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College of Optical Sciences News for December 17, 2009

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Winter Holiday Party

Thanks OSC for the wonderful holiday party.  Special thanks to those who worked to make it a huge success:  Anoopoma Bhowmik, Bobbie Doss, Anabel Garcia, Cindy Gardner, Juliet Hughes, Stacie Manuel, Steve McClain, Zach Newman, Robert Norwood, Tammy Orr, Luz Palomarez, Amy Phillips, Roxanne Pizano, Cindy Robertson, Trin Riojas, Tyson Ririe, Jennifer Turner-Valle, Pouria Valley, Jim Wyant, Stefano Young, and Garam Yun.

Door prizes, in our first-ever door-decorating contest went to Luz Palomarez (first prize), Kina Adams, Melissa Fasulo, and Ruth Smith (second prize), and Juliet Hughes and Tammy Orr (third prize).

Photos from the party and door contest are on our Web site at http://www.optics.arizona.edu/News/2009Newsletters/WinterHolidayPartytDecember2009.htm

Tucson Holiday Alumni Reunion

Last Thursday evening OSC alumni, faculty and special guests gathered for the first ever Tucson Holiday Alumni Reunion held here at Optical Sciences. Many enjoyed a presentation by Dean Jim Wyant about OSC’s past, present and future and others arrived later to enjoy reconnecting with faculty, classmates and colleagues.

Among those attending notable guests included former OSC Director Robert Shannon, alumnus Peter Smith, Phoenix/Mars PI, and UA Alumni Association President, Chris Vlahos. Take a moment to view some pictures at: http://www.optics.arizona.edu/News/2009Newsletters/AlumniReuniontDecember2009.htm

We hope to make this an annual event and look forward to seeing many more alumni next year. If you have questions or comments about this event or other alumni related activities please contact Will Rivera, Director of Alumni and External Relations by telephone at 520-626-8754 or by email at wrivera@optics.arizona.edu

Newton International Fellowships

Newton International Fellowships aim to attract the world’s best post-doctoral researchers to Britain for up to two years.  The Fellowships cover the broad range of natural and social sciences, engineering and the humanities.  The Newton International Fellowships:

• Are run by The British Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society.

• Include £24,000 per annum to cover subsistence, £8,000 to cover research expenses, plus a relocation allowance of £2,000.

• Offer funding of £6,000 per year for ten years after the Fellowship ends to enable Newton Fellows to build long-term links with the UK.

Newton Fellows will also become members of the international alumni association run by Research Councils UK.  Contact:  Newton International Fellowships, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG.  Telephone:  +44 (0)20 7451 2559.  info@newtonfellowships.org

Your Goal for 2010:  Continue your Education with On-Line Optics Classes

Sign up for distance learning classes now:  take individual classes or work toward professional certification or an MS degree entirely on-line. 

The distance learning program brings the College of Optical Sciences' two greatest strengths -- its outstanding teaching faculty and its leading-edge video technology -- to students worldwide.  The mission of the distance learning program is to bring the highest quality optics classes to working adults in ways that complement their educational level, their professional experience, and their current responsibilities.

The college has successfully offered its distance courses to individuals worldwide and to working professionals via courses tailored specifically to employees at companies such as Lockheed Martin, Aerospace, and Raytheon.  Changchun University of Science and Technology in the Peoples' Republic of China has established a program offering College of Optical Sciences distance learning classes to Changchun University students.

If you have questions about the Certificate Program, MS Distance Program or taking classes as a non-degree graduate student, please email Gail Varin or call her at 520-626-0888.

Classes Begin on Wednesday, January 13

Opti 503:  Optical Design and Instrumentation II taught by John Greivenkamp.

Opti 505R:  Diffraction and Interferometry taught by Tom Milster 

Opti 508:  Probability and Statistics in Optics taught by Matt Kupinski.

Opti 510R:  Photonics taught by Bob Norwood and Stanley Pau.

Opti 511R.  Optical Physics and Lasers taught by Jason Jones.

Opti 512L:  Mathematical Optics Lab taught by Matt Kupinski.

Opti 518:  Introduction to Aberrations taught by Jose Sasian.

Opti 523:  Optomechanical Design and Analysis taught by Jim Burge.

Opti 530:  Optical Communication Systems taught by Franko Kueppers.

Opti 566:  Optical Detectors and Detector Systems taught by Eustace Dereniak.

Opti 485/585:  Illumination Engineering taught by John Koshel.

Opti 623:  Polarized Light and Polarimetry taught by Russell Chipman.

More information:  http://www.optics.arizona.edu/distance/Default.htm

Students may apply to a program and sign up for classes on-line.  Please visit http://www.optics.arizona.edu/academics/appandadmitgradcollege.htm

OSC Short Courses on DVD for Sale

We've also produced a nice selection of self-paced, non-credit short courses.  Most are between 2 to 9 hours in length -- just right for an evening or weekend.   The courses offer students an opportunity to continue their optics education anywhere, anytime:  at home, at work, on travel... the convenience is priceless.

Courses are designed for professional engineers, scientists, technicians, and managers who wish to explore specific topics, technologies, and techniques without committing to a semester-long course.

Courses are taught by faculty members at The University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences and the short course content is derived from the College's respected academic curriculum.

Applications of Zernike Polynomials taught by Jim Schwiegerling

Exploring Optical Aberrations taught by Virendra Mahajan

Geometrical Optics taught by John Greivenkamp

Holographic Techniques for Advanced Photonic Systems taught by Ray Kostuk

Introduction to Aberrations taught by John Greivenkamp

Introduction to Interferometric Optical Testing taught by Jim Wyant

Optical Design with Mirrors taught by Jose Sasian

Solid State Lasers 1: Fundamental Physics taught by Richard Powell

Solid State Lasers 2: Specific Systems taught by Richard Powell

More information:  http://www.optics.arizona.edu/shortcourses/Default.htm

OPTI 499/599 Computational Photography Seminar

Section 019:  1 credit-hour course

Open to senior undergraduates and graduate students 

Instructor:  Michael R. Descour.  michael@optics.arizona.edu  520-626-5086

The purpose of the course is to explore this expanding research area at the intersection of imaging systems and computing.  Well-known examples include extended depth-of-field imaging, light-field imaging, 3D imaging, synthetic refocusing, and compressive sensing.

The course format is based on critical discussions of publications on and methods for acquisition of raw data and processing techniques.  We will analyze prior art from optical-engineering and commercial perspectives.  Of course, new ideas are welcome.

Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in Meinel 305

OPTI 424A/524A Optical Systems Engineering

More than 70% of OSC graduates work for companies that build things. Are you ready?

Based on a recent survey of OSC graduates with over 500 responses, an informal analysis shows that more than 70% work for companies that sell hardware. A solid understanding of science is not enough to be good at designing and building hardware.  To help students prepare for employment, we’re offering OPTI 424A/524A.

What should a student get from this class: Experience solving real world problems.  Students will define requirements, design systems, build them and test their performance.  In other words, the things that you’ll do if you work for a company that builds things.

Approach: This class is designed around three case studies that utilize off-the-shelf optics and mechanics. The customers’ problems will be stated, not the solutions. It will be up to the students to figure out how to solve them. The case studies are:

1. A short, introductory case study.

2. A case study that will end with a competition between teams. All teams will get the same problem and there will be a showdown to see whose works best. The competition is for glory, fame and bragging rights. (i.e. Your grade will not depend on the outcome of the competition.)

3. The last case study will be a larger effort that requires more system level tradeoffs. Each team will get a different project. Examples include interferometers, spectrometers, imaging polarimeters, hyper-spectral imagers etc.

Details: This is a four-credit class that meets MW from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Time for the lab will be scheduled as needed.  Syllabus.

Taught by Matt Dubin and Jim Burge.

BRO Offers a Second Free ASAP Tutorial to OSC Students and Faculty

January 11, 12, and 13

BRO's first tutorial, on January 5, 6, and 7 is filled, so BRO opened a second tutorial for OSC faculty, graduate students, and senior undergraduates.  Thank you, BRO!