|
2001 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN MARCH
ISSUE
Each issue of Photonics Tech Briefs in 2001 carried
a Product of the Month, a photonics product the editors felt
was of special interest and value to readers who work with
lasers, optics, fiber optics, and video and imaging equipment.
The winners of the gold, silver, and bronze awards were chosen
by readers, who voted on Photonics Tech Briefs' web
site. The winners will be announced in the March issue.
The finalists for the 2001 Readers Choice Product of the
Year Awards were:
+ TNP Instruments DUV-250 microscopic imaging system
+ StockerYale Lasiris micro-focus laser series
+ Veeco Metrology Group Optium™ laser diode inspection
system
+ Keithley Instruments L-I-V integrating sphere optical head
+ Polytec PI F-130 fiber nanopositioning system
+ Meadowlark Optics VersaLight™ polarizer
+ Cognex Corp. FiberInspect™ fiber flaw detection system
+ Indigo Systems Alpha™ NIR near-infrared camera
+ Raytheon Commercial Infrared PalmIR 250 digital camera
+ Tempo RIFOCS MT-RJ fiber optic link certification product
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEW NIST TRANSFER STANDARD FOR OPTICAL FIBER POWER METROLOGY
The Optoelectronics Division of the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) has developed a transfer standard that
will improve the accuracy of calibrations of optical fiber
power meters. NIST says this is one of the division's fastest-
growing measurement services.
Optical fiber power meters accept radiation through an optical
connector, so they cannot be calibrated directly against the
appropriate standard, the laser-optimized cryogenic radiometer.
Instead, NIST calibrates against a transfer standard suitable
for use with a collimated beam and highly divergent light.
The new NIST design builds on earlier multiple-reflection
trap designs, modified to achieve a field of view of up to
30 degrees. It can be constructed with either silicon or germanium
detectors to provide spectral coverage from 450 to 1800 nanometers.
For further information, contact Paul Hale at the Laboratory:
(303) 497-5367; hale@boulder.nist.gov.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OPTOELECTRONIC OSCILLATOR WITH LOW ACCELERATION SENSITIVITY
Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have designed
and constructed an optoelectronic oscillator with a nominal
operating frequency of 11.763 GHz to demonstrate a technique
for reducing the sensitivity of the frequency to acceleration.
The practical significance of this development is that the
reduction of acceleration sensitivity to exceptionally low
levels would render optoelectronic oscillators more attractive
as signal sources for use on diverse moving platforms, including
automobiles, ships, aircraft, and spacecraft.
For the complete brief, see page 2a of the Photonics Tech
Briefs supplement to the February issue of NASA Tech
Briefs.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BEAM-SHAPING TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTICAL PUMP LASERS
Unique-m.o.d.e. AG, a German
laser company, has introduced a 975-nm fiber-coupled diode
laser specifically designed for optically pumping erbium-
and ytterbium-pumped solid-state lasers. The company claims
that the more than 5.2 W from a 50-micrometer fiber with a
numerical aperture of 0.22 is the highest brightness achieved
with this kind of laser. Unique.m.o.d.e. says that, using
a patent-pending beam-shaping technology, two single emitters'
asymmetric radiation is polarization-coupled into a symmetrical
beam. Apart from optical pumping, the 5200/50/15 series, the
company says, will find applications in medical laser treatments
and micromaterial processing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEW IN THE NASA TECH BRIEFS BOOKSTORE:
INTRODUCTION TO LASER TECHNOLOGY (THIRD EDITION) The only
introductory book on the market today that explains the underlying
physics and engineering applicable to all lasers. $74.95
OPTICAL NETWORKS: A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE This indispensable
guide, written by two of the principal architects of wavelength
division multiplexing, explores the driving need for all-optical
networks, their fundamental capabilities, and designs. $75.00
MODERN OPTICAL ENGINEERING (THIRD EDITION) Warren J. Smith's
revered text has been updated with the latest applications,
tools, and techniques. Includes a bonus CD-ROM version. $80.00
WIRELESS VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS: SECOND TO THIRD GENERATION
AND BEYOND This unique volume provides an all-encompassing
treatment of wireless video communications, compression, channel
coding, and transmission. $117.00
Order online: http://www.nasatech.com/store
|
