Military & Defense News
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Bright Ideas — DoD Strategic Review To Determine Space Weapon Priorities, Mitsubishi Electric Claims First Laser Terminal To Integrate Spatial Acquisition
6/8/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, the DoD affirmed that it will supply the the Biden Administration with the results of a strategic space review that aims to determine the appropriate mix of offensive and defensive capabilities. Plus, Mitsubishi Electric claims it has developed the first laser terminal that employs both optical communication and spatial laser acquisition.
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Bright Ideas — Russia's Latest Laser Weapon Likely All Talk, "Wonder Material" Graphyne Created
5/23/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, a Russian official says the country's newest directed-energy laser weapon can "burn up" a target — and critics balk at the claim. Scientists are on their way to developing a usable amount of graphyne. Plus, DARPA and CACI successfully conducted optical communication between satellites in LEO.
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Bright Ideas — HEL & Hypersonic Weapons Tests Successful, High-Quality Graphene-hBN Deposition Method Proves Scalable
4/20/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, two laser weapon system effectively upended their targets, while a hypersonic weapon carried out its second successful training test. Plus, University of Michigan researchers have established a scalable deposition method for developing hBN on graphene, potentially leading the way for new deep-UV LEDs and quantum technologies.
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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.
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Bright Ideas — James Webb Telescope Is Ready, Intel Opens Photonics Center, First-Ever Optical Oscilloscope Developed
12/20/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA updates its launch time for the James Webb telescope, Intel opens a new photonics research center, a first-of-its-kind optical oscilloscope is created, and one scientist thinks mouse fur might have heat-sensing properties.
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Bright Ideas — Defense Contractors Tasked With Taking Down Hypersonic Missiles, Record-Breaking Quantum Computer Tops 256 Qubits
11/24/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, the Military Defense Agency picked three contractors to design a Glide Phase Interceptor prototype, a startup claimed its quantum computer has the most qubits (and the best platform), and an electro-topics grad student developed an optical filter that allows sensors and cameras to operate seamlessly in low and bright light situations.
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Bright Ideas — U.S. & Russia Pursue HEL Technology, Fiber Optics "Father" Honored With Google Doodle
11/10/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, high energy lasers (HEL) are the hot topic among academicians and world leaders alike, the "father" of fiber optics is honored by Google, and plenty of photonics firms are making gains with mergers and acquisitions.
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Bright Ideas: Rubin Observatory Telescope Has World's Highest Resolution Camera, Low-Cost Underwater Microscope Could Save Seaweed
10/26/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. In this week's edition, acquisitions by Ouster and Jenoptik are expanding each's portfolio, the University of Arkansas is pursuing low-cost, high-performance IR camera development, and imec is introducing a breathalyzer to test for COVID-19.
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Bright Ideas: 10/13/21 — U.S. Gets First Open-Access Silicon Carbide Fabrication Facility, Light Produced From "Nothing"
10/13/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, L3Harris landed an $18.4 million contract to continue providing its electro-optical sensor systems to the U.S. military, chalcogenide glasses became useful in the visible and UV spectrum, and a more practical, less harmful phosphorescent material is found in wood.
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Bright Ideas: 10/6/21 — 3D Hologram Display For Sub Warfare, UV LED Could Kill COVID-19 On Skin
10/6/2021
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, a UK-based firm claims it has made the world's smallest quantum computer at just four qubits, scientists are using terahertz radiation to measure ice thickness on prawns, and laser-interference structuring (LIS) could be a viable alternative to existing and environmentally-unfriendly corrosion protection methods.