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Reinventing the Camera

Ravindra Athale, Dennis M. Healy, David J. Brady and Mark A. Neifeld

DARPA’S MONTAGE project took the basic design of the camera back to the drawing board. In doing so, DARPA researchers demonstrated that thin imaging systems based on multichannel and folded path optics can produce high-quality images. more>>

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Shining Light on Seasonal Depression

Patricia Daukantas

After a quarter-century of study on light therapy for seasonal depression, scientists are homing in on the reasons why bright light makes us happier. more>>

Sound Stores Light, Briefly

Yvonne Carts-Powell

A system that uses off-the-shelf components provides a way to store light as sound, briefly, in optical fiber. more>>

Did You Know?

Yvonne Carts-Powell

LEDs installed in Buckingham Palace. more>>

UV Lithography Makes Microparticles

Yvonne Carts-Powell

A new method for making microscale particles with distinct sizes, shapes and textures combines microfluidics with phase mask lithography. more>>

Education

Illuminating the Science of Light for Young Girls

Meg Milne Moulton

The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) Science of Light workshop,funded by the OSA Foundation, took place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the NCGS last summer. more>>

Optical Engineering

Diamond-Turned Optics Manufacturing and Precision Mechanical Metrology

Mark Warren

Single-point diamond turning manufacturing combined with precision mechanical metrology can improve the quality of many optical systems and change the nature of the optical assembly process. The effective result is “bolt-together” optical assemblies requiring minimal alignment and no “gotchas” during final assembly. more>>

Optics Innovations

Swamp Optics LLC: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Ultrashort Pulses, But Were Afraid to Ask

Rick Trebino

In order to measure an event in time, you need a shorter one. So how do you measure the shortest one? This dilemma initiated a scientific odyssey that culminated in the founding of Swamp Optics. more>>

Policy Matters

2007 in Review: Good and Bad News for Science Policy

Angela Stark and Laura Kolton

During the first half of 2007, Congress achieved a major victory with the passage of the America COMPETES Act, which authorized significant new investments in federal research and key science education programs. The thrill of victory was diminished by year’s end, however, when science and technology funding fell victim to budget pressures and a showdown between the White House and Congress over spending levels. more>>

The History of OSA

Celebrating 25 years of the Journal of Lightwave Technology

Alan Willner and Connie Chang-Hasnain

In December 2007, the IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a past and present editor-in-chief share their perspectives and invite the insights of four key figures in the journal's evolution. more>>