The University of Central Florida's College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) has signed a research agreement with LightPath Technologies, a provider of optical components, to create new processes for molding and handling of infrared glasses. LightPath’s agreement was partially funded by Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTC).
LightPath is currently working on bringing inexpensive infrared optics to the commercial, military, and defense infrared markets. The company aims to utilize applications such as thermal imaging, gas sensing, thermography, and infrared countermeasures, for the commercial night vision solutions. LightPath will use the new techniques that are developed under the agreement to boost production volumes and decrease the cost of molded aspheric infrared lenses.
The funding from FHTC and LightPath will support a team of two post-graduate students. Dr. Ayman Abouraddy, a Professor from CREOL will lead the research group.
LightPath’s Chief Executive Officer, Jim Gaynor stated that infrared technology has diverse real world applications, while the glass materials and molding process offer the foundation to decrease the cost of optics for developing infrared units.
Source: http://www.lightpath.com/