Nano Conference Debuts

The International Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics (ICALEO) will feature its inaugural conference on the emerging field of nanomanufacturing as one of its three major technical conferences this year. ICALEO 2007 will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Orlando.

From its inception 25 years ago, ICALEO has been devoted to the field of laser materials processing and is considered the premier source of technical information in the field. Those who should attend this event range from anyone interested in a basic understanding of laser materials processing, i.e. the interaction between a laser beam and a material, to those interested in how a process can be integrated and optimized for an application.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA), event sponsor, said its goal for ICALEO is to bring together those who may benefit from laser technology from both academia and industry, including end users and scientists as well as engineers and technicians who are developing the technology.

ICALEO is an event that allows participants to review the state-of-the-art in laser materials processing and predict what lies ahead for the industry. This year, featured sessions include laser applications in the automotive, aerospace, electronics, biomedical and microfabrication fields as part of the three major technical conferences: Laser Materials Processing, Laser Microprocessing and Nanomanufacturing.

The Laser Materials Processing Conference covers a wide range of topics on macroscopic processes, applications, and related laser equipment and systems. Papers presented during the conference will also reflect ongoing changes in processing applications regarding lasers and optics.

One of the drivers for this continued expansion is the development of new -- and improvements to existing -- solid-state lasers (disk, fiber, and direct diode). The optical and operational characteristics of these new lasers have resulted in the displacement of existing lasers, ousting other processing technologies, and in the development of new processes. The result is that this year will feature a session on high-brightness lasers, "Processing with High-Brightness Lasers" and a special session on recent developments in diode technology, "Advances in Diodes for Pumping & Processing."

In addition to new laser technologies, approaches to manufacturing needs are a major topic at this year's ICALEO. The ability to tailor a structure through direct metal deposition (DMD) or to repair/refurbish a worn part are two major driving forces for research efforts in additive manufacturing. The importance of these topics are reflected in two separate sessions. Also with more emphasis in manufacturing to use processes that are under control and understood, there will be a session on "Modeling & Simulation" to help understand laser processing and one on "Monitoring & Control" to ensure quality.

This conference will also include a tribute to Akira Matsunawa, emeritus professor of the Welding Research Institute at Osaka University in Hyogo, Japan and LIA Fellow, who died last year. He is considered a mentor and a pioneer in the laser community and will be honored for his contributions to the field of laser wielding.

Lasers are also being called upon to make an impact on the Earth's environment, so the Laser Materials Processing and Laser Microprocessing conferences are jointly sponsoring a session on how lasers are being used for "green" applications which will have a positive impact on the Earth and global warming.

The Laser Microprocessing Conference continues to be the global forum for scientists and engineers from advanced academic research labs and industrial research and development departments to discuss and exchange ideas and results.

The conference addresses special interests in processes and systems for microscopic applications, with sessions such as "Hybrid Processing: Chemically Assisted Laser Microprocessing." Other sessions include fiber laser applications, surface modification, microwelding/structuring/forming/packaging, device manufacturing, deposition and process monitoring, biomedical applications, and light sources for microprocessing.

Because there is a separate conference this year for nanomanufacturing and nanoprocessing, the Laser Microprocessing Conference will focus on laser technology that produces micrometer-sized features.

The Nanomanufacturing Conference includes internationally renowned research authorities as keynote and invited presenters from academia and industry, and will catalyze the establishment of a nanomanufacturing community within ICALEO.

Lasers are playing increasingly significant roles in a number of fields, including manufacturing and nanotechnology, with nanomanufacturing being one of the areas in which lasers will make significant impacts. As nanotechnology research and innovation are progressing at exponentially rising rates, their promise for unprecedented impact on society requires that the manufacturing issues be explored. ICALEO's first Nanomanufacturing Conference will address the producibility, predictability and productivity aspects of optical and laser-related nanotechnologies for nanomanufacturing and their scale-up for mass production.

This conference will highlight research in emerging nanomanufacturing technologies in laser nanopatterning, holographic lithography, nanoparticle generation, pulsed-laser deposition and sintering, micro/nanomachining, multiphoton polymerization, laser-assisted characterization and scanning probe lithography/microscopy for a variety of applications including nanocomposites, flexible electronics, photovoltaics and biosensors, etc.

With the scientific breakthroughs and continuous technological development, lasers are becoming faster, more powerful, and more colorful. The speakers featured in the ICALEO 2007 plenary session, "New Frontiers of Lasers & Photonics," will speak about the new frontiers of laser technologies, with talks on attosecond laser technology, lasers in entertainment, and future laser programs.

Ferenc Krausz, physics professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and director of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching, Germany, will give a plenary presentation on his pioneering work on attosecond laser science and technology. Colin Seaton, director of new business development in the display sector at Coherent Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., will speak about the technical approaches taken by various groups working to produce red, green, blue (RGB) laser-based displays for projection applications. The final plenary speaker, Reinhart Poprawe of Fraunhofer ILT in Aachen, Germany, will speak on photonics in the 21st century.

The four-day event will also feature a business development session and an important networking opportunity with representatives from industry, the vendor reception. In addition, the Laser Solutions short courses are ideal for those who want to receive a complete overview on the state-of-the-art in specific areas.

For more information, visit: www.icaleo.org