High-Average-Power Ultrafast Lasers

Recent advances in the average-power capabilities of lasers with petawatt peak powers are enabling new science and applications in industry, biomedicine and security.

by Thomas M. Spinka and Constantin Haefner

Emerging Connections: Classical and Quantum Optics

The blurring of the classical-quantum boundary points to new directions in optics.

by Xiao-Feng Qian, A. Nick Vamivakas and Joseph H. Eberly

How Lasers Got Practical

In ease-of-use and reliability, particularly as aided by automation, lasers have come a long way since the first bare-bones products of the early 1960s.

by Jeff Hecht

Newsroom

Research and Industry News

A waveguide made of bacteria; chip-scale Brillouin devices; revisiting the momentum paradox; unvaveling perovskite solar cells; a chemical photoswitch; laser power by the numbers; U.S. continues to mint Ph.D.s at a record pace; AIP and NPI news; data from flickering lights.

Reflections in Diversity

Challenging a Culture of Inequality

Progressive initiatives at a new Japanese academic institution tackle some deep-rooted gender inequities.

OIDA Market Report

Explaining the Laser Market’s Long-Term Growth

Though the dependence on capital spending creates a cyclical business, a continual stream of new applications helps to keep laser sales growing.

Light Touch

“Thoughtographs” and Stanhope Lenses

A 1960s personality wowed audiences with his supposedly paranormal images—but magicians detected optical illusions, not sorcery.

Infographic

Laser Power

Laser power spans many orders of magnitude—from microwatts to petawatts.

President's Message

Social Media and Your Professional “Brand”

Looking Back

30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in OPN

OSA Update

News from the Society

OSA chases the “Great American Eclipse”; entrepreneruship workshop in Tanzania; CLEO-Pacific Rim; thanks, meeting volunteers and editors.