The University of Arizona
College of Optical Sciences

Watt's Up

College of Optical Sciences News for March 13, 2008

 

Today's Colloquium

3:30 p.m.  Meinel 307

 

Photo:  Martin WegenerMartin Wegener, University Karlsruhe. will present Photonic Metamaterials: Optics Starts Walking on Two Feet.  Galina Khitrova is the host. 

 

Abstract:  Metamaterials are man-made tailored materials composed of sub-wavelength metallic building blocks ("photonic atoms") that are densely packed into an effective material. This allows for achieving optical material properties that simply do not occur in natural substances. Examples are magnetism at elevated frequencies, negative refractive indices, giant circular dichroism, and enhanced optical nonlinearities. Photonic metamaterials operate at optical frequencies and require nanofabrication. In this talk, we give an introduction into this emerging field and review recent progress. 

 

CV.

 


 

Spring Break Starts Monday

 

So there's no Colloquium next week.  However, we're making up for it with two workshops:  Tom Milster's CGH/DOE Workshop runs Monday through Friday here at OSC and we are hosting an EO-IR Calibration Workshop from Tuesday through Thursday, across the street in the ILC.  Our Colloquium series will return on March 27.

 


 

CGH and DOE Workshop

March 17 through March 21

 

The popular Workshop is actually three separate events.  The primary Workshop, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, includes classroom and laboratory instruction.  Topics include training in design, fabrication and testing of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) and computer-generated holograms (CGHs) for applications in optical systems, display, and aspheric mirror testing.  Bill Dallas, Jim Burge, and Tom Milster are the instructors.

 

Two additional Workshops are new this year.  Tom Milster is the instructor for both.

 

On Monday, he offers  Matlab, Optiscan, and Zemax Basics, a computer-based introduction to software.  The course is designed to prepare participants for more advanced topics presented in the Workshop.

 

On Friday, Tom offers Advanced DOE/CGH Design Using Optiscan, a continuation of the CGH Workshop that emphasizes practical design and fabrication issues of DOEs and CGHs.  Advanced computer-based design using Optiscan includes instruction for aberration compensators, harmonic DOEs, CGHs for testing, advanced CGHs, and other topics.

 

The Workshop, taught approximately once each year, is extremely popular and fills up quickly.  Participants have come from all over the United States and from several foreign countries.

 

The Workshop is co-sponsored by SPIE and the College of Optical Sciences.

 

Questions?  Please see Tom Milster or Pat Gransie.

 


 

EO/IR Calibration and Characterization Workshop

March 18 - 20 at UA's ILC

 

Presenters from government, industry and academia will discuss the importance and potential of a united effort to improve and standardize measurements and data formats within the EO/IR community. Participants will benefit from presentations on current calibration and characterization activities and lessons learned, while also taking part in focused breakout sessions that will address specific issues of interest to the community. The breakout sessions will foster open discussion and provide participants with the opportunity to share ideas and explore possibilities, as well as contribute to the development of a roadmap based on broad community input.

 

Workshop topics may include the following:

  • Previous and current efforts in implementing measurement range calibration, characterization, and certification programs

  • Defining appropriate objectives for community activities

  • Exploring the spectrum between best practices and range certification

  • Developing an EO/IR documentation standard as a mechanism for capturing range measurement procedures and best practices

  • Developing and improving uncertainty analysis procedures for EO/IR measurements and their role in improving range measurements

  • Developing appropriate inter-laboratory comparison procedures for improvement of measurement facilities throughout the country

  • The use of EO/IR codes and predictions for range calibration and characterization

  • Developing benchmark targets to test EO/IR modeling and simulation codes

  • The current state of EO/IR modeling and simulation and its application to the calibration and characterization process

The Workshop is sponsored by Space Dynamics Laboratory, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the National Institute of Standards, and the Technology and Military Sensing Information Analysis Center.  The College of Optical Sciences is the host. 

 

there are still a few spaces available, so if you would like to attend, please register by contacting Sonya at 435-757-4425, or if you have questions, please drop by Kurt Thome's office.

 

For more information, please visit http://www.spacedynamics.org/conferences/eo-ir/index.

 


 

March 27 Colloquium

3:30 p.m.  Meinel 307

 

Jun Ye of JILA, NIST, and the University of Colorado will present Quantum Metrology with Precision Light and Ultracold Atoms.  Jason Jones is the host. 

 

Abstract: Improvements in spectroscopic resolution have been the driving force behind many scientific and technological breakthroughs over the past century, including the invention of the laser and the realization of ultracold atoms. State-of-the-art lasers can now maintain phase coherence over one second, that is, 1015 optical waves can pass by without losing track of a particular cycle. The recent development of optical frequency combs permits this unprecedented optical phase coherence to be established across the entire visible and infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, leading to direct visualization and measurement of light ripples. A new generation of light-based atomic clocks has been developed, with ultracold Sr atoms confined in an optical lattice offering unprecedented coherence times for light-matter interactions. The uncertainty of this new clock has reached 1 x 10-16, a factor of 3 below the current best Cs primary standard. These developments will have impact to a wide range of scientific problems such as the possible time-variation of fundamental constants and quantum simulations based on cold atoms, as well as to a variety of technological applications.  

 

Bio:  Jun Ye received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1997. He was an R.A. Millikan Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology from 1997-1999.  He has been a Fellow of JILA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado, since 2001.  He is a Fellow of NIST, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. His research interests include precision measurement, ultracold atoms and molecules, optical frequency metrology, and ultrafast science and quantum control. He has co-authored over 190 technical papers and has delivered over 200 invited talks. Awards and honors include I. I. Rabi Prize from the American Physical Society, Carl Zeiss Research Award, William F. Meggers Award and Adolph Lomb Medal from the Optical Society of America, Arthur S. Flemming Award, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, U.S. Commerce Department group Gold Medal, Friedrich Wilhem Bessel Award from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and Samuel Wesley Stratton Award from NIST.  The research group web page is http://jilawww.colorado.edu/YeLabs/ 

 


 

OSC's 2008 Outstanding Graduate Student

 

From Gail Varin.  Carl Maes has announced that Yuan Luo is the recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Graduate Student Award.  Yuan was admitted to the College of Optical Science’s graduate program in August 2004 and expects to receive his PhD in August, 2008. Yuan was nominated by Raymond Kostuk, his dissertation director.

 

Yuan’s research focuses on theoretical and experimental research work in bio-medical imaging to develop new types of endoscope and novel systems that are capable of detecting cancerous structures in tissue.  Yuan worked on an NIH project to develop a new type of optical coherence tomography endoscope by adapting a Monte Carlo simulator to modeling the weak optical signals measured with the endoscope.  In Fall 2007, he started working on a new medical imaging NIH project that uses multiplexed volume holograms to replace mechanical scanning of tissue samples to obtain spectral-spatial information on a tissue sample.   Yuan set up an optical prototype system to demonstrate the use of volume holograms as spectral-spatial filters in an imaging system and developed a comprehensive model for the holographic elements based on rigorous coupled wave theory to explain the performance of holograms.

 

Yuan has presented his research work at OSA and SPIE technical meetings.  In addition, Yuan participated in the Southern Arizona Language Fair hosted by the University of Arizona and has taught UA students to write Chinese characters.

 

Please join us in congratulating Yuan.  An award ceremony is being planned for later this month.

 

Alumni Happenings

 

Mark Sartor, MS 1992 and PhD 1999, has just returned from Afghanistan where he was contracted as a subject matter expert to support the Army. 

 

He writes:  "I traveled to Bagram, Afghanistan to help the Army install a new video processing system I helped conceive a few years ago.  The system, called PSDS2 (Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems, has helped to save the lives of many soldiers.  While both the travel and work were strenuous and stressful, I found it very fulfilling, and I was honored to serve the many fine and often heroic service people over in Afghanistan.  

 

"Although I have worked on a number of state-of-the-art systems for the US military, this is the first time I had the honor of putting it into the hands of those who would use it and actually observe how it helps our troops.  (Similar systems were also put in Iraq.)  The war in Afghanistan is called Operation Enduring Freedom, and was a direct response to the events of 9-11.  There is a multinational force coalition that provides military and humanitarian support to the country, and these military and civilian people go into the country every day both to help rebuild the country (schools, bridges, roads, infrastructure, etc.) and to provide security to a war-weary population.  Unfortunately, the American press usually only reports when stuff gets blown up or people are killed, and they miss a lot of the good that goes on, especially in Afghanistan, which often takes a second seat to Iraq.

 

"While over there, I also got involved in a humanitarian project called Operation CARE, which is involved in helping the Afghan children and mothers. I sent word back to my family and they helped to collect over 4000 pounds of formula for the babies and mothers in Afghanistan.  We recently shipped it all over there and are awaiting photos from the distribution.  They are now collecting school supplies and clothing for the next drive.  A few of the links are below if you are interested. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF9Ue0nUH88

http://www.spiritofamerica.net/cgi-bin/soa/project.pl?rm=view_project&request_id=144

http://www.bagram.afnews.af.mil/photos/index.asp?page=29

 

"I have been speaking at various schools on technology and science careers, and where my work in optics has led me including my recent trip to Afghanistan.  Through the last 25 years my optics education and work have led to some experiences that I suspect some of your students might find interesting (work on Star Wars, B2 Bomber, Night Vision and Image Fusion for the Army, an Automated Machine Vision product, UAV systems, Iris ID, 3D Visualization, Hemispherical Vision for vehicles, etc.).  A talk would be more experiential than technical (lots of pics), and would also discuss the business aspects of our field; however I could manage to through in some equations if absolutely necessary! I can usually tailor the time up or down to suit the slot. My goal overall is to get our youth excited about careers in science in general and our field specifically, and that you can do some pretty cool stuff with an education in optics.  Title might be something like…Optics can take you anywhere!"

 

Editor's Note:  Mark's message was sent from New Jersey.  He can be reached via email at msartor@rdisllc.net

 

 

You are Invited to Our OSC Annual Spring Picnic

 

Saturday, March 29

Noon to 4:00 p.m.

 

Ft. Lowell Park, Ramada 6

2900 N Craycroft Road

 

Park maps are available in OSC Academics Office, Room 403

  

A catered lunch served from 12:30 to 1:30 pm

 

Come and help recruit new graduate students to OSC

 

What to bring:

  • ·       Your family and friends, of course

  • ·       Your lucky glove and softball equipment

  • ·       Lawn chairs or blanket

  • ·       Frisbees and kites

We look forward to seeing you there


 

2008 Summer Compensation

 

From Stella Hostetler.  It is time to plan your summer activity, especially the funding for summer pay.  The maximum Faculty hours are 464 over the period, May 19, 2008 through August 10, 2008.  Graduate hours are 464 over the period May 19 through August 10, 2008.

 

Please complete your Summer Compensation paperwork as soon as possible so accounts and funds can be verified.  Memorial Day and the 4th of July are not authorized Holidays for Summer Compensation.  Funding must be available at the time wages are charged—advancement of summer wages is not authorized.

Remember that summer wages for students and faculty will substantially increase grant and contract expenditures. 

 

Forms are available on-line at http://www.optics.arizona.edu/payroll/

 


 

Arizona Youth University Camp Registration is Underway

UA Faculty and Staff Receive a Discount for Early Registration by March 14

 

Students in grades 3-12 may pursue personal interests as well as enjoy the many benefits of life on The University of Arizona campus when they take part in summer camps at Arizona Youth University (AYU).  In cooperation with other UA departments, AYU camps – held at various locations around campus – offer kids the opportunity to explore a wide range of subject areas, including:

  • Archaeology: Understanding Hohokam Culture  

  • Musical Theatre

  • Environmental Science Research

  • Photojournalism

  • Girls with Tools (Levels 1 and 2)

  • Optical Sciences

  • Spanish

  • Law

  • Improv

  • Fencing

  • CSI 

  • Drama

  • Engineering Robotics

  • Astronomy

  • Web Design

  • Writing

  • Classics

  • Camp Scrubs!

Camps run in one and two-week sessions from June 2nd to July 11th. Costs vary depending on the camp. If UA employees register their child by Friday, March 14th, they will receive a $25 discount off the cost of each full-day camp and $15 off the cost of each half-day camp.

 

Get the best choice of camps by registering today. For more information or to register, call 621-7724 or visit www.ceao.arizona.edu/child

 


 

OSC Calendar

 

 

March 14

OSC Sports Friday

 

March 17 through March 21

Spring Break (no classes)

CGH Workshop
 

March 18 through March 20

EO/IR Calibration and Characterization Workshop

 

March 24

Special Seminar:  Professor Junji Tominaga will present The 10th Anniversary of Super-Resolution Near-Field Structure (Super-RENS) Optical Disk and the Role of a Phase-Change Thin Film.

 

March 27

OSC Colloquium

 

March 28

OSC Sports Friday
OSC Community Speakers

 

March 29

OSC Spring Picnic

 


 

On Campus

 

March 28

The Physics Colloquium series will present a talk by Prof. Allan MacDonald (University of Texas, Austin), preceded by talk by graduate student Ben Kalafut.  The schedule is as follows:  2:30 pm: Grad Student, Ben Kalafut , PAS 220.  3:00 pm: Colloquium speaker, Prof. Allan MacDonald, PAS 220. 

 

Happy Birthday

Best Wishes for a Wonderful Year

 

March 19

Kazuhiko Oka (oka@eng.hokudai.ac.jp)

 

March 20

Tim Johnson (phonon@msn.com)
Soha Namnabat (snamnabat@optics.arizona.edu)

 

March 21

Krishna Mohan Gundu (kgundu@optics.arizona.edu)
Seppo Honkanen (seppo.honkanen@tkk.fi)

 

March 22

Robert Kester (rkester@optics.arizona.edu)
Gregory Wolf (gsw@email.arizona.edu)

 

March 23

Boris Glebov (bglebov@optics.arizona.edu)

 

March 24

Victor Florez (vflorez@email.arizona.edu)

 

March 25

Franko Kueppers (franko.kueppers@optics.arizona.edu)

 

March 26

Brigid Marshall (bkm@email.arizona.edu)
Nasser Peyghambarian (nnp@U.Arizona.EDU)
Zhipeng Wang (zwang@optics.arizona.edu)

 

March 27

Andre Persoons (andre.persoons@fys.kuleuven.be

 

March 28

Russell Chipman (rchipman@optics.arizona.edu)
Mark Hoffman (markhoff@hawaii.edu)
Mark Wiley (mdwiley@email.arizona.edu)
Chengping Zhang (chengping.zhang@kla-tencor.com)

 

March 30

Eric Mason (masonerica@yahoo.com)

 

Employment Opportunity

 

Optical Research Associates is an OSC Industrial Affiliate at the Principal Partners Level.

 

Optical Engineer/Technical Sales. Optical Research Associates.  Optical Research Associates (ORA) has an opening for a full time Optical Applications Engineer in the Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service organization. This position involves pro-active contact with current and prospective users of ORA's two optical design and engineering software products, CODE V(r) and LightTools(r). The primary focus of the position is to support our sales team in North America, China, and Taiwan. 

 

The responsibilities of this position include:

  • Explaining the technical advantages of ORA software to

  • prospective customers

  • Answer technically challenging questions from perspective

  • customers

  • Encouraging expanded use of ORA software within current

  • customer sites in conjunction with sales liaison

  • Marketing and technical support activities on an as-needed

  • basis

  • Providing customer and market feedback to the relevant ORA

  • staff and product line functions, including development, marketing, and executive management

  • Provide backup sales/account management to the sales team when

  • unavailable

The primary area of responsibility will be North America, with secondary responsibility for the Asian region including Taiwan, and China. Off site travel within North America and Asia is required. Travel will comprise of up to 30% of working days during peak periods but is expected to average 20% of working days over time. Until the employee is fully conversant with our products and as part of training first year work may include library development or other product related work.

The applicant must have both a formal education in optics and/or illumination as well as some industrial work experience in optical and/or illumination design. They should be personable, ambitious, and extremely customer and quality oriented. Excellent verbal and written skills in both English and Chinese will be a necessary ingredient for success. We are prepared to invest in sales training for the right candidate, but any previous sales, application engineering, or marketing experience (or similar education) is a plus.

The applicant should have the following qualifications:

  • A bachelor's or advanced degree in optics or an optics-related

  • field (e.g., physics).

  • One to three years industrial experience in optical design or

  • engineering

  • Articulate; good writing skills; personable

  • Experience using computer software tools for optical design

  • and/or CAD/CAM applications

  • Prior experience using CODE V or LightTools a plus

  • Experience in problem determination with the ability to

  • understand and solve technical problems quickly and accurately

  • A proven record of accomplishment with excellent references

  • Fluent in English and Mandarin

ORA is a world class, high tech optical software and optical engineering services company with an international client base and three branch offices. ORA is headquartered in Pasadena, CA and was founded in 1963 by the current Chairman. ORA is privately held and employee owned and is an equal opportunity employer with over 85 employees (including over 50 engineers). ORA provides excellent employee benefits including medical insurance, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and a 401k plan.

 

Contact: 

Stuart David E-mail: stuart@opticalres.com

Director of Sales WWW: http://www.opticalres.com

Sales, Marketing, & Customer Support Phone: (508) 870-6500 x306

Optical Research Associates Fax: (508) 870-6504

 

 

Other Optics Employment Opportunities

 

Please visit our optics employment Web site at

http://www.optics.arizona.edu/employment/default.htm

 

Optical Manufacturing Engineer.  InPhase Technologies.  Responsibilities:  Assist Engineering team transitioning state of the art, holographic technology from development to production.  Manufacturing Engineering responsibilities during volume production.  Skills/Experience:  Inspect Optical Assemblies (scratch, dig, wavefront, reflectivity, mechanical...)  Demonstrated experience with Optical inspection equipment.  Must have recent experience setting up complex optical benches and using wave front analyzers, interferometer and optical power meters to align multi element optics.  Build opto-mechanical assemblies.  Conduct experiments as directed by Optical Engineers.  Develop optical inspection and assembly procedures.  Assist as needed in building prototypes and debugging manufacturing line.  Train line workers.  First level failure analysis and yield improvement on manufacturing line.  Must be familiar with Microsoft Office, have demonstrated organizational skills, and be self-directed.  Education:  Degree in Optical Engineering or a related field.  Location: Longmont, CO.  Terms of Employment: Full time.  Company:  InPhase Technologies   www.inphase-tech.com   Please submit your resume to staffing@inphase-tech.com. No recruiters please.

 


 

R&D Laser Scientist/Engineer.  Princeton Optronics.  Princeton Optronics is a privately held company engaged in the development and manufacture of high power vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), fiber lasers and low noise ultra-stable lasers.  We are looking for an optics scientist/engineer with experience in external cavity lasers. The candidate should have technical expertise and experience in the advancement of technology for external cavity semiconductor and diode pumped solid-state lasers. The work will also involve working on novel techniques for high power, high efficiency coherent radiation sources and non-linear optics for intracavity frequency doubling.  Understanding of laser cavity design of various configurations is essential. The candidate must also have knowledge of Gaussian beam optics, waveguide/fiber propagation as well as beam coupling optics. The candidate must have in-depth knowledge of theoretical and experimental aspects of the above mentioned laser techniques and proven experimental and analytical capability.  For this position we prefer a MS and/or PhD degree. A year or two of hands-on experience in the related field will be very important.  We provide very competitive salaries as well as generous stock options. The company provides a full benefit plan including medical, dental and 401K savings.  Please Contact Laurence Watkins on (609) 584-9696 ext 124 or E-mail mailto:lwatkins@princetonoptronics.com to learn more about this position.  Princeton Optronics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  www.princetonoptronics.com 

 


 

Senior Optical Engineer/Scientist.  Leupold.  For the past 100 years, Leupold & Stevens has provided innovative, quality sporting optics for the hunting, observation and tactical markets worldwide. Our reputation as an industry leader comes from our unparalleled commitment to provide superior products and exemplary customer service. At the heart of our success is Leupold & Stevens' talented staff all of whom share a commitment to hard work, drive and a passion for excellence.  Position:  Senior Optical Engineer/Scientist.  Requisition:  08-038-02.  Job Summary:  Recognized optical authority and internal expert for the company. Pursues challenging technical problems, develops intellectual property and generates innovative optical designs for new products and areas of investigation. Collaborates with other professionals to plan and conduct complex, sometimes broad optical engineering assignments resulting in practical designs and systems for specialized optical instruments which meet performance, cost, and manufacturability requirements.  Qualifications:  Requires a M.S. / Ph.D. in Physics/Optics plus eight or more years experience as a seasoned generalist that has a broad understanding of visual optics, lasers, etc. that can support everything from telescopic optic design to laser rangefinding component design, etc, or a scientist/engineer that has extensive experience in telescope/riflescope/binocular design. Must have Zemax, Oslo or Code V optical design software experience; possess a natural curiosity and acumen for innovation and excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills. Preference may be given to demonstrated excellence in scientific and engineering methodologies, design of experiment skills in solving complex systems optimization problems, optical systems design, and knowledge of related disciplines and processes. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.  Shift: Days.  Close Date: 3/14/08.  Job Category: Regular Full Time.  Leupold offers an excellent benefits package and an opportunity to work for a premier industry leader.  To Apply:  Please go to https://secure.leupold.com/Careers/position/details/36.

 


 

Senior Optical Engineer.  DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems- Optronics Division.  Contribute as a senior optical engineer in production support, troubleshooting, tool design, test development.  Provide senior level support for modeling and analyzing electro-optical systems, sub-assemblies, and components for the visible and infrared.  Provide the same for design of optical test equipment including alignment and calibration.  Interface with customers on requirements, specifications, and design reviews.  Work within a matrix organization to support multiple programs in a fast-paced environment.  Contribute to proposals with designs, cost estimates, and technical write-ups.  Mentor junior engineers.  B.S. in Optical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent degree and 7+ years experience, M.S. degree is a plus.  Experience in modeling, designing, testing, troubleshooting, and manufacturing optical or electro-optical systems.  Experience with optical tools such as Code V or Zemax.  Analytical problem solving and high level math skills.  Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.  Excellent organizational skills including the ability to prioritize workloads to meet deadlines.  Proficient with computer programs for word processing, spreadsheets, mathematical calculations, project management, and presentations.  Must be able to obtain a DOD security clearance.  Contact:  Pamela J. Wilson, Sr. Talent Acquisition Consultant.  DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems- Optronics Division.  Office: 321-309-9725.  Cell: 321-506-7282.  Fax: 321-309-0367.  pamela_wilson@drsoptronics.com 

 


 

Senior Optical Engineer.  InPhase Technologies.  Responsibilities:  Key member of Optical Engineering team involved in developing revolutionary holographic storage products.  Responsibilities include conceptual and detailed optical analysis and design, Optical Engineering, Testing, Managing Vendor Interactions, and transitioning products to high volume manufacturing.  Responsible for the design of complex, multi-element lens designs, from conception to volume manufacturing.  Skills/Experience:  Must have lens design experience using Zemax or equivalent optics design software.  Employ advanced analytical skills to enable modeling and tolerance analysis.  Solid understanding of optical mounting and assembly practices.  Strong analytical and practical knowledge of geometrical and physical optics, free space optics, imaging optics, and optical system design.  Desire experience with transitioning  products to volume manufacturing.  Ability and experience working in cross functional product development teams.  Team leadership/management experience a plus.  Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  Microsoft Office.  Education:  Degree in Optical Engineering or a related field (advanced degree preferred).  Location: Longmont, CO.  Terms of Employment: Full Time.  Company:  InPhase Technologies www.inphase-tech.com  Please submit your resume to staffing@inphase-tech.com. No recruiters please.

 


 

Cathy Alexander

Information Specialist Coordinator

College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona

cathy.alexander@optics.arizona.edu