interview inside photonics west refractive index show …download.iop.org/old/old_02_135.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
INTERVIEW
Edmund Opticstargets theimaging sector
Gold nanopyramidscreate a negativerefractive index
METAMATERIALS
CHINESE OPTICSROARS INTO LIFE
MARKETS
January 2006 Issue 135
INSIDEPHOTONICS WESTSHOW PREVIEW
The European magazine for photonics professionals
OLEJanCOVER 9/1/06 4.28 pm Page 1
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NEWS5 Business Ophir set to buy Spiricon • Taiwan hits trillion mark
9 Editorial Happy New Year
TECHNOLOGY13 Applications Laser vibrometry checks heartbeat • Chaos
protects networks in Athens
15 R&D Tiny pillars reverse optical effects • Nanostructured silicongenerates IR laser light • Defects bend light at acute angles
18 Patents US Commission to investigate Lumileds’ infringement claims•Australian firm Lednium gains access to Osram’s LED ideas
FEATURES19 Edmund Optics thrives on imaging applications
Think “Edmund Optics” and the words “catalogue firm” probably aren’t too far behind. But, as president John Stack tells Jacqueline Hewett, there is a lot more to the company.
23 Metamaterials make debut in visible regionMaterials that have a negative refractive index at optical wavelengths have now been fabricated in Europe and the US for the first time. Rob van den Berg explains why they could lead to new types of lens, antireflection coating and biosensor.
26 Key technologies to keep an eye on in 2006 Looking ahead over the next 12 months, the OLE team forecasts that slow light and polymer solar cells are two key technology areas that are likely to be regularly making the headlines. Here’s an update on their status.
29 EMCCD cameras take imaging to a new level High-end cooled digital cameras featuring electron multiplying CCD technology are revolutionizing our ability to image very weak photon fluxes successfully, says Colin Coates.
33 China turns its eyes to photonics to fuel growth In mid-2005, the UK’s DTI Global Watch Service sent a fact-finding mission to China to study its capabilities in electronics and photonics manufacturing. This is what they found.
SHOW PREVIEW37 Photonics West 2006
A snapshot of what’s happening at this year’s show in San José, with a look at the technical symposia and exhibitor products.
41 ProductsMultiframe camera • Scan head • Piezolinear motor • UV laser
REGUL ARS49 People/Sudoku
EDITORIALEditor Oliver GraydonTel: +44 (0)117 930 1015 [email protected]
Technology editor Jacqueline HewettTel: +44 (0)117 930 [email protected]
Reporter James TyrrellTel: +44 (0)117 930 [email protected]
Production editor Alison GardinerTechnical illustrator Alison Tovey
EUROPE/ROW SALESInternational advertising sales manager Adrian ChanceTel: +44 (0)117 930 1193 [email protected]
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SUBSCRIPTIONSComplimentary copies are sent to qualifyingindividuals. For readers outside registration requirements: £111/7160 ($199 US and Canada)per year. Single issue £10/714 ($18 US, Canadaand Mexico). CONTACT: IOPP Magazines, WDIS Ltd,Units 12 & 13, Cranleigh Gardens Industrial Estate,Southall, Middlesex UB1 2DB, UK.Tel: +44 (0)208 606 7518. Fax: +44 (0)208 606 7303
© 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd. The contents of OLE donot represent the views or policies of the Institute ofPhysics, its council or its officers unless so identified. Printed by Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH, UK.
I ssue 135 January 2006 Contents
EMCCD specialist Andorreports record sales p5
Edmund Optics set to unveilnew products and IP p19
Update: polymer solar cellsand slow light p26
Our guide to SPIE’s biggest-ever Photonics West p37
INTERVIEW
Edmund Opticstargets theimaging sector
Gold nanopyramidscreate a negativerefractive index
METAMATERIALS
CHINESE OPTICSROARS INTO LIFE
MARKETS
January 2006 Issue 135
INSIDEPHOTONICS WESTSHOW PREVIEW
The European magazine for photonics professionals
For the latest news on optics and photonics don’t forget to visit optics.org
Cover (Chris Beesley)Chinese photonics attractsinternational attention. p33
OLEJanContents 10/1/06 9.06 am Page 3
Ophir set to buy Spiricon
NEWSBUSINESS 5 EDITORIAL 9
5OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
TEST AND MEASUREMENT
Ophir, the Israeli provider of opticaltest and measurement equipment,has acquired Spiricon, the US laser-beam diagnostics specialist, for anundisclosed sum. The deal, whichis still having its legal technicalitiesfinalized, is expected to close beforethe end of the month, in time forthe Photonics West 2006 show.The acquisition includes Spiricon’ssister companies Spiricon PowerProducts, which makes opticalpower meters, and Spiricon GmbHin Germany.
Ophir told OLE that it will retainthe Spiricon brand and that thebusiness will simply operate as awholly owned subsidiary. “We arevery happy to welcome Spiricon to
the Ophir group. It’s a very goodaddition to our personnel, exper-tise and product range,” com-mented Yoram Shalev of Ophir.“We did it in the spirit of ‘one plusone should equal at least three’.”
The motivation for the acquisi-tion is straightforward – Ophir is aleading provider of optical powermeters and wanted to add Spiri-con’s expertise in beam diagnosticsto its business. “They [Spiricon]have been around for nearly30 years and are the leaders in thebeam-profiling business. It’s asmall business on the head countside, but the brand is very strong.It’s amazing to see how just a fewpeople can build such a strong
brand and maintain it over theyears.” said Shalev.
Spiricon is based in Logan, Utah,and was set up in 1978. It is a pri-vately held company with around30 staff. It has built up a strong busi-ness in providing CCD camera andpyroelectric-sensor-based laser-beam profiling systems.
Carlos Roundy from Spiricontold OLE that after almost 30 yearsof working hard he was now look-ing to free up some of his time. “I’m66 and I’m ready to go hiking.Ophir was interested and I wasready to take a minor role. I’ll bepresident for half a year or so, thenI’ll be involved probably as a con-sultant for another few years.”
LEDS
AIXTRON, the German supplier ofsemiconductor-fabricationequipment, has sold an MOCVDsystem to Rainbow Opto of China.The Shanghai-based firm will use thegallium nitride (GaN) epitaxy reactorto manufacture blue LEDs. The ordergives Rainbow one of the largestGaN LED capacity facilities in China.
PRO C E S S I N G
Dutch firm ASM International haslicensed its atomic layer depositiontechnology to Oxford Instruments ofthe UK. The technique allows thecontrolled manufacture of ultrathinfilms on an atomic-layer by atomic-layer basis and suits products suchas optoelectronics andmicromechanical devices.
LCDS
3M has announced plans to buildan LCD optical-film manufacturingfacility in Poland. The films are usedto make LCD TVs brighter andmaintain their picture quality inconditions ranging from naturaldaylight to darkened rooms. Thecompany intends to purchase apiece of land in Wroclaw near itsexisting manufacturing operation.
ME D I CA L
Schering and Philips have teamedup to develop optical imagingequipment for identifying breastcancer. The first project will featureSchering’s omocianine (SF-64) dye,which is currently in Phase I trials.Philips spin-off Anteryon is alsoinvolved and will supply fibre-opticcomponents.
FL E X I B L E D I S P L AYS
Citizen Watch Co Ltd claims to havefabricated the world’s first flexibleclock based on an electronic paperdisplay supplied by the US firm E INK. According to Citizen, theperson-sized clock has a thicknessof 3.0 mm, a weight of 1.5 kg and abattery life that is 20 times as longas conventional digital clocks.Other large-scale applications for e-paper include maps and signs.
IN BRIEF
Andor of the UK, an expert in CCDand intensified cameras, hasposted sales of £15.7 million(722.8 million) in its first year as apublicly listed company, reportinga profit of £910 000. Highlights ofthe past 12 months include thelaunch of what the firm claims isthe world’s first electron multiply-ing CCD spectroscopic camera andits Andor Revolution system forimaging live cells.
Over the past year, Andor hasupgraded its US sales facility andmoved into purpose-built head-quarters in Belfast, UK. The com-
pany’s scientific research andinstrumentation sectors bothdelivered double-digit growth(43 and 20% respectively) in 2005and it is set to expand into new
areas, such as space and security.Andor has also announcedpromising market entry into newtarget regions – South Americaand the Middle East.
Profits up 9.4% atCCD firm Andor
IMAGING
State of the art: Spiricon is an expert in laser-beam diagnostics and complements Ophir’s optical power meter business.
Andor’s electron multiplying CCD technology allows dynamic low-light imaging.
Spiri
con
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Ando
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Ando
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OLEJanNews5-9 9/1/06 4.29 pm Page 5
Taiwan hits trillion mark
NEWSBUSINESS
MARKETS
6 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
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The production value of Taiwan’sphotonics sector is estimated to bearound NT$1 trillion (725 bn),according to the latest figures fromPIDA, the country’s photonicsindustry and technology develop-ment association.
This output means that Taiwannow accounts for 13% of theglobal photonics market and is oneof the top-three countries in theworld for LED packaging and fabri-cating LCDs, CD/DVD drives anddisks, digital cameras and OLEDs.In 2005 by far the most importantproduct area was flat-panel dis-plays, accounting for NT$636884.This was followed by optical data-storage products (NT$242 030)and optical input/ output devices(NT$86 683).
Despite rising competition fromChina and Korea, Taiwan’s outputis still growing and the most recent
figures compare with $27.3 bn(722.5 bn) for 2004 and $19.6 bnin 2003. What’s more, output isexpected to rise to $39 bn in 2006and $44 bn in 2007.
The development of Taiwan’sphotonics industry began 20 yearsago, with a production output of amere $235 m. Growth acceleratedin the 1990s as Taiwan becameincreasingly involved in the manu-facture of DVD drives and disks,digital cameras and TFT-LCD flat-panel displays.
However, PIDA admits that therehave been significant hurdles andchallenges to overcome in the pasttwo decades. The list of obstaclesincludes a vicious cycle of priceslashing, which reduces profit mar-gins, dependence on foreign com-panies for technology and finallythe need to move manufacturingplants offshore.
High rise: Taiwan has overcome severalsignificant hurdles and challengesduring the past 20 years to become oneof the top-three countries in the worldfor LED packaging and fabrication.
L A S E R S
Lumics, the German maker of laserdiode modules, has raised 75.5 min its latest funding round. The firmplans to use the proceeds toincrease production capacity,develop its laser diode technologyand expand its sales activities.
FL E X I B L E E L E C T RO N I C S
Plastic Logic, UK, has announced thefinal closing of its series C funding.Thanks to an investment by US-based venture capital firm OakInvestment Partners, the roundreached a total of $28m.
OLEDS
Novaled of Germany has secured715 m of second-round financingto commercialize its PIN OLEDtechnology. The company, a spin-offfrom Technical University Dresden(IAPP) and the Fraunhofer Institute(IPMS), was founded in 2001 andbegan operations in 2003.
OP T I C S
US-based Archer OpTx has secured$4.7 m of private funding to expandits production capacity. Based inTexas, the company manufactureshigh-precision custom and cataloguelenses, including replacements forKodak and LightPath aspheres.
IM AG I N G
Optosecurity has raised $5.1 m inits first-round of venture capitalinvestment. The firm, a technologyspin-off from National OpticsInstitute, Canada, is developingsecurity products for the automateddetection of weapons and explosivedevices in cargo or luggage.
FUNDING
Boeing, US, says that it has com-pleted a series of ground-basedtrials of the airborne laser (ABL) –a Boeing 747 aircraft featuring a high-energy chemical oxygeniodine laser. The tests revealed thatlasing duration and power werenow sufficient for the destructionof ballistic missiles.
“Proving the capability of thislaser to operate at lethal levels ofpower and duration moves the sys-tem closer to becoming a vital com-
ponent of the nation’s boost phasedefence against ballistic-missilethreat,” said Pat Shanahan, vice-president and general manager ofBoeing Missile Defense Systems.
The ABL programme will nowproceed to its integrated systemstesting phase. During active testingthe kilowatt-class illuminatorlasers will be fired up to demon-strate target acquisition, fine track-ing, pointing and atmosphericcompensation.
ABL is put through pacesDEFENCE
One of the airborne laser’s six chemicaloxygen iodine laser modules.
Nor
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OLEJanNews5-9 10/1/06 11.03 am Page 6
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Happy New Year
NEWSEDITORIAL
9OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Welcome to 2006 and OLE’s first issue of theyear. As many of you may have noticed, thismonth’s cover features a new-look OLE logo.This is part of a rebranding exercise to align themagazine more closely with our website,optics.org, which is undergoing a majorrelaunch this month.
However, you’ll be pleased to hear that,despite its new look, OLE will be retaining itshigh-quality mixture of business, technologystories, products and interviews. What’smore, for 2006 we are introducing a numberof new sections into the magazine.
This month’s issue sees the start of ourquarterly series of reports on regions that havean expertise in photonics. The idea is to bringyou first-hand analysis of what’s happening inoptical hotspots around the world.
First up is an in-depth look at China, whichis now ploughing huge sums of money intogrowing its manufacturing base and researchin photonics. After spending an exhaustingweek in Shenzhen, the electronics factory ofthe world, it is clear that China is fastbecoming a photonics powerhouse. Futureregional reports will continue with adescription of activities in Bordeaux (France)in the March issue of OLE, Tampere (Finland)in August and Warsaw (Poland) in November.
We have also introduced some changes atthe back of the magazine. The calendar page,which featured the latest events in optics, hasbeen removed from the magazine and is now apermanent and continually updated part ofthe new optics.org. This enables a far morecomprehensive listing with direct hyperlinksto conference homepages. In its place we haveintroduced a Sudoku, the Japanesemathematical puzzle, which is undoubtedlyappealing to those with a scientific mind.
For those of you visiting Photonics West atthe end of this month, don’t forget to checkout our preview of the event, which gives thelowdown on all that’s happening during thesix-day show (pp37–9), together with asample of some of the new products thatexhibitors will be releasing.
While in San José, please come by our stand(1736) to meet the team, see the new-lookoptics.org and enter our competition to win anApple iPod. Don’t worry if you can’t make thetrip – you can still stay up to date with newsfrom the show via our exclusive newscoverage on optics.org.
Oliver Graydon, editorE-mail: [email protected]
“It is clearthat Chinais fastbecoming aphotonicspower-house .”Oliver Graydon
OLEJanNews5-9 10/1/06 10.49 am Page 9
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Laser vibrometry checks heartbeat
TECHNOLOGYAPPLICATIONS 13 R&D 15 PATENTS 18
13OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
MEDICINE
By Oliver GraydonAn optical technique that providesaccurate, non-contact monitoringof the heart is being trialled in Italywith very promising results. Basedon laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV),the approach offers several advan-tages over electrocardiograpy, theconventional analysis scheme.
Rather than collecting electricalsignals from the heart, the opticalscheme, called VibroCardioGraphy(VCG), uses a light beam to meas-ure the velocity and displacementof the chest wall. It is the brainchildof Enrico Tomasini’s LDV researchgroup at Universita Politecnicadelle Marche in Ancona.
“We have proved that we canobtain information for medicaldoctors as good as the data pro-vided by an ECG [electrocardio-gram],” said Lorenzo Scalise, amember of Tomasini’s group. “Butwe can also derive extra informa-
tion related to the mechanicalfunction of the heart and to thepatient’s breath frequency.”
However, the most importantbenefit of the new technique isthe ability to take measurementswithout the need to apply electri-
cal patches to the skin. The VCGscheme simply illuminates thepatient’s chest with a low-powerred laser beam and analyses theresulting reflection.
As a result it is ideal for use withburn victims, newborn babies in
incubators and other situationswhere it is hard, or inadvisable, toapply patches to the skin. What’smore, the optical approach over-comes concerns about electro-magnetic interference upsettingECGs or inaccurate readings if thepatches are poorly located.
“In our tests the laser head waspositioned approximately 1.5 mfrom the patient’s chest wall and aHeNe source performed a velocitymeasurement with a resolution ofup to 0.5 µm/s,” commented Scal-ise. “The laser power is less than1 mW, so no special safety meas-ures are required.”
To date, Scalise and his co-work-ers, Umberto Morbiducci, Mirko DeMelis and Mauro Grigioni, havetested in excess of 20 patients,including some wearing pacema-kers. They are now talking to com-panies that have shown an interestin commercializing the idea.
The optical VCG scheme is based on the principle of LDV. A beam from a HeNesource is directed onto the patient’s chest and the reflection is then analysed.
Security screening and medicalimaging may be the first appli-cations to come to mind when onethinks of terahertz (THz) science,but now, thanks to research beingcarried out at Osaka University,“watching paint dry” can be addedto the list of applications.
The Japanese team has devel-oped an instrument known as apaintmeter that uses THz pulses tomeasure the thickness and moni-tor the wet-to-dry transition ofpaint layers. It is a non-contact andremote system, and the resear-chers believe that will be ideal forquality-control tasks, such as moni-toring paint on car bodies (AppliedOptics 44 6849).
“The painting of industrial prod-ucts – car bodies, for example – isimportant for rust prevention,waterproofing and colour effect,”researcher Takeshi Yasui told OLE.“Conventional thickness meters
use methods such as ultrasonics,eddy-current testing and electro-magnetic testing, but these are allbased on contact measurements.”
A typical layer of paint stronglyscatters visible and infrared light,so the team decided to make theswitch to THz frequencies whendeveloping its paintmeter.
“Using THz results in applicabil-ity to opaque or heavy-scatteringpaint films – even metallic paintfilms that contain a lot of fine metalflakes,” explained Yasui. “Sincethere is a characteristic differencein THz absorption spectra betweena wet and a dry paint film, the THzradiation is even suitable for moni-toring the drying process.”
Based on the principles of tom-ography, the paintmeter relies onthe difference in refractive indexbetween air and various paint lay-ers to generate echoes.
Yasui and colleagues focus the
output of a modelocked Ti:sap-phire laser oscillator onto a photo-conductive antenna to generatebroadband THz pulses. They thenuse free-space electro-optic sam-pling to pick up the echoes of theincident radiation from the variouspaint layers. An x-y stage scans thesample to measure the paint’sthickness distribution.
The team says that the paint-meter performed well in a numberof tests. Scenarios included meas-uring the thickness of single layersof paints typically used on car bod-ies as well as point and distributionmeasurements of the thicknessesof layers in a multilayer paint film.The drying time of a paint film wasalso measured. Yasui says that theprecision and resolution of thesingle-layer thickness measure-ments were 4µm and a few tens ofmicrons respectively.
“The point measurement in the
present paper requires about 1 s,and thus several minutes to obtainthe 2D cross-section of the paintfilm, resulting in use limited to sta-tionary objects,” said Yasui. “Forpractical use in industrial appli-cations, such as monitoring a mov-ing object, real-time acquisition of2D cross-sections will be required.Work is now in progress to achievereal-time 2D THz tomography.”
Terahertz pulses can watch paint dryQUALITY CONTROL
The paintmeter set-up consists of amodelocked Ti:Sapphire oscillator, aphotoconductive oscillator for THzgeneration and free-space electro-opticssampling for THz generation.
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OLEJanTECHNOLOGY13-18 9/1/06 4.29 pm Page 13
Chaos protects networks in Athens
TECHNOLOGYAPPLICATIONS
COMMUNICATIONS
14 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
"…Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) www.ophiropt.com
A team of European scientists hasreported “chaos-based opticalcommunications” at a data rate ofup to 2.4 Gbit/s over a commercialoptical network in Greece.Although the idea of chaotic dataencryption has been around sincethe early 1990s, this is the firsttime that it has been demonstratedin the field (Nature 438 343).
The experiment took place overtransmission distances of up to120 km in Athens’ metropolitanarea network and was performedas part of a European Commission-funded IST project called OCCULT.
The experiment made use of amatched pair of laser diodes (oneat the transmitter and one at thereceiver), which were driven byoptical nonlinear feedback so thatthey entered chaotic operation andwere synchronized to each other.Digital message data were then
embedded or hidden within thetransmitted chaotic optical carriersignal so that they were unrecog-nizable to an eavesdropper.
To decode the digital message
data at the receiver is simply aquestion of subtraction. Thelocally generated chaotic carrierat the receiver is subtracted fromthe incoming signal, which con-tains both the chaotic carrier andthe message. As the two chaoticcarriers are a perfect replica ofeach other, they are cancelled outand the message is retrieved.
According to Claudio Mirasso,the project coordinator from theUniversitat de les Illes Balears inPalma de Mallorca, Spain, thechaos approach is attractivebecause it is compatible with bothinstalled optical fibre and the pop-ular transmission technique ofwavelength division multiplexing.
“Concerning the bit rate, themajor limitation we had was withthe 3 dB bandwidth of our lasers,which was close to 3–5 GHz. High-bandwidth lasers would allow us
to achieve higher bit rates and arate of 10 Gbit/s could easily beexpected,” Mirasso told OLE.
“Concerning the security level,we have preliminary results thatsuggest that the security can behigh, but we have not quantified ityet. This is the main task we havefor the future – to define, test andcalibrate the security that our sys-tem can offer.”
The partners involved in thisproject are University of Athens,Greece; Université of Franche-Comté, France; Università degliStudi di Pavia, Italy; Universitat deles Illes Balears, Spain; Instituto deFísica de Cantabria, Spain; Univer-sitat Politècnica de Catalunya,Spain; Consejo Superior de Inves-tigaciones Científicas, Spain; Uni-versity of Wales at Bangor, UK;and Technische Universität Darm-stadt, Germany.
A map of the Athens metropolitan areanetwork that was used for the chaoticopical communications field trial.
Researchers in the US are busytransforming fish waste into opti-cal components as part of a mili-tary sponsored programme. Theteam claims that its DNA-basedmaterial has the potential to out-perform current polymer-basedwaveguides and enhance nonlin-ear optical effects (Applied PhysicsLetters 87 211115).
“DNA is exciting because it hasunique electronic and opticalproperties,” James Grote, seniorelectronics research engineer at
the US Air Force Research Labora-tory (AFRL), told OLE. “It has lowoptical loss over a broad wave-length range [less than 1 dB/cm]and three to five orders of magni-
tude lower electrical resistivitythan other polymers.”
What’smore, a by-product of thefishing industry, the DNA materialis abundant and environmentallyfriendly. The group prepares itsDNA from salmon milt and roe sacs,treating the mixture with enzymesto remove unwanted proteins.
Once dissolved in an organic sol-vent and filtered through a 0.2µmpore membrane, the DNA is readyto be spin-deposited onto a sub-strate. Tests have shown that theresulting films are stable at hightemperatures, with no visibledegradation up to 200 °C.
The US-based team, which alsoincludes researchers from the Uni-versity of Dayton and the Univer-sity of Cincinnati, crosslink theDNA film to toughen the materialand allow the fabrication of multi-layer structures.
Grote says that the DNA materialcould be used to create everythingfrom optical waveguides to modu-lators and LEDs. “An all-DNA wave-guide device is possible and couldhave lower optical losses than otherpolymers,” he commented. “Thereis also promise for both passive andactive all-DNA devices, such aselectro-optic modulators.”
Fish waste createsDNA components
COMPONENTS
A DNA waveguide developed by USscientists at the University of Dayton,the University of Cincinnati andengineers at the US AFRL.
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OLEJanTECHNOLOGY13-18 10/1/06 10.47 am Page 14
Tiny pillars reverse optical effects
TECHNOLOGYR&D
MATERIALS
15OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
LASER DIODE MODULES
100s of Standard Designs 405 nm to 905 nm, Industrial Grade
Blue, Green and Red Modulation and Power Options
Line, Cross, Spot Beams Fixed and Variable Focus
www.lasercomponents.co.uk
Scientists in the UK and Russiahave succeeded in fabricating amaterial that has a negative per-meability at visible wavelengths(Nature 438 335). The develop-ment is important because it couldlead to so-called “left-handed” mat-erials that exhibit a negative refrac-tive index and function as a perfectlens, focusing light to a smaller spotthan is usually possible.
These materials have previouslybeen demonstrated at terahertz,microwave and infrared frequen-cies but have never before beenwitnessed in the visible.
“This discovery could be a mile-stone for optics and could help torealize the visible left-handed mat-
erials that promise the perfectlens,” said Alexander Grigorenkofrom the University of Manchester,
UK. “It also provides the possibilityfor making new optical devices,such as nanolasers.”
The artificial material consists ofan array of pairs of tiny gold pillars(~100×100 nm) on a glass sub-strate. The structures occupy anarea of about 1 mm2, containingabout 1 million pillars. The mater-ial is the result of a collaborationbetween Manchester scientists andthe Chernogolovka Institute ofMicroelectronic Technologies inRussia and Aston University, UK.
Illuminating the pillars withgreen light (TM polarization)excites a so-called “antisymmetricplasmon resonance” between eachpillar pair that induces a high-
frequency electric current. Themagnetic moment associated withthis current gives rise to negativepermeability. Although the teamhas yet to observe negative refrac-tion, it has seen some other curi-ous behaviour, such as opticalimpedence matching – a cloakingeffect where reflection from thesample is totally suppressed.
“In our case, this phenomenonresulted in the total invisibility ofour structured films at green reso-nance frequencies for TM polari-zation of incident light, while thefilms could still be seen by usingphase-contrast imaging or TEpolarization,” explained the res-earchers in their paper.
Array of tiny gold pillars (100×100 nmeach) and a calculated map of themagnetic field that each pair creates.
Italian researchers have built a 2Dimaging array of 60 single-photonavalanche diodes (SPADs) thatoperates at 20 000 fps with a det-ection efficiency of more than 40%in the visible range. The mono-lithic design is set to make its debutat the European Southern Obser-vatory (ESO), where scientists arehoping to be able to capture fast-moving events, such as super-novae and high-energy gamma-ray bursts (Optics Letters 30 3024).
Monolithic arrays of SPADshave been fabricated before, butunfortunately the integrated dev-ices are often noisy and suffer fromlow detection efficiency.
“We had to design the chip geo-
metry and layout to reject spuriousoptical coupling among pixels,”Franco Zappa of Politecnico diMilano told OLE. “When a pixel ishit by a photon, the electrons flow-ing through the pixel emit sec-ondary photons that can igniteneighbouring pixels.”
As Zappa explains, a single pho-ton hitting the diode can trigger anavalanche current of tens or hun-dreds of milliamps. Multiplexing theoutput signal is one way of reduc-ing the impact of cross-talk betweenpixels, but in this case a parallelread-out scheme was required forhigh-speed performance.
The group’s solution to manag-ing current flow across the detec-
tor was to attach “quenching” cir-cuitry to each pixel. Dubbed iAQC,the technology temporarily lowersthe bias voltage across an activatedpixel within just a few nanosec-onds of photon impact.
Following successful trials in thelab, the researchers now plan toassemble their imaging system atthe ESO facility in Chile. The Italianteam, which also includes scien-tists from Università di Pisa andresearch agency CNR-IMM Bol-ogna, will characterize its detectorin both adaptive optics and fasttransient imaging applications.
Meanwhile, Zappa and his col-league, Sergio Cova, are alreadybusy commercializing the technol-
ogy and they have formed a uni-versity spin-off company dubbedMicro Photon Devices to market anew range of single-photon count-ing modules.
“[Although] we are workingwith silicon SPADs, we are alsodeveloping InGaAs/InP devices toextend the sensitivity into the nearinfrared at 1.3 and 1.55 µm wave-lengths,” added Zappa.
Single-photon array aids astronomyDETECTORS
Tracking fast-moving events: the teamfrom Italy’s Dipartimento Elettronica eInformazione, Politecnico di Milano.
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Nanostructured silicongenerates IR laser light
TECHNOLOGYR&D
SILICON PHOTONICS
16 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Scientists in the US claim to haveobserved lasing from a nanostruc-tured piece of silicon for the firsttime (Nature Materials advancedonline edition). The news followsdemonstrations last year of siliconlasers that relied on either theRaman effect or rare-earth dopingto achieve optical gain (OLE March2005 p14; December 2005 p14).
The team from Brown Univer-sity took an electronic grade sili-con-on-insulator wafer and usedrefractive ion etching togetherwith a nanopore mask to etch bil-lions of tiny (60 nm wide) poresinto its surface. They then cooledthe wafer to cryogenic tempera-tures (10 K) and pumped it with upto 1.5 W of green light from anargon-ion laser.
As the pump power was steadilyincreased, Jimmy Xu and his col-leagues, Sylvain Cloutier and PavelKossyrev, observed the tell-talesigns of lasing in the infrared –optical gain followed by line-width
narrowing, together with a sharpemission peak at 1278 nm.
Although the exact mechanismbehind the lasing is yet to be madeclear, Xu’s team believes that it isthe result of the creation of A-cen-tre defect states in the silicon.These defect energy states arelocated just below the conductionband and they allow trapped elec-trons and free holes to recombineand emit light.
Currently the emitted laser lightis very weak, with an estimatedoutput power of around 30 nWand an external efficiency of
approximately 0.0001% (1×10–6),and Xu says that his team did wellto spot it. That said, the researchersare confident that by optimizingthe design the device can be scaledto even higher powers.
“Even though the external effi-ciency may seem to be very low, it is comparable with opticallypumped solid-state lasers in theirearly days,” said the researchersin their paper. “Although onlyobserved at cryogenic tempera-tures so far, we hope that thisreport will serve to stimulate fur-ther investigations.”
CE R A M I C L A S E R S
A Nd:YAG ceramic laser with arecord-breaking slope efficiency of62% has been reported byscientists in China. The team fromthe Shanghai Institute of Optics andFine Mechanics surrounded a 5 mmdiameter, 75 mm long dopedceramic rod with nine QCW laserdiode arrays emitting at 808 nm.The ceramic laser generated 236 Wfor a pump power of 45O W,corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of52.5% and a slope efficiency of62% (Optics Express 13 8725).
OP T I CA L T R A P S
A force of 25 fN, the smallest everdirectly measured, has beenexperimentally analysed by ascientist in Germany. AlexanderRohrbach from the EuropeanMolecular Biology Laboratory inHeidelberg used a 0.53 µm latexbead held in an optical trap tomake the measurement. The forcewas generated by the radiationpressure from a 11 mW blue(488 nm) laser beam thatilluminated the bead (OpticsExpress 13 9695).
UN D E RWAT E R I M AG I N G
An underwater optical radar thatcan generate 3D images of anobject at a range of about 10 m inclear seawater has been built byItalian researchers. The deviceconsists of an amplitude-modulated 405 nm laser diode, anaspheric lens mounted on apizeoactuator-based scanningsystem and a photomultiplier tubedetection system. Luciano Bartoliniand his colleagues from EnteNazionale Energie Alternative inRome say that in laboratoryconditions the scheme provided asubmillimetre accuracy at a lasermodulation frequency of 36.7 MHz.The team is now exploring the useof lasers that can be driven athigher frequencies and outputpowers in order to improve theimaging performance (AppliedOptics 44 7130).
JOURNAL WATCH
Xu and colleagues use refractive ion etching to create an array of billions of 60 nmwide pores on the surface of a silicon-on-insulator wafer.
Korean scientists have more thandoubled the output power of GaN-based LEDs, thanks to a holo-graphic process that etches a 2Dphotonic crystal (PC) into thedevice. The researchers say thattheir holographic method is amajor improvement on previouswork using electron-beam lithog-raphy, because the technique suitslarge-area processing with highthroughput (Applied Physics Letters87 203508).
Typically, a large portion of thelight generated by an LED is wastedbecause of internal reflection andlateral waveguiding. By integ-rating a PC lattice within thedevice structure, LED makers can
control photonic behaviour andimprove light output.
Researchers from SeoulNational University used a two-beam holography set-up equippedwith a HeCd laser emitting at
325 nm to write square-lattice PCpatterns with periods of 300, 500and 700 nm. LED wafers were pro-vided by Samsung’s AdvancedInstitute of Technology.
The team found that its 500 nmlattice design offered the best per-formance, with the device extract-ing 2.1 times as much light as aconventional planar LED. “Theonly problem we noticed was aslight increase in operating volt-age, but this can be solved in thefuture,” Heonsu Jeon of SeoulNational University told OLE.
Computer simulation experts atSeoul’s Korea University are nowbusy optimizing the structure ofthe PC-LED, which emits at around400 nm. The next step for Jeon andhis colleagues is to assess thedevice’s commercial viability.
Different versions of the PC-LED.Devices fabricated with a 500 nmlattice-period photonic crystal structure(bottom left) emitted 2.1 times as muchlight as a conventional planar device(top left).
Photonic crystalsbrighten up LEDs
FABRICATION
OLEJanTECHNOLOGY13-18 9/1/06 4.30 pm Page 16
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To find out more about the best value in laser powerand energy measurement, visit us atwww.Coherent.com/FieldMaxII, or call (800) 343-4912.
TECHNOLOGYR&D/PATENTS
18 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
SETTLEMENTCourt upholds Corning’s patentinfringement claims against SRUThe US district court of Delaware has ruled that SRUBiosystems of Woburn, MA, infringed on a patentexclusively licensed to Corning for optical biosensorsthat enable the label-independent detection ofchemical, biochemical and biological substances.
Corning licensed patent 4,815,843 from ArtificalSensing Instruments of Switzerland and filed thelawsuit against SRU in July 2003. The court ruledthat SRU had infringed the patent through its testingactivities with a potential customer.
INVESTIGATIONUS Commission to investigateLumileds’ infringement claimsThe US International Trade Commission (USITC) isto follow up the recent patent infringementcomplaint filed by Lumileds Lighting against two ofits major competitors.
In November, Lumileds said that it was suingTaiwan-based United Epitaxy Company (UEC) andEpistar Corporation over what it saw as violation ofkey patents relating to AlGaInP LED manufacture(OLE December 2005 p15).
The technologies under dispute include Epistar’somnidirectional mirror adhesion LED products andUEC’s metal-bond and glue-bond LEDs.
The USITC will investigate whether or not the twoTaiwanese firms are in violation of the US Tariff Actof 1930 by importing the disputed products intothe US; selling them for subsequent importationinto the US; or selling them directly into the USmarket.
If it finds in favour of Lumileds, the WashingtonDC body, which describes itself as an independentfederal agency, could stop US imports of Epistarand UEC products seen to be violating the rules.
LICENSINGCree grants white-LED licence toTaiwanese firm KingbrightCree, US, has licensed its white-LED patent to oneof its chip customers, Taiwan-based manufacturerof LED-based lamps, Kingbright Electronic. Thelicence of US patent 6,600,175 will allowKingbright to add a colour-converting phosphor toCree’s blue chips, and then incorporate thesewhite-light emitters into its products.
According to the US chip maker, Kingbright willbe using Cree’s LED chips exclusively in its white-
LED products. “Kingbright has distinguished itselfwith years of dedicated support for Creetechnology and respect for intellectual property,”remarked Cree’s general manager ofoptoelectronics, Scott Schwab.
Wen Joe Song, Kingbright’s CEO, said thatCree’s white-light technology will provide majoradvantages to the company’s product line. “Ourtarget market includes major US and multinationalcompanies for which avoiding intellectual propertydisputes are critical.”
Australian firm Lednium gainsaccess to Osram’s LED ideasOsram of Germany has licensed patents relating towhite LEDs to Australian firm Lednium. The patentscover the use of blue-emitting InGaN chips that,when combined with a suitable phosphorconverter, emit white light. Lednium plans to usethe technology in its range of multichip LED lamps.
This technology was developed by the firm’ssubsidiary, Osram Opto Semiconductors. “Ourpatent portfolio is the result of many years ofresearch and development, and we are sure thatboth partners will profit from this agreement,” saidRüdiger Müller, president of Osram Opto.
PATENTS
To search for recently published applications, visit http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/ and http://ep.espacenet.com.
By introducing a precise defectstructure into a photonic crystalwaveguide, scientists at NASA’sAmes Research Centre, US, claimto have designed the first sub-wavelength mirror that can bendlight at an angle sharper than 90°.Having simulated bending at 45°,Natalia Malkova and Cun-ZhengNing believe that their design canalso support bending through arange of acute angles (AppliedPhysics Letters 87 161113).
Photonic crystal waveguidescome in two forms: continuous-line defect waveguides and coup-led-defect cavity waveguides. Inthe first variety, a missing line ofrods in the photonic crystal definesthe path of the light. In the second,defects are introduced at regularintervals. When the defects are inclose proximity, they form a coup-led-cavity, which the light follows.
Malkova and Ning had beenworking with coupled-cavity wave-guides, trying to engineer mode-splitting, when they came up withtheir novel idea. Starting with asquare lattice of dielectric rods,their design involves distorting thelattice at the corner of reflection to
create a “control cell”. Introducinga specific symmetry into the con-trol cell redirects the light at anacute angle. The structure of thecontrol cell is also repeated alongthe reflected path.
“First you have a defect, and inour case this is a larger-diameter
rod than the ones that surroundit,” Ning explained to OLE. “Thetrick is to distort the lattice by mov-ing the smaller rods to set positionsaround the larger one.”
Ning also comments that, cru-cially, the light can be reflected at arange of angles simply by changingthe positions of the smaller rods. Heexpects this idea to work for anglesas acute as 30° and at wavelengthsfrom the ultraviolet right throughto the infrared.
After altering the lattice to givea permanent bending angle of45°, Ning and Malkova beganinvestigating ways of dynamicallychanging the bending direction.“We use electro-optical materi-als,” stated Ning. “By applying afield, you change the rods’ index ofrefraction, which in turn dynam-ically switches the light propaga-tion direction.”
Defects bend light at acute anglesPHOTONIC CRYSTALS
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Left: the source enters the photonic crystal waveguide at S and is reflected at 45°,thanks to the control cell at P1. The inset at the top right shows the specific latticedistortion that corresponds to a reflection of 45°. This distortion is repeated alongthe reflected path from P1 to P2. Right: a simulation of the 45° reflection.
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OLEJanTECHNOLOGY13-18 9/1/06 4.30 pm Page 18
Think “Edmund Optics” and the words “catalogue firm” probably aren’t too far behind. But, as president John Stack tells Jacqueline Hewett, there is a lot more to the company.
Edmund Optics thriveson imaging applications
INTERVIEW
19OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Edmund Optics is probably best known for itsextensive catalogue of optical components.But over the last 15 years the company hassteadily diversified into imaging, and itsoptics are now the linchpin in markets rang-ing from factory-floor automation andmachine vision to biomedicine and military.
The company has also built up a tremen-dous amount of design expertise and boastsintellectual property in everything fromhigh-precision prism manufacturing tometrology applications, such as high-vol-ume lens testing. The future also looks rosyowing to Edmund’s aspheric technology,which will be crucial in everyday appli-cations, such as the tiny cameras that will bedeployed in cars to monitor blind spots.
“The significant thing that people don’talways realize is that Edmund is one of theworld’s leading suppliers of precision optics,”John Stack, president of Edmund Optics toldOLE. “We have the largest inventory of off-the-shelf optics in the world. 98% of ouroptics inventory is in stock so we can shippretty much everything the same day. Ourgoal is to have global same-day ship capabil-ity. There is a significant amount of infra-structure behind the catalogue.”
Global operationThe infrastructure that Stack refers to isEdmund’s far-reaching network of salesoffices and its commitment to customer ser-vice. Having started off as a North Americancompany, Edmund now has offices in the UK,Germany, Singapore, China and Japan, and aglobal workforce rapidly approaching 500.
“In 2000 we made some strategic acqui-sitions and our manufacturing space bal-looned up to 100 000 sq. ft,” said Stack.“Very quickly we became one of NorthAmerica’s largest optical manufacturingfacilities. We also started to add an extensiveengineering force, and we now design andmanufacture almost all of our optics.”
It is clear that Edmund’s design expertiselies in imaging applications. One up-and-coming area that the company is concen-trating on currently is asphere technology.Aspheric lenses have a non-spherical shape,
which removes the need for multiple lensesand leads to both lightweight and high-per-formance components.
“The capabilities of the first CCD and CMOSsensors really were below what the availableoptics at the time could deliver,” explainedStack, “but as CCD and CMOS technology hasimproved, you have got to start implementingaspheres in the optical train in order toachieve better performance.”
One of the target markets for this technol-ogy is the automotive industry, where imag-ing systems are being deployed in cars asvalue-added features. Two tiny camerascould soon replace the car’s wing mirrors, forexample, or a camera behind the main rear-view mirror can monitor rainfall and turn onwindscreen wipers. The key is that the lensesmust be small and offer high performance.
“If we want to make lenses and put them in
small packages, we have to implement some-thing other than spherical surfaces,” saidStack. “If you want to make a lens with verygood light-gathering capability, you have topush [lower] the f-number, and aspheres area critical component in doing this.”
Stack also believes that Edmund is in aposition to advise OEMs. “It’s not just theasphere itself,” he explained. “We have all theknow-how that will actually get people tointegrate aspheres into products and makethem cost-effective to manufacture.”
Another area high on Edmund’s list isdeveloping specialized optics for line-scancameras. As these sensors have grown interms of size and number of pixels, they haveall-but outstretched the available optics.
“Line-scan cameras are critical when wetalk about LCD inspection and assemblylines,” commented Stack. “We are releas-
Top left: John Stack. Edmund Optics’ large-format line-scan lenses (top right) and aspheric lenses (bottomright) are being used in a range of imaging applications. The firm’s mantra, “if you can’t test it, you can’tmake it”, has also forced it to develop quality-control kits, such as a high-volume lens tester (bottom left).
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OLEJanINTERVIEW19-21 9/1/06 4.31 pm Page 19
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ing a lens in January that will be twice asfast as any lens out there for these large-sensor markets.”
In addition to developing new products,Edmund has been forced to develop quality-control test kits to verify all of its offerings. AsStack explains, Edmund Optics lives by themantra “if you can’t test it, you can’t makeit”. So as production volumes rose, there wasa pressing need for flexible and fast methodsto gauge the quality of lenses.
This prompted the company to develop ahigh-speed system for measuring the modu-lation transfer function of a lens. The resultwas an instrument that can process one lensevery 7 s in comparison with traditionalmethods, which can take as long as 20 min.It also added some metrology intellectualproperty to Edmund’s business, which it isnow looking to license.
The diverse nature of Edmund’s businessplaces it in an enviable position. “We arelucky in that no single market completelydominates any part of our business,” saidStack. “Military is hot just now but that is notthe only thing that has been surging for-ward. We have certainly seen traction in thebiomedical area. About the only market thatis truly soft right now is semiconductor – butthat’s a universal truth for everyone.”
Stack also says that, although the majorityof Edmund’s sales are currently in North
America, it has seen significant growth inEurope and Asia. “We contribute a lot of ourgrowth in Europe to our service,” he said.“There are US companies in Europe but theystill try to service their customers from theUS. We have a very strong leadership posi-tion within the company in Europe and Asia.We try to think globally.”
So what does the future hold for EdmundOptics? According to Stack, there are threetargets over the next two years. The first is toimprove customer service by opening new
sales and engineering facilities and increas-ing inventory in Europe and Asia. The secondis to increase manufacturing capabilities,which Stack says will happen throughout2006 and 2007.
The final target is new product growth.“Our pipelines are absolutely full,” saidStack. “There are a lot of new products com-ing out in a range of areas. We will also bereleasing new intellectual property in 2006that will again show some new directions interms of technology and products.”
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21OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Edmund Optics originally started its life asEdmund Scientific in 1942, selling optics forconsumer goods.
In the late 1980s/early 1990s, theindustrial portion of Edmund Scientificexperienced significant growth. As a result thecompany broke into two divisions, withEdmund Scientific being sold off and theindustrial element of the business becomingEdmund Optics.
During the 1990s Edmund Optics began todiversify into imaging. It also opened a salesoffice in Japan in 1995, a design centre inArizona in 1998 and a UK office in 1999.
The year 2000 saw Edmund acquire theassets of US firm Plummer Precision Optics,gaining a precision prism manufacturing plantin Singapore as well as optical coatingfacilities and metal-machining equipment.
Further expansion saw a sales office open inGermany in 2000, the set-up of Edmund’sPennsburg, Pennsylvania, division in 2001,which specializes in optical coatings andoptomechanical assemblies, and a salesoffice established in Singapore in 2003.
Edmund Optics remains to this day aprivately held company.
Edmund Optics’ history
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OLEJanINTERVIEW19-21 10/1/06 10.47 am Page 21
Materials that have a negative refractive index at optical wavelengths have now beenfabricated by scientists in Europe and the US for the first time. Rob van den Berg explainswhy they could ultimately lead to new types of lens, antireflection coating and biosensor.
Metamaterials makedebut in visible region
MATERIALS
23OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
The concept of light rays that bend thewrong way on entering a material, an opticalDoppler effect that operates in reverse or aperfect lens that can focus beyond the dif-fraction limit may sound crazy, but these arejust some of the intriguing possibilities thathave recently excited scientists following thedemonstration of materials that have a neg-ative refractive index in the visible andinfrared. In fact, 2005 could be rememberedas the year when scientists turned the funda-mental laws of optics on their head.
Over the past 12 months, several researchgroups have succeeded in fabricating artifi-cially engineered materials that have a nega-tive refractive index, and they have alsostarted to explore their optical properties.These metamaterials, also known as left-handed materials, promise to create entirelynew prospects for controlling and manipu-lating light, with potential benefits in thefields of optical sensing, nanoscale imagingand photolithography.
Initial inspirationThe origins of the field date back to 1968,when Russian physicist Victor Veselago firstpredicted the existence of materials that havea negative refractive index. The refractiveindex of a material depends on its response tothe electric and magnetic components of anelectromagnetic wave, measured by its elec-
tric permittivity and magnetic permeability.Most materials have positive permittivities –place one in an electric field and the directionof the field induced inside the material willhave the same orientation as that of theapplied field. The majority also have positivepermeabilities and react to magnetic fields ina very similar way.
Veselago speculated that, for materials inwhich both the permittivity and the permea-bility are less than zero, the refractive indexwould also be negative and thus light wouldrefract in the opposite direction to that exper-ienced with conventional materials. It wasimmediately clear that negative refractiondoes not occur in nature: whereas for certainfrequencies most metals have a negative per-mittivity – which makes them opaque – theyall have a positive permeability. Thus you hadto rely on artificial materials (metamaterials)to realize these amazing properties. Unfortu-nately, no-one knew how to make them.
This all changed at the end of the 1990swhen John Pendry, a theorist at Imperial Col-lege London, suggested that creating a mat-erial featuring an array of resonator-typestructures might be the way forward. UsingPendry’s ideas, David Smith from the Univer-sity of California in San Diego succeeded inmaking a material with a negative refractiveindex at microwave frequencies.
Smith fabricated interlocking units of thin
fibreglass sheets imprinted with copper ringsand wires. Sure enough, microwaves inci-dent on a sample of this metamaterial werebent in the opposite direction from normal asthey passed through.
Interest in negative index materials thentook off again in 2000 when Pendry theor-ized that slabs of such a material could createa “superlens” that would be able to overcomethe diffraction limit and offer improved imag-ing performance.
Perfect imagingHe postulated that such lenses could poten-tially recover the evanescent light that is usu-ally lost from an image as it passes through alens. Conventional imaging optics cannotaccess these “evanescent waves”, whichdecay rapidly with distance. However, mat-erials that have a negative index of refractionshould be able to restore this lost light andthereby provide imaging capabilities beyondthe diffraction limit to which all “normal”lenses are subject.
A group from the University of California,Berkeley, managed to confirm this contro-versial prediction last year. Nicholas Fangand his colleagues made use of the fact that,at a scale much below the optical wave-length, it is not necessary for both the per-mittivity and the permeability to be negativeto create a negative-index material.
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Left: a close-up of the metamaterial that was recently developed at the University of Manchester, UK, which consistisof an array of gold nanopillars on a glasssubstrate. Illumination with green light excites an antisymmetric plasmon resonance, which creates a negative magnetic permeability. Middle: a calculated map ofthe magnetic field that each pair of gold nanopillars creates. Right: Purdue University’s gold nanorods feature a negative magnetic permeability in the infrared.
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They used a 35 nm thick layer of silver,which had a negative permittivity, to createan optical “superlens” that beats the diffrac-tion limit. In experiments the lens was able totransfer the image of a lithographically writ-ten pattern, with a feature width of 40 nm,to a nearby layer of photoresist.
In the absence of the silver layer, the linesimaged onto the photoresist had a measuredline width of more than 300 nm – roughlyhalf the wavelength of the light used as theillumination source. With the silver layer
present, however, the evanescent waves wererecovered and a markedly better resolutionwas obtained with an observed line width ofless than 90 nm.
It was not easy getting the properties of thethin silver film just right. Its surface had to beextremely smooth, because any imperfec-tions would scatter the incident light andwash out the finer details. Also the thicknessof the film had to be optimized to preventabsorption losses.
At the same time, several other groups
were busy trying to make an optical materialwith a negative index by exploiting Pendry’sidea of using resonator structures. However,to achieve this in the optical regime, the res-onators need to be on the nanometre scaleunlike the centimetre-sized structures usedby Smith for microwaves.
Recently, several groups have succeededin obtaining a negative permeability, whichis a precursor for negative refraction, atoptical wavelengths. Vladimir Shalaev andcolleagues at Purdue University obtainedtheir result – a refractive index of –0.3 – ina material consisting of closely spaced pairsof parallel gold nanorods, each measuringapproximately 100×700 nm (Optics Letters15 December 2005).
“The rods conduct a current because theyare a metal, producing an effect we call opti-cal inductance, while a material betweenthe rods produces another effect called opti-cal capacitance,” said Shalaev. “The result isthe formation of a very small electromag-netic circuit, which works at optical fre-quencies including the near infrared.” Thecircuit acts as a tuning fork that interactswith incident light and has a well definedresonance. This behaviour can result in neg-ative refraction at frequencies higher thanthe resonance frequency – an observationthat agrees with previous calculations per-formed by the group.
Simple fabricationThe Purdue team says that the structure isrelatively easy to fabricate and could indeedlead to optical superlenses. “Portable andversatile, the new lens would have the poten-tial to revolutionize the market for most tech-nology areas where light is used,” saidShalaev’s team member Alexander Kildi-shev. “These include the optical recording ofenhanced DVDs, nanofabrication and opti-cal lithography and enhanced sensing, suchas in biomedical sensors and implants.”
At the moment the current material is too“lossy” (i.e. too much of the light is absorbed)to exhibit this perfect behaviour, but Shalaevbelieves that this problem can be overcome.He is also confident that his laboratory will beable to extend its negative index results intothe visible part of the spectrum. “We justneed to change the size of our structuresslightly,” he commented.
Recently, another group of researchersmanaged to create a negative index materialthat operates in the visible regime using avery similar approach. Alexander Grigorenkoand his colleagues from the University ofManchester, UK, used nanofabrication meth-ods to make a patterned surface consisting oftapered gold pillars arranged periodically inpairs (Nature 17 November 2005).
MATERIALS
24 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
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Over a limited frequency range in the vis-ible part of the spectrum, these pairs behaveas small, high-frequency bar magnets,which cancel the magnetic component ofthe incident radiation. The effect is due to theexcitation of plasmon resonances betweenthe material’s pillars and it leads to a goldstructure with a negative permeability andnegative refraction index.
The material exhibits some curious opticalproperties, including acting as a perfect anti-reflection coating. By matching the imped-ance (defined as the ratio of the permittivityand permeability) to that of an adjacentdielectric, Grigorenko was able to stop the goldfilm from reflecting green light. The effect isakin to impedence matching in the world ofelectronic engineering, which is used to stopsignals reflecting from the ends of cables.
Grigorenko is now looking at optimizingthe design of the material to create a perfectlens, but he admits that this will be quite achallenge. “There remain significant hurdlesto overcome, such as a reduction in the lossesin the system,” he commented. “We are nowtrying to increase the coupling to the light byincreasing the density of the pillars, makingthem more conical and using a dielectricbetween them.”
Grigorenko and his team exploit the sametheoretical concept as the Shalaev paper andPendry is upbeat about their recent results.“They have succeeded not only in creating anegative electric and magnetic response atthe same frequency, which is already a con-siderable achievement, but in addition theyhave sufficient control to adjust the precisevalues to give an impedance match to freespace,” he commented. “This will be impor-tant if they want to make practical use oftheir structure.”
According to Grigorenko, there arenumerous potential applications of thesemetamaterials in the fields of optoelectronicsand biochemical sensing. “Our samples canbe used as selective optical filters, antireflec-tion coatings and very high-frequency mod-ulators,” he explained. “As the plasmonmodes are very susceptible to subtle changesin the environment, our fabricated nanoma-terial can detect very small changes in theambient index of refraction. This can be usedfor developing biosensors.”
As the electromagnetic field between thenanopillars is strongly enhanced near theplasmon resonances, it also means that thematerial could be used to create substratesfor surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.Other opportunities include nanolasersmade from the nanopillars.
Rob van den Berg is a freelance science journalistbased in the Netherlands.
MATERIALS
OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
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OLEJanMETAMATERIALS23-25 10/1/06 11.13 am Page 25
Looking ahead over the next 12 months, the OLE teamforecasts that slow light and polymer solar cells are twokey technology areas that are likely to be regularly makingthe headlines. Here’s an update on their status.
KEY TECHNOLOGIES TO K
26 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Slowing light down was big news in 2005, withresearchers around the world reporting keybreakthroughs in the field. Putting the brakeson light is important because it couldaccelerate the development of all-opticalmemory chips and biosensors.
The main motivation is the construction ofall-optical buffers, which can delay andtemporarily store light pulses. Such devicescould have important consequences fortelecommunications networks, opticalcomputing and optical phased-array antennae.
What’s more, a practical solution tocontrolling the timing of light pulses could beon the horizon sooner than scientists firstthought, thanks to the shrewd modification ofsome well known semiconductor devices.
Scientists at the COM Research Center,Denmark, have recently shown that two populartelecoms components – a quantum-dotsemiconductor optical amplifier and an electro-absorption modulator – can both slow thepropagation of light pulses. At the same time ateam from the University of California atBerkeley and Texas A&M University, US, hasdemonstrated that, when configured as anamplifier, a vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasercan also perform the feat. All three approacheswork by carefully controlling the electrical biasof the custom-built devices.
However, perhaps the most exciting recentdevelopment in the field came from researchersbased at the IBM T J Watson Research Centre,US. They fabricated a silicon chip that combinedminiature heaters with photonic crystaltechnology to control the speed of light pulsesand reduce the group velocity of light by a factorof up to 300. Their design features a 250 µmlong silicon waveguide that is patterned with109 nm diameter holes and placed in closeproximity to an electrical contact. Applying anelectrical signal to the contact heats up thewaveguide and allows the team to tune thespeed of the infrared pulses, thanks to thecorresponding change in refractive index.
As IBM’s Yurii Vlaslov explains, thesemiconductor-chip approach to slowing lightdown has many benefits. “It has definiteadvantages over doing it in [gas] vapour andother media – it is self contained and you don’tneed high-intensity lasers or a whole room full
of equipment,” he said. “The problem, though,is that measurements are challenging becausethe pulses are spread enormously and then it isdifficult to assign any velocity to such adistorted pulse.”
To make measurements of group velocity,the scientists placed two such waveguides andelectronic heaters side by side on the device tocreate a tiny (0.04 mm2 footprint) MachZehnder interferometer. One arm of theinterferometer acted as a reference and theother as a variable speed arm.
Another approach to pulse measurement is tomake a “slow-light” movie. Using a phase-sensitive near-field scanning optical microscope(PS-NSOM), the Ultrafast Photonics Collaborationimaged light travelling through a photonic crystalriddled with 260nm diameter holes. The teameffort involves scientists from the University ofTwente and FOM Institute in the Netherlands,Ghent University and IMEC in Belgium, and theUniversity of St Andrews, Scotland.
“The big thing here is that you can actuallysee what is happening,” commented ThomasKrauss of the University of St Andrews. “We cannow produce images and movies withnanoscale resolution that show the propagationof slowed light pulses in the waveguide.” Avaluable development tool, the PS-NSOM’simages revealed that 120 fs duration pulseslaunched into the collaboration’s waveguidewere travelling at about 1/1000th of the speedof light in vacuum.
Slow light
2006 FORECAST
“We can nowproduce movieswith nanoscaleresolution thatshow thepropagation ofslowed light .”Thomas Krauss
Power plastic: Konarka’s photovoltaic tape can outperform tradition
Engineers at the IBM T J Watson Research Centre dream of making ananophotonic toolkit with a range of functions such as slowing light
Roll-to-roll: polymer solar cells benefit from low-cost manufacturing
OLEJan2006LOOKFORWARD26-27 10/1/06 9.01 am Page 26
27OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
KEEP AN EYE ON IN 2006
Flexible, thin-film polymer photovoltaics, whichcan be made using a convenient roll-to-rollprocess, could soon be challenging traditionalsilicon solar cells. Last year, US firm Konarkagave itself a European base by acquiringSiemens’ organic photovoltaic researchactivities, and now it believes that itsdevelopment partners could be manufacturingtheir first products within 12–36 months.
“On the commercial product side we havebeen able to make material that is hundreds tothousands of feet long,” Daniel McGahn ofKonarka told OLE. “What has changed on thetechnology side is that we’ve raised the bar onwhere we see the ultimate efficiency.”
The firm is busy optimizing the chemicalmake-up of its so-called Power Plastic and isexperimenting with the addition of sensitizersthat would make the material responsive in thenear infrared. “We now have a roadmap andwant to be able to get from, say, 7%[efficiency] up into the high teens andpotentially over 20% in the laboratory,” saidMcGahn. “We’ve commissioned a pilot coatingline for the laboratory development of afinished product and have entered into arelationship with German printing companyKurz to look at very-large-scale production.”
ApplicationsThe first beneficiaries of Power Plastic are likelyto be portable consumer electronics andsensors that are usually plugged in to the gridto be recharged. Pushing the concept muchfurther foward and assuming further reductionsin cost and gains in conversion efficiency,polymer photovoltaics could one day becomean important source of green power generation.“Instead of a coal-fired plant you could have avineyard with a plastic film that has dualfunctionality and a very large area to generate
power,” added McGahn.Such a vision of alternative energy is
increasingly in the news, but McGahndownplays the recent surge of attention. “Itallows for things such as greater desire offederal governments to invest in technologyand a business climate that is moreamenable to looking at renewable-energytechnology, but at the end of the day it isconsumption that winds up driving change,”he said. “We can look at macro trends,carbon credits, NOx credits and politicalpressures, but what matters is the valueproposition to the consumer.”
Although ordinary solar cells generally workvery well in full sun, this means thatconventionally powered devices have arestricted window of 4–6 h to harvest theirenergy. Power Plastic technology is bettersuited to lower light levels and can actuallyoutperform traditional solar technology underthese conditions.
“There is a bit of education andunderstanding that needs to go on in themarketplace,” said McGahn. “The concept isthat devices will be self-recharging and simplyplaced in an environment that is lit.”
Exciting possibilities for products using thetechnology include power-generating windows,doors, awnings and roof tiles. In the future,these items could all contain light-activatedmaterial and would be direct replacements forcurrent building components.
According to McGahn, a hurdle facing thesolar industry today is what he dubs the last mileproblem – how to apply the technology. “[Withintegrated products] you are simplifying the userexperience and are able to get people moreexcited, more familiar and allow the products tobe more useful,” he said. “At the end of the dayyou have actually solved the problem.”
Polymer solar cells
“We have beenable to makematerial that ishundreds tothousands of feetlong.”Daniel McGahn
aditional solar technology under low light conditions.
aking a silicong light down.
turing methods.
IBM’s photonic crystal waveguide structure.
COM’s electroabsorption modulator.
Integrated approach: to be successful, solartechnology must be easy to install.
IBM
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High-end cooled digital cameras featuring electron multiplying CCD technology arerevolutionizing our ability to image very weak photon fluxes successfully, says Colin Coates.
EMCCD cameras takeimaging to a new level
PRODUCT GUIDE
29OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Continual advancements in imaging andspectroscopy are placing unprecedenteddemands on camera technology to performat significantly higher levels. Techniquessuch as intracellular ion signalling micro-scopy (e.g. Ca2+ flux microscopy) and multi-dimensional (4–5D) microscopy on live cellsimpose considerable demands on detectiontechnology, in terms of higher sensitivity atfaster frame speeds. Electron multiplyingcharge-coupled device (EMCCD) cameratechnology has been designed to respond tothis growing need.
The development of the EMCCD is herald-ing a new era of low-concentration chemicalanalysis, which was previously not possible.For example, the behaviour and interactionsof individual biomolecules can now betracked at exceptionally rapid frame rates,even within their natural cellular environ-ment. Similarly, Raman spectroscopy,astronomy and neutron tomography arebenefiting from enhanced sensitivity atshorter exposure times.
EMCCD technology was first introduced tothe digital scientific imaging community in2001. It is an innovative approach for ampli-fying very low light signals above the readnoise floor of the CCD, which usually sets thedetection limit of the system. The approachharnesses the full quantum efficiency (QE) ofthe silicon sensors, in contrast with theintensifier tubes of ICCDs, which fundamen-tally restrict QE and have limited resolution.
Essentially, the EMCCD is an image sensorthat is capable of detecting single-photonevents, thanks to a unique electron-multi-plying (EM) structure built into the chip. EMgain can be increased linearly and tuned inreal time via software. It allows extremelyweak signals to be detected above the readnoise of the camera, at any read-out speed.
Traditional high-sensitivity CCD camerasoffered high sensitivity with read-out noisein single figures below 10 electrons, but atthe expense of slow read-out. Therefore theywere often referred to as “slow scan” cam-eras. The fundamental constraint came from
the CCD charge amplifier. To have high-speedoperation, the bandwidth of the chargeamplifier needs to be as wide as possible, butit is a fundamental principal that the noisescales with the bandwidth of the amplifier,and therefore that higher-speed amplifiersgenerate greater noise.
Slow scan CCDs have relatively low band-width and hence can only be read out atmodest speeds of typically less than 1 MHz.EMCCD cameras avoid this constraint byamplifying the charge signal before thecharge amplifier and thereby maintainunprecedented sensitivity at high speeds. By
amplifying the signal, the read-out noise iseffectively bypassed and is no longer the limiton sensitivity.
Device structureMost EMCCDs utilize the frame-transfer CCDstructure shown in figure 2. Frame-transferCCDs feature two areas: a sensor area, whichcaptures the image, and a storage area,where the image is stored prior to read-out.The storage area is normally identical in sizeto the sensor area and is covered with anopaque mask, usually made of aluminium.During image acquisition, the sensor area
Left: the images on the far left show low-light epifluorescence from dyed immunolabelled bovineepithelial cells. Electron multiplying gain was applied to both images to eliminate the read-out noisecontribution, producing the images on the right. Fig. 1 (right): a plot of dynamic range versus EM gain forthree models of EMCCD camera shows that an optimum region of operation exists.
1 10 100 1000 10000
80
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DV897DV247DU970
EMCCD gain
φ2 φ3 φ1φdcφ1φ3
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transferdirection
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Fig. 2: EMCCD cameras explained: the read-out structure of a typical EMCCD chip. The image is capturedon a sensor region and then shifted downwards to a storage region within the device.
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OLEJanPRODUCTGUIDE29-31 10/1/06 11.58 am Page 29
is exposed to light and an image is captured.This image is then automatically shifteddownwards behind the masked region of thechip and then read out.
While the image is being read out, the sen-sor area is again exposed and the next imageis acquired. The aluminium mask thereforeacts like an electronic shutter. To read out thesensor the charge is shifted out through theread-out register and into the multiplicationregister, where amplification occurs prior toread-out by the charge amplifier.
The amplification occurs in the multipli-cation register (figure 2), which consists ofmany hundreds of cells. Each cell amplifiesthe signal by harnessing a process thatoccurs naturally in CCDs, known as clock-induced charge or spurious charge. Tradi-tionally, clock-induced charge has beenconsidered a source of noise and a phenom-enon to minimize. However, in EMCCDs it isexploited for useful purposes. When clockingthe charge through a register there is a verytiny but finite probability that the chargesbeing clocked can create additional chargesby a process known as “impact ionization”.This occurs when a charge has sufficientenergy to create another electron-hole pairand hence a free electron charge in the con-duction band can create another charge andamplification occurs.
To make this process viable, EMCCDs tailorthe process in two ways. First, the probabilityof any one charge creating a secondary elec-tron is increased by giving the initial electroncharge more energy by clocking the chargewith a higher voltage. Second, the EMCCD isdesigned with hundreds of cells in whichimpact ionization can occur and, althoughthe probability of amplification in any onecell is small, over the entire register of cellsthe probability is very high with gains ofthousands achievable.
EMCCD cameras basically come in thesame varieties as regular CCDs so they share
PRODUCT GUIDE
OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Andor manufactures a full-range of imaging andspectroscopy EMCCD cameras in different chipsizes and performing to different characteristicsdepending on requirements. Highlights ofperformance characteristics include:● up to > 90% QE: maximum possible photon-collection efficiency; ● variable read-out rates up to 35 MHz;● up to 500 fps that can be increased by usinga subarray and/or binning;● 250–1000 nm spectral range;● lowest clock-induced charge (spurious noise):essential for true photon-counting capability.
Typical performance
OLEJanPRODUCTGUIDE29-31 10/1/06 11.58 am Page 30
the same properties and quantum efficien-cies. While EMCCDs eliminate the real noisefloor and render the detector single-photonsensitive, the amplification process addsadditional noise, which must be taken intoconsideration, and results in a noise factor ofgreater than 1.
The EMCCD gain also complicates thedynamic range of the camera: initially, as the EM gain is applied, the dynamic rangeincreases. The EM gain reduces the effectiveread noise but the higher well capacity in theEM gain register can accommodate theamplified signal. When the EM gain registercan no longer accommodate the amplifiedfull-well capacity of a pixel, the dynamicrange flattens. When the gain is sufficient toreduce the noise below single-photon levels,the dynamic range then falls off.
The ultimate in sensitivity comes in theform of the back-illuminated EMCCD cam-era technology, which provides the maxi-mum possible QE across the visible andnear-IR wavelength range (> 90% at peak),enabling the detection of very small signals.
ApplicationsEMCCD technology is particularly suited tooptical experiments with low photon levels.For example, it is a common choice for single-molecule detection experiments, typicallyusing total internal reflectance fluorescencemicroscopy for parallel studies of single-molecule dynamics under reduced excita-tion power. The ability to detect singlemolecules in such a fashion has catalysed therace to develop a method that can sequencethe entire human genome in less than 24 h.
Live-cell fluorescence microscopy (includ-ing calcium flux, time-lapse, cell motility, and
4 and 5D confocal microscopy) has benefitedenormously from this ultrasensitive technol-ogy. Improved camera sensitivity enables theuse of shorter exposure times, while rapidsynchronous shuttering enables one toachieve higher temporal resolution throughmultiple dimensions. These features allow thecapture of more images before the cells suc-cumb to phototoxicity or photobleaching.
The EMCCD is also suited to detecting intra-cellular bio- and chemiluminescence. Theseapplications use no excitation source and soharness the true single-photon sensitivenature of the detector without fear of maskingthe signal with background photons. Undersuch circumstances, cooling becomes criti-cally important and, if photon flux is very low,high signal-to-noise images can be attainedthrough use of longer exposure times.
Recently, EMCCD technology has turnedits attention to spectroscopy. The very weaksignals inherent in most Raman applicationsrequire highly sensitive cameras.
Optimizing EMCCDsTo harness EMCCD technology effectively, anumber of key parameters must be add-ressed and optimized during camera designto deliver a truly high-end system. The pio-neering iXon camera platform from AndorTechnology was designed from first princ-iples to maximize the potential that this newtechnology promised.
An area that requires particular attentionfor optimizing EMCCD performance is that ofthermoelectric (TE) cooling. By housing thesensor into a hermetically sealed, permanentvacuum enclosure, designed for minimaloutgassing (rather than the lower-endapproach of an o-ring-sealed, gas-filled
housing), it is possible to achieve signifi-cantly lower temperatures. Enhanced cool-ing performance is a critical issue withEMCCD technology, because thermally gen-erated electrons are amplified above the readnoise floor, just as photoelectrons will be. It isthus crucial to minimize dark current as faras possible, even under rapid frame rates.
Another significant advantage of a per-manent vacuum head is the protection thatit gives the sensor from moisture and con-densation. In fact, this approach enablesremoval of a window from the front of thesensor that is otherwise required for vac-uum protection, resulting in increasedthroughput of the signal. Also, removingconvection from the sensor enclosure elimi-nates the possibility of condensation on theoutside of the front window.
Another parameter of EMCCD perfor-mance that requires considerable attentionis charge shifting. It is beneficial in a frametransfer device to offer the ability and flexi-bility to push vertical clock times as fast aspossible, thus minimizing smearing undershort exposure times and increasing framerate.The challenge comes in doing this whileretaining the essential sensitivity perfor-mance, because a form of spurious single-electron noise called clock-induced charge isparticularly sensitive to clock conditions. It isthrough careful optimization of voltageclocking parameters that the EMCCD can beoperated successfully under these more chal-lenging conditions.
Colin Coates is market development manager forlow light imaging at Andor Technology, amanufacturer of EMCCD cameras. For moreinformation, visit www.emccd.com.
PRODUCT GUIDE
31OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
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OLEJanPRODUCTGUIDE29-31 10/1/06 11.59 am Page 31
In mid-2005 the UK’s DTI Global Watch Service sent a fact-finding mission to China tostudy its capabilities in electronics and photonics manufacturing. This is what they found.
China turns its eyes tophotonics to fuel growth
REGIONS OF EXPERTISE
33OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
The Chinese government sees photonics asone of the key industries to drive China’s eco-nomic and technology growth in the 21stcentury. Over the past decade China hasdeveloped a comprehensive manufacturingbase in the sector, which is especially strongin the areas of fibre-optic communicationsand the assembly of optoelectronic modules.
The country has a strong indigenous tech-nology base in telecommunications devel-oped through home-grown businesses andjoint-venture companies. Domestic compa-nies, such as the telecom equipment makersFiberHome, ZTE and Huawei, have grown tobecome large, successful firms with anincreasing international focus. The latterrecently hit the headlines with the news thatit had won a contract to supply British Tele-com (BT) with its 21st-century network. Onedriver for the Chinese telecommunicationsindustry is the Olympic Games, to be held inBeijing in 2008. As part of the games, Bei-jing is installing a significant new telecom-munications network, which is drivingdemand for telecommunications equipmentwithin China.
The key to the success of these companiesis a competent and low-cost supply base,China generates 300 000 graduates per yearand the minimum wage for factory workersis typically less than £50 (772) per month.
China has already become the factory ofthe world for electronics. It is estimated thatby 2007 it will manufacture goods worth$270 bn (7220 bn) – 20% of the world’soutput. It is now striving to establish a simi-lar dominance in the field of optoelectronics.The high-tech economy is being driven bythree major economic zones on the eastcoast. These are: ● Pan Pearl River Delta (Hong Kong and thesurrounding area);● Yangtse River Delta (Shanghai and the sur-rounding area);● Bohai (around Beijing).
Between them they have a population of1.3 bn people and account for a GDP of morethan $2000 bn as well as 90% of China’seconomic growth.
The Guangdong province alone accountsfor 30% of China’s total exports and featuresmore than 60 000 Hong Kong-owned firms– 40% of which are involved in electronicgoods manufacture.
Optoelectronic and LED devicesOptoelectronics has been designated as oneof the top-ten emerging industries by theChinese government, and the government’s
high-tech plan “863/973” provides strongsupport to the photonics industry. The goal isto keep China abreast of the latest develop-ment in the field, achieve groundbreakingresults, alleviate economic bottlenecks andestablish a score of industrial bases for sus-tainable development. For example, inWuhan a total of $2.9 bn will be investedduring the tenth five-year plan to set up anindustrial park covering 50 km2. This fea-
Left: a floating teahouse in Wuhan. The city is aptly named as China’s “Optical Valley” and is home to alarge number of photonics firms and research facilities. Right: workers at a facility in Guangdong province.
Shanghai established industries, “Silicon Plain” limited focus on telecoms so far deployment of advanced quality tools high maturity, repatriating skilled staff local and migrant labour, £53 pm min
Shenzhen, HK and Pearl River Delta frenetic growth, large economic zone many small independent companies (especially FTTX) proximity to Hong Kong financial hub migrant labour, £46 pm min
Wuhan China’s “Optical Valley” Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications strong academic institutions positioned for technology development local labour, £35 per month minimum
Powerhouse of photonics: key regions of optical expertise include Wuhan, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
CHINA
Chris
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Chris
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OLEJanCHINA33-36 10/1/06 10.44 am Page 33
tures a national, key optoelectronics lab withfunding of 160 m RMB (716.3 m) for thebuilding alone.
The government has initiated numerousincentive policies to promote the industry,offering tax breaks, low-cost loans and otherincentives. It is promoting special high-tech-nology regions in order to attract major pho-tonic corporations to invest and settle inthese areas.
Many major cities, such as Wuhan, Shen-zhen and Shanghai, have energetically pro-moted the industry and created “opticalvalleys”. Local governments also offer sup-port to industry, accelerating the pace ofinfrastructure development and attractingforeign investment into China.
China is especially strong in the design andmanufacture of passive components and canalready provide 80% of its domestic needs.However, it is lacking the know-how andcapability in the manufacture of optoelec-tronic chips and active components, such assemiconductor lasers, modulators and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Most active-component manufacturers inChina are not vertically integrated; theysource their semiconductor chips from over-seas, especially from companies in Taiwan,South Korea, Japan and the US. The risk-averse attitude of many Chinese companieshas so far restricted investment in internalchip fabs. They correctly perceive optoelec-tronic chip manufacture as a higher-riskarea requiring substantial capital invest-ment and highly skilled engineering staff.There are strong indications that this situa-tion will change.
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REGIONS OF EXPERTISE
OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
● China’s $200 bn electronics manufacturingindustry is growing by 20% each year. By2006 it is projected that 250 million mobilephones will be made there annually.● The population is 1.3 bn.● Since 1980 China has grown faster for longerthan any other economy in history. Last year itwas ranked the worlds fourth largest economybehind the US, the EU and Japan. ● Its boom in R&D expenditure totals 15% inannual growth from 1991 to 2002. ● R&D spend of 1.3% of GDP in 2003 which isexpected to rise by 2.5% by 2010. ● In contrast,1.9% of GDP is spent on R&D inthe EU and 2.7% in the US in 2003. ● It has 200 R&D centres in the computingand telecommunications sector. ● 2.5 m km of optical fibre have now beeninstalled. ● Internet subscribers total 200 m.
Facts about China▲
OLEJanCHINA33-36 10/1/06 10.44 am Page 34
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The Chinese government has identifiedthis as a strategic weakness, and researchactivities are under way to develop an indige-nous supply of chips.
The Chinese government sees LED manu-facturing as a key part of the country’s future,as its rapid economic expansion puts anincreasing strain on energy resources. Chinahas been using funds to build up both a domes-tic market for LEDs and a manufacturing baseto meet future anticipated demands.
There are many companies in China(mainly in Shenzhen) making visible LEDs fordisplay, lighting, signs, etc. In many Chinesecities, traffic-lights are already manufacturedusing LEDs. Companies such as FangdaGroup are starting to develop gallium nitride(GaN)-based LEDs for applications such aswhite-light sources and ultraviolet (UV) lightsources for compact discs (CDs) and DVDs.There are already a number of reactors forLED production in China.
LED supply chainThe current problem for LED chip manufac-ture in China is the lack of a complete supplyand support chain for the growth equip-ment and the lack of Chinese intellectualproperty in this area. China currently useslow-cost manufacturing to gain entry into
LED markets. About 10% of LED chips arecurrently made in China while 90% aresourced from Taiwan, Japan, the US, etc.
Many companies either outsource theiroptical structure growth or purchase activecomponents from foreign suppliers. How-ever, a few companies and universities haverecently obtained metallo-organic chemicalvapour deposition (MOCVD) and molecularbeam epitaxy (MBE) equipment with theaim of developing the technology in China.Work appears to be aimed at both LEDgrowth and manufacture as well as develop-
ing devices for telecommunication.There appears to be significant govern-
ment support for telecommunication laserdevelopment. For most active components,such as semiconductor lasers, LEDs andAPDs (avalanche photodiodes), opticalstructures need to be grown onto a waferusing MOCVD or MBE processes. These arespecialized and highly skilled operationsdepending on key individuals. The cost ofentry into this technology is high – MOCVDand MBE equipment costs around £1 m andhas high associated maintenance and run-ning costs. Chinese universities are workingin this area, as are a number of indigenousspin-out companies.
Ultimate ambitionsThe aim of most of the Chinese companies isto be a vertically integrated supplier i.e. bringall of the component supply in house to min-imize cost. However, the capital cost of thegrowth equipment is limiting development ofthis industry in China.
In general, for the very-high-technologyend of the photonics market, Chinese com-panies are about five years behind UK com-panies, especially in active components.However, they are catching up fast and sig-nificant government resources are beinginvested in this technology.
Traditionally, the benefits offered byChina’s low-cost business model haveencouraged companies to concentrate onmanufacturing passive components. Thesedevices have been labour intensive to pro-duce and are at the lower technology end ofthe market. Chinese companies are nowmoving into the manufacture of higher-value active components and are improvingquality to access international markets.
For more informationThis article is based on a report producedfrom a UK Department of Trade and Indus-try Global Watch Scoping Mission to Chinain June 2005 that was organized by EPPICFaraday. www.globalwatchservice.com/missions.
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REGIONS OF EXPERTISE
36 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
An integrated tunable laser assembly that ismanufactured by Bookham. The firm has recentlyestablished a production plant in Shenzhen.
“The aim of mostChinesecompanies is to be a verticallyintegratedsupplier.”
Bookham
■
OLEJanCHINA33-36 10/1/06 10.45 am Page 36
SHOW PREVIEW SAN JOSE, 21–26 JANUARY
PHOTONICS WEST 2006
PRODUCTS p41
HIGHLIGHTS p38
BIOS 2006
OPTO 2006
LASE 2006
MOEMS–MEMS 2006
All the leading firms willbe showcasing theirlatest products at theexhibition. We bring youa sample selection.
Your guide to the sessions and productsnot to be mised at this year’s event.
Your chance to discover all of the latestfindings in the world of biomedical optics.
Find out what’s hot in the world ofoptoelectronics and semiconductors.
The latest research and developmentsin laser technology and its applications.
Catch up with recent research intoMEMS, MOEMS and microfabrication.
CONTENTS
OLEJanPHOTONICSCOVER37 9/1/06 4.35 pm Page 35
PHOTONICS WEST
38 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
Anyone making the pilgrimage to PhotonicsWest in January has a busy week ahead ofthem in San José. Not only has the SPIE puttogether what it says is the largest PhotonicsWest exhibition to date, it is has also compiled atechnical programme that includes presenta-tions from Nobel prizewinner Theodor Hänschand silicon photonics pioneers Mario Panicciaof Intel and Bahram Jalali of UCLA.
“In terms of the number of exhibitors, wewill be the largest Photonics West in history,”Peter Hallett, SPIE’s Exhibitions Strategist, toldOLE. “We had a target of 1000 exhibitors andwe are pushing 1050.”
Any regular visitor to Photonics West willsurely be asking: “Where are these extra exhib-itors going to go?”
The answer is that they are being housed inthe newly constructed South Hall at the SanJosé Convention Center. SPIE will not use theParkside Hall this year, which is directly acrossthe street from the convention centre.
“There were some issues with distance andlayout that have been improved this year,”explained Hallett. “The South Hall is essentiallyout the back door of the convention centre. It is115 ft away instead of a walk across the street.”
The new 80 000 sq. ft exhibition hall hasallowed SPIE to include around 150 extraexhibitors. Hallett says that there will be a mix-ture of new exhibitors from Europe, China andJapan as well as a number of small US firms thathave not attended before.
“There is also a series of pavilions that arelocale specific,” said Hallett. “For example, from
the US there is one from the Carolinas and onefrom Colorado. The largest footprint is a pavil-ion from Germany. We also have a pavilion fromChina for the first time. People see exhibitorsfrom China as both an opportunity and athreat. The point is that you definitely want totalk to these guys.”
The demonstration sessions, which run onthe exhibition floor, will also be repeated thisyear and are free to attend. Three concurrentsessions will run in the Opto Town Square andthe Laser Town Square in the main exhibitionhall, as well as in the new South Hall. There willbe a total of 60 presentations, each lasting30 minutes including a question-and-answersession. The first three presentations kick off at10.30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, which is30 minutes after the exhibition opens.
Delegates attending the biomedical optics(BiOS) technical conference might also want topay a visit to the dedicated BiOS exhibition,which is being held on 21–22 January in theconvention centre. According to Hallett, theexhibition is about 30% larger than any previ-ous year with 120 exhibitors already signed up.
A new addition to the technical programmethis year is a series of market seminars, whichare free for all technical delegates andexhibitors to attend (see essential informationbelow for more details).
“This year we have supplemented the techni-cal programme with marketplace-orientedcontent, such as market research, analysis andforecasts,” said Hallett. “This gives industrialand commercial attendees great value for the
time that they spend at Photonics West.”As well as seeing growth in the BiOS exhibi-
tion, the corresponding technical conferencehas also attracted a record 1139 papers. Fivenew subconferences have been added to theprogramme: multimodal biomedical imaging;endoscopic microscopy; biophotonics andimmune responses; mechanisms for low-lighttherapy; and ultrasensitive and single-moleculedetection technologies.
According to Hallett, two highlights of apacked BiOS programme will be the sessions onphotodynamic therapy and the use of quan-tum-dot nanoparticles to identify and treattumours and disease. He also predicts that theSaturday night BiOS hot-topics session, whichin the past has been standing room only, willagain attract a large number of delegates.
There will be eight presentations at this year’s
HIGHLIGHTS 38 PRODUCTS 41
GE N E R A L IN F O R M AT I O N:Where: San José Convention Center, San José,California, US.When: 21–26 January 2006.BIOS EX H I B I T I O N:Where: Exhibition Hall 1.When: 21 January, 1.00–5.00 p.m.22 January, 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.MA I N EX H I B I T I O N:Where: San José Convention Center and SouthHall.When: 24 January, 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. 25 January, 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. 26 January, 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.What’s on: Saturday 21 January
● BiOS technical programme starts.●BiOS exhibition opens 11.00–5.00 p.m.● BiOS Hot Topics session 7.00–9.30 p.m.What’s on: Sunday 22 January● LASE technical programme starts.● OPTO technical programme starts.● BiOS exhibition 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.● 23 short courses are running throughout theday, including new courses on high-power fibresources and deep-UV photonics.● NIST is running a workshop entitled“Biophotonic tools for cell and tissuediagnostics”, 6.00–8.30 p.m., which is free toall Photonics West attendees.What’s on: Monday 23 January
● MOEMS-MEMS plenary session 9.00 a.m. –12 noon.● MOEMS-MEMS technical programme starts.● MOEMS-MEMS panel discussion7.30–9.30 p.m. The session will cover“Progress and prospects and microfluidics”.What’s on: Tuesday 24 January● OPTO plenary session 8.30–10.00 a.m.● Market seminar #1: 8.30–9.45 a.m. Twopresentations will be given at this session. Thefirst will be entitled “Nanotech roadmap foroptics” and will be delivered by Scott Mize fromthe Foresight Nanotechnology Institute. Thesecond, “Nanophotonics: assessment oftechnology and market opportunities”, will be
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
The new year will once again kick off with Photonics West, which isbeing held in San José, California, on 21–26 January. Over the nextfew pages we preview the technical conferences as well as some ofthe products that will be making their debut at the exhibition.
Busier than ever: this year’s Photonics West boastsmore than 1000 exhibitors from all over the world.
OLEJanPHOTONICSWEST38-39 9/1/06 4.33 pm Page 38
SHOW PREVIEWHIGHLIGHTS
39OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
hot topics on subjects including transitionalmicroscopy, ultrahigh resolution optical coher-ence tomography, and low-level light therapy.
This year’s lasers and applications in scienceand engineering (LASE) technical conferencehas also attracted a record number of papers.One of the highlights of LASE looks set to be theplenary presentation of the 2005 Nobelprizewinner Theodor Hänsch, who will discusshis work on optical frequency combs.
The plenary session takes place on Wednes-day morning and also includes talks by DavidHanna of Southampton University in the UKand Aram Mooradian from US firm Novalux.
The LASE programme also includes a paneldiscussion on how to quantify the lifetime ofhigh-power laser diodes, which is being held onTuesday evening. In a 90 minute session,speakers from firms including Rofin-Sinar,
Jenoptik Laserdiode, JDSU and Bookham willput forward their points of view.
More than 890 papers will be presented dur-ing the Integrated Optoelectronic Devices(OPTO) conference. New topics this year willinclude GaN materials and devices; zinc oxidematerials and devices; and silicon photonics –which will also be the focus of the OPTO ple-nary session. On Tuesday morning, delegateswill have a chance to hear both Bahram Jalali ofUCLA and Mario Paniccia of Intel discuss theirrecent breakthroughs in silicon photonics.
The fourth and final technical conference isMOEMS-MEMS, where more than 180 paperscovering fabrication, devices and applicationswill be presented. The plenary session for thisconference will be held on Monday and threespeakers will take the stage.
First up in the plenary session is George
Whitesides of Harvard University, US, who willdiscuss fluidic optics; he will be followed byMarc Madou from the University of Californiaat Irvine, US, who will talk about genetic-engi-neered proteins in MEMS; and finally HansZappe from Albert-Ludwigs-University in Ger-many will wind the session up with a presenta-tion on tunable micro-optics.
The MOEMS-MEMS programme will alsoinclude two panel discussions. The first will beheld on Monday night and is entitled “Progressand prospects in microfluidics”, while the sec-ond will run on Tuesday night and will focus onadaptive optics.
The final aspect to Photonics West is the pro-gramme of professional development coursesthat are offered throughout the event. Theseare available at a range of levels, from basic toadvanced, and on a variety of topics.
given by Tom Hausken of Strategies Unlimited.● Market seminar #2: 2.00–3.30 p.m.The speakers at this session are Kim Allen fromiSuppli, who will discuss “Seeing new light inthe display industry”, and Michael Lebby fromthe Optoelectronics Industry DevelopmentAssociation, who will deliver a presentationentitled “Optoelectronics industry forecast:opportunities for business”.● BiOS poster session 6.00–7.30 p.m. to beheld in the Parkside Hall.● Photonics West exhibition opens 10.00 a.m. –5.00 p.m.● LASE panel discussion on “Quantifying highpower diode laser lifetime” 6.00–7.30 p.m.
● MOEMS/MEMS panel discussion on“Professional training in adaptive optics” 7.30–9.00 p.m.What’s on: Wednesday 25 January● LASE plenary session 10.30 a.m. – 12.30p.m.● Market seminar #3: 8.30–9.45 a.m. The titleof this session is “Executive perspectives:market direction and implications for the worldof photonics” and executives from companiesincluding Bookham, Newport, Edmund Opticsand Melles Griot will be sharing their opinions.● OPTO/LASE/MOEMS-MEMS poster session6.00–8.00 p.m. in the Parkside Hall.● Photonics West exhibition opens 10.00 a.m. –5.00 p.m.
What’s on: Thursday 26 January● All four technical conference programmesdraw to a close.● Market seminar #4: 9.15–9.45 a.m. EugeneArthurs, the executive director of SPIE, will leadthis seminar, which is entitled “Analysis andforecast of Asian photonics market”. He willpresent his thoughts on the Asian market aswell as discuss SPIE’s plans for events in theregion.● Photonics West exhibition opens 10.00 a.m. –4.00 p.m.An advanced programme for Photonics Westcan be found at: http://spie.org/Conferences/programs/06/pw/.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
OLEJanPHOTONICSWEST38-39 9/1/06 4.34 pm Page 39
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Multiframe cameraSpecialised Imaging
Visitors to SpecialisedImaging’s booth willhave the chance to seethe company’s new SIMmultichannel framingcamera. Incorporatingultra-high resolution
image intensifiers, the unit is said to provideaccurate, high-speed spatial and temporalanalysis of transient events.
Unlike traditional high-speed framingcameras, Specialised has designed the SIM tooffer the choice of 4, 6, 8 and 16 separateoptical channels. The company will also bedemonstrating its SIR2 high-speed camera at itsbooth. With double-imaging capability, the SIR2is said to be ideal for harsh environments suchas military testing ranges. www.specialised-imaging.comBooth 2038
Fibre-coupling moduleIngeneric
Delegates with aninterest in efficientfibre-coupling to diodelasers should stop bythe booth of German
firm Ingeneric, where a coupling device with aguaranteed power transfer of more than 80%will be unveiled. Called the V-Step, the modulehas been designed for use with high-powerdiode lasers and is available to suit fibresranging from 50 µm to 1 mm in diameter.
The company says that it stocks a variety ofmodules for use with all types of diode lasers incommon industrial use and can also tailor thedevice to specific lasers and applications.www.ingeneric.comBooth 6244
EMCCD cameraPrinceton Instruments-Acton
Princeton Instruments-Acton will demonstrateits line of PhotonMAXelectron-multiplying CCD(EMCCD) cameras atthe exhibition.Optimized for both
traditional CCD read-out and on-chipmultiplication gain operation, the camera is saidto be ideal for applications ranging from photoncounting to luminescence and phosphor imaging.
The camera uses vacuum technology and has
all-metal, hermetic seals, which are guaranteedfor the lifetime of the product. Cooling of greaterthan –80 °C is achieved without any assistanceof bulky chilled water circulation and can becontrolled to within ±0.05 °C to stabilize darkcurrent and multiplication gain.www.piacton.comBooth 1704
Spectroscopy softwareOcean Optics
SpectraSuite Java-based software thatcan control multipleOcean Optics USBspectrometers anddevices is now
available from Ocean Optics. The packageoperates on Windows, Macintosh and Linuxoperating systems and can also control othermanufacturer’s USB instrumentation usingappropriate drivers.
All aspects of SpectraSuite’s interface,including the interface language, can becustomized to suit the user’s application. Forexample, Ocean Optics says that users cancreate a proprietary user interface, performcalculations and automate routines.www.oceanoptics.comBooth 615
Scan headScanlab
Scanlab of Germany isadding scan heads withapertures of 20 mm indiameter and larger toits intelliSCAN range.The scan heads can beused in tandem with
Scanlab’s RTC4 control card to create a largenumber of feedback options for position, speed,current and system status. The company addsthat its scan heads allow better dynamics thanclassic analogue driver designs.www.scanlab.deBooth 6388
InterferometerPrecision-Optical EngineeringPrecision-Optical Engineering’s INTERFIRE II 3-5interferometer, on show at The CookeCorporation booth, is available with a choice oflasers emitting from 10.6 µm down to 850 nmfor use in production, quality control or researchapplications. The unit features a focal planearray camera to capture high-quality images. Afast warm-up time ensures that fringes areobtained quickly with no drift of focus.www.p-oe.co.ukBooth 6036
41OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
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SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
A sample of the new products on offerat this year’s Photonics West show in San José, US, brought to you by OLE.
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.49 am Page 41
Eye-safe laserPhotonics Industries
The DC laser fromPhotonics Industries isa high-efficiency, high-pulse-rate sourceemitting at the eye-safe
wavelength of 1.516 µm. Based on thecompany’s patented frequency-conversiontechnology, the laser operates at a repetitionrate of 10 kHz and in Q-switched mode.
According to Photonics Industries, the sourcecan also produce up to 1 mJ per pulse at arepetition rate of 1 kHz and at 1.516 µm. Typicalapplications include rangefinding,environmental sensing, LIDAR, and militarytarget and security illumination.www.photonix.comBooth 627
Illumination design softwareOptical Research Associates
Optical ResearchAssociates (ORA) saysthat its latest softwarerelease, LightToolsversion 5.2, is the first-ever illumination designand analysis package
to deliver a fully integrated system optimizationtool. According to ORA, the optimization moduleimproves the performance of virtually any type ofillumination system. Designers are free tochoose from hundreds of parameters in order toachieve specified luminance or outputdistribution goals.
LightTools version 5.2 also contains severalfeatures that benefit flat-panel displaydesigners. These include a library of models forcommercially available display enhancementfilms and brightness-enhancing films used toconstruct LCDs.www.opticalres.comBooth 814
Spatial light modulatorsHoloeye Photonics
Holoeye Photonics willdisplay its range ofhigh-resolution spatiallight modulators (SLMs)at Photonics West.Based on reflective
liquid-crystal-on-silicon microdisplays, the SLMshave more than 2 m pixels with a pitch of just8 µm and contrast ratios of 2000:1.
Holoeye says that its products, which aresuitable for amplitude and phase modulation,have been used in a variety of imaging, opticalmetrology, holographic security, laser pulseshaping and material processing applications.www.holoeye.comBooth 5093
Nanosecond fibre laserFEMLIGHT
FEMLIGHT of Bordeaux,France, has launchedits EOLE series ofnanosecond high-powerfibre lasers. Based on apatented design, theEOLE 30 produces
10 ns pulses of 1030 nm light at repetition ratesof 10–100 kHz. The output beam is diffractionlimited and the average power reaches 30 Wabove 30 kHz. The laser is said to provideunmatched brightness for micromachiningapplications such as deep engraving,electronics packaging and ablative lithographyof flat-panel displays and solar cells.www.femlight.comBooth 1944
UV laserCoherent
Coherent says that itsAVIA 355-20 is the firstall-solid-state Q-swtiched laser to offer20 W of 355 nm output
at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. According to thecompany, the laser can be operated atrepetition rates as high as 150 kHz while stillmaintaining its beam characteristics and low-noise performance.
The AVIA 355-20 is a frequency-tripledvanadate laser that uses a proprietary end-pumped architecture and delivers a beam withan M2 of less than 1.3. The pump diodes aremounted inside the laser head and can bereplaced in the field without optical realignment.The operational lifetime of the pump diodes andUV crystals are projected to be >17 000 h. www.coherent.comBooth 817
Spectroscopic sensorCascade Technologies
The MicroSensor fromUK firm CascadeTechnologies is aquantum cascade laser-based gas analyser formonitoring continuousemissions, air quality
and hazardous materials. Real-time analysis ofthe high-resolution infrared spectra is said togive the sensor ppb sensitivities and a dynamicrange of thousands of ppm along with immunityto cross interference from matrix gases such aswater. Capable of measuring industriallyrelevant gases such as NOX SOX and NH3, theportable device is easy to maintain and requiresno consumables. www.cascade-technologies.comBooth 632
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.50 am Page 42
Piezolinear motorNew Scale Technologies
The new SQL seriespiezomotor from US-based New ScaleTechnologies measuresjust 2.4×2.4×10 mm– half the size ofprevious OEM versions.Offering a maximum
travel of 30 mm and a resolution of better than100 nm, the tiny, low-power device is said tosuit wireless security cameras, mobile phonesand autofocus optical zoom assemblies.
According to New Scale Technologies, theunit’s ultrasonic motor design consumes lesspower than miniature electromagnetic motors.In addition, the device holds its position whenthe power is turned off to conserve battery lifefurther. An evaluation kit, which includes an SQLseries motor, electronics, cables and RS-232control software, is available from the firm,starting at $950. www.newscaletech.comBooth 338
Photon counting detectorElectron Tubes
US firm Electron Tubeshas released a new lineof miniature photon-counting detectors withan RS-232 interface for
chemiluminescence and bioluminescenceapplications. Featuring a photomultiplier, high-voltage supply, amplifier/discriminator andmicrocontroller, the DM0060C requires only anexternal +5 V bias. Modules are available with aspectral response of 280–850 nm and comewith Windows-compatible software.www.electrontubes.comBooth 540
Power and energy meterOphir Optronics
Ophir, a specialist inthe measurement oflaser power, energy,beam profile andwavelength, introducesits L50(300)A-IPL head
for analysing intense pulsed light sources. Witha 65 mm aperture, the unit is fitted with aspecial window that allows liquid or gel couplingto simulate clinical conditions accurately. Otherfeatures include a high damage threshold,spectral response 0.5–1.0 µm and energyscales of 6–300 J. The IPL head can measureaverage power up to 50 W continuous and300 W intermittent and is compatible with thefirm’s range of smart display units.www.ophiropt.comBooth 2043
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.50 am Page 43
Diode laserToptica Photonics
Toptica’s iPulse andiBeam diode lasersystems are nowavailable with a smallbeam diameter of1 mm (1/e2) and in
standard wavelengths of 375–675 nm. TheiPulse offers digital modulation up to 200 MHzand analogue modulation in the kHz range.Applications listed by the firm include confocalmicroscopy, flow cytometry, optical datastorage, microlithography and fluorescencedetection.www.toptica.comBooth 1233
Femtosecond Ti:S pump sourceLaser Quantum
Laser Quantum, a UK-based DPSS lasermanufacturer, will bedisplaying its OEMfemtosecond Ti:Spump-source at
Photonics West this year. Dubbed Opus, the unitis a 2 W laser emitting at 532 nm with a neardiffraction-limited beam (M2 <1.1). The cavity ispermanently aligned using stress-free opticalmounts and the head is machined from a singlealuminium block, which is thermally treated toprevent optical misalignment.
Additionally, all critical components areregulated using PID temperature controllers tomaintain optimum performance. The laser’saccompanying switch-mode driven powersupply, the smd 6000, is compact, silent andgenerates little waste heat.www.laserquantum.comBooth 437
Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensorWavefront Sciences
Wavefront Sciences hasdeveloped aShack–Hartmannwavefront sensorequipped with a GaAsquantum-well infrared
photodetector that operates at 8.0–9.3 µm.Typically, a Shack–Hartmann sensor is used tomeasure the wavefront phase of a transmitted orreflected light beam and the CLAS-IR640’s largeaperture can capture beams that fit within its16 × 12.8 mm area. A reducer telescope can beused to measure larger beams. Applicationslisted by the firm include measuring thetopology of large mirrors and detectingaberrations transmitted by long infrared opticalmaterial, such as Ge and ZnSe.www.wavefrontsciences.comBooth 128
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
Europe: Paul Höß KGP.O. Box 950240, 81518 München, GermanyTel.: +49 (0)89 652029Fax: +49 (0)89 654817E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.stanfordcomputeroptics.com
U.S.A.: Stanford Computer Optics, Inc.780 Cragmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708, USAPhone: +1 (510) 527-3516Fax: +1 (510) 558-9582
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OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.51 am Page 44
Photodiode amplifierFEMTO Messtechnik
FEMTO Messtechnik ofGermany is offering avariable-gaintransimpedance
photodiode amplifier with a maximumbandwidth of 200 MHz, equivalent to a signalrise time of 1.8 ns. The gain is adjustable from102 to 108 V/A to allow the measurement ofcurrents in the sub-nano to mA range.
A variable voltage supply is provided as biasfor external photodiodes. Additional featuresinclude signal filters, switchable AC/DC couplingand an integrated digital interface offering PCcontrol of the unit’s main functions. Ideal foramplifying output from high-impedance sourcesincluding PMTs and ionization detectors, theDHPCA-100 is said to suit laser physics,spectroscopy and general laboratory use.www.femto.deBooth 715
Green DPSS laserFrankfurt Laser Company
Frankfurt LaserCompany will presentits MicroGreen andMiniGreen lasers at thisyear’s exhibition.Claimed by the Germanfirm to be the world’s
smallest green DPSS laser, the two units offeroptical output in the 1–5 mW and 50–100 mWranges. The MicroGreen laser is mounted on a5.6 mm laser diode header and measures 9 mmin length. The MiniGreen is 9 mm in diameterand measures 13 mm in length. According tothe company, both lasers have a perfectGaussian beam profile and optical noise of lessthan 1.5%. The lasers are designed to beincorporated into miniature devices thatdemand low current consumption. For example,the MicroGreen requires less than 200 mA ofinput current and can be powered by 1.8 VDC.www.frlaserco.comBooth 115
Nonlinear frequency converterSRICO
SRICO has released anintegrated nonlinearfrequency mixerconverter with fibre-optic interface for mid-infrared LIDAR remote-
sensing applications. According to its USmanufacturer, the device is capable ofproducing an output beam with an M2
approaching unity. The unit integrates aphotonic crystal fibre (PCF) with a periodicallypoled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal to give acompact permanently aligned system. Because
PCF is endlessly singlemode, laser beams ofdifferent wavelengths can be coupled into thefibre to deliver output beams that are optimizedfor nonlinear frequency mixing. To suit sum anddifference frequency mixing and secondharmonic generation, the device features a lenscontained within the housing that focuses theinteracting beams at the centre of the PPLNcrystal. The output frequency of interest iscollimated with a further lens and unwantedfrequencies are diverted with internal filters sothat only the desired frequency exits the system.www.srico.comBooth 238
InterferometerMoeller-Wedel-Optical
Germany-basedMoeller-Wedel-Opticalis offering a low-costalternative toconventional Fizeauinterferometers. The VI-vario can be used tomeasure all kinds ofplanar and spherical
optics, such as mirrors, prisms, cubes andlenses, as well as other polished precisionsurfaces. Reference surfaces are available witha maximum deviation from planarity of λ/30
(peak-to-valley) for test diameters of up to50 mm and λ/20 for larger surfaces of up to100 mm. The system is compatible with thecompany’s range of autocollimators and the VI-vario head can be equipped with existingobjectives to give test field diameters of 12,16, 28, 50 and 100 nm. Mechanicalaccessories such as mounts and tilt adjustableholders can also be supplied by the firm.www.moeller-wedel-optical.comBooth 6051
UV LED moduleStockerYale
StockerYale will beunveiling its latestrange of ultraviolet (UV)LED modules at thisyear’s show. Theproducts, which includea UV LED area light and
COBRA linescan illuminator emitting at 375 nm,suit applications such as UV curing and UVtracing along with fluorescence-basedmicroscopy. According to the firm, its proprietaryencapsulation materials and techniques allowfor a substantial improvement in LED lifetimeover more conventional UV LED technologies.www.stockeryale.comBooth 1327
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
45OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.51 am Page 45
Dichroic beam splittersmso jena
Mso jena is providing atailored dichroic beamsplitter service.Transmissions of up to T >95% are possible inthe transmission band,
with a value of R >95% in the reflection band. TheGerman manufacturer uses an advanced edgefilter design to give steep transitions betweentransmission and reflection bands. To obtainexcellent environmental resistance and hardness,the company uses a plasma ion-assisteddeposition process to create its all-dielectriccoatings. Additional features, such as thereflection of one or several discrete wavelengths,or extremely wide reflection bands, can beincluded according to the customer’s needs.www.mso-jena.deBooth 239
VCSELBeamExpress
BeamExpress SA, aSwiss Federal Instituteof Technology (EPFL)spin-off, is offering arange of long-wavelength VCSELs.
Standard devices deliver 1.6 mW at 70 °C and1310 nm, and custom versions (1250–1600 nm)are also available for industrial applications suchas gas sensing. The firm’s technology is said tooptimize the use of InP- and GaAs-basedmaterials to give high-power, singlemodebehaviour with narrow line width.www.beamexpress.com
Laser diode moduleOmicron
Omicron Laserage hasreleased a TEC-cooledlaser diode module thatemits at 442 nm andprovides 50 mW output.According to the firm,the module is a direct
replacement for 442 nm HeCd gas lasers andoffers improved noise, power stability and powerconsumption. The company says that thelifetime of its LDM445.50 module is five timesas good as that of a HeCd laser. Featuresinclude mode-hopping-free continuous-waveoperation, modulation speeds of up to 500 MHzdigital and 350 MHz analogue, singlemode fibre-coupling with more than 75% efficiency andbeam diameters of 1–15 mm (1/e2).
The diode laser system comes with an RS-232-enabled 24 VDC laser controller that offers
an optional USB interface and an auxiliary portfor machine control. Designed for DVDmastering, digital imaging and confocal laserscanning microscopy, the LDM445.50 also suitsmedical applications.www.lasersystem.deBooth 1801
Autofocus liquid lensVarioptic
Varioptic, France, andSunex, US, havelaunched a ready-to-useautofocus liquid lensmodule designed for
CMOS sensors up to 1/3 inch format and up to3 Mp resolution. Dubbed AFL872, the lens has afull field of view of 62° with an F/2.8 aperture.The unit is threaded for M8×0.35 to fit standardsensor boards and is said to be a compactalternative to traditional autofocus technology.Applications include mobile imaging devices,webcams and videoconferencing systems.www.varioptic.comBooth 1940
Laser gogglesLaservision
Laservision is launchinglightweight laserprotection spectaclesthat offer both a highlevel of protection andmaximum comfort forthe wearer. Dubbedsplit-shield, the gogglescan we worn over
prescription glasses and feature adjustableduoflex-temples to fit any face. The product isfitted with dielectric-coated filters that are saidto resist scratching and provide the highestprotection ratings.www.lvg.comBooth 1801
Interferometric vibrometerSIOS Messtechnik
Visitors interested in thenon-contactmeasurement ofvibrations up to500 kHz should checkout the booth of
German firm SIOS Messtechnik. The company’sSP-S series vibrometer is designed around aminiature plane-mirror interferometer andincorporates a HeNe laser, a fibre-coupledsensor head and various interfaces. Featuresinclude a measurement range of up to 20 mm,length resolution of 0.3 nm and software toperform spectral analysis.www.sios.deBooth 116
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
46 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
OLEJanProducts41-47 10/1/06 10.51 am Page 46
EtalonsPhotop
Photop’s etalons, whichprovide a precisewavelength reference,can be used incombination with activefeedback electronics to
wavelength lock and stabilize laser output.According to the Chinese firm, its etalons havehigh transmission, low wavefront distortion andlow-insertion loss.www.photoptech.comBooth 1445
LensesAnchor Optical Surplus
Anchor Optical Surplus,a division of EdmundOptics, offers anextensive line of morethan 5000 lenses,including achromatic,condenser, cylinder,double concave, doubleconvex, meniscus,planoconcave and
planoconvex versions. The US-based firm says thatits commercial grade optics are widely acceptedfor low-volume and educational applications,prototyping, research and one-off uses. An 84-page catalogue is available on request.www.anchoroptical.comBooth 1018
Aplanat lensesCVI LaserCVI has introduced a range of UV-grade fusedsilica aplanat lenses, which correct for coma andspherical aberrations, to suit excimer lasers andhigh-energy micromachining applications. Thedesign is said to provide a very small focusedspot and can outperform singlet lenses.www.cvilaser.comBooth 1521
Optical and laser simulation softwareOPTIS
Optical simulationspecialist OPTIS ofFrance will beshowcasing its latestOptisWorks package atthis year’s Photonics
West. The software provides photometric and lightsimulation, physics-based photorealisticrendering and optimized optomechanical design.Compatible with the SolidWorks CAD platform,engineers can select both optical and mechanicalparameters using a single software interface tospeed up model validation and prototyping.www.optis-world.comBooth 1946
SHOW PREVIEW : PRODUCTS
Davin Optronics is a world classOptronics solution provider. We designand manufacture high precisionoptical, mechanical and electronicsystems to meet demandingrequirements and critical timescales.
Our unique capability allows us to cover an entireproject from initial design concept throughprototype development to production and fulllife cycle support.
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3–7 April 2006Strasbourg, France
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OLEJanAdverts48 10/1/06 10:10 am Page 48
49OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
BFI Optilas www.bfioptilas.com 24Breault Research Organizationwww.breault.com IFC
B&W Tek www.bwtek.com 43Cambridge Technology www.cambridgetechnology.com 34
Cobolt www.cobolt.se 47Coherent Inc www.coherent.com 17Crystal Systems www.crystalsystems.com 28
CVI Technical Optics www.cvilaser.com OBCDavin Optronics www.davinoptronics.com 47Defense & Security Symposium 2006www.spie.org/events/dss 40
Diffraction International www.diffraction.com 43
Edinburgh Instrumentswww.edinburghinstruments.com 49
Edmund Optics www.edmundoptics.com/OL 20, 35
ELCAN Optical Technologieswww.ELCAN.com/interactive IBC
ESCO Products www.escoproducts.com 35Fuji Magnetics www.polymer-optics.com 8Fujian Castech Crystals www.castech.com 46HC Photonics www.hcphotonics.com 28High Q Laser Production www.highQlaser.at 31
ILX Lightwave Corporationwww.ilxlightwave.com 30
Imagine Optic www.imagine-optic.com 45IMT Masken und Teilungen www.imtag.ch 32Kentek Corporation www.kentek-laser.com 9Laser Components (UK) Ltd www.lasercomponents.co.uk 15
Laser Lines www.laserlines.co.uk 36Leister Process Technologies www.axetris.com 44
LIMO Laser Systems www.limo.de 8Melles Griot www.mellesgriot.com 7mso jena www.mso-jena.de 42New Focus Inc www.newfocus.com 4Ophir Optronics www.ophiropt.com 6, 10, 11, 14, 49
Optikos Corp www.optikos.com 35Optometrics www.optometrics.com 40Photon 06 Conference www.photon06.org 48Photon Energy www.photon-energy.net 40Photonics Europe 2006www.spie.org/events/europe 48
Photon Inc www.photon-inc.com 25Quantel www.quantel.fr 41RSoft Design Group www.rsoftdesign.com 21Scitec Instruments www.scitec.uk.com 28Stanford Computer Opticswww.stanfordcomputeroptics.com 44
Stanford Research Systemswww.thinkSRS.com 22
StockerYale Canadawww.stockeryale.com 35
StockerYale Irelandwww.stockeryale.com 28
Vialux Messetechnik & Bildverarbeitung GmbH www.vialux.de 48
Wahl Optoparts GmbHwww.wahl-optoparts.com 35
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
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OLEJanAdIndex49 10/1/06 2.55 pm Page 49
PEOPLETo advertise your job vacancies, contact Cadi Jones (tel: +44 (0)117 930 1090; e-mail: [email protected]).
50 OLE • January 2006 • optics.org/ole
SUDOKU PUZZLE
UK
UK laser specialist gets amanagement makeover
Following asuccessfulmanagement buy-out at Laser Lines,UK, Ralph Wilkin hasaccepted the post ofmanaging director.Gary Broadhead,
Steve Knight and Michael Turner completethe board of directors. Former managingdirector, Ted Paine, who has been with thecompany for 30 years, will act as aconsultant to the firm.
FRANCE
Varioptic board appointsformer Equant president
Howard Ford, formerpresident of businesscommunications firmEquant EMEA, hasjoined Varioptic, anexpert in liquid lenstechnology, aschairman of theboard. Currentlynon-executive
chairman of Servista, a UK provider of
customer care and billing solutions, he wasformerly chief executive of mobile phoneoperator BT/Cellnet (now O2). Ford began hiscareer at IBM Europe, where he progressed tothe position of general manager of the ITgiant’s European PC business.
US
William McCreath joinsMelles Griot optics group
Melles Griot hasappointed WilliamMcCreath as directorof engineering at itsoptics group, based inRochester, US, wherehe will manageproduct development,optical engineering,inspection and testing
activities. Additionally, McCreath will interactwith Melles Griot KK, Tamagawa, Japan, toexploit shared opportunities for the firm’sengineering resources.
Most recently, he was general manager atoptical components and systems supplierGSI Lumonics. Previously, as director ofresearch and development at RaytheonElcan, he participated in the development ofoptical data storage devices. Earlier in hiscareer, McCreath served as manager ofdevelopment and optical engineering at
Thales Optoelectronics, Scotland, where hegained experience in the manufacture ofinfrared and visible systems.
DENMARK
Kaleido Technology hiresJesper Wolf Bek as CEO
Kaleido Technology, aspecialist in ultra-precision mouldedand machined optics,has signed up JesperWolf Bek as its newCEO to lead theDanish firm on amission to furtherinternational
growth. Bek has previously worked for Inteland brings a wealth of sales, marketing andmanagement experience from positionsserved in Asia and Europe.
“I look forward to joining KaleidoTechnology at this very exciting time,” saidBek. “The company has tremendouspotential for growth in the coming yearswith its unique in-house technology formoulding precision optics.”
Former CEO Jesper Boie Rasmussen willmove across to the role of chief technologyofficer as the firm looks to develop its corecompetence, which includes glass aspheresand freeform lenses.
Laser Lines: a new era.
Ford: business acumen.
McCreath: optics expert.
Wolf Bek: exciting times.
Copy
right
© M
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Welcome to OLE’s first Sudokupuzzle. If you are not familiar withthis type of number puzzle, here area few tips to get you started.
Each puzzle consists of a 9 × 9grid that is subdivided into 9 smallergrids of 3 × 3 squares. To completethe puzzle, ensure that each row,column and 3 × 3 square containsthe numbers 1 to 9. All it takes islogic – try not to guess at numbers.
We’ve filled in the first number inthe top left box to get you started.Here’s the logic behind it:
There is already an 8 in column 1and column 3 but none in column 2.There is also an 8 in row 2 so thereis only one square in the top lefthand box where an 8 can go – that’sthe first number solved!
The solution to this puzzle will bepublished next month. Good luck!
SPONSORED BY8
OLEJanPeople/Sudoku50 10/1/06 2.54 pm Page 50
b r i n g i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s o l u t i o n s t o l i g h t0 1 2 3 4 4 3 6 1 1 0
F O C U S O N
LEDTesting
Winter 2005/6 update on productivity-enhancing test, measurement & design solutions for LED-based optical systems
High Speed LED Testing Just GotLess Expensive
The new Labsphere SLMS-LED provides LED users and integrators with an affordable solution for testing the performance of any LED and LED-based lighting product.
• Test individual LEDs as well as large LED clusters and arrays• Instantaneous results: spectral power, luminous flux,
intensity, colour rendering, correlated colour temperature & dominant wavelength data in milliseconds
• Easy-to-use LED-specific test software• Accurate results which agree to international standards
for any device size and type• Ask about our introductory offer!
Want to Make Child’s Play of LED Testing?Enrol on the Photonics Cluster’s Photometry & Colorimetry TrainingCourse – for details call Nina Blackmore or Hanna Gripton at the PhotonicsCluster on +44 (0) 121 260 6020 or email [email protected] quoting “photometry course” in the subject line.
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Pro-Lite TechnologyCranfield Innovation CentreUniversity WayCranfield, MK43 0BTUnited Kingdom
Tel +44 (0) 1234 436110Fax +44 (0) 1234 436111Email [email protected] www.pro-lite.uk.com
Pro-Lite is a member of the following organisations.
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Test LED Angular Intensity – in an Instant!Radiant Imaging’s ProMetric Imaging Sphere collects the full 2pi intensity and colour information from an LED in an instant. The Imaging Sphere is a novel solution to one of the LED industry’s biggest problems – how to obtain highspeed angular intensity and colour measurements without the need for a goniophotometer.
An LED positioned in the centre of the imaging sphere illuminates the interior of the dome. The convex mirror images the interior of the dome and the ProMetric™ Imaging Photometer views the mirror. As a result, the complete hemispherical luminous intensity and colour variation of an LED is obtained in just a few seconds!
LED Panel & Cluster Testing Made SimpleRadiant Imaging have extended the utility of their ProMetricImaging Photometer family with PM-LED™ Measurement, a powerful software tool for quickly and accurately determining thecolour and brightness of each individual LED emitter in an array orpanel. Typical applications for the system include measurements ofLED clusters, display signs, traffic signals, luminaires and instrumentpanels.
Get More Accurate Results from Ray-Tracing Simulations of LED OpticsRadiant Source Models™ of LEDs and lamps are software data files which give real-life, 3D luminous intensity data for improving the accuracy of optical ray tracing. • Radiant Source Models™ allow computer-based optical system modelling to give a more accurate
prediction of actual system performance, reducing the need for multiple prototypes• Reduce development costs and time to market for LED-based products• Compatible with ASAP, LightTools, SPEOS, SOLSTIS, TracePro, OSLO, ZEMAX, OptiCAD, Apilux, LucidShape (etc)*• Models have been recorded for most commercially available lamps and LEDs; measurement services are
offered for other light sources
ProMetric LED Measurementsimplifies the luminance and colour balancing of any LED-based display orarray. [Picture of Easycolor courtesy of Aryton]
* registered trademarks acknowledged
We also offer
contract light
source
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Winter 2005/6 LED Testing Update
D o w n l o a d f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o n a n y p r o d u c t f e a t u r e d
b r i n g i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s o l u t i o n s t o l i g h t0 1 2 3 4 4 3 6 1 1 0
F O C U S O N
Opto-MechanicsWinter 2005/6 update on the latest precision opto-mechanical mounting & motion control hardware
Celebrating 25 Years of Precision
Solutions for: Nano-Positioning
Optical Beam HandlingMotorised Positioning
Manual Positioning& Customised Systems
Nano-Positioning Systems• Linear and elevation stages - travel ranges of 7.5
and/or 6mm; 100nm resolution with laser gauge
• Rotary stage - travel angle of >360°; 40µrad increment with piezo drive; 0.8 µrad resolution with optional laser gauge
• Goniometer stages - slope angle of 6.5°
• Each nano-positioning unit is equipped with a piezo drive
• Low-friction for high accuracy & repeatability
Want an
Owis catalogue?
Print & CD versions
available.
Call or email for
your copy
Tel+44 (0) 1234 [email protected]
In assoc iat ion with
Owis GmbH (Germany) has been producing catalogue as well as customised optical &
mechanical parts for over 25 years.
Pro-Lite TechnologyCranfield Innovation CentreUniversity WayCranfield, MK43 0BTUnited Kingdom
Tel +44 (0) 1234 436110Fax +44 (0) 1234 436111Email [email protected] www.pro-lite.uk.com
Pro-Lite is a member of the following organisations.
w w w . p r o - l i t e . u k . c o m
Software for Motion ControlOWISoft is a new, user-friendly software application forthe convenient control and automation of all motorisedOwis stages.
• Stages can be driven to absolute or relative positions• Simple programming of all motion parameters and
sequences• User-defined sequences are supported• A joystick can also be used for simple, manual control
of motor drives
Beam Handling SystemsOwis offers a series of optical beam handling systems; SYS 40,SYS 65 & SYS 90.
• Optical rail systems for laser beam delivery and classical optics• Handles optics up to 110mm diameter• Modular design adapts to changing needs• For research & industrial use
Motorised Linear Stages Now Cost LessOwis has launched the LTM Series of lower cost motorised linear stages.
• LTM60: 70mm width, 25 – 150mm travel
• LTM80: 90mm width, 70 – 295mm travel
• All units can be assembled to form XY, XZ and XYZ stages
• High load capacity, long-life design
High-Performance MotorisedLinear StagesThe Owis LIMES 60 & LIMES 80 are new, linearmotorised stages offering the highest performance fordemanding optical control applications.
• Available in a choice of 5 lengths & 2 widths• Precision engineered for reliable, continuous operation• Stages combine in XY, XZ & XYZ configurations
Drive options include 2-phase stepper motor & encoded DC servo with mechanical, Hall-effect or inductive limit switches.
Winter 2005/6 Opto-Mechanics Update
D o w n l o a d f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o n a n y p r o d u c t f e a t u r e d
There are many buzz-words for success but it still takes hard work andorganization to really succeed. Bringing innovative new concepts torealization takes a manufacturing partner of uncompromising quality anduncommon capabilities. ELCAN works with customers seeking to break thebarriers of conventional thinking and create new optical products andapplications. We merge the brightest minds with the best technologies toharness the power of light for our customers.
You have a vision. Let us show you the light.
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N O R T H A M E R I C A • P R E C I S I O N O P T I C S A N D E L E C T R O N I C S • E U R O P E
Connect to Brilliant Solutions at Photonics West - ELCAN Booth 835www.ELCAN.com/interactive
