Contents
Business Business News
The latest business news from the world of photonics Profile – 4D Technology
Warren Clark charts the history of this interferometry specialist
Applications Applications News
The latest applications of photonics technology Feature: Semiconductors
Stephen Mounsey assesses the market for lasers in the semiconductor industry
Technology Technology News
The latest technology developments in photonics Feature: Fusion lasers
Nadya Anscombe investigates the potential impact of so-called ‘super’ lasers
Feature: Diffractive optics
Greg Blackman on diffraction techniques and their applications
Product Focus: Power meters
A round-up of power meters for use with lasers Product Update
The latest photonics products from around the world Technology Focus
Karsten König, CEO of Jenlab, on his award-winning technology for medical femtosecond laser tomography
24 26 38 20
EDITORIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Tel: +44 (0)1223 211170 Fax: +44 (0)1223 211107 Editor Warren Clark
editor.electro@europascience.com Feature Writer Greg Blackman
greg.blackman@europascience.com Assistant Editor Stephen Mounsey
stephen.mounsey@
europascience.com Contributing Editor Nadya Anscombe
nadya.anscombe@
europascience.com Circulation/readership enquiries Viv Ruskin
subs.electro@europascience.com
ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Jon Hunt
jon.hunt@
europascience.com +44(0)1223 211158 Advertising Sales Executive Ed Grundy
ed.grundy@
europascience.com +44(0)1223 211176 Advertising Production Jennie Caley
jennie.caley@
europascience.com +44 (0)1223 477411 Fax: +44 (0)1223 327356
CORPORATE TEAM Chairman Dr Tom Wilkie
tom.wilkie@europascience.com Publishing Director Warren Clark
warren.clark@
europascience.com
Electro Optics is published 10 times a year by Europa Science Ltd, The Spectrum Building, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road, Cambridge CB2 8PD, UK Tel: +44 (0)1223 211170 Fax: +44 (0)1223 211107 Web:
www.europascience.com ISSN: 0013-4589
20 16 14 16 10 4 6 4 8 10
LEADER WARREN CLARK
Recovery continues
The recovery is now at full tilt, with plenty of companies not only reporting ‘best ever’ figures for 2010, but also remarking on a continuation of the trend throughout the early weeks of this year. In 2010, optimism was underpinned with hope – now it is underpinned by confidence. There had been suggestions that the funding lag would begin to hit research projects any time now, since the research budgets of today may well have been set when the recession was biting hardest. Thankfully, there seems to be little evidence of any dip in funding. Indeed, huge photonic projects, such as HiPER, are gathering momentum, rather than slowing down, as Nadya Anscombe discovers on page 16. Another industry that has bounced back is
semiconductors. Always the first to fall away when money is tight, it’s often considered a barometer for the economy in general. With semiconductor production now on the rise again, there is plenty of investment in the infrastructure that supports it, and that includes photonics, as Stephen Mounsey covers in his feature on page 10. Finally, a reminder to check in regularly
at our website,
www.electrooptics.com, where we’re adding new features all the time. Already up and running is a Technology White Papers section, dedicated to fuller explanations of underlying technology than we could ever fit in the pages of this magazine, while coming soon will be a series of webcasts from leading industry figures.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Free registrations available to qualifying individuals. Subscriptions £300 a year for ten issues to readers outside registration requirements. Orders to Europa Science, The Spectrum Building, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road, Cambridge CB2 8PD, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 211170. Fax: +44 (0)1223 211107. ©2011 Europa Science Ltd. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors or omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by Europa Science Ltd, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication. US copies: Electro Optics (ISSN 0013-4589) is published ten times a year for £300 per year by Europa Science Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Electro Optics, PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437.
Cover image: LLNL
www.electrooptics.com
MARCH 2011 l ElECTRO OPTICS
3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40