President’s Message At the end of July, we celebrated the 100th in quantum electronics, birthday of


Charles H. Townes, honored with a Nobel Prize just over 50 years ago for contributions to fundamental work


leading to the


development of the maser and laser. Dr. Townes was often quoted as saying about these inventions “It was strange, in a way, because there were no ideas involved in the laser that weren’t already known by somebody 25 years before lasers were discovered. The ideas were all there; just, nobody put it together.” As we celebrate Townes’ 100th


birthday, we reflect on this observation and ask ourselves: “what other ideas are


out there for us to put together in an equally profound way (and not have the process require 25 years!)?”


This observation is reflected in the description of Townes by Freeman Dyson, who described Townes as a “fox” in the context of The Hedgehog And The Fox essay in which the hedgehog views the world from the perspective of a single defining idea or “one big thing,” while the fox draws on a variety of experiences and perspectives. No doubt, the many ideas that resulted in the laser, were brought together through experience in a variety of physics and engineering projects during undergraduate, graduate and research careers. As a community, it is critical that we foster the free exchange of these ideas and highlight significant advances. The foxes among us will connect the dots in order to advance the field of laser applications technology.


The Laser Institute of America has long been an organization of professionals focused on the innovative application of laser technologies. As such, it is important that we exercise the “inner fox” in all of us. Our LIA Journal— Journal of Laser Applications®


Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics (ICALEO® for Manufacturing Event® (LME®


(JLA), and forums such as the International ), the Lasers )


) and Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM®


Workshop have provided us access to those ideas that “are just there” and awaiting your insight for the next big breakthrough. I hope that you will join us, and become the next “Laser Fox” that the world celebrates. Happy Birthday, Dr. Townes!


Executive Director’s


Message


I am writing this just as we return from Laser World of Photonics


in Munich, an


excellent event as expected from our friends at Messe Munich International.


The show continues to expand, particularly in the area of lasers in manufacturing. The forum on International Laser Applications covered the field,


and there were interesting demonstrations at many of the stands. All indications are that our industry is healthy and growing.


Now it is time for our European friends to take some vacation and enjoy the unusually warm weather. I wish all of our members and readers a safe and pleasant summer.


See you at ICALEO Oct. 18-22, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia.


Peter Baker, Executive Director Laser Institute of America


Robert Thomas, President Laser Institute of America


www.lia.org


1.800.34.LASER


5


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