Optics & Photonics News

NREL-LBL Reports Examine Solar Photovoltaic Pricing in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)'s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) jointly released two reports examining solar photovoltaic (PV) pricing in the U.S.

Slow Demand from LED Makers Challenges the Sapphire Industry

A shortage of sapphire material between 2010 and 2011 created a window of opportunity for new entrants. In just the last two years, more than 80 companies announced their intention to enter the industry. This trend coupled with slow demand from LED makers in 2012, has manifested a challenging environment with cores and wafers often selling at prices at or below manufacturing cost. These difficult market conditions will trigger an industry rationalization through consolidation and attrition that should take place in 2013 and 2014.

Physician’s Technology Releases Fifth Generation Laser Joint Rejuvenation System

The Italian Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo once declared “everything hurts”. Baby boomers are more active than ever and stress their joints. Millions rely on dangerous pain meds and injections to stay active. Pain medication and injections can be dangerous and even lethal. Popular therapeutic pain laser technology offers hope but is not practical for home use and is out of reach of a vast patient population.

Astrobiology Researchers Search for Precursors to Life in Newly Born Stars

A team of astrobiology researchers – including two from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – will use a series of nighttime flights on an airborne observatory to search newly born stars for the presence of precursors to life.

LDI Introduces Novel High Power Monolithic Stack Pulsed Laser Diodes

OSI Laser Diode, Inc. (LDI), an OSI Systems Company, introduces a product family of high power monolithic stack pulsed laser diodes for a wide variety of military/defense, industrial, automotive, and machine vision applications.

FDA Clears LENSAR Laser System for Corneal Incisions in Cataract Surgery

LENSAR Inc., developer of the next generation LENSAR Laser System™ for refractive cataract surgery, announced today that the company’s laser system has received 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for executing corneal incisions during cataract surgery.

A team of astrobiology researchers – including two from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – will use a series of nighttime flights on an airborne observatory to search newly born stars for the presence of precursors to life.

Larson Electronics Introduces HAL-7W-LED for Small Area Hazardous Location Lighting

Larson Electronics announced the addition of the HAL-7W-LED for small area hazardous location lighting. While most hazardous location fixtures are typically large, the seven watt HAL-7W-LED's compact design enables designers and operators to fit this light into panel and instrument enclosures where larger hazardous lights won't fit. Priced around $200, the HAL-7W-LED is both UL and CSA certified for Class 1 Division 2 Groups A, B, C and D and comes with an adjustable yolk mount.

Novel Device Focuses Light to a Point at the Nanoscale

As technology advances, it tends to shrink. From cell phones to laptops—powered by increasingly faster and tinier processors—everything is getting thinner and sleeker. And now light beams are getting smaller, too.

ReneSola to Ship 4.3 MW of Solar Modules to E.ON Climate + Renewables

ReneSola Ltd, a leading global manufacturer of solar photovoltaic ("PV") modules and wafers, today announced that it has agreed to ship 4.3 megawatts ("MW") of its high-quality solar modules to E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH ("E.ON Climate & Renewables"), an award-winning unit responsible for industrial-scale renewable activities within E.ON AG ("E.ON"), one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies.

OSRAM SYLVANIA Unveils U DESIGN Lighting Experience Center

Lighting can play a crucial role in winning over savvy consumers beyond just illuminating product for sale.

Key Patent Analysis on Remote Phosphor in LED Lighting Systems

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "LED Lighting - Key Patent Analysis: Remote Phosphor" report to their offering.

Menicon Commences Construction of New Multipurpose Contact Lens Facility in Emmen

Contact lens maker Menicon Co., Ltd. (head office: Nagoya, Japan) today announced the latest step in its long-term effort to meet the vision needs of customers across Europe.

ALMA Observatory Accepts 25th 12-m Antenna from General Dynamics

The 25th and final 12-meter (40-foot) antenna manufactured by General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies has been formally accepted by the Joint Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) Observatory. Delivered to the Operations Support Facility in the Chilean Andes, the 115-ton, highly specialized radio-telescope antenna is completing final integration and testing before being moved up to the Array Operations Site which is 16,400 feet above sea level.

Silicon-Based Optical Fiber with Solar-Cell Capabilities

For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length. The research opens the door to the possibility of weaving together solar-cell silicon wires to create flexible, curved, or twisted solar fabrics.