From The Editor

51. Casting Off, Cleaning Up: How One 3D Printing Method Aims to Revolutionize Manufacturing 4/4/2022

    Over the last 40 years, 3D printing as an alternative manufacturing method has been quietly gathering momentum. Despite the rise of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), it has yet to present itself as a viable alternative to time-tested methods, in part because it just can’t keep up with the pace. Seurat Technologies is hoping to change that with its "area printing" method.

52. Bright Ideas — Highest-Res Image of Sun Ever, And An In-Depth Look At JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument 3/30/2022

    No need to “keep your eyes on the skies,” as they say. In this week’s Bright Ideas, we rely on two optical systems for our view into the unknown. Optica walks us through a wider and more detailed understanding of the James Webb Space Telescope’s incredible MIDI, or Mid-Infrared Instrument, as it prepares to deliver a never-before-seen look in the beyond.  And the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter shows us the most holistic view of the Sun to date — all thanks to its Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI).

53. Bright Ideas — Congressional Researchers Question U.S. Pursuit Of Hypersonic Weapons, ISS To Test Space 'Nodes' For Quantum Communications 3/23/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, a Congressional Research Service report raises the question of why the U.S. is ramping up hypersonic weapons R&D and whether it's the right move. Plus, the International Space Station will soon host a set of self-healing space "nodes" that will be tested in connecting quantum data transmitters and receivers. 

54. Q&A With Luminous Computing President Dr. Michael Hochberg 3/16/2022

    In this Q&A, incoming Luminous Computing President Michael Hochberg, PhD discusses his new role overseeing the operations and engineering aspects of the machine learning systems company that's delivering scalable AI systems using silicon photonics to build more power-efficient and bandwidth-dense data links.

55. Bright Ideas — Researchers Try New Rare Earth Mineral For Quantum Communications, SPIE DCS Is Right Around The Corner 3/16/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, Hamamatsu debuted a terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser (CQL), SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing is quickly approaching, and researchers think this rare-earth material might have what it takes to enable a link between spins and light on the quantum level.

56. Bright Ideas — Canada Invests $240 Million In Semiconductor Biz, Lidar Firms See Big Sales & Even Bigger Losses 3/9/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, Canada is investing heavily in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, while IPG Photonics is forging ahead with its Russian operations despite the Russian war on Ukraine. Lidar firms are seeing sizeable sales but are also experiencing significant operating losses. Plus, JWST is completing yet another round of mirror and image alignments — right on schedule. 

57. Bright Ideas — Room Temperature Research For Time Crystals, Quantum Simulators, And Germans To Recycle Silicon From Solar Cells 2/23/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, two research teams are looking to democratize the use of time crystals and quantum simulators by finding ways for them to operate at room temperature. And, German researchers are trying to get ahead of a mass solar cell disposal by repurposing their discarded silicon into new Passive Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) solar cells. 

58. Bright Ideas — James Webb Telescope Sees First Star, NASA Warns Space X Sats Could Cause Collisions 2/14/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, two new COVID-19 tests crop up as quicker, more dynamic alternatives to PCR and antigen methods. NASA offers up the very first images taken by its James Webb Space Telescope. And, NASA voices its concern over the growing number of Starlink satellites in LEO.

59. Bright Ideas — NOAA Weather Satellite To Capture 16 Spectral Bands, Quantum State Longer Than 5 Seconds Reached 2/9/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA and NOAA announced a March launch date for their new GOES-T weather satellite capable of viewing 16 spectral brands, including two visible, four near-IR, and 10 IR channels. And, researchers have enabled a silicon carbide qubit to achieve a quantum state for more than five seconds — a breakthrough for the material and device type. 

60. DARPA Program Eyes Photonics For Miniaturized, Low Noise RF Oscillator 2/8/2022

    Phase noise can be problematic in RF communications, with jitter influencing sampling prevision of receivers and constricting signaling bandwidth. That's why DARPA is enlisting the help of photonics researcher to devise oscillators that are small, low noise, and more agile across frequencies.