October 2004

Including news from Alfalight, Sensors Unlimited, Showa Denko and Osram Opto Semiconductors.

Scientists demonstrate a silicon waveguide laser that relies on the Raman effect.

Scientists use a laser based magneto optical trap to krypton date 500 000 year old Egyptian groundwater.

SPIE's first European event on optics for defence applications turns out to be a big hit.

A look at some of the innovations in optics that have been reported in journals this month.

Record profit, a five-year investment in manufacturing facilities of $300 million and a sharp rise in its stock price mean that LED maker Cree is one of the brightest lights in the compound semiconductor industry right now. Hamish Johnston quizzes John Palmour, Cree's executive vice-president and director of advanced devices, on the company's manufacturing strategy.

Researchers reveal the origins of the blue-green and pink iridescence seen from the shell of a common mollusk.

Including news from Toyoda Gosei, JVC, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Universal Display Corporation and more.

The pick of this week's applications including a silicon prism that increases light coupling efficiency into a waveguide.

High-brightness LED lighting developer Lamina Ceramics says that it has made the brightest LED "light engine" ever.

Light-sensitive bacteriorhodopsin is combined with electronics to make the world's first bio-phototransceiver.

Scientists build a monolithic glass interferometer that boasts picometer stability.

Including news from Cree, Philips, Nanotech Semiconductor, IMEC, Konarka and more.

The Dutch firm decides to stop production of TVs based on Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) technology.

US Scientists reveal the potential of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as an in vivo tool for diagnosing cancer.

Optical fibers containing layers of conducting, semiconducting and insulating materials are unveiled in this week's Nature.

Singlemode fibers that transmit across the 4 to 18 microns range become commercially available.

Including news from Corning, Laser Components, Sharp, Osram, IPG Laser and more.

The pick of this week's patent applications including a heads-up display for a propeller-driven aircraft.

Fluorescence spectroscopy detects chemicals in the skin that relate to diabetes.

Mobile Eye from ASL offers a convenient way to analyze the performance of sportsmen in action.

Thirty-two projects are the lucky recipients of funding totalling over $80 million.

Including news from NEC, Sony, QinetiQ, EXFO, Quantum Dot Corporation and more.