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PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE
SPIEDigitalLibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie
Education In Optics - Challenges At
Hand
Brian Thompson
Brian J. Thompson, "Education In Optics - Challenges At Hand," Proc. SPIE
0978, 1988 Intl Conf on Education in Optics, (27 April 1989); doi:
10.1117/12.948583
Event: 32nd Annual International Technical Symposium on Optical and
Optoelectronic Applied Science and Engineering, 1988, San Diego, CA,
United States
Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie on 27 Jun 2022 Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-usein optics
Education in optics -- challenges
challenges at
at hand
hand
Brian
Brian J.
J. Thompson
of Rochester,
The University of Rochester, Office
Office of
of the
the Provost
200 Administration Building,
200 Building, Rochester,
Rochester, New
New York
York 14627
14627
1.
1. INTRODUCTION
The theme
The theme of
of my
my comments is given
comments is given in
in the
the title "Education in
title "Education in Optics - Challenges
Optics - Challenges
at Hand
at Hand".
". The
The challenge
challenge that
that we
we all face is
all face is that
that of
of defining
defining our
our field
field and
and designing
designing
the program content for each educational
the educational level.
level. Simply put itit is:
is: What dodo we
we teach,
teach,
to whom,
whom, for
for what
what purpose and to
to fill
fill what
what need?
need? I I contend that we have
have incomplete
incomplete
all these
information about all these items.
items.
In non-specific
In non -specific terms
terms there
there seems
seems to
to be
be little
little question about thethe continued
continued need
need
for people educated in
for in optics.
optics. That need is felt and expressed
expressed byby those
those of
of us
us in
in aca-
aca-
demia
demia who
who produce
produce the
the graduates
graduates andand by
by those
those in
in industry
industry and
and government
government who
who are
are searching
searching
for
for the
the personnel
personnel to staff their various
various programs.
programs. Having said that, we we can
can ask
ask the
the
next
next question about the level
level of
of preparation.
preparation. The answer is is always that the need by
industry isis for talent at all levels;
levels; people
people with
with Associate,
Associate, B.S.,
B.S., M.S.,
M.S., and
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
degrees,
degrees, and
and some with postdoctoral education.
education. Indeed many of the academic
academic units
units them-
them-
selves have
selves have the
the need
need to
to cover
cover several
several ofof these
these programs
programs -- often
often because
because of
of the
the particular
particular
culture of
culture the academic institution.
of the institution. SomeSome institutions
institutions are only interested in in academic
academic
fields
fields ifif they
they are
are covered
covered upup to
to the
the highest
highest level
level and
and only
only have
have B.S.
B.S. programs
programs ifif they
they
also have Ph.D.
Ph.D. programs and vice
programs and vice-versa. insistent that
-versa. Other colleges are insistent that work
work up
up
to
to the
the masters
masters level
level must
must be
be undertaken
undertaken byby their
their faculty;
faculty; yet
yet others
others pride
pride themselves
themselves
on
on being
being undergraduate institutions with no no mandate
mandate or
or facilities
facilities for
for graduate
graduate work;
work;
finally community
finally community colleges
colleges are
are often
often restricted
restricted toto associate
associate degree
degree level
level activity
activity
and
and need
need to
to arrange
arrange transfers
transfers for
for those
those students
students who
who want
want to
to go
go further
further with
with their
their
education.
Assessing the actual need is somewhat difficult since many corporations do not
separate out
separate out their optics related needs
needs at
at the
the B.S.
B.S. level
level from
from other
other science
science and
and engineer-
engineer-
ing needs,
ing needs, hence
hence their
their personnel
personnel departments
departments are
are looking
looking for
for B.S.
B.S. degree
degree recipients
recipients
in
in physics
physics or
or electrical
electrical engineering,
engineering, some
some of
of whom
whom will
will be
be put
put to
to work
work on
on optical
optical prob-
prob-
lems. Others with significant hardware
Others hardware needs
needs will
will also include, these days,
also include, days, the mechani-
mechani-
cal
cal engineering graduate.
graduate. At At the
the master's level there
master's level there is
is aa tendency
tendency toto be
be more specific
more specific
but
but clearly
clearly the
the demand
demand is
is for
for graduates
graduates ofof real
real M.S.
M.S. programs
programs such
such as
as those
those that
that exist
exist
in engineering
in engineering schools as opposed to to those
those M.S.
M.S. degrees
degrees that
that are
are given
given often
often as
as consola-
consola-
tion
tion prizes
prizes for
for those
those who
who do
do not
not make
make it
it to
to aa Ph.D.
Ph.D. -- those
those students
students that
that get
get the
the M.S.
M.S
degree
degree automatically upon passing the the Ph.D.
Ph.D. qualifying
qualifying examination
examination are,
are, of
of course,
course,
not
not on
on the
the market
market with
with that
that degree
degree since
since the
the majority
majority of
of these
these students
students will
will complete
complete
the doctoral degree.
degree.
2. OPTICAL
2. OPTICAL SCIENCE
SCIENCE AND
AND ENGINEERING:
ENGINEERING: AA CHANGING
CHANGING DISCIPLINE
DISCIPLINE
What is our field and what should
What is should wewe teach?
teach? Certainly we can can all
all agree
agree that
that the
the
field of
field of optics has changed radically
optics has radically inin the
the last
last twenty
twenty years.
years. Furthermore we will
probably
probably agree
agree on
on what
what the
the field
field was
was twenty
twenty years
years ago,
ago, but
but II am
am sure
sure there
there will
will be
be
considerable
considerable discussion and argument about about what
what it
it means
means today.
today. How do we define
define optics;
optics;
what isis photonics;
photonics; what
what are
are electro-
electro-optics, acousto-optics
optics, acousto- and magneto-
optics and magneto-optics; what
optics; what
is opto-
is opto-electronics;
electronics; what
what is
is optronics?
optronics? AreAre they separate areas
they separate areas with their own
with their own defini-
defini-
tions? Are Are they all subsets of of aa broader
broader category?
category? We certainly
certainly have
have managed
managed to
to create
create
aa maze
maze of
of language
language to
to describe
describe our
our field
field -- aa maze
maze that
that seems
seems as
as if
if it
it is
is specifically
specifically
designed
designed toto confuse and frustrate the the uninitiated.
uninitiated.
I had
I had the
the opportunity
opportunity recently
recently toto comment
comment on on these
these topics
topics at
at aa recent
recent conference
conference
entitled "Photonics
"Photonics Overview
Overview -- Development
Development and
and Directions
Directions""l.
1. I I commented on that
that occasion
occasion
that being
being long
long-in-the-tooth,
-in- the -tooth,I Iremember
remember the
the days
days when
when courses,
courses conferences and and text
text
books
books were
were about 'light 1 and its
about 'light' its properties
properties and
and applications2,3.
applications 2 '3. The trend then
then changed
changed
to
to talk
talk and
and write about 'optics'
'optics' asas the
the study
study of
of light
light and
and its
its applications4,5.
applications 4 ' 5 . Optics
was
was usually broken down into
into two
two areas;
areas; geometrical
geometrical optics
optics and
and physical
physical optics6.
optics^. Geometri-
Geometri-
cal
cal optics
optics meant ray-
ray-optics
optics asas applied
applied to
to incoherent
incoherent phenomena (reflection
(reflection and
and refraction,
refraction,
for
for example), (mirrors, prisms,
example), incoherent devices (mirrors, prisms, lenses
lenses etc.)
etc.) and systems
and incoherent systems
(mainly image
(mainly image forming
forming systems, cameras, microscopes,
systems, cameras, microscopes, telescopes,
telescopes, theodolytes,
theodolytes, prism
prism
etc.).
spectrometers, etc.).
2
2 / SPIE Vol
/ SPIE Vol. 978
978 1988
1988 International
InternationalConference
Conference on
on Education
Education in Optics
Optics (1988)
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Physical optics meant wave optics
optics as
as applied
applied toto coherent
coherent phenomena
phenomena (interference,
(interference,
coherent devices,
diffraction and polarization) coherent devices, (diffraction
(diffraction gratings,
gratings, polarization,
polarization,
interference
interference filters,
filters, etc.)
etc.) and
and coherent
coherent systems, (interferometers, polarimeters,
systems, (interferometers, polarimeters, grating
grating
spectrometers,
spectrometers, diffractometers and
and the
the like).
like). And perish the the thought
thought that
that there
there should
should
be
be any
any overlap
overlap or
or significant
significant interaction
interaction between
between geometrical
geometrical and
and physical
physical optics
optics --
they
they were
were usually taught and written about
about asas separate
separate phenomenological
phenomenological topics!
topics!
Happily
Happily all
all that
that has changed and
has changed it is
and it is now
now acceptable
acceptable -- and
and valuable - to
valuable - to discuss
discuss
coherent
coherent imaging
imaging systems
systems for
for example,
example, and
and to
to recognize
recognize that
that diffraction
diffraction plays
plays aa funda-
funda-
mental role in incoherent imaging* -- the amplitude
amplitude impulse
impulse response and the optical
optical
transfer
transfer function
function are
are both
both key
key parameters
parameters that
that characterize
characterize the
the properties
properties and
and perform-
perform-
ance
ance of
of incoherent
incoherent imaging systems, while
imaging systems, while the
the amplitude
amplitude impulse
impulse response
response is
is the
the key
key
parameter for partially coherent
parameter for coherent and
and coherent
coherent imaging
imaging system
system performance.
performance. Furthermore,
these concepts can
can be
be usefully
usefully applied
applied to
to non
non-imaging systems.
-imaging systems.
A third leg was
third leg was added
added to this unbalanced
to this unbalanced optical
optical stool
stool to
to provide
provide aa balanced
balanced view
view
or should I
or should I say a stable
stable platform,
platform, from
from which
which to
to view
view the
the optical
optical world!
world! This third
third
leg was
leg was quantum optics8
optics^ which deals
deals with
with the
the particle
particle nature
nature of
of light
light and
and the
the importance
importance
of
of photons. We this concept
We need this concept to
to understand
understand the
the phenomena
phenomena of
of the
thephoto
photo-electric
-electric
effect,
effect, photoconductivity, photoluminescence and
photoconductivity, photoluminescence and devices
devices such
such as
as the
the laser.
laser.
It
It is
is very
very important unlike electronics
important to recognize that unlike electronics which
which is
is always
always thought
thought
of
of in
in terms
terms of
of electrons (with an
electrons (with an occasional
occasional wave
wave concept
concept thrown
thrown in),
in), optics
optics is
is most
most
effectively thought
effectively thought of
of as
as rays,
rays, waves
waves or
or photons
photons depending
depending upon
upon the
the particular
particular phenome-
phenome-
non,
non, device discussion. Indeed
device or system under discussion. Indeed you
you can thinking of
can insist on only thinking of
photons
photons ifif you
you must,
must, but
but that
that adds
adds complication
complication and
and can
can be
be said
said to
to be
be aa generalization
generalization
for the sake ofof generalization.
generalization.
To me
To (showing my biases)
me (showing biases) optical
optical science
science and
and engineering
engineering has
has always
always meant
meant the
the
of the generation,
study of generation, propagation,
propagation, manipulation
manipulation and
and detection
detection of
of light,
light, the
the interaction
interaction
of light with matter,
of light and its
matter, and its application
application to
to aa variety
variety of
of scientific,
scientific, industrial,
industrial, commer-
commer-
cial and
cial and military applications, devices
devices and
and systems.
systems. I I will Optical Science
will contend that Optical Science
and Engineering
and Engineering is
is aa broad
broad title
title that
that can
can encompass
encompass anything
anything that
that has
has to
to do
do with
with the
the
and use of light
study and light from
from the
the ultra
ultra violet
violet to
to the
the infrared.
infrared.
3. SO
3. SO WHAT IS PHOTONICS?
the optical
Given that view of the optical world
world what
what is
is photonics?
photonics? Maybe the the answer
answer can
can be
be
found in
found in the
the Photonics
Photonics Dictionary
Dictionary published
published asas one
one of
of several
several books
books that
that comprise
comprise the
the
Optical Industry and Systems
Optical Systems Purchasing
Purchasing Directory9
Directory^ inin which
which also
also includes
includes the
the Photonics
Photonics
Design and
Design and Applications
Applications Handbook and
and the
the Photonics
Photonics Buyers
Buyers Guide
Guide to
to Products
Products and
and Manufac-
Manufac-
turers . It
turers. It should not go
go without notice
notice that
that the
the publishers
publishers of
of this
this series
series of
of volumes
volumes
(Lauren
(Lauren Publishers) the "trade
Publishers) also publish the "trade journal"
journal" Photonics
Photonics Spectral°
Spectra 10 - -self
self-styled
-styled
as International Journal
as The International Journal of
of Optics,
Optics, Electro-
Electro-optics, Optics and
optics, Fiber Optics and Imaging.
Imaging.
Dictionary, the
To return to the Photonics Dictionary, the definition
definition isis given
given as:
as:
"The technology of
"The light and
of generating and harnessing light and other
other forms
forms of
of radiant
radiant energy
energy
whose is the
whose quantum unit is the photon.
photon. The
The science includes light
light emission,
emission, transmission,
transmission,
deflection
deflection amplification
amplification and
and detection
detection byby optical
optical components
components and
and instruments,
instruments, lasers
lasers
light sources,
and other light sources, fiber
fiber optics,
optics, electro-
electro-optical related hardware
optical instrumentation, related hardware
electronics, and sophisticated
and electronics, sophisticated systems.
systems. The of applications of
The range of of photonics
photonics
extends from energy generation
extends generation toto detection
detection to
to communications
communications andand information
information processing."
processing."
With aa little
little more some further
more imagination and some further specific
specific embellishments
embellishments we
we could
could
define
define optical science
science and
and engineering!
engineering! Certainly as as currently defined it it covers
covers much
of
of what
what II thought was optics,
optics, but
but not
not all
all of
of optics.
optics. It It is
is interesting that
that the
the term
term
imaging is
imaging is not
not included
included even
even though
though aa good
good deal
deal of
of optical (read -- photonics,
optical (read photonics, electro-
electro-
optical, opto-electronic)
optical, opto- electronic) systems
systems are
are imaging systems.
imaging systems.
The recent
The conference on a
recent conference a Photonics
Photonics Overview that
that II mentioned
mentioned earlier
earlier has
has aa slightly
slightly
different view of photonics and
different and the
the program
program stated
stated that:
that:
"As electronics
"As is the science and
electronics is and technology
technology of
of the
the transmission
transmission of
of energy
energy and
and
information via
information via electrons,
electrons, photonics is the
photonics is science and
the science and technology
technology of
of the
the transmission
transmission
of energy and information via
of via photons
photons (light).
(light). The primary sources
sources of
of photonic
photonic energy
energy
lasers and light
are lasers light emitting
emitting diodes.
diodes. Photonics is is rapidly
rapidly being
being applied
applied to
to telecommuni-
telecommuni-
cations, manufacturing,
cations, computing, image
manufacturing, computing, image processing,
processing, machine
machine vision,
vision, the
the military,
military,
and many other industries."
*Even Bob
*Even Bob Fischer, the co
Fischer, the co-chair
-chair of
of this
this meeting,
meeting, believes, that "Hindsight
believes, apparently, that "Hindsight
diffraction-limited".
is diffraction -limited ".77
SPIE Vol 978 1988
SPIE Vol. 1988 International
InternationalConference
Conference on Education in Optics (1988)//
Optics (1988) 3
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It is
It to systems
is primarily to
interesting that the limitation is systems that use lasers
that use and
lasers and
light emitting diodes.
light range of
can only assume that the very wide range
diodes. II can other sources
of other sources
they do
uninteresting; or perhaps they
are uninteresting; not emit
do not photons, only
emit photons, rays 1!
only rays!!
4.
4. SO
SO WHAT
WHAT IS
IS ELECTRO ACOUSTO-OPTICS
-OPTICS, ACOUSTO-
ELECTRO-OPTICS, OPTICS AND MAGNETO-OPTICS?
AND MAGNETO- OPTICS?
4.1. Electro-optics
4.1. Electro- optics
electro-optic
The electro
The refers to
effect refers
-optic effect to the change in
the change properties of
in the dielectric properties of aa
field is
when an electric field
material when
material applied to
is applied that material.
to that crystalline
material. Thus for a crystalline
material both
material the indices
both the for the
indices for ordinary and
the ordinary extraordinary rays
the extraordinary
and the rays (waves) are modified
(waves) are modified
and there is
hence there
and hence change in
resulting change
is aa resulting in the polarization of
the polarization of exit beams if
exit beams the input
if the input
beam is polarized. The The linear electro effect (or
-optic effect
electro-optic Pockel's effect)
(or Pockel's effect) is used in
is used in
number of
a number of devices
devices for modulation of an incident
of an beam. Both amplitude,
optical beam.
incident optical (and
amplitude, (and
hence, intensity) and
hence, intensity) modulation are
phase modulation
and phase possible to
are possible give aa continuous
to give set of
continuous set of intensi-
intensi-
ties between off
ties between off (no and on
intensity) and
(no intensity) on (full illumination); it
(full illumination); it is, course, possible
of course,
is, of possible
to use
to as aa binary device for
it as
use it devices included
switching. Other devices
for switching. mode-
deflectors, mode
included deflectors, -
lockers, Q-
lockers, frequency converters,
switches, frequency
Q-switches, convertors, etc. The material used in
etc. The these devices
in these devices
go from
go the classical materials such
from the as quartz
such as quartz and chloride, to
copper chloride,
and copper phosphates,
the phosphates,
to the
dihydrogen phosphate
potassium dihydrogen
potassium phosphate (KDP), dihydrogen phosphate
ammonium dihydrogen
(KDP), ammonium (ADP) to
phosphate (ADP) more modern
to more modern
Arsenide, Zinc
Gallium Arsenide,
materials including Gallium Telluride, Lithium
Zinc Telluride, Niobate, Barium
Lithium Niobate, Titanate,
Barium Titanate,
etc.
electro-optic
quadratic electro
The quadratic first electro
the first
-optic effect was the -optic effect to
electro-optic observed
be observed
to be
in 1873 by Kerr and
in 1873 linear electro
the linear
and the effect was
-optic effect
electro-optic was observed by Rontgen and
by Rontgen Kundt
and Kundt
1893 and later in other materials by
in 1893
in Pockels.
by Pockels.
Electro-optical systems could
Electro- optical systems said to
be said
could be be systems
to be that depend
systems that there operation
for there
depend for operation
that use
on the devices that electro-optic
the electro
use the effect. The
-optic effect. The device definition is clear,
is clear,
clear, total
subsystem definition may also be clear, definition is
system definition
total system more problematic.
is more problematic.
in electro
source in
important source
The laser is an important
The electro-optic hence, the
-optic systems and hence, trade
the trade
Laser Focusll
magazine Laser itself as
styles itself
Focus^- styles magazineofofElectro-
"the magazine
as "the Electro-optics Technology."
optics Technology."
4.2. Acousto-optics
4.2. Acousto- optics
In 1922, Brillouin
In 1922, had predicted
Brillouin had that light
predicted that would be
light would diffracted by
be diffracted and the
sound, and
by sound, the
effect was
effect demonstrated by
was demonstrated Debye and
by Debye Sears in
and Sears 1932 in
in 1932 paper entitled
in aa paper entitled "On the Scattering
"On the Scattering
optics is
Acousto-optics
Light by Supersonic Waves." Acousto-
of Light
of is then defined as
then defined the modification
as the
of aa light
of its interaction
light beam by means of its with aa sound
interaction with wave.
sound wave.
Thus acousto-optic
Thus acousto and refraction
diffraction and
-optic diffraction can be produced in
refraction can solid materials
in solid materials
(eg.
(eg. quartz). A sound wave, standing, can be produced in the
wave, either travelling or standing,
the elasto
material and the interaction then
-optic interaction
elasto-optic periodic variation
produces aa periodic
then produces of the
variation of the
refractive index of
refractive material.
of the material.
light beam is very much larger than the wavelength of
When the diameter of the light of
the sound wave
the sound in the
wave in material, the
the material, periodic sound
the periodic wave produces
sound wave index of
periodic index
produces aa periodic of
refraction variation that in
refraction turn acts
in turn grating. If
like aa grating.
acts like If the light beam diameter
is very much
is very less than
much less wavelength of
the wavelength
than the of the sound wave
the sound significant refraction
then significant
wave then refraction
can result.
of the light can
of -optic effect
acousto-optic
result. Hence the acousto can be
effect can be used for deflectors
used for
and devices
and modulators and using the
devices using acousto-optic
the acousto -optic interaction are are obviously termed
obviously termed
acousto-optic
acousto devices -- any
-optic devices that uses
device that
any device the interaction of
uses the light with
of light in
sound in
with sound
electro-optics,
any material. As with electro- the devices
optics, the and subsystem definitions are
devices and clear
are clear
but again total system definition is
but more problematic.
is more problematic.
4.3. Magneto-optics
4.3. Magneto- optics
At the
At the turn the century
of the
turn of Kerr and
century Kerr Majorana discovered
and Majorana field effect
magnetic field
discovered aa magnetic effect
Kerr (quadratic)
similar to the Kerr electro-optical
(quadratic) electro- optical effect. actually the
effect. Faraday was actually first
the first
person to observe
person to magnetic field
that aa magnetic
observe that applied to
when applied
field when to certain refracting materials
certain refracting materials
produced a change in the plane of polarization. The
of polarization. current interest
The current interest is centered in
is centered in
magnetic materials
strongly magnetic
strongly can be observed
materials where the effect can in quite
observed in quite thin layers.
thin layers.
Shutters,
Shutters, readout devices and devices are
storage devices
and storage applicationsofofthe
interesting applications
are interesting magneto-
themagneto -
effect.
optic effect.
"Blank"-optics
4.4. "Blank " -optics
about any
dream about
We can dream kind of
any kind " -optics where
"blank"-optics
of "blank you supply the blank. The
where you
interpretation would be the control
be the control of the light
of the light beam bymeans
beam by "blank".
the"blank
meansofofthe ". Certainly
microwaves have used to
been used
have been light. You will
modulate light.
to modulate soon discover that the
will soon the problem
problem
dreaming is
of dreaming thelanguage
thatthe
is that optics ", "x"x-ray
"electron-optics",
language"electron- -ray optics )' -ray optics"
", "" ^-ray
optics", optics"
4
4 SPIE Vol.
/ SPIE
/ 1988 International
978 1988
Vol.978 International Conference on Education
Conference on Optics (1988)
in Optics
Education in (1988)
Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie on 27 Jun 2022
Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-usemythical "N
and even the mythical "N-ray
-ray optics"
optics" have
have already been used
used for
for something
something different.
different.
So
So dream-on
dream -on and
and invent
invent new
new terminology
terminology to
to continue
continue to the uninitiated!!
to confound the uninitiated!!
5. WHAT IS
5. IS OPTO- ELECTRONICS?
OPTO-ELECTRONICS?
is some
Again there is some confusion
confusion about
about the
the terminology
terminology opto-
opto-electronics.
electronics. Some authors
seem to use it
it interchangeably
interchangeably with
with electro-
electro-optics
optics but is clearly
but that is clearly not
not correct.
correct.
The
The photonics
photonics dictionary referred
referred to
to earlier
earlier gives
gives the
the following
following definition:
definition:
"Pertaining
"Pertaining to
to aa device power, emits
device that responds to optical power, emits or
or modifies
modifies optical
optical
radiation, optical radiation
radiation, or utilizes optical radiation for
for its
its internal
internal operation.
operation. Any device
that functions
functions as
as an
an electrical
electrical-to-optical
-to- optical oror optical
optical-to-electrical
-to- electrical transducer."
transducer."
The relatively
relatively new
new journal
journal "The
"The International
InternationalJournal
JournalofofOpto-
Opto-electronics"12 (that
electronics "12 (that
incidentally and publicly incorporates
incorporates the the International
International Journal
Journal ofof Optical
Optical Sensors)
Sensors)
came into
came into being recently andand is
is published
published by by Taylor
Taylor and
and Francis.
Francis. This journal has
This journal
aa somewhat
somewhat different definition. It It states that: that:
"Opto-electronics
"Opto- electronics isis now
now emerging
emerging as as the
the dominant
dominant technology for the the acquisition,
acquisition,
storage, processing and
storage, and communication
communication of of information.
information. The scope
scope for
for potential
potential
application
application continues
continues toto expand
expand as as new materials,
materials, devices
devices and
and systems
systems become
become avail-
avail-
able."
able."
Furthermore, there is also the
Furthermore, the statement
statement in in the
the publicity
publicity material:
material:
"International Journal of of Opto-
Opto-electronics
electronics covers
covers the
the following topics, though
though
authors
authors are encouraged to to submit
submit work
work in in any
any related
related area:
area:
Underlying research intointo amorphous
amorphous semiconductors,
semiconductors, glasses,
glasses, photorefractives,
photorefractives,
polymerics and
liquid crystals, polymerics and other
other novel
novel electro
electro-optic
-optic materials.
Development of devices basedbased on on superlattice
superlattice and and tunnel
tunnel structures.
structures.
Opto-electronic
Opto- electronic light
light sources
sources suchsuch asas semiconductor lasers,
lasers, LEDs
LEDs (Light
(Light Emitting
Emitting
Diode), gas, colour-
Diode), eximer, gas, colour-centre
centre andand waveguide lasers.
waveguide lasers.
The
The use
use of
of holography such as as HOEs (Holographic Optical
HOEs (Holographic Optical Element)
Element) and
and CGHs
CGHs
(Computer Generated Hologram).
(Computer Hologram).
The
The fabrication andand environmental
environmental testing
testing ofof opto-
opto-electronic components for
electronic components for
reliability and failure
failure mechanisms.
mechanisms.
Progress in optical
Progress in sensor design
optical sensor design and sensor integration;
and sensor integration; imaging
imaging devices
devices
and image processing.
processing.
Remote optical sensing,
sensing, optical
optical fibre
fibre sensors
sensors and
and networks.
networks.
Optical memory, storage and
memory, storage and optical
optical signal
signal processing.
processing.
The applications of of opto-
opto-electronics,
electronics, as as for
for example to communications
communications and
and
computing, including
computing, including work
work onon fibre
fibre-based
-based LANs,
LANs, optical interconnects,
interconnects, optical
optical
and parallel
switching and parallel processing
processing in in multi
multi-channel systems, and
-channel systems, and architectures
architectures
for digital optical systems.
for systems.
in heuristic optical
Advances in optical and hybrid optical systems towards optical expert expert
systems, neural networks and
systems, and AI."
AI."
Well, all-inclusive
Well, that's pretty all- inclusive and
and so
so II should
should be
be able
able to
to cancel
cancel all
all my
my other
other
subscriptions!!
A recent
recent issue
issue of
of the magazine
magazine Mosaic
Mosaic takes
takes on
on aa rather
rather different
different - - and
and to
to my
my mind
mind
very limited -- definition.
definition. The excellent article by by Norman
Norman Metzger13
Metzger 13 discusses
discusses opto-
opto-
electronics asas "Electrons
"Electrons and
and Photons
Photons in
in Double
Double Harness
Harness".". The summary
summary (abstract
(abstract?)
?)
reads "The
reads "The marriage
marriage ofof electronic
electronic andand optical
optical phenomena
phenomena in in the
the production
production of of useful
useful
devices advances in
devices foreshadows major advances in communications
communications and and computing
computing technologies.
technologies. The
arsenide family
gallium arsenide family plays
plays anan important
importantrole
role".
". The very exciting topictopic discussed
discussed
is really the combination
is combination of of optical
optical and
and electronic
electronic devices
devicesininthethesame
samemulti
multi-layer
-layer
device -- itit is
is truly
truly the
the former
former dream
dreamofofso-
so-called "integrated-optics"
called "integrated- coming true,
optics" coming true,
with
with the
the addition
addition of "strong interaction
of "strong interaction between
between photons
photons and
and electrons
electrons inin very
very narrow
narrow
domains".
domains ". We
We now await thethe invention
invention and
and development
development of of the
the silicon
silicon-based laser to
-based laser to
bring the
the next
next major
major step
step ininthis
thisintegrated
integrated-optics
-optics subsub-field.
-field. Of
Of course I contend
that the
that the integrated optic and and electronic
electronic aspect
aspect ofof opto-
opto-electronics
electronics is is but
but aa portion
portion
of the field discussed
of discussed above.
above. Opto-electronics
Opto- electronics could
could be
be thought
thought of
of as
as any
any combination
of optical
of optical and
and electronic subsystems to
electronic subsystems to make
make upup aa total system. (Similarly
total system. (Similarly there
there is
is
considerable
considerable interest in in opto-
opto-mechanical
mechanical systems
systems that
that have definition).
have an analogous definition).
6.
6. AND THEN THERE
THERE IS
IS OPTRONICS!
OPTRONICS!
II cannot
cannot quite
quite find
find the
the origin
origin of
of the
the word
word optronics
optronics -- certainly
certainly itit has
has been
been around
around
for
for some
some time
time -- II recall
recall the
the formation
formation over
over 20
20 years
years ago
ago of
of at
at least
least one
one company
company that
that
the word
used the 'Optronics 1 in its
word 'Optronics' its title (e.g. Optronics International).
title (e.g International). The journal
The trade journal
founded
founded in
in 1982
1982 on
on Lasers and Applications14
Applications^ 4 changed
changed its
its name
name in
in May
May 1987
1987 to
to Lasers
Lasers
Optronics-L5, with
and Optronics15, with the
the following
following"equation
"equation":
":
OPTics + electRONICS == OPTRONICS
OPTics OPTRONICS
So
So that is that!
that!
)PIE Vol.
SPIE Vol. 978 1988
1988 International
International Conference
Conference on Education Optics (1988)
Education in Optics /1988) // 5
5
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Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-useIn concluding
In concluding this paper, let
this section of the paper, let us
us return
return for
for aa moment
moment to
to our
our language
language
barrier with a question: "What
"What would
would you
you call
call aa device that consists
consists of
of an
an input
input ampli-
ampli-
fier plus
fier emitter, aa photodiode
plus an LED emittor, photodiode and
and an
an output
output amplifier
amplifier?"
?" IsIs it an optical
coupler, an
coupler, an optical isolator, an optocoupler,
optical isolator, optocoupler, an an optoisolator,
optoisolator, anan optically
optically coupled
coupled
isolator, an opto-
isolator, opto-electronic
electronic isolator photocoupler? These are all terms
isolator or a photocoupler? terms used
used
literature! So
in the literature! So take your pick.
pick.
7. HYBRID
7. HYBRID SYSTEMS
What has
What has really
really changed
changed isis that
that at
at one
one time
time optical systems were
optical systems were essentially justjust
that
that -- combinations
combinations of mirrors, prisms, gratings,
of lenses and mirrors, gratings, etc.
etc. Yes,
Yes, indeed they
were mechanical
were mechanical systems
systems too
too since
since the
the tolerances
tolerances were
were quite
quite tight,
tight, although
although the
the first
first
microscopes
microscopes consisted
consisted of
of aa very
very small
small single
single lens
lens in
in aa metal
metal plate. The early marriage
plate. The marriage
of
of optics
optics and
and fine
fine mechanics
mechanics was an important partnership
partnership -- eg.eg. focusing
focusing using
using precision
precision
threads. Next electrical components
components and controls
controls were
were added to make more sophisticated
sophisticated
systems. NonNon-natural
-natural light
light was
was then
then added
added for
for illumination requiring
requiring electrical
electrical discharge,
discharge,
flashlamps
flashlamps and laser. The
and then the laser. The eye as the active detector
detector played
played aa very
very important
important
role (and still
role (and still does
does but
but now
now in
in aa different
different wayway -- it
it now
now often
often views
views some
some processed
processed
output) and computation was done
output) done byby the
the human
human brain
brain directly
directly onon the
the output
output of
of the
the system.
system.
Photographic
Photographic film
film was
was developed to capture a permanent record record of
of an
an object
object or
or scene
scene
being viewed
being viewed that
that became
became aa permanent
permanent image,
image, other
other detectors
detectors have
have since
since been
been developed
developed
but none
but none with
with the
the resolution
resolution or or number
number of of resolution
resolution elements
elements as "good old
as "good old film"
film" when
when
area spatial-
used as an area spatial-detector
detector ---- but
but we
we are
are getting there.
there. Nevertheless, silicon
Nevertheless, silicon
detectors significant impact
detectors have had a significant impact onon optical
optical systems.
systems. TV systems,
systems, video systems,
systems,
etc. have been used for capturing
etc. capturing andand providing
providing instant
instant replay
replay of
of the
the captured
captured information.
information.
Furthermore, time can
Furthermore, can replace
replace space
space for
for capture
capture and
and transmission
transmission of
of information.
information.
Finally we
Finally we may
may add
add that
that significant
significant processing
processing can
can be
be carried
carried out
out before
before the
the information
information
is
is presented
presented to
to the
the human
human observer -- if it
it has to
to be
be presented
presented at
at all
all --
-- or
or before
before
an automatic decision is
is made.
made.
Today then
then optics
optics is
is but
but part
part of
of systems
systems that
that combine
combine the
the best
best of
of fine
fine mechanics
mechanics
-the
-the best
best of
of electronics,
electronics, the best of the product of of the
the solid
solid state
state and
and materials
materials
science
science work,
work, the
the best
best of and software,
of the computer hardware and software, the
the best
best of
of controlled
controlled
light sources, etc.
light sources, etc. Thus
Thus from almost
almost anyone's
anyone's particular
particular discipline
discipline the
the systems
systems are
are
hybrid
hybrid and
and we
we all
all believe,
believe, of
of course,
course, that
that our
our part
part is
is the
the key
key part,
part, and
and all
all the
the sub-
sub-
systems are
systems just that -- they are
are just are merely subsidiary.
subsidiary. Naturally, optics is
Naturally, for me optics is the
the
key to many of systems!!
of these hybrid systems!!
These comments
These comments are
are all
all true
true whether
whether we
we talk
talk about
about direct
direct imaging systems, holographic
imaging systems, holographic
systems, interferometric
systems, interferometric systems,
systems, diffraction
diffraction based
based systems,
systems, polarization
polarization dependent
dependent
systems, etc.,
systems, etc., etc.
etc.
We
We are
are dealing
dealing with
with aa very
very applied
applied topic
topic driven
driven by
by application
application needs
needs whether
whether it
it
be in industrial
be in industrial inspection
inspection and
and quality
quality control,
control, active
active or
or passive
passive sensors,
sensors, commercial
commercial
systems for
systems for the
the home,
home, office
office or
or factory,
factory, systems
systems for
for research
research and
and development,
development, military
military
systems, etc.
systems, etc.
The range
The range of
of interesting
interesting topics
topics is
is enormous
enormous going
going alphabetically
alphabetically from replacing
replacing
the
the abacus
abacus with
with an
an optical
optical computer
computer to
to instrumentation
instrumentation for
for process
process control
control in
in zymology
zymology
(the
(the science
science of
of fermentation).
fermentation).
In size
In size the
the range
range is
is from the smallest chip
the smallest chip that
that has
has the "electrons and
the "electrons and photons
photons
in double
in double harness"
harness" to
to the
the largest
largest laser
laser systems
systems to
to the
the SDI
SDI systems
systems with
with aa size
size to
to fit
fit
all in between.
Today's educational programs must
Today's must prepare
prepare people
people for
for the
the wide
wide range
range of
of activities.
activities.
Fundamentals to
Fundamentals to the
the fore
fore of
of course,
course, so
so that
that graduates
graduates will
will have
have the
the ability
ability toto change
change
with
with the
the changing of
of technology and
and the
the applications
applications of
of that
that technology.
technology.
8.
8. INFORMATION EXPLOSION
Everyone likes to talk about
Everyone likes about and
and give
give statistics
statistics about
about the
the so-
so-called
called information
information
explosion. Whatever you wish to call call it there
there has
has certainly been a a significant
significant expansion
expansion
of
of the
the literature in Optics and and related
related technologies.
technologies. I I remember the days
days when
when II could
could
actually
actually read
read the literature; now
the literature; now the
the number
number of
of journals,
journals, books,
books, trade
trade magazines,
magazines, digests,
digests,
proceedings,
proceedings, conference
conference programs,
programs, short
short course
course programs,
programs, etc.
etc. is
is more
more than
than any
any individual
individual
can digest. Just
Just two
two examples
examples will suffice -
will suffice - our
our own
own society
society that
that put
put on
on this
this meeting
meeting
will be publishing nearly 150 150 proceedings 1988, up from an average of
proceedings in 1988, of less
less than
than
50 for the
50 the three
three years
years 1979
1979-81.
-81. The
The Optical
Optical Society of America has has increased
increased its
its journal
journal
pages
pages published
published by over 70% since
since 1980
1980 -- this
this covers
covers eight
eight different
different journals.
journals. It
is
is interesting
interesting toto note
note that
that membership
membership of
of the
the O.S.A.
O.S.A. only
only increased
increased byby about
about 15%
15% during
during
6 / SPIE
SPIE Vol.
Vol.978
978 1988
1988 International
International Conference on Education
Education in Optics
Optics (1988)
(1988)
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the same period. II am not suggesting, of course,
not suggesting, course, that
that only
only members
members read
read these
these journals
journals
-- but
but II hope
hope somebody (or
(or should
should II say
say somebodies)
somebodies) are
are assimilating
assimilating all
all the
the information.
information.
9.
9. THE
THE MANPOWER RESOURCE
Despite
Despite the
the fact
fact that
that the
the Optics
Optics in
in Education
Education brochure
brochure published
published by
by SPIE
SPIE -- The
The
International Society of Optical Engineering
International Engineering -- lists
lists 6262 optics
optics programs
programs in
in North
North America,
America,
these
these programs
programs only provide aa fraction
fraction of
of the
the manpower
manpower needs.
needs. This brochure is is getting
getting
better
better but
but II continue
continue to
to be
be aa critic
critic of
of its
its factual
factual content
content because
because II find
find it
it missleading
missleading
since many of
since give the
of the listings give the total
total number
number ofof undergraduate
undergraduate and
and graduate
graduate students
students
in the
in the department that hosts thethe optics
optics program.
program. For example,
example, Purdue
Purdue University's
University's
listing is
listing is for
for the School of Electrical
Electrical Engineering
Engineering and
and lists
lists Graduate
Graduate Students
Students 500;
500;
Undergraduates 1200.
1200. Correct information for for the School of
the School of Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
but
but not
not correct
correct for
for the
the number
number of
of students
students inin the
the optics
optics program
program in
in that
that school
school and
and
is thus
is thus very missleading.
The
The people
people who
who make
make up
up the
the group
group entering
entering the
the work
work force
force at
at the
the B.S. level to
B.S. level to work
work
on
on optical
optical devices
devices and
and systems
systems are
are the
the limited
limited number
number of
of graduates
graduates with
with optics
optics majors
majors
or
or minors
minors plus
plus the graduates of of physics
physics and
and engineering
engineering programs
programs (particularly
(particularly electrical
electrical
engineering). (I
(I refer
refer the
the reader
reader to
to aa useful
useful article Vetter 1 ^ from
article by Betty Vetter16 from which
which
the statistics
the statistics that II quote are are taken.)
taken.) The number of engineering degrees degrees as as aa percentage
percentage
of
of all BABA/BS
/BS degrees
degrees decreased dramatically from
decreased dramatically from 1960
1960-1975 from 10%
-1975 from 10% to
to 4 4%, it climbed
%, it climbed
the next decade to
back in the to about
about 8%
8% and
and is
is now
now declining
declining again.
again. The actual number
of
of baccalaureate
baccalaureate engineering
engineering degrees
degrees granted
granted rose
rose from
from the
the low
low in
in 1976
1976 of of well
well under
under
40,000
40,000 toto aa peak
peak ofof above 1985 and has
above 70,000 in 1985 has since
since been
been dropping
dropping again.
again. I I needn't
remind you
remind you that
that the
the college
college age
age population
population will
will continue
continue toto decline
decline for
for the
the next
next eight
eight
years. this 25% decline (we
Following this (we have
have seen
seen about
about the first 6%
the first 6% so
so far)
far) the
the population
population
will
will hold level until well into into the
the first
first decade
decade of
of the
the next
next century.
century. ThoseThose who take
comfort in
comfort in the
the older
older student
student population
population should
should realize
realize that
that this
this is
is not
not aa group
group that
that
attempts engineering programs. Women should be a target
attempts target population
population to to become
become students
students
in
in engineering
engineering butbut after increasing to justjust over
over 20%
20% in
in the
the entering
entering class
class inin 1986
1986
(class
(class ofof 1990)
1990) both
both the
the actual
actual number
number and
and the proportions are declining.
declining.
The minority group also should
The should be
be aa target
target population since they
population since they are
are an
an increasing
increasing
our young
percentage of our young people.
people. Unfortunately our track recordrecord is
is not
not very
very good
good here
here
either; the
either; the number
number of
of freshman
freshman has
has increased
increased but
but aa disappointingly
disappointingly small
small percentage
percentage
graduated. For
have actually graduated. For black students about
black students about 6%
6% are
are enrolled
enrolled as
as freshman
freshman which
which
is
is half
half of
of the
the parity target but only about 30% 30% of
of these
these actually
actually graduate
graduate (about
(about 1/6
1/6
of parity). The record is is only
only slightly
slightly better
better for
for American
American Indian
Indian and
and Hispanic
Hispanic students.
students.
The
The statistics
statistics on
on Asian and foreign students
students are
are very
very different
different and
and are
are quite
quite positive.
positive.
The
The American
American Institute of Physics (AIP)(AIP) keeps
keeps good
good records
records on
on the
the number
number of
of degrees
degrees
that
that are
are granted
granted in physics (see(see Ellis
Ellis 1988)17.
1988 ) 17 . The
The peak year at the B.S.
B.S. level
level was
was
in
in 1968-69
1968 -69when
when nearly
nearly 6,000
6,000 students
students received
received their
their degrees; low point
degrees; the low point since
since then
then
just over
was just over 4,400
4,400 in
in 1978
1978-79. 1986-87
-79. The 1986 -87 data
data show graduates. Of
show 5,253 graduates. later
Of this later
group,
group, some
some 51%
51% continued on into graduate study; study; 2%2% said
said that
that they
they were
were studying
studying "materi-
"materi-
al science/optics"
al science /optics" (a
(a category
category used
used by AIP).
AIP).
In
In summarizing
summarizing these
these two
two populations
populations we
we have
have to
to conclude
conclude that
that there
there are
are not
not enough
enough
engineering
engineering and
and science graduates around toto fill
fill the
the national
national need.
need. Hence it could
Hence it
be
be said
said to
to follow
follow that
that there
there are
are not
not enough
enough with
with education
education in,
in, or
or willingness
willingness to
to direct
direct
their
their talents
talents to
to optical
optical science
science and
and engineering
engineering to
to fill
fill the
the national
national need,
need, but
but we
we
the real
are not sure what the real demand
demand figures
figures are.
are.
level demands
Graduate level demands and
and production
production are
are probably
probably more
more out
out of
of balance.
balance. InIn general,
the number of Ph.D.'s produced
the produced currently
currently does
does not
not even
even provide
provide for
for adequate
adequate re-
re-staffing
staffing
of the faculty ranks
of ranks let
let alone
alone meet
meet industrial
industrial and
and governmental
governmental research
research needs.
needs. In
optics, however,
optics, however, wewe are
are perhaps
perhaps doing aa better job since
better job since many
many programs
programs are
are at
at the
the graduate
graduate
level
level even
even if
if many ofof them are narrowly focused.
focused. Again we do do not
not have
have an
an accurate
accurate
the need.
measure of the need. Ph.D. production
production from physics
physics programs
programs has just recovered
has just recovered the
the
1975-76
1975 -76 level
level at
at just
just over
over 1,100
1,100 but is significantly
significantly behind
behind the
the peak
peakyear
yearofof1969
1969-70
-70
granted. Very few
when 1,545 degrees were granted. few of
of those
those people
people have
have any specialization
any specialization
in optics.
The
The master's level is
master's level is perhaps
perhaps the
the most
most difficult
difficult group
group on
on which
which to
to get
get accurate
accurate
information about the supply
information supply and
and demand.
demand. Some
Some of
of the
the master's degrees are
are given
given auto-
auto-
matically "enroute" to a Ph.D.
matically "enroute" Ph.D. Terminal master's degrees with genuine
genuine programmatic
programmatic
elements
elements are
are not in physics but
not common in but they
they are
are the
the norm
norm in
in engineering
engineering disciplines.
disciplines.
Total
Total M.S.
M.S. degrees is not
degrees granted is not aa measure
measure of
of the
the available
available work
work force.
force.
SPIE Vol.
SPIE Vol 978 1988
1988 International
International Conference
Conference on Education in Optics
Optics (1988)
(1988) // 7
Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie on 27 Jun 2022
Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-use10. SO TO THE FUTURE OF OPTICS
10.
future is
The future
The is always
always hard to predict, but what is
predict, but is that
certain is
is certain that future systems
future systems
depend on
will depend
will the progress
on the of current
progress of research and
current research current research
and current depend at
will depend
research will at
least in
least in part the extent to which that research
on the
part on is funded
research is funded and supported.
otherwise supported.
and otherwise
of us
Those of us in academia depend directly federal support
upon federal
directly upon much of
for much
support for scientific
our scientific
of our
work. Those in industry
Those in depend to
industry depend to some extent upon
some extent how the
upon how expenditures are
research expenditures
the research are
be treated under the
to be
going to law. So
tax law.
the tax So in upon what
in aa sense we all depend upon happens
what happens
in Washington and who can
in that! Nevertheless,
predict that!
can predict Nevertheless, let just aa few
choose just
let me choose examples.
few examples.
10.1. Integrated
10.1. optics on
optics-optics
Integrated optics- on chips
This is already a research reality
This is many devices
and many
reality and now been
have now
devices have demonstrated.
been demonstrated.
Most of the
Most of devices are
current devices
the current are analogue devices but
analogue devices some are
but some developed for
being developed
are being for digital
digital
applications. Tanguay, issue of
recent issue
Tanguay, writing in aa recent Optics News
of Optics News18, lists these
18 , lists these analogue
analogue
devices as
devices as being for "correlation, convolution, Fourier
"correlation, convolution, transformation, spectrum
Fourier transformation, analysis,
spectrum analysis,
nonlinear function
nonlinear generation, lattice
function generation, filtering, weighted
lattice filtering, wavelength multiplexing
weighted wavelength multiplexing
and demultiplexing, matrix -vector multiplication
matrix-vector multiplication and triangularization".
matrix triangularization
and matrix ". Tanguay
also lists
also those devices
lists those devices "that are inherently
"that are hybrid in
inherently hybrid nature such
in nature analogue to
as analogue
such as to
digital conversion,
digital digital to
conversion, digital to analogue and digital
conversion and
analogue conversion multiplication by
digital multiplication by analogue
analogue
convolution (DMAC) those that
and those
(DMAC)";"; and are digital,
that are "such as
digital, "such as Boolean logic operations
logic operations
addition".
binary addition
and binary same issue
Other articles in the same
". Other by L.
(edited by
issue (edited L. Hutcheson) tell
Hutcheson) tell
customized integrated
us how to design and have manufactured customized
us devices. The next
optics devices.
integrated optics
is the
step is
step the integration of the optical chip with
optical chip electronic chip
the electronic
with the earlier)
(discussed earlier)
chip (discussed
and then
and components for
then the integration with micromechanical components robots on
for robots chip.
on aa chip.
10.2. Optical
10.2. Optical computing
There is, of
There is, extensive literature,
course, a very extensive
of course, the viable
and the
literature, and of
application of
viable application
is widespread. The
analogue optical computing is
analogue The question today is, we see
is, will we digital
see aa digital
future? Others more expert than
optical computer in the near future?
optical can speculate
than II can with
speculate with
I must say that I
authority, but I
more authority, have some
I have doubts not
significant doubts
some significant about the
not about science
the science
even the
or even
or its implementation
the technology but about its and acceptance.
implementation and depend
acceptance. It may well depend
upon how
upon systems can
how rapidly biological systems be developed.
can be developed.
Strategic defense initiative
10.3. Strategic
10.3.
The systems
The imagined for
systems imagined this initiative
for this are certainly
initiative are the largest
certainly the most complex
and most
largest and complex
of so
hybrid systems thought of far. There are many optical (photonic)
so far. most
challenges, most
(photonic) challenges,
be met
of which can possibly be
of met with the appropriate
with the (and $'s).
effort (and
appropriate effort colleagues
$'s). My colleagues
in computer
in computer science tell me
science tell that the
me that command and
the command control systems
and control that must
systems that be extremely
must be extremely
are also
reliable are
reliable would even
some would
also extremely difficult -- some say it
even say not possible.
is not
it is possible.
10.4.
10.4. Laser fusion
number of
A number of laboratories around the to work
continue to
the world continue work extremely hard on
extremely hard this
on this
type of
type of hybrid
hybrid system that could provide an energy source
an energy the next
for the
source for century. Our
next century.
own laboratories at
own laboratories Rochester (Laboratory
at the University of Rochester Laser Energetics)
for Laser
(Laboratory for have
Energetics) have
over one
recently achieved aa major milestone of over
recently hundred times
one hundred density in
liquid density
times liquid the
in the
This gives
imploded target. Th-is gives strong impetus for future development.
future development.
10.5. Fiber optics
10.5. Fiber optics communications
There is
There doubt that
no doubt
is no the use
that the of fiber
use of optical systems
fiber optical has already
systems has changed the
already changed the
field. But we are only at
communications field. the very
at the beginning. The full
very beginning. potential,
full potential,
the full
and the bandwidth, of
full bandwidth, of optical
optical fibers will be
fibers will realized when
be realized techniques for
new techniques
when new for
coding are
pulse coding developed and
are developed -loss repeaters
low-loss
and low repeaters and couplers are perfected.
are perfected.
10.6.
10.6. Non -linear optics
Non-linear optics
Optical systems were
Optical systems linear systems
classically linear
were classically that is
but that
systems but is now changing rapidly
now changing rapidly
of non
understanding of
scientific understanding
as the scientific -linear optics
non-linear into applications
optics translated into such
applications such
amplifiers, frequency
as parametric amplifiers, doubler, phase
frequency doubler, conjugate mirrors,
phase conjugate etc. The next
mirrors, etc.
from the
come from
applications may well come current work
the current on squeezed
work on states.
squeezed states.
Image understanding
10.7. Image
10.7.
advent of
The advent
The researchers to
stimulated many researchers
of hybrid systems has stimulated realize that
to realize machine
that machine
vision does not have to to mimic human vision. Questions
human vision. about the
Questions are being asked about amount
the amount
(eg. the number
of information (eg.
of location of
and location
number and that will
photons) that
of photons) provide aa unique
will provide unique
determination
determination of two-dimensional
particular two
of aa particular -dimensional image or three
image or three-dimensional
-dimensional object from
object -- from
of such images or
a library of objects.
or objects.
8 / SPIE Vol
/ SPIE 978 1988
Vol. 978 Conference on
InternationalConference
1988International Optics (1988)
Education in Optics
on Education
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