Optics in 2021

This special issue of Optics & Photonics News highlights exciting peer-reviewed optics research that has emerged over the past year. 

2021 Photo Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of OPN’s 16^th annual After Image photo contest!

Newsroom

Research and Industry News

Toward fault-tolerant quantum computing / Detecting solar-panel defects / Fluorescent dyes encode data / Low-noise LIGO mirror coatings / High-performance photodetectors / X-ray scattering / Europe’s quantum tech / Advancing lidar market / Cooking with lasers / Upgraded comb breathalyzer

Conversations

Looking Back on a Year of Change

Connie Chang-Hasnain talks with OPN about her term as president of the society—and about the road ahead.

Career Focus

Owning the Problem

Employees who “exceed expectations” are often the ones who take the initiative and get the job done—despite roadblocks.

Infographic

Optics in 2022 & Beyond

Each December, OPN looks at interesting research results of the past year. But what about the year ahead? We asked several contributors to our “Optics in 2021” feature for thoughts on areas that might advance in 2022.

President's Message

Rising to Challenges

This is an exciting time for our field and organization.

Looking Back

30, 20, and 10 Years Ago in OPN

Atmospheric compensation; birefringent photonic crystal fibers; biological lasers.

Optica in Focus

News from the Society

Women in industry / Laser Congress student paper prizes / Rochester and Arizona industry events / Celebrating Carl Williams / Optica Fellow stories / Technology Showcase /Optica Fellows inducted into NAE / GEMM at COP26 / Optica officer election results for 2022 / Thank you, editors and volunteers

After Image

Time-resolved emission

Fluorescent tubes go through on-off-on cycles. Purple light emitted early in the cycle comes from mercury and short-lived states in the phosphor mixture, and green light emitted late in the cycle comes from a long-lived Tb(3+) state.