Agile Nonmechanical Beam Steering

The day is coming when engineers will be able to replace mechanical complex gimbal and steering mirror assemblies in electro-optical systems with thin, conformal devices that either have no moving parts or only make use of micro-motion.

The Optical Network of the Future

The ubiquitous wireless Wi-Fi local-area-networks (LANs) that we enjoy today can accommodate new users and changing conditions in a robust, automated manner. How can we create similarly self-managed optical networks?

Optics in Brazil

For Brazilian scientists, optics is considered a leading field in technology transfer. The discipline plays a large role in the country’s ongoing scientific revolution.

Polarization Ray Tracing for Space Optics

Polarization ray tracing made its debut as a bona fide feature of optical design and analysis software about 20 years ago. This article “traces” how one of the first industrial strength automated PRT capabilities was created.

A New Model for the Optoelectronic Indium-based Semiconductor Industry

Foundry-based companies have driven the silicon semiconductor industry to huge success. Could a similar approach work in the struggling indium- based market?

Lasers guide astronomers, shedding light on microstrokes, studying gold at the nanoscale

Reminiscences from A. Francis Turner

Francis Turner died in 1996 at the age of 89. He wrote down his reminiscences of OSA in 1973; they are presented here.

Homeland Security Seeks Help from Optics

Science—especially optical science—shows great promise for helping federal offi cials to protect Americans against terrorism. In December 2005, OSA held a conference in Washington, D.C., that explored optical solutions to homeland security.

Undergrads Show their Stuff at FiO Research Symp

Last year, a group of undergraduates held their own as they presented research amidst world-renowned physicists and Nobel-prize winners. The Symposium for Undergraduate Research at the annual Frontiers in Optics/Laser Science meeting showcased the contributions of the next generation of optical scientists.

Once in a Blue Moon

Why does the phrase “once in a blue moon” mean “rarely”? Is it because, on unusual occasions, atmospheric conditions conspire to create a moon that appears blue? Or does a “blue moon” occur when there are two full moons in a single month—another uncommon occurrence?

After Image Photo Contest

The staff of Optics & Photonics News would like to invite you to participate in our first-ever After Image photography contest. As our devoted readers know, the After Image column appears regularly on our back page and consists of a large, full-page image that demonstrates some aspect of the field of optics, or an image that was created using optical equipment.

OSA Today

OSA Today: Outreach

The OSA Foundation Thanks Contributors

President’s Message

Book Reviews

In Memory: Frank Cooke

Letters to the Editor

Sweeping Crepuscular Rays

Sweeping crepuscular rays created by cloud shadows in scattered sunlight.