(copied from the bookled, page 8)
You can download the booklet (pdf) here:
booklet properties of optical materials
If you know other booklets which helped you in your work, feel free to post a comment!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A Booklet for Properties of Optical Materials
Probably most of you know that many companies have small booklets regarding different topics/ technologies on their webpages. One which I personally like is from the Oriel-LOT company and summarizes the properties of optical materials, especially transmission curves. Unfortunately it is only available in german but this will not limit you as the booklet contains to 95% transmission curves and datas, understandable for everyone.
You can download the booklet (pdf) here:
booklet properties of optical materials
If you know other booklets which helped you in your work, feel free to post a comment!
You can download the booklet (pdf) here:
booklet properties of optical materials
If you know other booklets which helped you in your work, feel free to post a comment!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Attogram - free software
This post addresses more the specialists working with attosecond pulses. If you want to learn more about attosecond optics and its techniques, please read following article "attosecond physics" or visit "attoworld".
Measuring the pulse duration of an attosecond pulse is not so easy as you do with a 20fs pulse. To do so, you have to perform a streaking measurement from which you can reconstruct the desired data. Attogram is a programm designed "to reconstruct the temporal profiles of an attosecond pulse and a laser field from a streaking measurement". It also enables to analyze the chirp of the attosecond pulse.
(from attoworld)
Attogram is based on a blind FROG algorithm, and can also perform PG, SHG, THG and SD FROG retrievals. More detailed informations about the algorithm and its operation can be found in Applied Physics B 92, 25-32 and for the programm in the manual
Please download (free, no registration) Attogram from following page:
There you can find the system requirements too. Don't hesitate to contact the programmer if you have any questions or comments (contact on the download page).
Measuring the pulse duration of an attosecond pulse is not so easy as you do with a 20fs pulse. To do so, you have to perform a streaking measurement from which you can reconstruct the desired data. Attogram is a programm designed "to reconstruct the temporal profiles of an attosecond pulse and a laser field from a streaking measurement". It also enables to analyze the chirp of the attosecond pulse.
(from attoworld)Attogram is based on a blind FROG algorithm, and can also perform PG, SHG, THG and SD FROG retrievals. More detailed informations about the algorithm and its operation can be found in Applied Physics B 92, 25-32 and for the programm in the manual
Please download (free, no registration) Attogram from following page:
There you can find the system requirements too. Don't hesitate to contact the programmer if you have any questions or comments (contact on the download page).
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Big Laser Assembling...
In May 2008, the assembling of one of the largest laser systems in the world, hosted at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at University of Rochester, was after 3 years completed. This laser system is used for the same objects like at NIF (see post), namely for inertial confinement fusion. The following time lapse movie of the laser construction gives you a nice idea about its dimension. The main view is on this hall, which contains the "OMEGA EP" laser system.
Have fun watching it!
More time lapses movie can be found here.
If you are interested in more information, please check the links in the text.
(taken from LLE homepage)
Have fun watching it!
More time lapses movie can be found here.
If you are interested in more information, please check the links in the text.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Infinity Mirror Illusion!
Time for a movie! It doesnt need much words for this one, have fun!
(it takes some seconds, sorry)
(it takes some seconds, sorry)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology
The open access "Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology" by Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta is well-known and very often consulted by researchers. I already have mention it briefly in an earlier post (literature search I) but i think it is really worth to draw your attention again on it by a separate post to this valuable and helpful encyclopedia.
Around 570 articles are listed, still growing. The navigation is clearly laid out. Most of the articles are very detailed, inlcuding references to scientific articles. They explain
"the physical principles and common techniques in laser technology, while also covering major areas of fiber-optic technology and nonlinear optics, and addressing supplementary topics like ultrashort pulses, optical communications, general optics, optoelectronics, and quantum optics."
quoted from the encyclopedia. During august 2010 around 160 000 page hits have been counted. If you havent yet known this encyclopedia, then click the link and take a minute for it. Test some keywords! You will not regret it. Have fun.
Around 570 articles are listed, still growing. The navigation is clearly laid out. Most of the articles are very detailed, inlcuding references to scientific articles. They explain
"the physical principles and common techniques in laser technology, while also covering major areas of fiber-optic technology and nonlinear optics, and addressing supplementary topics like ultrashort pulses, optical communications, general optics, optoelectronics, and quantum optics."
quoted from the encyclopedia. During august 2010 around 160 000 page hits have been counted. If you havent yet known this encyclopedia, then click the link and take a minute for it. Test some keywords! You will not regret it. Have fun.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Companies & Photonics
If I ask you to write down how many companies you know working in the optic area, how many would it be? I think everyone knows Thorlabs and Newport, where most of us buy our optical components. And then... some other general well-known companies, some special companies working on your research topic, and then... i guess you know that there are much more companies.
There are several benefits for your research why to search once for other companies as to stay always at the same one:
You can browse by product/ service/ company name and region. The guide contains profiles and contact information for more than 4000 manufacturers and suppliers of photonics products and services worldwide. The page is clearly laid out and information are updated. Try it!
One more motivation why to know such a guide... if you are searching a job in the optics industry, you can find with the guide easily all the companies in your country ;).
There are several benefits for your research why to search once for other companies as to stay always at the same one:
- finding same product but cheaper (e.g. crystals, mechanical components, daily used things)
- better quality or performance (measurement devices)
- better support/ shorter delivering time (that is an important aspect)
- new products/ ideas for your research
You can browse by product/ service/ company name and region. The guide contains profiles and contact information for more than 4000 manufacturers and suppliers of photonics products and services worldwide. The page is clearly laid out and information are updated. Try it!
One more motivation why to know such a guide... if you are searching a job in the optics industry, you can find with the guide easily all the companies in your country ;).
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Summer School!
In my opinion, every graduate student should at least have visited one summer school during his graduate studies. Why... because you benefit a lot from a summer school!
A summer school handles of a main topic and tries to bring together graduate students and young Post-docs from diverse range of fields relevant to the main topic. Lectures are normally given by leading researchers in the field. As a graduate student you will not only learn new things but you also have the chance to talk with the lectures in a relaxed atmosphere. In the postersession you can present your own work. A summer school goes between 1 and 2 weeks.
What I liked very much was to learn other graduate students from different places, working on the same/ similar project. Very nice for everyone are the social events during the school. Mostly you are going for sightseeing a day. And, in the evenings you are free to do what you want.
Normally, there is a small summer school fee but often you can apply for a scholarship which overtakes most of the fee. Summer school anouncements you can find everywhere... in journals (Photonics Spectra), on the blackboard of your department, but best thing is to ask simply your professor/ supervisor.
As an example for a summer school:
66th Scottish Universities Summer School in Physics
International Summer School in Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics 2010
Take the chance to visit a summer school!
A summer school handles of a main topic and tries to bring together graduate students and young Post-docs from diverse range of fields relevant to the main topic. Lectures are normally given by leading researchers in the field. As a graduate student you will not only learn new things but you also have the chance to talk with the lectures in a relaxed atmosphere. In the postersession you can present your own work. A summer school goes between 1 and 2 weeks.
What I liked very much was to learn other graduate students from different places, working on the same/ similar project. Very nice for everyone are the social events during the school. Mostly you are going for sightseeing a day. And, in the evenings you are free to do what you want.
Normally, there is a small summer school fee but often you can apply for a scholarship which overtakes most of the fee. Summer school anouncements you can find everywhere... in journals (Photonics Spectra), on the blackboard of your department, but best thing is to ask simply your professor/ supervisor.
As an example for a summer school:
66th Scottish Universities Summer School in Physics
International Summer School in Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics 2010
Take the chance to visit a summer school!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunset in the Lab
Sunset in the lab, that´s how we named the first picture and I think you guess why ;).
We are focusing with a 1030nm beam in a YVO4 crystal generating "white light" which contains only near-infrared wavelengths from 600nm to around 1100nm. The blue light in the crystal originates from third harmonic generation.
The next picture shows stronger white light generation from 450nm to around 1400nm in a YAG crystal
Both pictures were taken in our lab by Thorsten Naeser and can be soon seen at the attoworld gallery.
If you want to know more about white light generation, then you should read following article: Femtosecond continuum generation in bulk laser host materials with sub-μJ pump pulses (journal access necessary).
Have fun!
We are focusing with a 1030nm beam in a YVO4 crystal generating "white light" which contains only near-infrared wavelengths from 600nm to around 1100nm. The blue light in the crystal originates from third harmonic generation.
The next picture shows stronger white light generation from 450nm to around 1400nm in a YAG crystal
Both pictures were taken in our lab by Thorsten Naeser and can be soon seen at the attoworld gallery.
If you want to know more about white light generation, then you should read following article: Femtosecond continuum generation in bulk laser host materials with sub-μJ pump pulses (journal access necessary).
Have fun!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Photonics in Spain: Open for Business
The latest (june/july 2010) euro photonics issue (included in photonics spectra) presents an article about the photonics in Spain:
A brief and very general overview of the situation of photonics development and research is given. ICFO, SECPhO and CLPU are mentioned. The article is nice to read and I guess especially interesting for our Spanish readers :) . Let´s hope future will show what the article says, namely: “Outlook is good”. Enjoy!
PS: the articles in the current photonics spectra issue are really interesting. Don’t forget, you can subscribe for free!
Links:
ICFO - Institute of Photonic Science
CLPU- Center for Ultrashort Pulsed Lasers
SECPhO- Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics
Photonics in Spain: Open for Business (free access)
A brief and very general overview of the situation of photonics development and research is given. ICFO, SECPhO and CLPU are mentioned. The article is nice to read and I guess especially interesting for our Spanish readers :) . Let´s hope future will show what the article says, namely: “Outlook is good”. Enjoy!
PS: the articles in the current photonics spectra issue are really interesting. Don’t forget, you can subscribe for free!
Links:
ICFO - Institute of Photonic Science
CLPU- Center for Ultrashort Pulsed Lasers
SECPhO- Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
LAB2 - The Virtual Femtosecond Laboratory
LAB2 is a (for free) modular programming tool written in Labview which enables one to simulate basic experiments and devices daily used in femtosecond experiments.
As examples they mention:
LabII was developed in 1998 at the Institute for Optics and Quantum Electronics (IOQ) in Jena. Since Fall 2004 it is at the Institute of Applied Physics in Bern with Prof. Thomas Feurer. The download is free but you have to register. What I like is the detailed manual which will help you to use efficiently LAB2. Basics and concepts are introduced too and always worth to read it. If you have used LAB2 already, please write a comment about your experience with it.
As examples they mention:
- propagation through a linear medium
- prism compressor
- second harmonic generation with depleted fundamental wave
- crystal wizard - how to find the phase matching angle
LabII was developed in 1998 at the Institute for Optics and Quantum Electronics (IOQ) in Jena. Since Fall 2004 it is at the Institute of Applied Physics in Bern with Prof. Thomas Feurer. The download is free but you have to register. What I like is the detailed manual which will help you to use efficiently LAB2. Basics and concepts are introduced too and always worth to read it. If you have used LAB2 already, please write a comment about your experience with it.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
OSLO - Free Optical Design Software
Optical Design Software are widely used in optic industry and also in certain scientific optic fields. But in general, our research in nonlinear/ quantum optics does not require the assistance of optical design software. However, sometimes there are cases where one thinks that it would be not bad to design it proper (especially if you have to optimize). Most popular (and very good) optical design softwares are Code V and Zemax. But they are expensive and therefore quite often not purchased. However, there are other softwares and one of them is
The version OSLO-EDU (for education) can be downloaded for free. But compared with other software demos or free version, OSLO-EDU still contains a lot of features which enables you to really work with it. Good and extensive introductions, manuals and examples exist and will help you to operate the software. But as with every software, you have to spend first a little bit time to learn it, depending what you want to design. OSLO is provided by the company Lambda Research Corporation. The link for the download page you can find here:
Download OSLO-EDU
on the same page you can also download 2 manuals. I hope for smaller optical design tasks this software will help you.
Lambda Research Corporation
OSLO Wikipedia
Code V
Zemax
OSLO, Optics Software for Layout and Optimization.
The version OSLO-EDU (for education) can be downloaded for free. But compared with other software demos or free version, OSLO-EDU still contains a lot of features which enables you to really work with it. Good and extensive introductions, manuals and examples exist and will help you to operate the software. But as with every software, you have to spend first a little bit time to learn it, depending what you want to design. OSLO is provided by the company Lambda Research Corporation. The link for the download page you can find here:
Download OSLO-EDU
on the same page you can also download 2 manuals. I hope for smaller optical design tasks this software will help you.
Lambda Research Corporation
OSLO Wikipedia
Code V
Zemax
Monday, June 7, 2010
THz Science & Technology Network
If you are interested in terahertz research, or you want to get an overview then this Thz Science and Technology Network may be worth to consider:
The page is maintained and regulary updated. I like the news and furthermore, they have their own virtual (monthly published) virtual journal. Not bad is the conference page as well as the career page too. A real nice feature is the buyer´s guide. It will provide a good starting point if you search commerical THz technology (depending of what you are searching this can be real challenge!). You can get also a member of the THz network. The basic membership is free. However, all pages are free accessible and actually it is nowhere written, what for additional features you receive if you get a member. If you are a member (i am not), please write a comment.
What you will not find on this network is a short introduction to THz or an overview for people not really involved into the THz research. An overview gives for example following article from nature photonics (access of the journal necessary): cutting edge terahertz technology, or searching on wikipedia will show you some results too (terahertz radiation).
Have a look on the THz network, if you know other such pages, or you are even a member, please write a comment :). Enjoy.
The page is maintained and regulary updated. I like the news and furthermore, they have their own virtual (monthly published) virtual journal. Not bad is the conference page as well as the career page too. A real nice feature is the buyer´s guide. It will provide a good starting point if you search commerical THz technology (depending of what you are searching this can be real challenge!). You can get also a member of the THz network. The basic membership is free. However, all pages are free accessible and actually it is nowhere written, what for additional features you receive if you get a member. If you are a member (i am not), please write a comment.
What you will not find on this network is a short introduction to THz or an overview for people not really involved into the THz research. An overview gives for example following article from nature photonics (access of the journal necessary): cutting edge terahertz technology, or searching on wikipedia will show you some results too (terahertz radiation).
Have a look on the THz network, if you know other such pages, or you are even a member, please write a comment :). Enjoy.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
SNLO - Crystal Property Caculations Software
I guess that everyone working in nonlinear optics knows this (free) software. And if not, it is time that you hear about it.
SNLO is a free programm with many functions helping one to select the correct nonlinear crystal, and in modeling nonlinear frequency conversion processes in those crystal. Developed and maintained by Dr. Arlee Smith, at that time working at the Sandia National Laboratories and now founder of AS-Photonics. The software is constantly updated and currently version 51 is available (november 18, 2009). It includes data for more than 50 crystals as well as a good introduction manuel. The PDFs to the software and crystal references you find on the same page where you can download the software:
Since Dr. Smith is working at AS-Photonics you have to register (free) for it. Take time to read the introduction/ help manual to learn the full possibility of this software (and it is not so much time to take ;) ). I am quite sure that this software has simplified the life of many graduate student working in nonlinear optics. Enjoy.
SNLO is a free programm with many functions helping one to select the correct nonlinear crystal, and in modeling nonlinear frequency conversion processes in those crystal. Developed and maintained by Dr. Arlee Smith, at that time working at the Sandia National Laboratories and now founder of AS-Photonics. The software is constantly updated and currently version 51 is available (november 18, 2009). It includes data for more than 50 crystals as well as a good introduction manuel. The PDFs to the software and crystal references you find on the same page where you can download the software:
Since Dr. Smith is working at AS-Photonics you have to register (free) for it. Take time to read the introduction/ help manual to learn the full possibility of this software (and it is not so much time to take ;) ). I am quite sure that this software has simplified the life of many graduate student working in nonlinear optics. Enjoy.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Happy birthday Hubble!
Twenty years ago, on 24. April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit. Since then, Hubble has given us many spectacular images, allowing us to explore and understand a little bit more the Universe.
Let us review some of the most relevant Hubble telescopes's science finding:
This post has been adapted from "Hubble space telescope's top science findings".
A complete review of select research papers can be found in this special issue of Nature.
More information about Hubble telescope and stunning images from it, can be found in the official website:
Let us review some of the most relevant Hubble telescopes's science finding:
- Dark energy: the term "dark energy" refers to a force against the gravity; it is then responsible of the expansion of the Universe. By observing distant supernovae, the astronomers can study how the dark energy behaves, which is a key to understand the origin of the Universe.
- The age of the Universe: by measuring the brightness of pulsating stars it was possible to calculate their distance to the Earth. This parameter was used to determine the Hubble constant and the Universe's age, estimated to be around 13,75 billion years.
- Large galaxies: Hubble has registered images of galaxies when the universe was just 100 million years; these observations revealed that they were smaller than today's galaxies, concluding that large galaxies built up over time as smaller galaxies collided and merged.
- Extrasolar planets: planets out of our Solar System are called extrasolar planets. Hubble has detected many of them and made significant contributions to broaden our knowledge about them. For instance, its observations showed for the first time in history the composition of the atmosphere of one extrasolar planet.
This post has been adapted from "Hubble space telescope's top science findings".
A complete review of select research papers can be found in this special issue of Nature.
More information about Hubble telescope and stunning images from it, can be found in the official website:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
"Milestones of Photon History"
On occasion of the 50-year anniversary of the first demonstration of the laser (actually on the 16 May 1960), "Nature Milestones" highlights key discoveries in optics, which are based on the photon:
A timeline is presented with small but compact articles to the different milestones. It presents a fast but interesting overview/ introduction over many important discoveries which are today everywhere used in optics. It is really worth to read it. If I am not wrong, I think the articles are even open access. You can either read it directly on the page or as pdf:
pfd of milenstones timeline (link)
pdf of all milenstones (link)
have fun
A timeline is presented with small but compact articles to the different milestones. It presents a fast but interesting overview/ introduction over many important discoveries which are today everywhere used in optics. It is really worth to read it. If I am not wrong, I think the articles are even open access. You can either read it directly on the page or as pdf:
pfd of milenstones timeline (link)
pdf of all milenstones (link)
have fun
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
"Bringing Star Power to Earth"
A lot of high-energy laser facilities exist around the world, or are in planning. One of them is the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL):
NIF is a laser based inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research device. Thereby powerful lasers will heat and compress a small amount of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclrear fusion reactions take place. The original purpose of the experiments at NIF are simulations of nuclear weapon detonations, as replacement for nuclear tests. However, the knowledge gained will be used too for a possible civil energy winning device by inertial confinement fusion. NIF will be probabyl the first ICF device which should produce more energy than was put in to start the reaction. We will soon know it.
some data:
number of beamlines: 192
energy per beamline: 18.75 kJ
center wavelength: 1053nm
pulse length: few nanoseconds
repetition rate: 4-6 shot per day
focusspot size: 5x of the diffraction limit
final costs: 3.4 billions (USD)
dimensions: nearly three soccer fields (around 21.368m²)
finished: end of march 2009
Like most of the very big constructions NIF had around 5 years of delay and the costs were 4 times more as budgeted. However it works now! In January, they have reported a laser energy of more than 1 mega joule!
NIF has a very good and informative page. Take some time to surf on it, it provides you with much more details as on this short post here. Below, I have put two links to "how NIF works" and the "video gallery". I liked the wikipedia entry too (it contains also over 70 references). Enjoy!
links:
NIF is a laser based inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research device. Thereby powerful lasers will heat and compress a small amount of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclrear fusion reactions take place. The original purpose of the experiments at NIF are simulations of nuclear weapon detonations, as replacement for nuclear tests. However, the knowledge gained will be used too for a possible civil energy winning device by inertial confinement fusion. NIF will be probabyl the first ICF device which should produce more energy than was put in to start the reaction. We will soon know it.
some data:
number of beamlines: 192
energy per beamline: 18.75 kJ
center wavelength: 1053nm
pulse length: few nanoseconds
repetition rate: 4-6 shot per day
focusspot size: 5x of the diffraction limit
final costs: 3.4 billions (USD)
dimensions: nearly three soccer fields (around 21.368m²)
finished: end of march 2009
Like most of the very big constructions NIF had around 5 years of delay and the costs were 4 times more as budgeted. However it works now! In January, they have reported a laser energy of more than 1 mega joule!
NIF has a very good and informative page. Take some time to surf on it, it provides you with much more details as on this short post here. Below, I have put two links to "how NIF works" and the "video gallery". I liked the wikipedia entry too (it contains also over 70 references). Enjoy!
links:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
ToptiCalc, a (free) Photonic Scientific Calculator
Few days ago I crossed the way of this "photonic scientific calculator" from Toptica. It is a small calculator but containing interesting and helpful features for our work, small things which saves a lot of time ;). My favorite is the short pulses properties and chirp feature. Other features are:
The calculator is made by the laser and optics company called Toptica and can be downloaded for free. However, you have to register (for free of course) but this should not keep you away. More detailed information about the calculator features can be found on their homepage, or click ToptiCal page. It is also interesting to watch their homepage, especially the applications page. Toptica is a well-known company in optics and offers many products and special solutions to research in optics (i am not sponsored by Toptica ;) )
free download (registration page)
- spectral unit conversion
- calculating spot sizes for focussed gaussian beams
- Fabry-Perot calculations
- reflection and diffraction at plane glass surfaces
- pulse train calculations
- short pulse properties and chirp
- conversion between linear and decibel scale
The calculator is made by the laser and optics company called Toptica and can be downloaded for free. However, you have to register (for free of course) but this should not keep you away. More detailed information about the calculator features can be found on their homepage, or click ToptiCal page. It is also interesting to watch their homepage, especially the applications page. Toptica is a well-known company in optics and offers many products and special solutions to research in optics (i am not sponsored by Toptica ;) )
free download (registration page)
Friday, April 23, 2010
ResearchGATE
ResearchGATE is a scientific networking platform, founded in 2008 in Hannover, Germany. Today, over 300´000 thousands scientists have joined from all over the world and from every topic. The access/ registration is free (contrary to its competitions) and the site works like facebook. You can create groups, asking questions, upload your publications, networking, finding people from your field, semantic abstract search, etc.
Have a look at their video, where they introduce their network.
What i like on this network is that you can ask a specific questions (most questions seems to be about sample preparation) and in most cases you get even a good answer. Furthermore, you can create groups on your topics...building your own network, staying in contact with others (perhaps once there will be a OSA student chapter group) However, i havent joined to researchgate as there seems to be no real optic group. More detailed information you can find in the articles below and on wikipedia. If you have some experience with this network, please write a comment!
articles:
Have a look at their video, where they introduce their network.
What i like on this network is that you can ask a specific questions (most questions seems to be about sample preparation) and in most cases you get even a good answer. Furthermore, you can create groups on your topics...building your own network, staying in contact with others (perhaps once there will be a OSA student chapter group) However, i havent joined to researchgate as there seems to be no real optic group. More detailed information you can find in the articles below and on wikipedia. If you have some experience with this network, please write a comment!
articles:
- in TechCrunch (english):Professional Network ResearchGate Is A LinkedIn For Scientists
- in "DER SPIEGEL" (only german): "Facebook für Forscher"
Friday, April 16, 2010
Student chapters
This might be the first time you hear these words: "Student Chapters".
So, let's start by the beginning...
So, let's start by the beginning...
- What is a Student Chapter?
A student chapter is a group of students with a common interest, in our case Optics. They usually promote the discipline among young students and general public through outreach activities.
- Who sponsors them?
Several proffesional societies (OSA, SPIE, EPS...) have a worldwide network of student chapters and offer grants for them (activity grants, educational grants, start-up funding, classroom materials...).
- What kind of activities are made in the frame of student chapters?
There is a huge variety of activities! Here are some examples:
- Student networking: IONS conferences
- Educational outreach projects; for example: "Day of the Light" (ICONS), "Curso de iniciación a la investigación en óptica" (IOSA), "The Optics Adventure" (OSAL)...
- Workshops for teachers in Africa (I really love this one!): NUTS project by Naples Student Chapter.
- Lab tours during conferences (such as, OSASG during CLEO).
- Cross-chapter activities (meetings with other chapters...).
- Professional development activities (visit to companies, seminars...).
- Social events to promote interaction between members (beer&pizza, dinner, trip...).
- Benefits of becoming a member
Apart from the benefits of joining a professional society (travelling and student grants, Leadership Meetings, suscriptions to reviews...), it is a good way to build technical and leadership skills. You will learn many things that wouldn't be possible in any other case (for example, seek for funding, manage a group...).
- What do I have to do if I want to establish a student chapter at my Uni?
Usually, you have to recruit at least five students, join a/several society(ies) and decide who is who (elect a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer). Depending on the society, the process can be slighty different; for further information, I would advise you to visit their website:
Optical Society of America (OSA): www.osa.org
SPIE: http://spie.org
European Physical Society (EPS): http://epsyoungminds.com
Friday, April 9, 2010
Photonics Spectra
It is free, and even not so bad. Actually it is quite good and interesting. I am talking from
A monthly published magazine for researcher and engineers who are working in the optic/ photonics field. It provides news and featured articles and gives a good overview about new developments in science as well as in industry. Articles are about technical and practical information covering all parts of photonics like "optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics and electro-optics as well as photonic component manufacturing, solar cell improvements, LED lighting for cars and offices, THz, EHz, UV, IR, and visible light imaging and test equipment." (quoted from the homepage)
A second, smaller magazine exists too for the new bio-photonics field: "Bio Photonics". Photonics Spectra has been published since 1967 by Laurin Publishing Company.
What I like on these magazines too, are the technology updates, new producs and literature, application reports, business reports and calendars of conferences. Sometimes you see by chance some tools or techniques which you can use too for your experiment.
Subscription for Photonics Spectra can be found here: Subscription, and for biophotonics here.
Have a look at Photonics.com too, the "general page" of the magazines. It contains news, blogs, videos and a lot more. By the way, all articles etc. of the magazines can be found too on the page.
Enjoy reading, you will get a good overview about what is going on in the different fields of optics!
A monthly published magazine for researcher and engineers who are working in the optic/ photonics field. It provides news and featured articles and gives a good overview about new developments in science as well as in industry. Articles are about technical and practical information covering all parts of photonics like "optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics and electro-optics as well as photonic component manufacturing, solar cell improvements, LED lighting for cars and offices, THz, EHz, UV, IR, and visible light imaging and test equipment." (quoted from the homepage)
A second, smaller magazine exists too for the new bio-photonics field: "Bio Photonics". Photonics Spectra has been published since 1967 by Laurin Publishing Company.
What I like on these magazines too, are the technology updates, new producs and literature, application reports, business reports and calendars of conferences. Sometimes you see by chance some tools or techniques which you can use too for your experiment.
Subscription for Photonics Spectra can be found here: Subscription, and for biophotonics here.
Have a look at Photonics.com too, the "general page" of the magazines. It contains news, blogs, videos and a lot more. By the way, all articles etc. of the magazines can be found too on the page.
Enjoy reading, you will get a good overview about what is going on in the different fields of optics!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Los quintos.
Para los que dicosian moléculas,
Para los que calibran espectrometros,
Para los que buscan estados vestidos,
Para los que buscan bombear laseres XUV.
Para todos ellos.
El quinto hamrónico
Para los que calibran espectrometros,
Para los que buscan estados vestidos,
Para los que buscan bombear laseres XUV.
Para todos ellos.
El quinto hamrónico
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The European X-Ray Free Electron Laser
The European X-Ray Free Electron Laser is a new (in construction) research facility in Germany near Hamburg, using an free electron laser which produces high intensity, coherent x-ray pulses at kHz repetition rate. Their intensities are several magnitudes brighter than those achieved today by conventional synchrotron light source. The XFEL and its unique characteristic will open new reasearch opportunities for scientists.
The video is in german, I am sorry. The english version can be download here or directly watched on the XFEL homepage (right upper side)
(from European XFEL)
The construction time has already started in 2009 and will lead until 2014. Users can operate the facility and beamline in 2015. The project costs are around 1082 million euros (price level 2005) whereas Germany covers 54% and Russia 23%. The rest is split among the other members. Currently 13 countries are participating, all from europe except China. The facility has a total length of 3.4km (including accelerator), starting from DESY in Hamburg.
Characteristics of the European X-Ray Laser:
The XFEL allows researcher to enter new areas which were inaccessible so far. Tiny structures, ultrafast processes and extreme states of matter will be explored. Let me quote from their homepage:
"Using the X-ray flashes of the European XFEL, scientists will be able to map the atomic details of viruses, decipher the molecular composition of cells, take three-dimensional images of the nanoworld, film chemical reactions and study the processes in the interior of planets."
The XFEL opens a lot of new research possibilites, have a look at their research page.
Take time and enjoy the XFEL homepage. It is seriously done and contains a lot of interesting information. Have fun.
additional information: wikipedia -XFEL
Page: European XFEL
The video is in german, I am sorry. The english version can be download here or directly watched on the XFEL homepage (right upper side)
(from European XFEL)
The construction time has already started in 2009 and will lead until 2014. Users can operate the facility and beamline in 2015. The project costs are around 1082 million euros (price level 2005) whereas Germany covers 54% and Russia 23%. The rest is split among the other members. Currently 13 countries are participating, all from europe except China. The facility has a total length of 3.4km (including accelerator), starting from DESY in Hamburg.
Characteristics of the European X-Ray Laser:
- wavelength: 0.1 - 6nm
- repetition rate: 27kHz!
- pulse duration: < 100fs
- average [peak] brilliance: 1.6*10^25 [5*10^33]
- coherence: yes
The XFEL allows researcher to enter new areas which were inaccessible so far. Tiny structures, ultrafast processes and extreme states of matter will be explored. Let me quote from their homepage:
"Using the X-ray flashes of the European XFEL, scientists will be able to map the atomic details of viruses, decipher the molecular composition of cells, take three-dimensional images of the nanoworld, film chemical reactions and study the processes in the interior of planets."
The XFEL opens a lot of new research possibilites, have a look at their research page.
Take time and enjoy the XFEL homepage. It is seriously done and contains a lot of interesting information. Have fun.
additional information: wikipedia -XFEL
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
"Your Own Laser Experiments"
Doing laser experiments at home are in most cases challenging due missing tools. Nevertheless some easy but still very interesting experiments can be done demonstrating fundamental phenomena. By chance I found a homepage which describes in detail and well explained some very interesting and easy to do experiments.The page is the EU-HOU project: “Hands on Universe, Europe. Bringing frontline interactive astronomy to the classroom” and has the goal of renewing the teaching of science and awaking the interest of science to the young generation. The page covers mainly experiments from astronomy but some nice optics experiments (important for astronomy) are presented too.
EU-HOU, startpage
Four easy laser optics experiments can be found here:
EU-HOU, Laser Experiments
EU-HOU, home-made spectroscope
They handle of the:
- “Refraction , or bent light”
- “Determination of the index of refraction by a laser pointer”
- “Eureka, Light is a wave”
- "A home-made spectroscope"
(bent light)
(measuring the refraction index)
(halogen bulb and its spectrum)
All the pictures are taken from the EU-HOU page. Note that the EU-HOU page is addressed for teachers but every pupil (high school) can do it too. And please,
(halogen bulb and its spectrum)never never look into a laser beam!
It can cause serious irreparable eye damage! Hence, take care even with a laser pointer. Enjoy the experiments!
It can cause serious irreparable eye damage! Hence, take care even with a laser pointer. Enjoy the experiments!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Laserfest
16. May 1960: Theodore Maiman achieves for the first time in history light from a laser.
Thus,2010 is the 50th Anniversary of the first laser.
For this reason, there is an innitiative from APS, OSA, SPIE and IEEE to conmemorate this anniversary: Laserfest.
Events around the world will showcase how the laser works, the history of the laser and its impact on society, and the laser's potential for the future.
I strongly recommend you to visit the website for Laserfest.
Here you can find a lot of information and latest news about lasers, curiosities and of course, info about all the events related to Laserfest that will take place this year.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure
The Extreme Light Infrastructure, called ELI, is a european project which will provide in ~ 2015 a new infrastructure for an ultra-high intensity laser to investigate laser-matter interactions in the unexplored ultra-relativistic regime.
picture from ELI-Wikipedia
From 13 european countries, more than 50 institutes are involved and cooperating for this project. The preparatory phase will end in November 2010, followed by a construction period of 5 years. The project will have 4 facilities located in Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania. The last location will be decided in 2012. The research focuses onto three fields:
ELI will be a unique laser facility on the world, opening new ways to the secrets of matter on the ultra-short timescale. Although, 2015 seems to be far away, if you start now with your phd or study, you will be finished around the time when ELI will show its "first light", a perfect time or ;)?
Sources and links:
ELI - offical site
ELI-Wikipedia
ELI Beamlines Facility in the Czech Republic (only in czech)
picture from OSAL
picture from ELI-Wikipedia- Ultra high science field (exploring laser-matter interaction)
- Attosecond laser science (temporal investigation of electron dynamics)
- High Energy Beam Science (development of ultra-short pulses of high energy radiation and particles (100 GeV) for fundamental and applied sciences)
ELI will be a unique laser facility on the world, opening new ways to the secrets of matter on the ultra-short timescale. Although, 2015 seems to be far away, if you start now with your phd or study, you will be finished around the time when ELI will show its "first light", a perfect time or ;)?
Sources and links:
ELI - offical site
ELI-Wikipedia
ELI Beamlines Facility in the Czech Republic (only in czech)
picture from OSALThursday, February 4, 2010
Light for the Future!
A short but professional made video about the “Excellence Cluster MAP” in Germany. MAP stands for Munich Centre for Advanced Photonics and is sponsored/ granted by the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG” (German Research Foundation). The first part of the movie shows laser and laserlabs whereas the second parts concentrates on possible applications in medecine. Have a look!
I couldnt implement the video directly into the blog, sorry. Additional information you will find on the same page too. Furthermore, more movies you can watch using the DFG Video Portal. Every monday a new research video will be published there.
MAP: Munich Center for Advanced Photonics
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
Attoworld
I couldnt implement the video directly into the blog, sorry. Additional information you will find on the same page too. Furthermore, more movies you can watch using the DFG Video Portal. Every monday a new research video will be published there.
MAP: Munich Center for Advanced Photonics
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
Attoworld
Monday, January 4, 2010
"Brave New Attoworld"
Since beginning of the new year, the newly designed HOMEPAGE OF THE ATTOSECOND GROUP at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics is online:or: www.attoworld.de (startpage):
Attoworld contains a lot of interesting background information not only what we are doing, but also our techniques, aims, visions, challenges, information for public, even teaching etc... The attoworld section (attoworld) gives you a well understanding of what attoscience is. Take time to surf and to enjoy it. The homepage is very well linked too further information and gives access to many papers (free download).
As people often want to have a look into the laboratories, attoworld presents an extensive gallery of our works: Gallery Labs. But also you will find pictures everywhere at attoworld.
(Both pictures are from the gallery of attoworld. You can find there a detailed caption too.)
Enjoy... and dont forget the breakthroughs of the year vote!
Enjoy... and dont forget the breakthroughs of the year vote!
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