The Optical Society concludes five days of technical session on Laser Congress.

Press Release Summary:

Featuring leading laser manufacturers and forum on trends in laser applications, The Optical Society expanded comprehensive, peer-reviewed technical sessions, cutting-edge exhibition and industry-focused “Executive Forum” program. Discovering technique for generating phase-stable pulses only 13 femtoseconds long span mid-IR wavelengths from 2.5 to 9 microns, congress conducted sessions on quantum cascade lasers, lasers for sensing and for free space communications.


Original Press Release:

OSA’s Laser Congress Closes with Strong Attendance, Focus on the Latest Advancements in Solid State Lasers, Laser-Based Sensing and Industrial Applications

International Laser Congress offered attendees a unique mix of research leaders, industry titans and current government leaders

The OSA Laser Congress concluded in Boston with 600 attendees, an extensive exhibition featuring leading laser manufacturers and a forum on trends in laser applications. The expanded congress included comprehensive, peer-reviewed technical sessions, a cutting-edge exhibition and an industry-focused “Executive Forum” program. Research topics incorporated into the technical program included: quantum cascade lasers, lasers for sensing and lasers for free space communications.

“Each year OSA’s Laser Congress continues to grow in scope and depth. It is the premier platform for presentations of state-of-the-art, worldwide work in solid state lasers, nonlinear optics, new optical materials and laser applications,” said Peter Moulton, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, USA, Co-Chair of ASSL. “Five days of technical sessions, seven plenary speakers, short courses, business programming, exhibits and special events provided attendees with a broad view of topics– from early-stage research to industry applications.”

Keynote Programming

The following global leaders in lasers and laser-based applications shared their insights on quantum cascade lasers, petawatt lasers and quantum coherence in molecular photonics:

Federico Capasso, Harvard University, USA - High Performance Quantum Cascade Lasers from the Mid-IR to the Far-IR and their Impact on Science and Technology

Marlan O. Scully, Texas A&M University and Baylor University, USA - Remote Sensing of Trace Concentrations

Constantin Haefner, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA - Application-Enabling KiloWatt Average Power Petawatt Lasers

Christopher Marshall, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA - National Ignition Facility Science Applications

Valentin Gapontsev, CEO and Chairman of the Board, IPG, USA - 25 Years of the High Power Fiber Laser

Berthold Schmidt, TRUMPF Photonics, Inc., USA - Trends in Continuous Wave (CW) Solid State Lasers

Special invited presentation by Kevin J. Wolf, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, USA - An overview of the current Export Control Reform initiatives and a discussion on the final rules revising USML Category XII

Highlighted Research

Researchers from around the world presented industry-leading technical peer-reviewed papers on topics including:

Astonishingly Short Mid-infrared Pulses Offer New Tool for Peering Inside Atoms and Solids

Researchers at MIT have discovered a technique for generating phase-stable pulses only 13 femtoseconds long that span mid-IR wavelengths from 2.5 to 9 microns with 33 microjoules of scalable energy.

Innovative Technique for Shaping Light Could Solve Bandwidth Crunch — A research team, led by Andrew Forbes, a professor at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, has developed a technique known as spatial multiplexing that reshapes a laser beam into many spatial modes that can each carry information.

OSA’s Laser Congress provided attendees from around the world with the opportunity to network, present, learn and connect. The 2017 conference will be held at the Convention Center Nagoya, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan from 01-05 October 2017.

OSA Laser Congress

Lasers for Sensing & Free Space Communication (LS&C): Presentations were given on the latest use of lasers in diverse fields such as quantum technologies, environmental sensing, remote imaging, close-in inspection, and medical diagnostics. LS&C seeks to merge enabling research with application needs. The meeting highlighted means by which quantum protocols can enhance the performance of applications such as remote sensing and free-space communication.

Advanced Solid State Lasers (ASSL): This meeting looked at new sources, advanced technologies, components and system design to improve the operation and application of solid state lasers. It covered the spectrum of solid state lasers from materials research to applied science and design innovations.

Laser Applications Conference & Executive Forum (LAC): Presentations given during this conference focused on Materials Processing and High Intensity Laser Applications. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders in the defense, scientific research, and energy markets. One of the themes of this meeting was to initiate discussions on what engineering and production advances are needed to translate promising technological advances into marketable products.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org/100.

Media Contact: Media Relations at The Optical Society MediaRelations@osa.org

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