Photonics Spectra Preview for October 2023

AI for Optics Production

The trends in manufacturing of photonic systems are well known: Miniaturize and integrate components, and scale-up batch sizes. Automated manufacturing with zero-defect production or full traceability is another key trend. This calls for a detect/predict/prevent/repair approach with a comprehensive sensor network to observe every step in the production chain plus complex software to make use of such data. Contributing editor Andreas Thoss explores how artificial Intelligence is increasingly being employed to succeed at this challenge.

Key Technologies: Optics fabrication, inspection, and quality control - particularly in the context of automation. QCLs, fiber-coupled high laser diodes

Photonic Technology for Water Monitoring

Contributing editor James Schlett surveys the latest developments in photonic technology for water monitoring applications. Key questions include:

• What optical techniques are used to reveal the different contaminants in our water?
• Which photonic techniques excel at detecting which type of contaminant?
• What performance thresholds define the current state of the art?
• What performance parameters do those who test and monitor water want in the next generation of photonic analytical instruments?

Key Technologies: Conventional absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, including UV instruments and tools employing microfluidic and chromatography techniques. QCLs for mid-IR techniques

Space Optics

Nothing pushes the boundaries of known science and technology more than space exploration. When the James Webb Space Telescope was proposed, the stability and accuracy requirements exceeded the capabilities of existing manufacturing technology and materials. NASA's future 6-meter class space telescope mission will necessitate even greater stability and accuracy. Advancements in materials science, such as development of negative-thermal expansion materials, have both paralleled and enabled a wide range of space missions. Authors from Allvar Alloys and L3Harris map out these parallel developments, including the role of advanced materials in the James Webb Space Telescope and future space missions.

Key Technologies: Optical lenses, mirrors, reflective coatings

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