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FIBER-BASED SENSORS Advances in optical sensors benefit broad array of markets

Advances in high-performance sensor
materials and optoelectronics have
enabled optical sensors for use in a
diverse array of markets including
life sciences, environmental, food
and beverage, process control, and
aviation. Compared to traditional
electrochemical sensing techniques,
optical sensors can be made in small
and customizable form factors. They
also have faster response, provide
long-term calibration free stability,
are chemically inert, and couple
easily to optical fibers for remote
measurements. BOB KEARTON, MAHMOUD
SHAHRIARI, JASON M. EICHENHOLZ OF
OCEAN OP TICS (DUNEDIN, FL)
W W W. LASERFOCUS WORLD.COM/
ARTICLES/320513

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

Biophotonics graduate student reaches out to young students When she’s not using optics to probe into the molecular mechanism of living cells, graduate student Ruby Raheem of the University of Edinburgh organizes optics activities on campus and reaches out to young students. Through a grant from the OSA Foundation, Raheem traveled to Ghana, Dubai, and North Kerala to give optics demonstrations to high school and college students. GRACE KLONOSKI

WWW.LASERFOCUSWORLD.COM/ ARTICLES/320517

www.laserfocusworld.com

editor’s desk
MONA paints picture
of nanoscale world

While the role of nanotechnology in many recent photonics advances may be intuitively obvious, a recently released report from the EU offers an unusually comprehensive look at the broader impact of combining “opto” and “nano” technologies—nanophotonics. Although the focus is Europe’s current status and future competitiveness in nanophotonics, the MONA ( Merging Optics and Nanotechnologies) report includes technology roadmaps and market information that are relevant globally. The MONA roadmaps identify key nanomaterials likely to have the strongest impact in nanophotonics, the equipment and processes that are crucial for improving performance of nanophotonic devices, and key devices for major applications. One recommendation is that Europe should maintain its current level of R&D for datacom/telecom— specifically for further integration of optical and electronic chips—and its competence in optical interconnects to compete with the USA where DARPA, large microelectronics companies, and startups are already very active (see www.ist-mona.org).

Two of these large companies named in the report are Intel and IBM. Both companies have recently reported advances in nanoscale photonics aimed primarily at optical communications and/or interconnects. In one example, IBM’s new silicon-based Mach-Zender modulator that’s depicted on this month’s cover is up to 1000 times smaller than previously demonstrated modulators of its kind (see page 61).

Larry’s VC View

Serial entrepreneur and long-time LFW Editorial Advisory Board member Dr. Larry Marshall is transitioning from running photonics startups to funding them. He recently completed the first IPO of a Silicon Valley company on the Australian exchange, and is now a Partner at the first Australian financed Venture fund to operate in Silicon Valley. Read about his foray into the world of funding photonics firms in his new blog at laserfocusworld.com. Larry shares his experiences, lessons, and mistakes with fellow entrepreneurs seeking venture funding.

Stephen G. Anderson

Associate Publisher/Editor in Chief stevega@pennwell.com

Editorial Advisory Board Dan Botez, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Connie Chang-Hasnain, UC Berkeley Center for Opto-electronic Nanostructured Semiconductor Technologies; Pat Edsell, Avanex; Thomas Giallorenzi, Naval Research Laboratory; Ron Gibbs, Ron Gibbs Associates; Ralph R. Jacobs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Anthony M. Johnson, Center for Advanced Studies in Photonics Research, University of Maryland Baltimore County; Kenneth Kaufmann, Hamamatsu Corp.; Larry Marshall, Private Investor; Jan Melles, Photonics Investments; Masahiro Joe Nagasawa, TEM Co. Ltd.; David Richardson, University of Southampton; Ralph A. Rotolante, Vicon Infrared; Toby Strite, JDS Uniphase.

Laser Focus World www.laserfocusworld.com March 2008