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Photonics–The technology of generating and harnessing light
and other energy sources whose quantum unit is the photon – The science of photonics 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, to
sophisticated optical systems.
The range of applications of photonics extends from energy
generation to detection to communications and information processing. Examples
include; light sensors, telecommunications equipment, holographs, CDs, laser
surgery, fiber optics, and the Internet – all of which are based on photonics.
Just as
applications of electronics have expanded dramatically since the first
transistor was invented in 1948, unique applications of photonics continue to
emerge with virtually every one of them requiring increasingly complex optics
to implement. In fact we have now
reached the point where whole industries are enabled with photonics at
their core:
• Aerospace technology—LiDAR,
altimeters, imaging systems for test and analysis of structures in airplanes,
heads-up displays using holography, plus optical pattern recognition which is
used extensively for navigation.
• Agriculture—Satellite
remote sensing for detection of large-scale crop effects, scanning and infrared
imaging to monitor crop growth and quality, and sensor systems for irrigation
• Biomedicine—Lasers for
surgery, therapies such as photodynamic therapy, and and LASIK, testing and
analysis devices for noninvasive glucose monitors
• Chemical technology—Relies
on molecular optical spectroscopy for analysis and on ultrashort laser pulses
to induce fluorescence; chemical vapor deposition and plasma etching support
photonics thin film applications
• Construction—Scanning site
topography, bar-code readers for inventory laser distance measuring and
alignment, and three dimensional analysis to track the progress of construction
• Engineering, microtechnology,
and nanotechnology—Lasers in the manufacture of electronic devices, computer
chips, MEMs production. Electrical motors, and computers
• Environmental technology—Optical
absorption spectroscopy used to monitor air quality; and effluents released from
stacks
• Geographic information systems
and global positioning—Uses optics and photonics in imaging and image
processing to refine atmospheric and space-based images
• Homeland Security—DNA
scanning, forensics, retinal scanning, dangerous substance identification,
optical surveillance
• Information technology—Data
storage, ultrafast data switching, and high speed transmission of data across fiber-optic
networks
• Manufacturing—Laser
welding, drilling, and cutting; precision measurements
• Transportation—Monitoring the
integrity of shipping containers arriving from foreign ports, plus navigation enabled
by ring laser gyroscopes
• World-Wide Web—Photonic technologies have revolutionized the
world-wide exchange of information and data flow by forming the technological
backbone of the World Wide Web. Since photonics technologies are at work, we
are now benefiting from the convergence of an industrial society with the
information society and dynamic growth due to their synergies.
Over the years, OPTICS 1 has participated in all of these
markets, helping our customers in many cases become dominant players in their
fields with the advent of our optical solutions for their particular
product. These have ranged from simple
single lenses to complete integrated optical systems.
Let OPTICS 1 help you unleash the
quality and breadth of the industry's leading optics technology team on your
next photonics design project.
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