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Small (and Big) Talk at FiO

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2009 -- The superbig and the supersmall were the subjects of two plenary sessions Monday at Frontiers in Optics 2009. In the first session, Andrea M. Ghez, professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA, a leading expert in observational astrophysics, explained to attendees the process by which she has concluded that a dormant supermassive black hole lies not only at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, but every galaxy. A black hole is a region of space in which the gravitational field is so powerful that nothing, not even light, can escape, which makes them essentially invisible when you try...Read full article

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    Published: October 2009
    Glossary
    adaptive optics
    Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of atmospheric distortions. The Earth's atmosphere can cause light passing through it to experience distortions, resulting in image blurring and degradation in various optical applications, such as astronomical observations, laser communications, and imaging systems. Adaptive optics systems actively adjust the optical elements in real-time to compensate for these distortions. Key...
    astronomy
    The scientific observation of celestial radiation that has reached the vicinity of Earth, and the interpretation of these observations to determine the characteristics of the extraterrestrial bodies and phenomena that have emitted the radiation.
    black hole
    A cosmic phenomenon in which the mass and density of a star pass a critical point so that the escape velocity matches the speed of light. For this reason, light and matter are "captured'' by the black hole and cannot escape.
    fourier transform
    Any of the various methods of decomposing a signal into a set of coefficients of orthogonal waveforms (trigonometric functions).
    holography
    Holography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and diffraction of light. Unlike conventional photography, which records only the intensity of light, holography records both the intensity and phase information of light waves scattered from an object. This allows the faithful reproduction of the object's three-dimensional structure, including its depth, shape, and texture. The process of holography typically involves the...
    nano
    An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
    synchrotron
    A synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to steer charged particles, typically electrons or positrons, in a closed, circular or elliptical path. The name synchrotron refers to the synchronization of the accelerating electric field with the increasing particle velocity as they move in a circular path. Synchrotrons are powerful tools used in various scientific and industrial applications, particularly in the generation of intense beams of synchrotron radiation. ...
    ultraviolet
    That invisible region of the spectrum just beyond the violet end of the visible region. Wavelengths range from 1 to 400 nm.
    adaptive opticsAdvanced Light SourceALSAndrea GhezastronomyBasic ScienceBerkeley LabbiologicalBiophotonicsblack holeelectron microscopyFiOFourier transformFrontiers in OpticsGary Boasguide starholographyImagingJanos KirzlensesMelinda RoseMicroscopyMilky WaynanoNews & FeaturesOpticsphotonicsplenaryptychographyResearch & TechnologySunsupermassivesynchrotronultravioletwavelengthsx-ray microscopyLasers

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