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Watt's Up

 

College of Optical Sciences News for July 30, 2009

 

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New Sponsored Awards

 

Wide Field for View Night Vision Goggles.  P.I.:  Jose Sasian.  Sponsor:  SA Photonics.  June 29, 2009 to September 30, 2009.  $50,000.

 


 

Today's Special Seminar.  2:00 p.m.  Meinel 821 A-B

 

Harald Giessen, OSC MS 1994 and PhD 1995, from the Universität Stuttgart, will present Three-Dimensional Metallic Metamaterials: From Simple to Complex – Coupling Matters!  Stanley Pau is the host.

 

Abstract:  Metallic metamaterials have shown a number of fascinating properties over the last few years. A negative refractive index, negative refraction, superlenses, and optical cloaking are some of the ambitious applications where metamaterials hold great promise.  We are going to present fabrication methods for the manufacturing of 3D metamaterials [1]. We are investigating their coupling properties and the resulting optical spectra.  Hybridization of the electric [2] as well as the magnetic [3] resonances allows us to easily understand the complex optical properties. Lateral as well as vertical coupling can result in EIT-like phenomena [4, 5].  The connection between structural symmetry and their electric as well as magnetic dipole and higher-order multipole coupling will be elucidated. It turns out that stereometamaterials [6], where the spatial arrangement of the constituents is varied, reveal a highly complex rotational dispersion.

 

[1] Na Liu, Hongcang Guo, Liwei Fu, Stefan Kaiser, Heinz Schweizer, and Harald Giessen:Three-dimensional photonic metamaterials at optical frequencies, Nature Materials 7, 31 (2008).

[2] N. Liu, H. Guo, L. Fu, S. Kaiser, H. Schweizer, and H. Giessen:Plasmon Hybridization in Stacked Cut-Wire Metamaterials,Advanced Materials 19, 3628 (2007)

[3] Na Liu, Liwei Fu, Stefan Kaiser, Heinz Schweizer, and Harald Giessen: Plasmonic Building Blocks for Magnetic Molecules in Three-Dimensional Optical Metamaterials, Advanced Materials 20, 3859 (2008).

[4] Na Liu, Stefan Kaiser, and Harald Giessen:Magnetoinductive and Electroinductive Coupling in Plasmonic Metamaterial Molecules,Advanced Materials 20, 4521 (2008).

[5] Na Liu, N. Liu, L. Langguth, T. Weiss, J. Kästel, M. Fleischhauer, T. Pfau, and H. Giessen:Plasmonic EITNature Materials 8 (5 July 2009).

[6] Na Liu, Hui Liu, Shining Zhu, and Harald Giessen:StereometamaterialsNature Photonics 3, 157 (2009).

 


 

Antiques Roadshow:  The OSC Version

 

Next week, while you're at SPIE's Optics and Photonics, please take a moment to visit our exhibit of antique and historic optics -- selected portions of our collection are on loan to SPIE's O&P during this International Year of Astronomy and the quadricentennial anniversary of Galileo’s first telescopic observations.  The goal of the exhibit is to show the development of telescopes and binoculars from relatively early instruments to later instruments that represent what we recognize as the modern form.

 

In an e-mail interview for an SPIE magazine article, John Greivenkamp, who curated the collection with research assistance from David Steed and Website development assistance from Brian Wheelwright, explained why the collection was developed:  "As we work to advance optical technology, I think that it is incredibly important to understand the roots of our technology. Almost everything we do has evolved from the work of those that came before us, so understanding the past allows us to better appreciate the technology of today and tomorrow. This is a great opportunity to see a number of historic pieces related to the development of the telescope and to appreciate the materials, quality, and pride of workmanship that went into making these instruments. They are much more than just telescopes and optical instruments."

 

OSC's still-growing collection includes antique and historic telescopes, microscopes, lenses, and cameras.  There are numerous examples of each including refracting and reflecting telescopes from a variety of makers. Some are included to demonstrate the advancement of the optical technology and others are included because they are unusual or beautiful.  The instruments, primarily from England, France, Germany, and the United States, have received some local attention recently and represent work by the world’s most respected instrument makers from the 17th to the mid-twentieth centuries.

 

The collection is open to visitors Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Portions of the collection may be viewed on-line at www.optics.arizona.edu/antiques/

 

Student News

 

OSC Students Welcome UA Freshmen

 

From Meredith Kupinski.  On July 17, OSC students: Brittany Lynn, Chris Summitt, Livia Zarnescu, and Steven Haim introduced a group of 28 students from UA’s New Start Program to the College of Optical Sciences. New Start is a summer bridge program for incoming UA freshman. During the lively panel discussion OSC students were asked questions about their research, course load, and tips for freshman year survival. One New Start student even declared he was changing his major to optics!! Thank you Brittany, Chris, Livia, and Steven for your valuable contribution to OSC recruitment!

 

Photo:  UA's New Start students and their OSC hosts.  Please click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

 


 

SPIE Scholarships

 

Students, if you're debating whether or not to join a professional society before you graduate, please consider that SPIE does quite a lot to support optics education.  In 2009, SPIE has given scholarships to 14 students from OSC.  Congratulations OSC students and thank you SPIE for recognizing and rewarding our students.

 

SPIE is the international optics and photonics society, founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 188,000 constituents from 138 countries, the Society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. In 2008, the Society provided $1.9 million for scholarships, grants, and other activities supporting research and education around the world.

 

For more information, visit SPIE.org.

 

2009 SPIE Scholarship Recipients from OSC

  1. Michael Borden

  2. Michael Gaj

  3. Dae Wook Kim

  4. Houssine Makhlouf

  5. Brian Miller

  6. Justin Paul

  7. Timothy Renkoski

  8. Matthew Schwab

  9. Lirong Wang

  10. Brian Wheelwright

  11. Rigel Woida-O'Brien

  12. Livia Zarnescu

  13. Jun Zhang

  14. Rui Zhang

 

Alumni News

 

You're Invited to an Alumni Reception

 

In conjunction with SPIE's Optics and Photonics, OSC alumni and Industrial Affiliate members are invited to an evening reception on August 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, America’s Cup Room, One Market Place, San Diego, California.

 

If you’re planning to attend the conference, please visit us in booth 705.

 

Contacts:  Luz Palomarez, Executive Assistant to the Dean, lpalomarez@optics.arizona.edu or Will Rivera, Director of Alumni and External Relations, will@optics.arizona.edu

 


 

Focus is on the Little Things

Nikon Research Corporation Knows Smaller is Better With Electronic Devices

 

By Dan Sorenson.  Published in the Arizona Daily Star on July 18.  Say "Nikon" and most people hear "camera," but Nikon Research Corporation of America has a local presence that often has more to do with your laptop than your camera.

 

A small group of optical engineers — most of them PhD's from the University of Arizona's College of Optical Science — work out of NRCA's modest office and lab in a quiet Rancho Vistoso business park in Oro Valley.  They can't tell anyone much more than that, because their work often has to do with product development, often involving patented features, said Eric Goodwin [OSC BS 2002, MS 2004, and PhD 2007], one of the three UA optical engineering PhDs working there.

 

Some times those developments involve Nikon's famous camera lines, but more often they have to do with the less public side of the giant Japanese company that has to do with the equipment used to make chips — the silicon "brains" that do the magic in everything from computers to pacemakers, iPods and a million other electronic devices.

 

A great part of that always smarter, usually cheaper and more desirable gadgetry is a result of miniaturization. The more brain power that can be squeezed onto the ever-shrinking silicon brains, the smaller and smarter the devices become.

 

The lines in today's chip circuits are so fine as to make a human hair look like a sewer pipe. If you could see the smallest details — individual conductive paths — it would be like using Google Earth to zoom into Tokyo from, say, the Moon, or maybe Mars. The tiny chips have millions of those lines linking electronic circuits embedded in the silicon.

 

They are made in a process related to photography, where the drawn circuits are shrunk and etched into the chips.

 

Nikon, says NRCA CEO Tom Novak, is the second-largest maker of the equipment used in creating those chips.  Any error in the optics used to make the circuits causes flaws.

 

"Most of our business relates to the semiconductor side," said Novak in a phone interview from the Nikon research unit's U.S. headquarters in Belmont, Calif. "We do have some camera (projects), but most relates to the semiconductor side."

 

He said Nikon maintains an operation here because of the research, training and other resources available at the UA's College of Optical Science.

 

"It's definitely because of the University of Arizona," said Novak. "It's world renowned. As far as I'm concerned it's the Number One optical university. … We wanted to be in close proximity to the professors and students. We use them as advisors from time to time."

 

Novak said the NRCA's low profile in the Tucson area and his reluctance to discuss specifics of research here is deliberate.  "There's a lot of competition in our business; we have to be careful what we say. There's guys looking at every word to try to figure out what we're doing," Novak said. "Nikon has ideas and we'll test them out (here)," said Novak. "And we'll try to prove whether it makes sense, or how feasible it is. We rarely do anything for final design. We'll do proof of concept. And normally, Nikon in Japan will do final" product development.

 

But things here are going well enough that NRCA is doubling the size of its Oro Valley operation, expanding into a space next door, roughly doubling its space, Goodwin said.

 

Novak said there will be enough space for visiting Nikon engineers from Japan and for a classroom for customer training.

 

Contact reporter Dan Sorenson at 573-4185 or dsorenson@azstarnet.com.

 


 

NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Terahertz and Mid Infrared Radiation

 

http://www.smmo.org/TERA-MIR2009/pic.jpgMauro Pereira, OSC MS 1989 and PhD 1992, now a Professor at Sheffield Hallam University's Materials and Engineering Research Institute, sends greetings and information about an upcoming conference: The NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Terahertz and Mid Infrared Radiation: Basic Research and Applications (TERA - MIR 2009).  The workshop will be held from November 3 to November 6, 2009 at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics in Turunç-Marmaris, Turkey.  Topics of interest include but are not limited to: Interaction of MIR or THz radiation with living biological material, Applications of MIR and THz to medical diagnosis MIR and THz imaging, Detection of explosives and dangerous substances, Last mile communication, Integration of THz and MIR with optical fibers, Out of the box methods for MIR and THz generation and detection, Lasers without inversion, Nonlinear MIR and THz optics, Difference frequency and other nonlinear methods of generation of THz radiation, Millimeter wave and microwave generation and detection – bridging the gap to THz, Quantum Cascade Lasers, Quantum Cascade Detectors, and Intersubband Transport and Optics.  For more information, please visit http://www.smmo.org/TERA-MIR2009/

 

Watts Happening

 

Happy Birthday and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Year

 

August 4

Christopher McPherson (cmcpherson@optics.arizona.edu)

 

August 5

Pirmin Sommerfield (pirmin@email.arizona.edu)
Tara Trumbull (littlemountainbiker@yahoo.com)

 

August 6

Hyatt Gibbs (gibbs@optics.arizona.edu)
Markus Lindberg (markus.lindberg@abo.fi)

 

August 7

Takeshi Nakazawa (tnakazawa@optics.arizona.edu)
Bruce Pixton (pixtonb@optics.arizona.edu)

 

August 8

Helen Fan (hfan@optics.arizona.edu)

 

August 9

John Hartke (john.hartke@usma.edu)
Garam Yun (gyun@optics.arizona.edu)

 

August 10

Jorg Hader (jhader@acms.arizona.edu)
Irma Ramirez Murillo (iramirez@email.arizona.edu)

 

August 11

Zhenrong Zheng

 

August 12

Kina Adams (kradams@optics.arizona.edu)
Michael Butterfield (mike@mikebutterfield.com)

 

August 13

Matthew Kupinski (mkupinski@optics.arizona.edu)
Dan Nguyen (dnguyen@optics.arizona.edu)
Prasanthi Peketi (prasanthipeketi@hotmail.com)

 

August 15

Michihisa Onishi (monishi@optics.arizona.edu)

 

August 16

Alexey Maslov (amaslov@cusa.canon.com)
Julian Sweet (jsweet@optics.arizona.edu)

 


 

OSC Calendar

 

July 30

Special Seminar.  2:00 p.m.   Meinel 821 A-B.

 

August 3 - 6

SPIE Optics and Photonics.

 

August 4

Alumni Reception.  5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

 

August 13

Next issue of Watt's Up.

 

August 24

First day of classes.

 

Employment

 

Postdoctoral Position/“Junior-Stiftungsprofessur“ (W1).   Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ilmenau University of Technology, Thüringen, Germany.  Sponsored by the Carl-Zeiss-Foundation in the field of Optics-design, modelling and simulation optical systems.   The position is available immediately and is to be occupied as soon as possible. The position is limited to a period of max. 6 years.  Ilmenau University of Technology traditionally has a strong focus in research and education on „precision engineering and optics“. The position is supposed to further strengthen this research area. The Postdoc/Junior-Professor is expected to represent this scientific field self responsibly with respect to research topics as well as student teaching. Being integrated in the Fachgebiet Technische Optik she/he should also be able to independently initiate new re-search projects and topics. Specific focus of the research activities could e.g. be: - optical freeforms in optics design, - optical systems with adaptive/active or in general variable optical elements, - optical systems for „(hyper-)spectral imaging“, - optical systems und algorithms for „computational imaging“, - holistic design and optimization of complex technical systems with optical functionality.  At Ilmenau University of Technology, the education of optical engineers takes place, among others, in the interdisciplinary course programs „Optronik“ and „Maschinenbau“. The Post-doc/Junior-Professor will be integrated into these and other course programs related to “opti-cal technologies”. Our goal is to closely link to the strong optics industries in Thüringen and Germany as a whole. Thus, the Junior-Professor funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung will help to further improve the reputation and international visibility of Ilmenau University of Technology and to reduce the deficit in highly educated optical engineers in Germany and worldwide. For hiring the premises according to § 82 of the Thüringer Hochschulgesetz (law for the Universities in Thüringen) have to be fulfilled. The University is dedicated to equal opportunity and equal rights and thus explicitly encourages the application of female candidates. Applications including curriculum vita, list of publications and a short description of the experience in research and teaching as well as ideas on future research topics may be send until June 30th 2009 to: Technische Universität Ilmenau, Fachgebiet Technische Optik, Prof. Dr. Stefan Sinzinger, Postfach 10 05 65, 98684 Ilmenau.

 

Agency Listing.  Senior  Manager Opto-Mechanical Engineering.  Company:  Aircraft Manufacturing company that continues to grow and need talented leaders that have great dreams and are particularly passionate about what is possible.  Duties and Responsibilities:  Functional Engineering Management position reports to Division Technical Executive and is responsible for the planning, managing and technical performance of two major engineering units: Mechanical Engineering and Optical Engineering, through several subordinate Engineering Managers. Direct all phases of assigned engineering project(s) from inception through completion. Participate with technical staff, program managers and Division/Group executive management in the development of and has primary responsibility for the implementation of annual and long-term technical, schedule, quality, business and financial objectives for the units. Represent the Division/Group with customers; ensure technical leadership and excellence are maintained; champion the development of new and expansion of existing business opportunities; and, provide leadership in attracting, developing, and retaining human resources.  Requirements:  Requires Bachelors degree in Engineering,  Prefers Masters degree or PhD in Engineering and minimum 15 years progressively more complex technical experience and directing engineering projects from inception through production to point of sale including a minimum of 6 years of functional supervision of engineers.  Demonstrates a detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of mechanical engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice as well as comprehensive project management and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.  Must have gimbal design experience.  Must have expertise with opt-mechanical design with highly complex systems.  Must have experience with High Energy Lasers.  Must posses the ability to resolve complex management and technical problems; serve as spokesperson on engineering projects; Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives. Customer focused, must be able to work on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment. A Professional Engineering License, and original work(s) published in professional engineering journals are desirable.  Must be able to obtain a U.S. government clearance. Prefer someone who already has a US government clearance.  Ability to convert conceptual designs into products that meet their requirements within cost and schedule allocations.  Demonstrated leadership ability with a strong mentoring emphasis.   Location:  Southern, CA.  If you would like to explore this opportunity, please contact Carol Remington, Woodmoor Executive Search, cremington@woodmoor.com, # 719-488-1788.

 

Agency Listing:  Senior Mechanical Design Engineer-61172.  Beckman Coulter develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. Our diagnostic systems are found in hospitals and other critical care settings around the world and produce information used by physicians to diagnose disease, make treatment decisions and monitor patients. Instruments for life science research are used by scientists as they study complex biological problems including the causes of disease, identify new therapies, and test new drugs. Our customers include hospitals, physicians' offices, diagnostic reference laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, medical schools and research institutions. In fact, Beckman Coulter has more than 200,000 clinical and research instrument systems operating in laboratories around the world.  Job Description:  The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer defines and evaluates architecture in area of expertise for system modules and components of multi-mechanical engineering systems. The incumbent designs components and systems modules using mechanical design CAD tools; conducts theoretical mechanical analysis using CAD tools; performs empirical analysis, interpreting and evaluating experimental data to formulate conclusions; documents and communicates designs, specifications and project status; fabricates breadboards and prototypes; develops test plans, test specifications and design verification experiments; conducts competitive technology analysis; and participates on multi-mechanical engineering development teams.  Essential Behaviors and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:  Design opto-mechanical modules and subsystems which employ lasers, lenses and filters.  Define and evaluate hardware architecture and modules against specific design requirements.  Design test protocols for verification of components, modules, and systems.  Perform empirical analysis using data, and theoretical analysis using CAD tools.  Diagnose module and system problems and perform Root Cause Analysis.  Document designs and results of analyses and research.  Qualifications and Experience:  A minimum of a Bachelors of Science in an Engineering discipline, with a strong mechanical engineering background.  A minimum of 5 years experience in the design and engineering of opto-mechanical/electronic modules and systems employing lasers, lenses and filters.  Demonstrated ability to successfully determine root cause utilizing scientific methods.  Competence in using mechanical parametric CAD tools, preferably Dassault Systèmes Solid Works. Experience with optics design tools, like Zemax, an advantage.  Ability to compose complete, concise, and logical written compositions in English.  Experience with heat transfer principles used to maintain precise opto-mechanical alignment.  Experience in the design and analysis of fluidic or micro-fluidic components and systems.  “We’re Better Together”  collaboration across all business centers and functions-fundamental to our success. You’ll join an established, profitable and highly successful global leader that has proven itself capable of evolving to meet the needs of the marketplace and maintaining a healthy growth rate throughout. High impact & visibility-  you’ll direct and control the sales, service and/or marketing organizations for a significant segment of the company's commercial operations.  Career Development-advancement opportunities and diverse career paths are trademarks of the Beckman Coulter experience, and as you master your accountabilities, you’ll be ideally positioned to evolve along multiple career paths.  Excellent benefits-in addition to a very competitive salary and bonus opportunity, we offer a robust benefits package that includes low cost health insurance coverage for you and your family; matching 401(k) as well as a retirement account plan; stock purchase options; paid time off (PTO) and holidays.  If you believe your education and experience are in line with the position description and qualifications referred to above, and are motivated, energetic, and looking for a new and exciting opportunity, please submit your resume online at  www.kenexa.com or at www.beckmancoulter.com.

 

Agency Listing.  Senior Mechanical Design Engineer-62592.  Beckman Coulter develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. Our diagnostic systems are found in hospitals and other critical care settings around the world and produce information used by physicians to diagnose disease, make treatment decisions and monitor patients. Instruments for life science research are used by scientists as they study complex biological problems including the causes of disease, identify new therapies, and test new drugs. Our customers include hospitals, physicians' offices, diagnostic reference laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, medical schools and research institutions. In fact, Beckman Coulter has more than 200,000 clinical and research instrument systems operating in laboratories around the world.  Job Description:  The Senior Mechanical Engineer defines and evaluates architecture in area of expertise for system modules and components of multi-mechanical engineering systems. The incumbent designs components and systems modules using mechanical design CAD tools; conducts theoretical mechanical analysis using CAD tools; performs empirical analysis, interpreting and evaluating experimental data to formulate conclusions; documents and communicates designs, specifications and project status; fabricates breadboards and prototypes; develops test plans, test specifications and design verification experiments; conducts competitive technology analysis; and participates on multi-mechanical engineering development teams.  Essential Behaviors, Qualifications and Experience include, but are not limited to the following:  A minimum of a Bachelors of Science in an Engineering discipline, with a strong mechanical engineering background.  A minimum of 5 years experience in mechanical design engineering. Experience in fluidics, mechanisms/robotics/automation, instrumentation systems, and/or medical diagnostic systems preferred.   Demonstrated ability to successfully determine root cause utilizing scientific methods.   Competence in using mechanical parametric CAD tools, preferably Dassault Systèmes Solid Works; experience with Pro E an advantage.   Ability to compose complete, concise, and logical written compositions in English.   Manufacturing experience, preferably in a larger facility in the medical device field preferred.  "We’re Better Together”  collaboration across all business centers and functions-fundamental to our success. You’ll join an established, profitable and highly successful global leader that has proven itself capable of evolving to meet the needs of the marketplace and maintaining a healthy growth rate throughout.  High impact & visibility- you’ll direct and control the sales, service and/or marketing organizations for a significant segment of the company's commercial operations.  Career Development- advancement opportunities and diverse career paths are trademarks of the Beckman Coulter experience, and as you master your accountabilities, you’ll be ideally positioned to evolve along multiple career paths.  Excellent benefits- in addition to a very competitive salary and bonus opportunity, we offer a robust benefits package that includes low cost health insurance coverage for you and your family; matching 401(k) as well as a retirement account plan; stock purchase options; paid time off (PTO) and holidays.  If you believe your education and experience are in line with the position description and qualifications referred to above, and are motivated, energetic, and looking for a new and exciting opportunity, please submit your resume online at  www.kenexa.com or at www.beckmancoulter.com

 

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Cathy Alexander

Information Specialist Coordinator

College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona

cathy.alexander@optics.arizona