12-04-08

Watt's Up

College of Optical Sciences News for December 4, 2008

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Short Course News

In keeping with our commitment to bring the world's finest optics classes to students everywhere, John Greivenkamp has just finished taping another non-credit short course. Introduction to Aberrations is available now and can be purchased via credit card from our Website at http://www.optics.arizona.edu/ShortCourses/ShortcoursesSC709-08.htm

This course moves beyond the first-order treatment of optical system design (as presented in the “Geometrical Optics” short course) to describe the effects of aberrations on the performance of imaging systems. The dispersion of optical materials is described leading to a discussion of chromatic aberrations. The design of the thin-lens achromatic doublet is derived. The concepts of wavefront and ray aberrations will be introduced, and the individual third-order aberration terms will be examined. Ray fans, wave fans and spot diagrams will be shown. The through-focus performance of an imaging system in the presence of aberrations will be shown. Combinations of aberrations and the use of aspheric surfaces are also discussed.

The course is intended for engineers, scientists, managers or students who need to understand the effects of aberration on the image quality produced by an optical system. Some understanding of first-order optical design principles is assumed in the material development, and only basic math is used (algebra, geometry and trigonometry).

This course will enable participants to: (1) Understand chromatic aberration and its origins (2) Design a thin-lens achromatic doublet (3) Understand the concepts of wave and ray aberrations (4) Identify the third-order aberration terms: spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, field curvature and distortion (5) Plot wave fans and ray fans for each aberration (6) Describe spot diagrams for each aberration (7) Understand the through-focus performance of a system with aberrations and identify the location of the best image plane (8) Combine aberration terms and (9) Understand the use of aspheric surfaces in optical design.

The 3-hour and 48-minute long short course may be purchased for individual use or as a site-license.

2009 CGH/DOE Workshop News

Tom Milster has announced another Computer Generated Holography and Diffractive Optical Element Workshop for March 17-19, 2009. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.optics.arizona.edu/Milster/CGH/Workshop2009/home.htm

The purpose of the workshop is to provide participants with a hands-on learning opportunity for design and fabrication of CGHs and DOEs using the Maskless Lithography Tool (MLT). Through a series of lectures, computer training, and laboratory experiments, participants will be exposed to processes needed to design and build physical devices.

Participants who successfully complete the workshop will be able to: (1) Specify, analyze, design and test properties of DOEs (2) Specify, analyze, design, and test properties of CGH display holograms (3) Design and use DOEs for optical testing applications (4) Describe basic fabrication procedures used in fabricating CGHs and DOEs with maskless grayscale lithography, and (5) Fabricate several types of CGHs and DOEs using the MLT.

The course is geared towards scientists, engineers, managers, and researchers interested in exploring fundamentals of Computer Generated Holography, Diffractive Optical Elements, and Maskless Grayscale Lithography who want to gain hands-on, working knowledge in this field. A strong undergraduate-level mathematical background and a basic knowledge of optics are helpful.

Classes are divided into lecture and laboratory sessions each day, and each day covers a different topic. The laboratory involves hand-on training in fabrication and testing of CGHs. Software written in the Matlab© language is provided with a one-year license agreement as part of the course. Classes are held in the world-famous College of Optical Sciences on the beautiful University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona. Class size is strictly limited to provide a quality learning environment.

Enrollment includes lectures, labs, course materials, coffee breaks, lunches, software including a one-year Matlab licence, and laptops are provided at no cost to the participants

In addition to the primary three-day workshop, there are also additional pre- and post-workshops. Students may sign up for one, two, or all three workshops.

Primary: CGH Workshop: March 17-19, 2009. A three-day course that includes classroom and laboratory instruction. Topics include training in design, fabrication and testing of DOEs and CGHs for applications in optical systems, display, and aspheric mirror testing.

Additional pre-workshop class: Matlab, Optiscan, and ZeMax Basics: March 16, 2009. This class is a computer-based introduction to Matlab, OptiScan, and ZeMax software that will prepare participants for more advanced topics presented in the workshop. Instructor: Tom D. Milster

Additional post-workshop class: Advanced DOE/CGH Design Using Optiscan: March 20, 2009. This class is 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. Instructor: Tom D. Milster.

For more information or to register, please visit http://www.optics.arizona.edu/Milster/CGH/Workshop2009/home.htm Questions? Please contact Pat Gransie at 621-1925 or pgransie@optics.arizona.edu

You're Invited

College of Optical Sciences Holiday Party

December 11, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Third Floor Lobby and Patio

Please join us for delicious desserts and holiday music.

Soccer!

Our OSC soccer team finished in the top 8 among more than 50 teams at UA -- congratulations guys. The team wishes to thank Jim Wyant and our student optics chapter for all their support this year.

Photo: Please click on the photo for a larger image. Standing from left to right: Brian Myer, Jared Moore, Graham Myhre, Oscar Herrera, Robin Palit, Arash Azarmi, and team captain Pouria Valley. Sitting from left to right: Soha Namnabat, Guillaume Butel, Matt Jungwirth, team coach Nick Savidis, Ayodeji Opadeyi, Hacene Chaouch, and Ali Khoshchashm. Not pictured: Houssine Makhlouf, Justin Paul, and Anael Guilmo.

Spring 2009 - Topics in Entrepreneurship for Scientists

From Alaina Levine. PHYS/MATH/ENTR/MCB 495f/595f. Wednesdays, 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 1 credit - P/F. This course will present different topics in and aspects of entrepreneurship specifically for graduate and undergraduate students in science and engineering. The goals of the course are:

to give students exposure to and understanding of the elements of the entrepreneurship process in scientific ventures to prepare them for scientific careers in industry, and/or to pursue the development of a new scientific venture;
to introduce the connection between science, scientific innovation, and business in an entrepreneurial venture, and in scientific and high technology industries overall;
to give students access to and detailed accounts from established entrepreneurs, scientists, business people, venture capitalists, intellectual property attorneys, and other industry leaders who have successfully created careers that combine science, business, and industry, or/and have been intimately involved in the scientific entrepreneurial process;
to introduce the concept of technology transfer and its role in bringing scientific innovation to commercialization;
to give students experience in thinking like an entrepreneur by developing and writing their own Venture Hypothesis (similar to an early stage business plan) (595f), or new venture case study (495f);
to give students the opportunity to learn the resources available to an entrepreneur and how to take advantage of those resources.

Perks: Students get extensive interaction time and networking opportunities with scientific, business, and entrepreneurial leaders, attend industry functions, and are assigned a mentor from industry to help guide them and their project. Interaction opportunities with guests speakers are plentiful. There are also professional development and leadership skill-building opportunities as well.

Read the article about the class: "UA Program Preps Science Students for Business World", Arizona Daily Star, December 6, 2007: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/byauthor/214944

Questions? Contact: Alaina Levine, alaina@u.arizona.edu, 621-3374.

Watts Happening

Happy Belated Birthday

Happy Birthday and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Year

December 4

Jeffrey Czapla-Myers (j.czapla-myers@optics.arizona.edu)
Gail Varin (gail@optics.Arizona.edu)

December 6

Ashley Bidegain (abidegain@optics.arizona.edu)
Dave Cushing (davecushing7@msn.com)
Michael Lesser (mlesser@as.Arizona.edu)
Sumitendra Mazumdar (sumit@physics.Arizona.edu)

December 8

Eduardo Bendek (ebendek@optics.arizona.edu)

December 9

Lu Gao (lu.gao@cdm-optics.com)
Jack Gaskill (jgaskill@optics.arizona.edu)

December 10

Kimberly Sierra-Cajas (ksierracajas@optics.arizona.edu)

December 11

Arvind Marathay (marathay@u.arizona.edu)
Ted Turner, Jr. (tturner@optics.arizona.edu)

December 13

Michael Dalpiaz (mdalpiaz@email.arizona.edu)
Gary Esham (gesham@optics.arizona.edu)
Dror Sarid (sarid@optics.Arizona.edu)

December 14

Joshua Olitzky (jolitzky@optics.arizona.edu)
Tom Zobrist (tzobrist@optics.arizona.edu)

OSC Calendar

December 10

Last day of classes

December 11

Reading Day. No classes

December 12

First day of finals

December 19

Last day of finals

December 19

Optical Sciences Pre-Commencement Celebration

December 20

University of Arizona Commencement

January 14

First day of classes.

Employment

Engineering Intern. SOLON Corporation. (SIE, EE, Optics). SOLON Corporation is looking to fill an electrical engineering intern position at its location in Tucson, AZ. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to gain real world experience while working for an international company that is a leading provider of solar power plant engineering solutions for large-scale projects. Who we are: SOLON Corporation is one of the largest solar module manufacturers in Europe as well a leading provider of intelligent power plant solutions for large-scale projects. The international SOLON Group employs more than 850 people worldwide, and has offices and manufacturing in 5 different countries including Germany, Italy and the United States. Your profile: Pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, with emphasis on power generation in lieu of digital electronics. Highly motivated with a proven ability to work independently as well as in a team environment. Desire to learn about solar technology and the solar industry. Solar cell technology background helpful. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Our offer: A dynamic and successful company in a quickly growing market. Interesting tasks with the opportunity to develop own ideas. Integration into highly committed and cooperative team. Short lines of communication and lots of space for your own ideas. Passion and a pioneering spirit. Expertise and experience. We put these things to work to help propel ecological change in the energy market. Would you like to work in a field that focuses on the environment? To be part of a dynamic company that enjoys outstanding success in a high-growth market? Then join us. Work with us to revolutionize the use of solar energy while also achieving your career goals. After all, the future belongs to solar energy – and to those who work for its progress. Interested? For further questions regarding the position and to apply send your application (cover letter, resume, references) via E-Mail to: amy.eckenrode@solon.com

Agency Listing. Optical Design Engineer. Defense/Aerospace. Company: Defense Division of international optics organization. Location: Upstate / Western New York State. Reports to: Division President. To Apply: http://www.maxhire.net/cp/?E55E6F361D43717B7E51122B77511F2604 Challenge: We need an Optical Design Engineer who breaks stereotypes – someone who likes to partner with clients, win bids, develop new business, and oversee programs and projects from start to finish. Organization Overview: Our client is an entrepreneurial group within an international organization of world-leading optics companies, with locations throughout the US, Europe and Asia. They have an enviable reputation spanning over 100 years for providing advanced optical systems, equipment, modules and components for a diverse range of civilian and defense applications. This position is within their Defense Group. Reward: In this role, you'll have a chance to leverage your optical engineering aptitude and leadership capability to directly impact company growth. You'll also enjoy the flexibility of a small company culture, however, with the resources of an international organization. You will receive a competitive compensation and benefits package. Expected Results: Develop proposals and statements of work that accurately capture client requirements in terms of scope, schedule and cost. Develop optical designs that fully align to client requirements. Win contracts. Drive program management initiatives to ensure (distributed) solutions delivery is completed with predetermined quality, cost and schedule metrics. Provide "after the sale" support as required by clients. Qualifications: US Citizenship required due to governmental requirements. Knowledge and experience in free space optics, imaging optics and optical systems design for both Visual and Infrared spectrums. State-of-the-art product/systems development experiences for volume production. Experience with optical design and analysis software (e.g. Zemax, CodeV, FRED). Knowledge of opto-mechanical assembly techniques. Strong analytical and practical knowledge of geometrical and physical optics. Solid understanding of statistical methods and design of experiments. Solid understanding of design manufacturing, including all documentation for the products release to manufacture. BS degree and 5 years experience in relevant fields or military experience equivalency. Effective written/verbal communication skills; computing skills (Windows, Microsoft Office). National / international travel up to 25%. Mike Morone, Executive Recruiter, Worldleaders, Inc. 300 State Street Rochester, NY 14614. http://www.worldleadersjobs.com Office: 585 399-0653 Cell: 585 749-5107 Fax: 585 399-0655.

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Cathy Alexander

Information Specialist Coordinator

College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona

cathy.alexander@optics.arizona

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