Today's Colloquium -- February 1, 2007 -- 3:30 p.m. -- Meinel 307

Donald C. O'Shea, Professor Emeritus at Georgia Institute of Technology and Editor of Optical Engineering, will present Teaching, Simulations, and Teaching Simulations.  Jose Sasian is the host.  Abstract:  In 1962 I tried my hand at constructing a laser as part of an MS thesis. Although the laser probably never lased, I was awarded the degree and along with my doctoral work I learned enough about this new device that I helped create an undergraduate course on lasers a decade later. From there, a series of textbooks, regular course and short courses, a CD, and other publications have led from one to another. This process included a sabbatical at OSC, where I taught a course in optomechanical design in 1986. These endeavors have led to the current project to rewrite my optical design text using simulation software including CODE V's new 2D image simulation (IMS) function, in particular, as a tool for demonstrating to students the consequences and opportunities found in the design of optical systems. As an experiment I am giving a course on Optical Analysis this semester that incorporates these new strategies. This talk describes how I got to this point, what the new course is like, and where it might lead to in the future. 

Today's Special Talk -- February 1, 2007 -- 12:30 p.m. -- Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Charles M. Falco of the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences will present Ibn al-Haytham and European Science, Religion, Literature, and Art.  Abstract:  The noted science historian, David Lindberg, wrote that "Alhazen was undoubtedly the most significant figure in the history of optics between antiquity and the seventeenth century."  Impressive and accurate as this characterization of Ibn al-Haytham (Latinized as Alhazen or Alhacen) is, it significantly understates the impact he had on areas as diverse as the theology, literature, art, and science of Europe.  In this talk I will provide examples that show how the discoveries in al-Haytham's landmark Kitab al-Manazir (Book of Optics), published sometime between 1028 [418 A.H.] and 1038 (429 A.H.), are intimately interwoven into the core of post-Medieval Western thought.  (The Center for Middle Eastern Studies is located in Marshall 490.  Marshall is the new building on the west side of Park, about three/fourths of a block north of University.)

Tomorrow's OSC Community Speaker -- February 2, 2007 -- Noon -- Meinel 410

Karlton Crabtree, PhD student in Russell Chipman's Polarization Laboratory will present Polarization Properties and Polarization Induced Wavefront Aberrations of Lenses, Mirrors, and Systems.  Abstract:  In "Ordinary" optical elements and systems, polarization is usually ignored. This talk will discuss the polarization properties and polarization induced wavefront aberrations of lenses, mirrors, and systems. Examples will include the polarization properties of a single planar fold mirror, a single plano-convex lens and a two-mirror telescope.  To see the upcoming schedule please visit: http://www.optics.arizona.edu/communityspeakers/

Next Week's Colloquium -- February 8, 2007 -- 3:30 p.m. -- Meinel 307

Our own Nicolaas Bloembergen, Professor of Optical Sciences and Nobel Laureate in Physics, will present From Millisecond to Attosecond Laser Pulses.  Stanley Pau is the host.  Abstract: 

The history of the development of ever shorter laser pulses is reviewed.The first laser demonstrated by Maiman in 1960 using  a ruby crystal pumped by a flash lamp had an irregular light output of about a millisecond duration.Hellwarth introduced Q-switching in 1961 to obtain pulses shorter than one microsecond.Passsive Q-switching with a saturable absorber yielded pulses shorter than a nanosecond in 1965.Refinements in this method opened up the picosecond and femtosecond regime.The use of reactive Q-switching by intensity-dependent self-focusing in TI-sapphire has made femtosecond pulse generators widely available.  The attosecond regime is being explored during the past ten years.Since these pulses are shorter than the duration of one cycle of visible light,they are based based on extreme nonlinear optical effects of ionization by tunneling, high harmonic generation by recollision and control of the amplitude and the field- envelope phase of the originating femtosecond pulse.

Jim Palmer's Legacy Continues

From Will Rivera, OSC Development.  We are pleased to announce that an endowed undergraduate scholarship has been created and funded in the name of Jim Palmer: The James M. Palmer Endowed Scholarship for Undergraduates in Optical Sciences. This scholarship will be awarded annually and we are currently establishing the details of the award. The first scholarship will be awarded for the 07-08 academic year.The generous donors have established an initial endowment at 50 thousand dollars and have offered to match an additional 25 thousand dollars if we are able to raise that same amount within a year. If you are interested in participating in this scholarship with a gift please contact Jim Wyant, Dean, or Will Rivera, Director of Development.

UA Annual Service Awards and Retiree Dinner Reception

From Stella Hostetler, OSC Payroll Office.  Each year the University has the opportunity to recognize University of Arizona employees who have served this institution for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or more years.  They are honored at the Annual Service Awards Luncheon and presented with a gift. This will be held Thursday, April 19, 2007.   In addition to the luncheon, new retirees are honored at the Retiree Dinner Reception, a private ceremony that Dr. Shelton hosts separately.  If you have not already been contacted and you feel you meet the criteria and are eligible to participate in either the Annual Service Awards Luncheon or the Retiree Dinner Reception please contact Stella at hostetls@u.arizona.edu

Save the Dates:  June 25 - 29, 2007 for Light and Color in Nature

From Joe Shaw, OSC MS 1994 and PhD 1996.   The 9th International Meeting on Light and Color in Nature will be a forum for the scientific discussion of light and color in nature, somewhat emphasizing but not exclusively limited to atmospheric optics. The meeting will be held at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.  For more information, please visit www.optics.montana.edu/light&color2007.html or contact Dr. Joseph Shaw at jshaw@montana.edu

 If You've Always Wanted to do your PhD in England ...

City University has an open call for PhD studentships at the moment. There are a number of exciting projects in the general fields of biomedical optics and complex theory in the VISOR laboratory under Dr. Luis Diaz-Santana that areopen.  Potential candidates looking for funding to do a PhD in London, and that are interested in biomeidcal optics in genereal, should contact Luis Diaz-Santana directly at luisd@city.ac.uk  The research in the VISOR group spins around adaptive optics for ophthalmic applications, like ultrahigh resolution retinal imaging in vivo and psychophsyics, several modalities of wavefront sensing in the eye like Shack-Hartmann, curvature and holographic sensors, eye aberration dynamics, and electrophysiology. There is also a strong interest in expanding the research area in the group and applying some of this techniques to microscopy in the near future.  Applicants with a physics, engineering or biomedical background will be considered.  The deadline for applications is on the 23rd of March.  Further details can be found in http://www.city.ac.uk/researchdevelopment/studentships.html