next expiration date. |
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