Light & Laser Blog

Given enough time and money, we can develop high-power, solid-state laser weapons that can knock out drones, shoot mortar rounds out of the air, or create diversions on enemy ships. The question is, will those weapons function consistently and reliably in battlefield environments, not just a handful of times but over the course of years or even decades? Are laser tactical weapons the weapons of the future or are they simply a misguided dead-end?

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Bristling with instruments, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity promises to gather an enormous amount of data about the past of the Red Planet, including whether water ever existed there. Human space flight to Mars would cost significantly more and entail far greater risk. Would we actually gain more benefit, beyond just being able to say we've done it?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Light & Laser, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Light & Laser today.

The photonics world mourns the loss of Anthony Siegman, inventor of the unstable resonator and author of a number of classic textbooks. Siegman was brilliant yet down to earth and his work changed a lot of lives. If you are a photonics geek, chances are you have a copy of Siegman's Lasers on your shelf. Other titles and authors have been prominent in the field: Laser Electronics by Verdeyen; Laser Physics by Sargent, Scully, and Lamb; and Optics by Hecht. Oh, and Principles of Optics by Born & Wolf. Are your go-to texts among them? What instructor really made a difference in your life?

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According to a recent study, doubling broadband speed increases gross domestic product (GDP) by 3%. How, if at all, should that relationship change the way we address public funding and/or administration of communications infrastructure?

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A while back, China slashed prices for rare earth elements, quickly dominating the market as suppliers around the world found themselves unable to compete. In the last year, however, the country has cut export levels, leading to soaring prices and shortages. Are you or your customers experiencing any fallout from this situation? Do you think the photonics industry will be affected at all? And do you think that mines outside of China will begin operation again, to address the situation?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Light & Laser, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Light & Laser today.

Amid political wrangling over the budget last month, the U.S. House of Representatives proposed canceling the James Webb Space Telescope, the follow-on to the Hubble Space Telescope. The program has survived for now, but when the next round of cuts take place this fall, it may well not. If it gets cut, it's over. At the same time, the program is too far along to be rescaled in an attempt to adjust costs. What do you think Congress, and NASA, should do about the project?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Light & Laser, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Light & Laser today.