• Plasmonic Communications:  Light on a Wire

    Plasmonic Communications: Light on a Wire

    By coupling light to the charges at metal interfaces, plasmonics enables scientists to manipulate photons in a way they never have before: at the subwavelength level. With its potential to produce ultra-compact devices that relay information almost instantaneously, plasmonics may be the next big—and small—thing in optical communications.

    >> More

  • ICAN: The Next Laser Powerhouse

    ICAN: The Next Laser Powerhouse

    An international team of researchers is looking toward the next frontier of high-energy laser physics: building efficient, high–average-power lasers. With a revolutionary architecture that combines thousands of coherent fibers, the laser being developed under the ICAN project could transform nuclear medicine, detect nuclear waste and form the basis for the next great particle accelerator.

    >> More

  • Light-Wave Mixing in Quantum Gases

    Light-Wave Mixing in Quantum Gases

    Nonlinear optics has come a long way since the laser. This article reviews recent progress in coherent wave mixing and introduces some new concepts that will reframe future research directions.

    >> More


Scatterings
The ‘Invisibility Cloak’ May Be Printable

By Patricia Daukantas | POSTED May 15, 2013

Using a type of polymer-based 3-D printing, Duke researchers fabricated a free-space cloaking disk that suppresses scattering from a conducting cylinder at microwave frequencies. more>>


Scatterings
A Bug’s-Eye View of the World

By Lynn Savage | POSTED May 08, 2013

Researchers create an artificial “fly’s-eye” using flexible materials and a novel fabrication technique. more>>


Scatterings
Nitrogen-Doped Zinc Oxide for Future UV Photonics

By Patricia Daukantas | POSTED May 01, 2013

Scientists have figured out how to grow layers of zinc oxide that will exhibit stable, significant p-type behavior at room temperature. more>>


Scatterings
Adaptive Material Features Tunable Optical Properties

By Valerie C. Coffey | POSTED April 24, 2013

A new adaptive film inspired by tears can turn its transparency on and off, repel water and ice as conditions change, and clean itself. more>>


Scatterings
Three-Dimensional Imaging at a Distance

By Patricia Daukantas | POSTED April 17, 2013

A near-infrared laser and single-photon detection technology combine to form a 3-D imaging system that works at kilometer-scale distances. more>>


Scatterings
It’s Dark Sky Week, But Much Light Pollution Remains

By Patricia Daukantas | POSTED April 10, 2013

Despite a few new “dark sky preserve” site designations and new municipal lighting laws, activists are still fighting the worldwide war against light pollution. more>>

R&D Funding Opportunities

Please select your region from the menu below to view grants, awards and other funding opportunities in your area.

Region:

Sensor Innovative Research (BAA-12-02-PKS)

AGENCY: U.S. Air Force | DUE April 05, 2017
FUNDING: $50,000 to $1,000,000 USD, total | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

The Electromagnetics Technology Division (RYH), Sensors Directorate (RY), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is looking to conduct research in the following areas: Antenna Technology, Opto-Electronic Technology, Electromagnetic Scattering, Infrared Sensor Technology. This is a two-step application: 1) white paper; 2) proposal. See full announcement for details. more>>


Sensor Innovative Research (BAA-12-02-PKS)

AGENCY: U.S. Airforce | DUE April 05, 2017
FUNDING: $25M for 25 awards | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

The Electromagnetics Technology Division, Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, is looking to conduct research in the following areas: Antenna Technology, Opto-Electronic Technology, Electromagnetic Scattering, Infrared Sensor Technology. more>>


Metamaterials for RF and Optical Applications (BAA-12-01-PKS)

AGENCY: U.S. Air Force | DUE February 20, 2016
FUNDING: Unspecified | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

This Open BAA encourages a flow of supplementary and/or complementary technologies for electromagnetic metamaterials. Such technologies may include active electronic matching networks, frequency selective structures, and periodic structure with engineered dispersion, including photonic band-gap materials, acoustic metamaterials. ONLY WHITE PAPERS ARE REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. more>>


The Energy Foundation Programs

AGENCY: The Energy Foundation | DUE May 07, 2014
FUNDING: Unlisted | ELIGIBILITY: China and United States

Support projects that promote the transition to a sustainable energy future by advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy. more>>


NWO-NRF: Cooperation between the Netherlands and South Africa in 'Astronomy' and 'Enabling Technologies for Astronomy'

AGENCY: National Research Foundation, The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research | DUE December 31, 2013
FUNDING: Awards every 4 to 5 months, as budget allows | ELIGIBILITY: South Africa, Netherlands

The programme promotes interaction between Dutch and South African researchers by providing for Individual Visits from South Africa to the Netherlands and vice versa. The programme also funds Joint Research Seminars held in South Africa or in the Netherlands, and Joint Research Projects. more>>


Fondos Sectoriales Constituidos

AGENCY: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología | DUE December 31, 2013
FUNDING: Multiple opportunities | ELIGIBILITY: Varies

CONACYT grants scholarships for graduate studies, funds postdoctoral positions and sabbatical leaves, and administers the National System of Researchers. more>>


Electronics, Photonics, and Magnetic Devices (PD-13-1517)

AGENCY: U.S. National Science Foundation | DUE November 01, 2013
FUNDING: Not listed | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

The Electronics, Photonics, and Magnetic Devices program seeks to improve the fundamental understanding of devices and components based on the principles of micro- and nanoelectronics, photonics, magnetics, optoelectronics, electromechanics, electromagnetics, and related physical phenomena. more>>


LIGO Research Support (PD-13-1252)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation | DUE October 30, 2013
FUNDING: Varied | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

The LIGO Research Support program oversees the commissioning and operation of the Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO), and provides support for LIGO users and other experimental investigations in gravitational physics and related areas. more>>


Theoretical Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics ( PD-11-1284)

AGENCY: National Science Foundation | DUE October 29, 2013
FUNDING: Amounts vary | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

This program supports theoretical and computational research in all areas of atomic structure, the molecular structure of small molecules, electron, and atomic collisions, photoionization and photodetachment of electrons from atoms and small molecules, time-dependent interactions with atoms and small molecules, quantum optics, ultracold phenomena in Bose and Fermi gases, and quantum information. more>>


Science, Technology, Engineering (ONRBAA13-007)

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Naval Research | DUE September 30, 2013
FUNDING: $200,000 | ELIGIBILITY: U.S. institutions

Develop innovative solutions that directly support the development and maintenance of a robust STEM workforce. Successful efforts will be targeted towards K-12, Undergraduate, and/or Graduate STEM education. more>>


Multi-domain, Optical, Non-uniform Adaptive Imaging Technology Oriented Research (MONITOR) (ONRBAA13-015)

AGENCY: Office of Naval Research | DUE September 12, 2013
FUNDING: $3,000,000 for 3 awards | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

The main objective is to explore the design and development of sensing systems which make adaptive space variant measurements in multiple domains (space, time, spectrum, polarization). more>>


Chinese Academy of Sciences Fellowship for Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholars from Developing Countries

AGENCY: Chinese Academy of Sciences | DUE August 31, 2013
FUNDING: RMB 22,000 monthly | ELIGIBILITY: Scholar from developing country

Awards scholars from developing countries either visiting scholarships or postdoc fellowships to participate in the scientific research programs of the CAS-affiliated institutions or to conduct collaborative research projects agreed upon by a host institution of CAS. more>>


Enhancing Communication and Use of Information in Engineering

AGENCY: Engineering Information Foundation | DUE August 31, 2013
FUNDING: $5,000 - $25,000 | ELIGIBILITY: Unrestricted

Support for developmental projects, instructional projects, and training programs in engineering education and research that include the availability and use of published information, women in engineering, and information access in developing countries. more>>


INDIA/BRAZIL/SOUTH AFRICA (IBSA) Cooperation in Science and Technology

AGENCY: National Research Foundation | DUE July 31, 2013
FUNDING: Varies | ELIGIBILITY: India, Brazil, South Africa

To support the development of cooperation activities in Science, Technology and Innovation among Brazilians, Indians and South Africans to contribute in a sustainable way to the scientific and technological development of the involved countries in the IBSA Program. more>>


Cyber Security Collaborative Research Alliance Program Announcement (W911NF-13-R-0004)

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Defence -- Army | DUE July 19, 2013
FUNDING: $80.7M to $15.6M | ELIGIBILITY: See announcement

The establishment of a Collaborative Research Alliance for Cyber Security. more>>


CAS-TWAS President's Fellowship Programme For PhD Candidates from Developing Countries

AGENCY: Chinese Academy of Sciences - Academy of Science for the Developing World | DUE June 15, 2013
FUNDING: $1,100-$1,250 monthly | ELIGIBILITY: students/scholars from developing countries

Fund up to 140 students to pursue Ph.D.s at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Science and Technology of China and/or institutes of CAS around China. more>>


Cooperative Research Centres (CRC)

AGENCY: Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education | DUE June 13, 2013
FUNDING: See announcement | ELIGIBILITY: Australia

To deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits to Australia by supporting end-user driven research partnerships between publicly funded researchers and end-users to address clearly articulated, major challenges that require medium to long term collaborative efforts. more>>


DST-NRF Centres of Excellence Programme

AGENCY: National Research Foundation | DUE June 07, 2013
FUNDING: Varies | ELIGIBILITY: South Africa

NRF seeks proposals from public universities and public research institutions to host DST-NRF Centres of Excellence. The host institutions MUST have existing capacity and resources to enable researchers to collaborate across disciplines and institutions on long-term projects that are locally relevant and internationally competitive in order to enhance the pursuit of research excellence and capacity development. more>>


NICTA-enhanced PhD, Computer Vision

AGENCY: Australia’s Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence | DUE June 07, 2013
FUNDING: Varies | ELIGIBILITY: Limited

**Ongoing program, check website for due dates** NICTA offers a range of attractive scholarships to PhD students undertaking a NICTA-enhanced PhD with member and partner universities. more>>


ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking (ARTEMIS-2013-1)

AGENCY: European Commission | DUE June 06, 2013
FUNDING: €72,292,000 | ELIGIBILITY: European Union

Industry-driven projects in the field of embedded systems, which aim at generating new and improved technologies and in applying them in products, processes or services. more>>


ENIAC-2013-1

AGENCY: European Commission | DUE May 23, 2013
FUNDING: €50,220,000 | ELIGIBILITY: European Union

A public-private partnership in nanoelectronics strengthening European competititveness and sustainability. This call focuses on technological research and development activities such as formulation of technology concepts, experimental proofs and validation in laboratory conditions corresponding to Tech. Readiness Levels 2 to 5. more>>


ENIAC Call 9 2013 (ENIAC-2013-2)

AGENCY: European Commission | DUE May 23, 2013
FUNDING: €100,000,000 (program budget) | ELIGIBILITY: ENIAC member States

This call focuses on projects targeting Pilot Line activities. A public-private partnership in nanoelectronics strengthening European competititveness and sustainability. more>>


ENIAC Call 8 (ENIAC-2013-1)

AGENCY: European Commission | DUE May 23, 2013
FUNDING: € 50,220,000 (program budget) | ELIGIBILITY: ENIAC member States

The ENIAC JU is a public-private partnership, bringing together the European Commission and 22 European countries with AENEAS--an association representing nanoelectronics entities(companies, research centres, universities). more>>

Industry News

Solid Growth to Continue for Global Photonics Market Through 2020

By Valerie C. Coffey | POSTED May 17, 2013

German industry associations predicts the global photonics market will grow from €350 billion in 2011 to €615 billion by 2020. more>>


Oclaro Stock Challenged by Soft Demand, Forcing Sell-Off

By Valerie C. Coffey | POSTED May 10, 2013

Oclaro Inc. announces a sell-off of company assets to fund continued operations and repay loans. more>>


Solar PV Module Downturn Through 2014, Rebound in 2015

By Valerie C. Coffey | POSTED April 26, 2013

The solar photovoltaic industry is expected to continue its sluggishness in module revenues through 2014, but will resume growth starting in 2015, according to the 2013 NPD Solarbuzz report. more>>


CyOptics Acquired for $400M by Avago Technologies

By Valerie Coffey | POSTED April 22, 2013

Avago Technologies Limited announced an agreement to acquire optical chip and component supplier CyOptics for $400 million. more>>


New Sales and Support Offices Promising for Photonics Growth

By Valerie Coffey | POSTED April 12, 2013

Several photonics companies have announced opening new sales offices around the world this week, a bellwether for growth in optoelectronics. more>>


Optical Components Company QD Vision Secures $20M in Funding

By Valerie Coffey | POSTED April 08, 2013

QD Vision announces a $20-million round of financing to ramp up production of its Color IQ optical components for LCD applications. more>>

Read to Succeed

POSTED Mon, 20 May 2013 12:02:00 GMT

Milton Chang I began reading several business publications when I was in graduate school in the 1960s. I had a hard time understanding them at first, but it became progressively easier, and over time, they gave me valuable insight into that wor more>>

Building a Good Team: The Rule of 8 Percent

POSTED Wed, 15 May 2013 08:33:00 GMT

Pablo Artal OSA Fellow Pablo Artal has kindly allowed OPN’s Bright Futures career blog to adapt and republish content from his popular blog Optics Confidential. In his blog, Artal fields questions from students, colleagues and other researchers more>>

Working at a U.S. Military Lab: What You Can Expect

POSTED Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Michael Duncan Sometimes people ask me what it’s like to work at a military laboratory. Having worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for my entire career, I can’t really compare it to other work environments—but my expe more>>

Looking into the Career “Crystal Ball”

POSTED Thu, 02 May 2013 08:44:00 GMT

Arti Agrawal   Throughout our professional lives, we ask ourselves many questions: When and how will I get my dream job? Will I be as successful as I hope to be? Why haven’t I been promoted? Is my job secure? Although it may seem that only more>>

From Academia to Industry, Diversity Is Key

POSTED Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:52:00 GMT

Balint Horvath As laser pioneer Herwig Kogelnik said in an interview, “[breakthroughs] seem to be happening at the interface between disciplines.” Indeed, the precursor to the laser—the maser—was itself born outside the realm more>>

The Elusive Search for Career Freedom

POSTED Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:34:00 GMT

Bob Jopson A recent entry into the world of paychecks described his new job to me as “really fun,” but then added regretfully that he did not have the “freedom” he desired. Over the years, I have heard “freedom” us more>>

Book Review
Modern Electrodynamics

By Andrew Zangwill | POSTED May 16, 2013

Modern Electrodynamics is not just another book on electromagnetism. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the material, but also covers more advanced topics than are typically found in other volumes. more>>


Book Review
Biomimetics in Photonics

By Olaf Karthaus, Ed. | POSTED May 09, 2013

This book provides new insights into biomimetic photonics. The core material concerns the physical principles underlying nano- and microstructures found in fauna and flora. more>>


Book Review
Next Generation Wireless Communications Using Radio Over Fiber

By Nathan J. Gomes, Paulo P. Monteiro and Atílio Gameiro | POSTED May 02, 2013

This book deals with the transport of analog radio signals over an optical fiber link. more>>


Book Review
Nematicons: Spatial Optical Solitons in Nematic Liquid Crystals

By Gaetano Assanto | POSTED April 24, 2013

Authoritative authors in the field of spatial solitons in nematic crystals (nematicons) present their latest theoretical and experimental results in this book. more>>


Book Review
Color: An Introduction to Practice and Principles, 3rd Ed.

By Rolf G. Kuehni | POSTED April 18, 2013

The author provides thorough explanations of many different aspects of color science and technology. The detailed discussions of color representation are especially strong. more>>


Book Review
Introduction to Micro- and Nanooptics

By Jürgen Jahns and Stefan Helfert | POSTED April 11, 2013

The stated aim of this book is to provide the reader with a good theoretical basis of micro- and nanooptical structures. more>>

OPN Video

Optics in 2012

OPN Video | POSTED November 30, 2012

This special issue of Optics & Photonics News highlights the most exciting peer-reviewed optics research to have emerged over the past 12 months. Our panel of editors reviewed close to 80 submitted summaries from scientists all over the globe. They selected... more>>


Rochester: An Optics Future

OPN Video | POSTED November 08, 2012

Like many cities, Rochester has faced challenging economic times in recent years. But despite the downsizing of Kodak—which was a key employer for years—Rochester has sustained a healthy rate of growth, thanks to its long tradition of excellence in... more>>


Rochester: An Optics Legacy

OPN Video | POSTED October 08, 2012

Rochester has a long history as a global center for imaging and optics research.  Early companies such as Kodak and Bausch & Lomb, along with the University of Rochester and its Institute of Optics, have played an important role in stimulating the city... more>>


Optics in 2011

OPN Video | POSTED January 01, 2012

This special issue of OPN highlights the most exciting peer-reviewed optics research to have emerged over the past 12 months. This year's issue includes 30 summaries representing the work of more than 150 authors from 15 countries. more>>


Metamaterials: The Next Photonics Revolution

OPN Video | POSTED November 23, 2009

Nikolay Zheludev of the University of Southampton, U.K., has graciously permitted OPN to reproduce this fascinating video, which is related to Zheludev’s October OPN feature on metamaterial-induced transparency. It... more>>

 
Image of the Week
Light-matter wave mixing



OPN Quick Quiz
OPN Quick Quiz 15 May 2013 In the world of optical wave-mixing, what does BEC stand for?
Click here to read about light-wave mixing.

Follow OPN


ADVERTISEMENT