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28 Jun 2010
Clean-energy research and nanotechnologies join core optics programmes at SPIE Optics and Photonics.
Optics and photonics research and initiatives with the potential for profound improvements in everyday life and a greener future will be advanced at SPIE Optics and Photonics, to take place 1–5 August at the San Diego (California) Marriott Marina Hotel and Convention Center.
The event's four symposia, on NanoScience and NanoEngineering, Solar Energy, Photonic Devices, and Optical Engineering, are expected to draw nearly 4500 attendees to hear approximately 2775 technical presentations, attend professional development courses, tour a three-day exhibition and network at receptions, luncheons and technical-interest events.
Long a core optical engineering meeting, Optics and Photonics is also the largest R&D conference on nanotechnology, with around 800 papers on the topic this year. The programme has 18 conferences on topics such as metamaterials, plasmonics, spintronics, optical trapping, nanostructured thin films, as well as nanophotonics and macrophotonics for space environments.
Optics and Photonics includes 12 conferences on green photonics, including Solid State Lighting, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Sustainable energy advances will take centre stage in talks by symposium plenary speakers Edward Moses (National Ignition Facility) and Jeffrey Tsao (Sandia National Laboratory). Moses will talk about laser-induced fusion as an energy source, and Tsao will present scientific, technological, and economic perspectives on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and other solid-state lighting (SSL).
Technical programmes will be highlighted by 20 plenary talks. These include:
Nobel laureate Charles Townes (University of California, Berkeley) will join Richard Hoover (NASA) and Paul Davies (University of Arizona) in a "Life in the cosmos" panel discussion, held this year in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the SETI project. Townes will also give the keynote talk at the annual awards banquet, where he will receive the 2010 SPIE Gold Medal of the Society.
A panel discussion on "Commercialization of emerging photovoltaics technologies"" will be moderated by Loucas Tsakalakos (GE Global Research) and Sean Shaheen (University of Denver).
Dozens of professional and career development courses complement the programme, including several new courses on optical metrology topics.
Products and prototypes
The 200-company exhibition is the largest optics and photonics exhibition in southern California, and will run Tuesday through Thursday. Product launch information from companies such as Gulf Photonics, Molecular Technology, ZEMAX, Fiberguide Industries, Aerotech, Goodrich ISR Systems, Semiconductor Tapes and Materials, Hamamatsu and Newport/Spectra-Physics is posted on the event website.
The SPIE Pavilion: Lighting for a Better World in the exhibition hall will showcase experimental and leading-edge applications with displays including cars from makers such as BMW, Audi and others; information on government policies around efficient lighting; and booths of not-for-profit organizations such as One Million Lights that use LEDs, solar and other sustainable technologies in their programmes for developing countries.
Risø National Laboratory, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konarka and other groups will demonstrate prototype devices in a poster and demonstration technical session.
Vintage lasers
The largest collection of vintage lasers including more than 100 pieces gathered by SPIE in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the laser will be shown during the exhibition. Tribute photo panels depicting the work of Townes and many other laser pioneers and luminaries are also part of the exhibit. See video interviews and more on the Advancing the Laser website.
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