The 24th International Congress onApplications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) in Miami, Fla.

starting Oct. 31, began just days after HurricaneWilma tore through the southern part of Florida.All attendees, nevertheless, showed great inter-est in overview presentations on laser diodes,fiber lasers and new market opportunities.

General Congress General Congress Chair Andreas Ostendorf,

CEO of Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. inGermany, opened with “ICALEO over these 24years has fulfilled exceptionally well the LIAmission of fostering lasers, laser applications,and laser safety worldwide. Today it is the pace-maker of the laser materials processing world.”

The very large international presence hadparticipants from Europe, Asia, the UnitedKingdom, Canada and the United States. Inaddition to over 400 from the U.S., Germanyhad 47, Japan 31, United Kingdom 23, Finland14, Canada 19, France 6, Netherlands 7, andUkraine, Poland, Australia and several othercountries made up the balance.

The commercial advent of many new lasersystems has dominated the laser world the pastseveral years, and Dr. Ostendorf said, the ple-nary session showed how these sources can beused for new applications.

Plenary: New Lasers – New Markets Speaker Martin Behringer pointed to small

Laser pioneer Gordon Gould died inLennox Hill Hospital in New YorkCity on Sept. 16 at age 85. Richard

Gordon Gould was born in New York City, theson of a Scholastic magazine editor father anda mechanically gifted mother who stoked hisinterest in invention through gifts of an Erectorset and similar toys. Thomas Edison becamehis early idol stimulating his lifelong interest tobe an inventor.

Gould studied physics and optics receiving abachelor’s degree at Union College in 1941 andan M.S. in physics at Yale in 1943 where heused Fabry-Perot resonators in his studies of

optical spectroscopy. After a draft-deferred jobin a New York laboratory that was part of theManhattan Project, work at a company thatmade specialized mirrors and teaching at CityCollege of New York, Gould returned to gradu-ate studies at Columbia University in 1951,where he began a doctoral thesis on opticalpumping of a thallium atomic beam underPolykarp Kush and was also exposed to theearly maser work at Columbia under CharlesTownes. Many including Gould were ponderingwhether coherent sources could also be achievedin the infrared and optical spectral regions.

November/December 2005

LIA TODAYLIA TODAYThe Official Newsletter of the Laser Institute of America

The professional society dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide.

13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128; Orlando, FL 32826 Phone: 407.380.1553 Fax: 407.380.5588http://www.laserinstitute.org

Volume 13, Number 6

(Cont. on pg. 6, see ICALEO)

Laser-Etching Promotes Egg Safety

Eggs that are laser-etchedwith an expiration date and acode that traces the egg backto where it was packaged arenow available in the U.S.,reported the Sept. 30 issue ofOptics.org. Developed byEggFusion, the laser systemetches a permanent, easy-to-read and tamper-proof markon the eggshell that allowsconsumers to see when theegg should be used by.EggFusion uses a pulsed,sealed carbon-dioxide laser toetch the eggshells. The laserremoves between 5 to 8% ofthe eggshell and the structur-al integrity of the shell ismaintained. The etching kit isintegrated into the existingmachinery at a packing facili-ty and happens as the egg ismoving so it doesn't slow thepacking process down.

In addition to the physi-cal laser system, EggFusionalso offers consumers theopportunity to type the trace-ability code into a databaseon its website. The codebrings up a list of informa-

InThe News...

Laser Pioneer PassesGordon Gould

July 17, 1920-Sept. 16, 2005

(Cont. on pg. 11, see In The News…)

ICALEO® 2005 Meets International Challenge

(Cont. on pg. 8 see Pioneer)

by Jack Dyer, Contributing Editor

by William T. Walter

Editor-in-Chief..................Peter Baker

Managing Editor...................Kris Stell

Contributing Editor ..............Jack Dyer

Copy Editor ..................Barbara Sams

Copy Editor......................Anja Selnau

Editorial Staff

LIA TODAYLIA TODAY

November/December 2005 2

Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professionalsociety dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications and

laser safety worldwide. LIA is the secretariat and publisher ofthe ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards, and is a leadingprovider of laser safety education.

LIA offers educational programs, conferences and sym-posia on the applications of lasers and electro-optics. LIA’sannual International Congress on Applications of Lasers &Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) features the world’s foremost meet-ing on laser materials processing. The biennial InternationalLaser Safety Conference (ILSC®) covers all aspects of lasersafety practice and hazard control.

If you would like more information about the LIA, call407.380.1553, 1.800.34.LASER or visit our home on the Web:www.laserinstitute.org.

LIALIA TTODAODAYYThe Official Newsletter of the Laser Institute of America

LIA TODAY is published bimonthly and strives to educateand inform laser professionals on laser safety and new trendsrelated to laser technology. LIA members receive a free sub-scription to LIA TODAY and the Journal of Laser Applications®,

in addition to discounts on all LIA products and services.The editors of LIA TODAY welcome input from their readers.

Please submit news-related releases, articles of general interest andletters to the editor. Mail us at LIA TODAY, 13501 Ingenuity Drive,Suite 128, Orlando, FL 32826, fax 407.380.5588, or send materialby e-mail to lia@laserinstitute.org.

If you are interested in affordable advertising space in thisnewsletter or a subscription, please contact Jim Naugle at407.380.1553 or 1.800.34.LASER.

Volume 13, Number 6 November/December 2005

IN THIS ISSUE...

Features

Depar tmentsIn The News..............................1

Calendar of Events....................2

Executive Director’s Message ....................................5

Welcome New Members ......12

ASC Update ............................13

Members In Motion................13

Member Innovations ..............14

JLA Update ............................14

LIA Announces ......................15

For a complete list of LIA corporate members, visit our corporate directory online at www.laserinstitute.org.

Adver tisersAcademy of Laser Dentistry..10

BLS Certification....................16

Kentek........................................4

LIA Safety Training..................5

Laser Focus World....................7

Lee Laser ................................15

Photonics Spectra ..................12

Precitec ....................................11

Spiricon......................................8

Trinity Technologies ................9

Wilson Industries ......................3

Contact LIA for information onany of the above advertisers.

President – William Clark,Clark-MXR, Inc.

President-Elect – Joseph O’Brien, Trinity Technologies, LLC

Past-President – Edward Metzbower, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Secretary – Nathaniel Quick,AppliCote Associates, LLC

Treasurer – Rajesh Patel, 3 R&MConsulting Services

2005 LIA Officers

LIA’s Calendar of EventsFor more information contact LIA at 1.800.34.LASER

or visit www.laserinstitute.org

Laser Safety Officer TrainingFeb. 6-10, 2006 • Orlando, FL

Mar. 27-31, 2006 • St. Louis, MOMay 8-10, 2006 • Pittsburg, PAJune 5-9, 2006 • Boston, MAAug. 7-9, 2006 • Denver, CO

Sept. 18-22, 2006 • San Francisco, CAOct. 30-Nov. 3, 2006 • Scottsdale, AZ

Nov. 6-10, 2006 • Las Vegas, NVDec. 4-8, 2006 • Orlando, FL

Advanced Concepts in Laser Safety Mar. 13-15, 2006 • Orlando, FL

Medical Laser Safety Officer TrainingJan. 27-28, 2006 • Tampa, FL

Feb. 10-11, 2006 • Portland, ORMay 19-20, 2006 • Chicago, ILSept. 22-23, 2006 • Boston, MA

Nov. 10-11, 2006 • Las Vegas, NV

PICALO 2006April 3-5 • Melbourne, Australia

ICALEO® 2006Oct. 30-Nov. 2 • Scottsdale, AZ

ICALEO® 2005 MeetsInternational Challenge ............1

Laser Pioneer Passes ..............1

LIA’s MLSO Course NowOnline ........................................7

Quantum and Laser PhysicistsWin Nobel Physics Prize ......10

LIA TODAY

November/December 20053

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WILSON’S COMPLETE LASER PROTECTION

Wilson offers One-Stop-Shopping for all your laser protection needs.

Of course, the Flagship of theWilson line is the Laz-R-Barrier(r)— superior to all other laser curtains.

That’s because Laz-R-Barrier(r)protection curtains contain reflectivelaser radiation and broadband opticalradiation from laser plumes. Thesecurtains protect against accidentaland chronic eye and skin irritation thatcan result from exposure to reflectivelaser beams.

Laz-R-Barrier is flexible, drapableand can be fabricated in most curtainsizes and shapes. When supported onWilson’s easy rolling track framework,the curtains are compatible with inter-locking circuits

Wilson also offers a variety ofLaser Eyewear, designed foradded protection for both operators

and those nearby. This fine qualityEyewear prevents eye injury fromerrant laser beams.

No matter what your needs may be, Wilson has the product line to fulfill your Industrial and Medical laser safety requirements.

Whether it’s Optical Table Barriers, Roller Shades, Window Shades, Beam Stops, Signs, Illuminated Signs or Door Stops,

Wilson has it all.

In the last issue I talked about ouralliance with OSHA, our teamworkon the new LIA Chapter and our

discussions with other societies to findcooperating ways to carry out our mission.

At the recent LIA Annual Meeting atICALEO®, I pointed out that everyone whoattended the conference could see thepower of teamwork in action. Everyone ispart of team LIA – every member, everycorporate member, every speaker, chair andauthor, every course instructor, ANSI com-mittee member, every board member, offi-cer, staff member, everyone.

It is your society (I can say our as I ama life member!), it serves your needs, soplease send me your ideas and suggestions,tell me what is new and what you think weshould do about it. Best of all, volunteer towork with the LIA staff and help makesomething good happen. Welcome to theteam.

pbaker@laserinstitute.org

LIA TODAY

November/December 20055

More Team LIA

Executive Director’s Message

LIA Executive Director Peter Baker

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 6

size, high efficiency, ease ofadjusting wavelength, andexcellent reliability in toutingthe advantages of diode lasersfor industrial applications.Besides chip technology, hesaid, new technologies forpackaging have been devel-oped and experiences withhigh power electronic devicesand telecom lasers help intro-duce cost efficiencies andhighly reliable devices forindustrial use.

Future improvements anddevelopments focus on beamquality, power and price. Forexam-ple, adevel-opingapplica-tion isthepump-ing ofdisc andfiberlasersthatrequirea furtherimprovement of beam qualityin order to better couple thelight of the diode lasers intothe active medium of the discor the fiber.

Expressing the case forfiber lasers as the new wave inmaterials processing, speakerSilke Pflüger addressed theadvantages of small size, main-tenance-free operation, thermaland electrical efficiency, com-bined with outstanding (dif-fraction limited) beam quality,as making the fiber laser anattractive alternative to moreestablished technologies.

Pflüger noted there is littleneed to use the traditional andoften fragile Q-switching ormode-locking techniques,when better control can beobtained through amplificationto the kW regime. Despite

impressive results, fiber laserdevelopment is still in itsinfancy. This unique and pow-erful laser technology willincreasingly be visible in themarketplace in coming years.

Plenary paper LaserMaterials Processing in China,with Henry Peng, of GE GlobalResearch Center Shanghai,Peoples Republic of China, isnot available on the congressCD. As China is one of theworld’s fastest growing mar-kets, the paper reflects first-hand the current situation, andhow a globally operating enter-prise like General Electricorganizes laser-based researchactivities in Shanghai. Dr.Peng’s remarks will be featuredin a future issue of LIA Today.

Laser MaterialsProcessing – (Chair:Anthony Hoult, SPI,Southampton, U.K.)

In reviewing the abstractsof this congress, we see a greatmany more non-U.S. and non-European presenters. We aretruly global and consequentlyare showing many new applica-tions extending into themicro regime, Dr. Hoult said.

Two very new and novellaser types have debuted.Industry insiders have beenfollowing the emergence ofdisc lasers out of the lab andonto the shop floor. Andhigh-powered industrial fiberlasers, resulting from the

meltdown of the telecomindustry, have arrived. Bothbring important increases inbrightness onto the industrialstage, leaving users with quitean array of hardware typesfrom which to choose.

In an invited presentationthat filled the conferenceroom, Paul Denney of EWI,Columbus, Ohio describedhow fiber lasers may alter theapplications of lasers in indus-tries. In the last three years, hesaid, Yb-based fiber lasershave advanced from a fewwatts to many kilowatts. Withhigh efficiency and excellentbeam quality the fiber laserhas many potential applica-tions presently dominated byCO2 and Nd:YAG lasers.

A special LMP BusinessDevelopment Session includedpopular presentations by indus-try leaders Bill Lawson, BillClark, and Larry Dosser. Moredetails on these interesting pre-sentations will be available in afuture LIA Today issue.

Laser MicrofabricationConference – (Chair: YF Lu,University of Nebraska,Lincoln)

An explosion of new ideasin the photonics and biomed-ical fields in recent years hascreated a unique need for fab-rication of new miniaturizedcomponents. ICALEO is aglobal forum for engineers andscientists from a variety ofindustry segments and insti-tutes to meet and discuss useof laser micro/ nanofabrication

as a keytechnolo-gy forvariousapplica-tions.Highlightsfeatureachieve-ments in

structuring with highest preci-sion using laser pulses fromthe nanosecond down to thepico- and femtosecond timeregime. Special sessions fea-tured laser glass micromachin-ing and laser nano-machiningand processing in order tohighlight the newest develop-ments and their promising per-spectives.

To highlight recentadvances, Dr. Lu said, akeynote address by HenryHelvajian of The AerospaceCorporation, Los Angeles,posits the on-going develop-ment of a nearly all glass/ceramic space micropropulsionsystem. Dr. Helvajian explainsthe optimum approach leadingto ablation-free microfabrica-tion is to utilize a material thatcan be engineered for true

three-dimensional fabricationand to process the material insuch a way collateral damage isminimized. A primary step inthis direction is to utilize mate-rials in which the propertiescan be tailored by slight com-positional changes. Glass/ceramics are an important classof materials that could allowthe seamless integration ofphotonics, bionics, wirelesscommunication, microelectron-ics, and microelectron mechan-ical systems (MEMS).

Dr. Helvajian will author adetailed description of theprocess in a future issue LIAToday.

ICALEO , cont. from pg. 1

Martin Behringer,OSRam OptoSemiconductors,Regensburg,Germany

Henry Helvajian of TheAerospace Corp., LosAngeles, Calif.

Silke Pflüger, SPI, LosGatos, Calif.

LMC Chair YF Lu

The Laser Institute of America(LIA) is pleased to announce thatone of its most popular courses –

the Medical Laser Safety Officer(MLSO) course – is now availableonline, which offers the convenience ofyour home or office and saves money ontravel expenses and time away fromwork. Proving extremely valuable anduseful to those in the medical field, suchas RNs and operating room personnel,the MLSO course is designed to giveoperating room personnel the safetyinformation they need to perform theduties of a laser safety officer.

Upon completion of this course theparticipant will: understand laser bio-physics and tissue interactions; under-stand and be able to apply the ANSIZ136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in HealthCare Facilities laser safety standard; be

able to list the effects and character-istics of different laser wavelengthson tissue; understand the currenttreatment modalities with lasers;know the responsibilities of a lasersafety officer; understand the laserhazard classification system; under-stand protocols and recommendedpractices when implementing a lasersafety program, and be able toexplain the operational skills with thedifferent laser delivery devices.

At the conclusion of the coursethere is a post-test and an evaluationsubmitted to LIA for the awarding ofcontact hours. This course is worth14.1 contact hours and 2.0 BLS CMpoints by the Board of Laser Safety™.All course materials are electronic anddownloaded when the course is pur-chased. Cost of the MSLO course is

$695 for LIA members or $795 for non-members. For more information call1.800.34.LASER/407.380.1553 or visitwww.laserinstitute.org.

LIA TODAY

November/December 20057

LIA’s MLSO Course Now Online

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 8

Pioneer , cont. from pg. 1

Dreams and DramaOn Saturday night, Nov. 9,

1957 Gould was unable tosleep. In the middle of thenight the realization came tohim – that the parallel mirrorsof a Fabry-Perot resonatorwould solve the problems of alow-loss cavity resonator forthe laser light while allowingpump light to shine in andexcite the medium optically. Itdidn’t have to completelyenclose the resonant lightmodes. Gould jumped from hisbed and chain-smoking throughthe next four days wrote downin his notebook device descrip-tions, sketched its componentsand projected its future uses.These included optical pump-ing, discharge collisional exci-tation, Brewster-angle win-dows, Q switching, etc. – ideasthat would not be brought tofruition for a number of years.

Peter Franken said, “Thatnotebook is absolutely incredi-ble. It’s as if God came downand whispered in Gordon’s earand said, ‘Listen, buddy this iswhat you’re going to do.’”

On Wednesday, Nov. 13,Gould walked two blocks to theneighborhood candy store andhad the proprietor, a notary, wit-ness and date his notebook. Thenotebook was entitled “SomeRough Calculations on the

Feasibility of a LASER: LightAmplification by StimulatedEmission of Radiation.”

Confused by a lawyer’sadvice, Gould thought he need-ed a working model before fil-ing a patent application. Herealized that pursuing his thesisat Columbia would preventtimely development of a work-ing model, so he accepted aposition at Technical ResearchGroup (TRG) on Long Island.A proposal by TRG to developlasers was enthusiasticallyaccepted by the AdvancedResearch Projects Agency(ARPA) of the Department ofDefense increasing the$300,000 requested to a mil-lion; however, the contract wasclassified and Gordon wasdenied security clearancebecause of his and his firstwife’s participation in a Marxiststudy group in GreenwichVillage.

By the time work under theARPA contract was wellunderway, Theodore Maimanhad reported laser action in aruby crystal and Ali Javan in ahelium neon discharge in1960. Both called their devicesoptical masers, but Gould’sphrase, laser, would soon dis-place optical maser as the termfor coherent emission in theinfrared and optical regions.

The Plot ThickensGould filed his patent

application on April 6, 1959,three months after ArthurSchawlow and CharlesTownes published their paper,“Infrared and Optical Masers”in the December issue ofPhysical Review and morethan eight months after theyhad submitted a patent appli-cation. The Patent Officegranted Schawlow and Townesa patent in March 1960, andGould lost his application forpatent protection before theU.S. Court of Customs andPatent Appeals. He persistedby filing interference proceed-ings and then sought help to

help defray their costsand had to give thedominant share of thepatent rights to othersto wage the legal battlethat lasted almost threedecades. During thistime Gould became aprofessor of electro-physics at thePolytechnic Institute ofBrooklyn in 1967 andin 1973 helped foundOptelecom Inc., amaker of fiber opticequipment and systemsin Gaithersburg, Md.

In 1973 the court, in a suitover Q-switch patents, ruledthat the Schawlow-Townespatent did not adequatelydescribe optical pumping of amedium. Because of the wideand diverse claims in Gould’sapplication, it was divided intofive separate interferences.

Finally in October 1977the Patent Office issued Goulda patent on optical pumping oflasers. The following year hereceived a second patent on abroad range of laser applica-tions including machining. In1987 he received a patent ondischarge pumping of lasersand in 1988 on Brewster-anglewindows for lasers. The upsand downs of the three-decadelaser patent battle may havebeen stressful; however,because the patents were post-poned to run when the laserindustry was mature instead ofjust beginning, Gould nettedtens of millions of dollars.

Finally FameGordon Gould was the pres-

ident of LIA in 1971 (and lateran LIA fellow), and in 1983received the John Scott Awardfrom the City of Philadelphiafor the invention of the laser.He was inducted into theNational Inventors Hall ofFame in 1991. He established aprofessorship at Union Collegein 1995 to honor the physicsprofessor who sparked his inter-est in physics and optics.Gould’s other interests includedsailing and at one time heowned a boat called the WonnyLarue, named after an ancestorhe claimed was a pirate. Hiswife, Marilyn Appel of SagHarbor, N.Y., survives him.Gordon’s insightful and inven-tive approach to physics andoptics problems will be missedby all who worked with him.

William T. Walter is thepresident of Laser Consultants,Inc., Huntingdon, NY.

Laser pioneer GordonGould spent years defend-ing his patent for the laser.

LIA TODAY

November/December 20059

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 10

Americans John L.Hall and Roy J.Glauber and

German Theodor W. Haenschwon the 2005 Nobel Prize inphysics for work that couldlead to better long-distancecommunication and moreprecise navigation worldwideand beyond, reported theAssociated Press inNYTimes.com on Oct. 4,2005. The prize was given tothe three for their work inapplying modern quantumphysics to the study of optics.Engineers have used theirobservations to improvelasers, Global PositioningSystem technology and otherinstruments.

Glauber, 80, of HarvardUniversity, took half of this

year’s Nobel for showing howthe particle nature of lightaffects its behavior under cer-tain circumstances. Althoughthose conditions are rarelyobserved in nature, they areoften relevant in sophisticatedoptical instruments.

Hall, 71, of the Universityof Colorado, and Haensch,63, of the Ludwig-Maximilian-Universitaet inMunich, won “for their con-tributions to the developmentof laser-based precision spec-troscopy, including the opti-cal frequency comb tech-nique.” Hall and Haenschwill split one half of the $1.3million prize, with Glauberreceiving the remainder.

“It’s a huge surprise, agreat pleasure,” Hall said,

noting that the work was ateam effort. Speaking fromhis office in Munich, Haenschcalled the award a high pointof his career. “I was speech-less but of course very happy,exuberant,” he said.

He said the fruits of theirwork could eventually beapplied to improving commu-nication across the globe andbeyond. The research couldalso be useful in helpingspacecraft navigate moreaccurately on long journeys,or creating better digital ani-mation. “Eventually, we maybe able to enjoy three-dimen-sional holographic movies,”Haensch said.

“The important contribu-tions by John Hall andTheodor Haensch have made

it possible to measure fre-quencies with an accuracy of15 digits,” the academynoted. “Lasers with extreme-ly sharp colors can now beconstructed, and with the fre-quency comb technique pre-cise readings can be made oflight of all colors.

“This technique makes itpossible to carry out studiesof, for example, the stabilityof the constants of natureover time and to developextremely accurate clocks andimproved GPS technology.”

Hall works for JILA, aninstitute ran by the Universityof Colorado and the NationalInstitute of Standards andTechnology. Two other JILAphysicists, Eric A. Cornelland Carl E. Wieman, won the

Quantum and Laser Physicists Win Nobel Physics Prize

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LIA TODAY

November/December 200511

tion such as where the egg was packed.Consumers can now tell exactly howfresh their egg is.

Eye Sensor Simplifies Glucose Tests

Lein Applied Diagnostics of the U.K.is developing an optical sensor thatdetermines the glucose level of a diabeticvia the eye’s aqueous humor, reportedthe Oct. 7 issue of Optics.org. The tech-nique involves no drawing of blood, israpid (0.1s), and requires no consum-ables aside from a battery. Currently, glu-cose measurements are performed bypricking a finger and placing the bloodsample into a small analyzer four or fivetimes a day, which oftentimes is painfuland inconvenient.

To protect the firm’s IP, details con-cerning the optical design were not dis-cussed but it was explained that themeter uses a confocal arrangement tolocalize the measurement in the anteriorchamber of the eye. Light from a lowpower 670nm source is focused into theeye and the intensity of the light reflect-ed back is analyzed. From this analysisthe glucose level in the body is obtained.The technique requires an optical powerin the microwatt level and the measure-ment time is only about 0.1s. It should becompatible with contact lenses.

Corkscrew Fiber Retrieves Blood Clots

A thin, straight polymer that takes theshape of a corkscrew when heated by alaser could help surgeons remove bloodclots from stroke patients, reported theOct. 10 issue of Optics.org. The device,developed by researchers at LawrenceLivermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

may offer a safer alternative to clot dis-solving therapy and could extend thetreatment window from three to eighthours following a stroke (Optics Express13 8204).

“The system is comprised of a nearinfrared diode laser coupled to a shapememory polymer (SMP) micro-actuatorusing an optical fiber,” LLNL researcherWard Small said. “The laser light isabsorbed by a thin surface layer of aplatinum dye, generating heat, that caus-es the SMP to transform into its pre-pro-grammed corkscrew shape.”

The polyurethane-based SMP deviceis connected to a diode laser emittingaround 5W at 810nm. Immersed in waterat body temperature, the polymerchanges shape from a straight rod into a10mm long spiral structure with a diame-ter of 3mm in just three seconds whenirradiated. The scientists have tested theirdevice using an artificial blood clotinserted into an experimental model of acarotid artery. The polymer device waspushed into the artificial clot, activatedand used to pull back the occlusionagainst the flow.

Currently, the group is discussing itstechnology with medical device manu-facturers and plans to conduct animalstudies to further evaluate the technique.“Based on previous experience withanother SMP-based interventionaldevice, human trials could potentiallybegin 12 to 18 months after reaching alicensing agreement,” said Small.

Researchers estimate that laser heat-ing of the polymer would raise the tem-perature of surrounding blood by around12 degrees, which can be sustained foraround 15 minutes without causing per-manent tissue damage.

In The News, cont. from pg. 1

Nobel in physics in 2001.JILA originally stood for the Joint

Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics.However, JILA’s fellows decided to keepthe name but drop the meaning in 1994as the scope of its research widened.

Of the six Nobels, the physics prizehas perhaps the broadest scope ofresearch, making speculation ahead of theannouncement difficult. Alfred Nobel, thewealthy Swedish industrialist and inven-

tor of dynamite who endowed the prizes,left only vague guidelines for the selec-tion committee, saying in his will that theprize should be given to those who “shallhave conferred the greatest benefit onmankind” and “shall have made the mostimportant discovery or invention withinthe field of physics.” The prizes include acheck for $1.3 million, and will be award-ed by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf ata ceremony in Stockholm in December.

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 12

Thomas Floyd, Hayward, CAAndrew Kowalewsky, Oceanside, CAVince Cook, San Jose, CAThomas Johnson, Fort Collins, COWilliam Bacon, Middlefield, CTWayne Hobson, Milford, CTEric Holm, Clearwater, FLJames Strobel, Orlando, FLDana Poulain, Lenexa, KSJoseph Ring, Boston, MADaniel Applegate, Battle Creek, MIWill Brantley, Columbia, MO

Jack Crawford, Columbia, MOBill Hurst, Ossipec, NHPeter Brown, Ossipee, NHJennifer Riemer, Derry, NHRick Pergamo, Manchester, NHRobert Quagan, Manchester, NHJay Mason, Warren, NJHuan Qi, Schenectady, NYMatt Keller, Dayton, OHDaniel Bilan, Chattanooga, TNNicole Washington, San Antonio, TXSteffanie Peterson, Saint George, UT

Ryan Ascheman, Somerset, WIEve Medina, NSW, AustraliaJoseph Hayward, Hamilton, ON,

CanadaStephen Caine, Burnaby, BC, CanadaTim Tsang, Yuen Long, HongKongFabio Ferrario, Solbiate Olana,

ItalyAtsushi Sugihashi, Chiba, JapanJorge Arias, Torneiros, Porriño, SpainJohn Tinson, Southampton, U. K.

Welcome New LIA Members

For a complete list of corporate members, visit our corporate directory at www.laserinstitute.org.

Corporate Members

Individual Members

• EggFusion, Inc., Boulder, CO• Electro-Optic Services, Portland, OR• Laser Express, Camden, Sydney, Australia• Nalco Company, Naperville, IL

• Telsar Laboratories, Inc., Wood River, IL• Texcel, LLC, East Longmeadow, MA• The University of Texas At San Antonio,

San Antonio, TX

LIA TODAY

November/December 200513

DLI Installs Fiber LaserDirected Light Inc., San

Jose, Calif., has announcedthat it installed a new 100-Watt fiber laser from SPI at itsadvanced technology job shop.The fiber laser is the latestinnovation in laser technologyfor industrial materials pro-cessing. The beam quality andhigh power density of the SPIfiber laser allows DLI to cutextremely small feature sizes(< .001 inch) and complicatedgeometries in a wide variety ofmaterials. The new laser alsoprovides DLI with smallerspot sizes with deeper penetra-tion for its microweldingapplications. Directed Light isa laser technology companyserving the industrial, medicaland scientific laser communi-ties. For more information,visit www.directedlight.com.

Aculight Named inDeloitte’s TechnologyFast 50 Program

Aculight Corporation,Bothell, Wash., a developer ofinnovative laser technologies,has been named to Deloitte’sprestigious Technology Fast50 Program for WashingtonState, a ranking of the 50fastest growing technologycompanies in the area byDeloitte & Touché LLP.Rankings are based on thepercentage revenue growthduring a five-year span from2000-2004. Aculight’sPresident and CEO Don Richcredits setting challenginggoals and being accountablefor achieving them with thecompany’s 87% revenuegrowth from 2000-2004. Thisincrease in revenues resultedin a 34 ranking in the pro-gram, marking the fourth timeAculight has made the presti-gious list.

Melles Griot Repositions CatalogDistribution Business

Melles Griot, Carlsbad,Calif., has announced a strate-gic repositioning of its catalogdistribution businesses inNorth America and Europe.The catalog, the tenth volumeof which has just beenreleased, provides a broadarray of photonics tools forstudents and researchers. Theextensive laser and opticsmanufacturing competenciesof Melles Griot are also pre-sented in the catalog.

The changes includeregional call centers for orderadministration and technicalsupport, centralized inventoryand order fulfillment, unifiedprocurement, and back-endintegrated web trading. Formore information visitwww.mellesgriot.com.

Lockheed MartinAcquires Coherent

Effective Oct. 5, 2005,Lockheed Martin Corporationacquired Coherent Technolo-gies, Inc. The new companywill be referred to asLockheed Martin CoherentTechnologies (LMCT) andwill remain headquartered inLouisville, Colo. LockheedMartin Space Systems inDenver will manage LMCT asa wholly owned subsidiary.For Coherent, this partnershipmeans visibility to a new levelof customers as well as accessto Lockheed’s strategic andtactical platforms. It also willprovide new capital resourcesto sustain Coherent’s innova-tion and fuel its growth. ForLockheed Martin, its broadsystems engineering and inte-gration capabilities, enhancedby Coherent’s 20-plus-yearrecord of accomplishment in

laser radar and directed energytechnologies, enables superiorvalue and accelerated capabili-ties to customers, particularlyin the areas of special pro-grams and missile defense ini-tiatives.

Nuvonyx FormsEuropean Subsidiary

Nuvonyx Inc., Bridgeton,Mo., recently announced theacquisition of Thales LaserDiode (TLD), Paris, France.TLD was a laser division ofThales and has been providinglaser diodes to the marketplacefor over 15 years.

“We are pleased to wel-come TLD to the Nuvonyxfamily,” commented presidentand CEO of Nuvonyx Mark

Zediker. “This acquisition willallow us to expand our productline to now offer both activelyand passively cooled, CW andQCW laser diode devices. Thisacquisition also providesNuvonyx an immediate strate-gic presence in the Europeanmarket, which is a critical linkin our diode component andindustrial laser system futuregrowth strategy.”

As part of the acquisitionstrategy, Nuvonyx will changeTLD’s name to NuvonyxEurope SA. Nuvonyx designsand manufacturers high powerdirect diode laser components,subsystems and sources engi-neered for use in aerospace,defense, industrial manufactur-ing and research applications.

The reaccreditation of Accredited StandardsCommittee (ASC) Z136 under revised operating pro-

cedures for documenting consensus on proposed AmericanNational Standards was approved by the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) effective Oct. 4, 2005. This reac-creditation is contingent on changes proposed to the revisionof ASC Z136 Procedures, which were provided at ANSI’srequest for further clarity of ASC Z136’s balloting process.

In matters of an administrative nature to ASC Z136, themain committee functions as the consensus body. It isresponsible for approval (or disapproval) of confirmation ofofficers and chairs, subcommittee formation or structurechanges, new committee membership, adoption of ASC pro-cedures, approval of new projects or withdrawal of an exist-ing standard.

For balloting on draft standards, balloting groups areestablished (all voting members of the consensus body areinvited to join a balloting group for each draft standardimmediately prior to the draft ballot). By establishing a bal-loting group specific to a proposed standard, members canchoose to participate based on their interest, expertise andcommitment to a particular subject. This allows for a morethorough, discerning review process with a higher ratio ofreturned ballots.

For more information on ASC Z136 membership or pro-cedures, please contact Barbara Sams at the Laser Institute ofAmerica, 407-380-1553 or email bsams@laserinstitute.org.

Members In Motion

ASC Z136 Update

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 14

Coherent’s IntroductionsThe FieldMaxII™ is a

next-generation laser meterfrom Coherent, Inc., SantaClara, Calif. Replacing theoriginal FieldMax, theFieldMaxII provides a newPC host interface, LabViewdrivers, ActiveX component,analog output, and expandedpyroelectric sensor capabili-ties. FieldMaxII is availablein either power-only, energy-only, or both power and ener-gy configurations. The valueof FieldMaxII is strengthenedby Coherent’s broad range ofthermopile, pyroelectric, andsemiconductor sensors.Together, these enableFieldMaxII to measure UV,visible, and IR laser outputfrom the nanowatt to thekilowatt range, and to workwith CW and pulsed laserswith repetition rates of up to300Hz.

Coherent has also expand-ed its comprehensive familyof ultrafast laser products byintroducing the Legend HECryo, a high-power titani-um:sapphire (Ti:S) amplifierthat delivers up to 7mJ/pulsewith a pulse duration of lessthan 50 femtoseconds. Thispulse energy is more than

double that of earlier Legendamplifiers. The Legend HECryo also sets new standardsin terms of average power(up to 25 Watts) and peakpower (over 100 GW). Yetthe beam quality (M2<1.5),noise levels and pulse-to-pulse stability (±1%) are sim-ilar to amplifiers with muchlower power ratings. The newamplifier can be operated atpulse repetition rates up to7kHz. For more informationon these products, visitwww.Coherent.com.

JK Family IncreasedGSI Group, Novi, Mich.

and Rugby, England, hasintroduced a new range ofcompact, mid-power industri-al lasers to its JK family ofpulsed, Nd:YAG laser prod-ucts. Combining higher peakpowers with shorter pulselengths, the JK-300HP,JK300P and JK125P lasersare designed for high preci-sion welding and fine-cuttingapplications across many dif-ferent industrial markets. TheJK-HP range features twin-lamp oscillator design forenhanced peak power andpulse rates. The JK-P series,ranging from 125 to 300W

average power, has single-lamp design. For more infor-mation, visit www.gsig.com.

First Visible Light Pulsed Nd:YAG

Miyachi Unitek,Monrovia, Calif., hasreleased a breakthrough inlaser welding technology –the model LW2AG – theworld’s first visible lightpulsed Nd:YAG welding laserdesigned specifically forapplications comprising high-ly reflective materials.LW2AG’s 532nm outputwavelength is optimal forprecision welding gold, cop-per and copper alloys, non-contact, zero ESD/EMI cir-cuit bonding for microelec-tronics and sensors, andreplacing solder in mission-critical applications. It fea-tures real-time optical powerfeedback control system, asimple user interface, andfiber optic delivery for easyoperation and maintenance.For more information visitwww.miyachiunitek.com.

New From OphirOphir Optronics,

Wilmington, Mass.,announced that the PD300-

3W photodi-ode powermeter has nowbeen upgradedwith a highpower densityfilter so thehead can mea-sure up to 3Wat most wave-lengths and upto 150W/cm2without satura-tion or dam-age. ThePD300-3W is

recommended for low-powerCW and pulsed lasers.

Ophir has also introducedthe PE9-F pyroelectric detec-tor designed for the measure-ment of high rep rate laserswith pulse rates up to 20kHz.It can measure up to a maxi-mum pulse width of 0.5us.For more information oneither, visit www.ophiropt.com.

New 488-nm Solid-State Laser

Melles Griot, Carlsbad,Calif., has introduced a newsolid-state laser platformbased on the company’sKyma™ technology. Solid-state lasers built with Kyma(Greek for wave) technologyrequire fewer individual partsthan those associated withconventional diode-pumpedsolid-state lasers, therebyincreasing output stability andperformance, potentiallyincreasing operating life, andsignificantly decreasing man-ufacturing (and end-user)cost. The technology supportslaser output wavelengths fromthe deep blue to the red. Thefirst product in the series, theKyma 488, is available with10 and 20mW of outputpower at 488.0nm, a criticalwavelength for many biomed-ical and life science applica-tions. The output beam isnearly circular (less than 1.1:1aspect ratio), linearly polar-ized, and has an M2 factor ofless than 1.2. The compact,conduction-cooled laser headincorporates thermoelectriccooling and automatic powercontrol for stable, long-termoperation and excellent beam-pointing stability. For moreinformation, visit www.mellesgriot.com.

Member Innovations

The Journal of LaserApplications® offers the latest refer-eed papers by leading researchers inthe laser community. The upcomingNovember 2005 issue includes papersfrom materials processing. Look forthe online version at www.laserinsti-tute. org/publications/jla/. To viewthe journal online, please make sureyour membership is current.

The JLA® is published four times

a year by the Laser Institute ofAmerica in February, May, Augustand November. It is sent to all LIAmembers as a member benefit. Fornonmembers of LIA, call theAmerican Institute of Physics at1.800. 344.6902 for subscriptioninformation.

Sign up at http://scitation.aip.org/jla/alert.jsp to receive your JLAtable of content e-mail alerts.

Journal of Laser Applications® Update

LIA TODAY

November/December 200515

LIA Regional MeetingLIA is hosting a Regional Meeting on

Dec. 15, 2005 at the Inn at St. John’s inPlymouth, Mich. to facilitate networkingamongst laser professionals and to estab-lish a local chapter in the Detroit area. Intoday's globally competitive environmentfor higher productivity and quality (doingmore with less), professionals can stay"plugged in" to current technology, appli-cations and new developments in the lasercommunity through the LIA. Guest speak-er Randy Paura’s keynote presentation atthis meeting is “Blueprinting for Success:Harnessing the Power of Light.”

The meeting is free for all LIA mem-bers, but you must register. The nonmem-ber price is $10. To register, contact LIA at1-800-34-LASER/407-380-1553 or regis-ter online at www.laserinstitute.org (LIARegional Meeting, Plymouth, Mich.).

Early Bird Prices for CoursesStarting in January 2006, LIA will be

offering early bird pricing for its lasersafety officer (LSO) and medical lasersafety officer (MLSO) courses. For theLSO course, the early bird price will be$1,295 for nonmembers and $1,250 formembers who register up to four weeksprior to the course. After that the pricechanges to $1,595 for nonmembers or$1,495 for members. For the MLSOcourse, the early bird price is $745 fornonmembers or $645 for members up tofour weeks prior to the course. After thedeadline the price increases to $895 fornonmembers or $795 for members. Foronline registration, the early bird price willautomatically be calculated. Please contactLIA if you have any questions at 800-34-LASER.

Laser Dentistry ConferenceThe Academy of Laser Dentistry will be

hosting Source 2006: Lasers in Dentistry,the academy’s annual conference and exhi-bition, on Mar. 15-18 in Tucson, Ariz. Thisis one of the most comprehensive dentalconferences in the world that concentrateson scientific research and clinical uses oflasers in dentistry. For more informationvisit www.laserdentistry.org.

PICALO Advance ProgramThe Advance Program for LIA’s

newest conference, the Pacific Inter-national Conference on Applications ofLasers and Optics (PICALO), will beavailable in January. PICALO, which willbe held Apr. 3-5 in Melbourne, Australia,will focus on the growth and application oflasers and optics in the Pacific region. Formore information, visit www.laserinsti-tute.org/ conferences or contact BethCohen at 800-34-LASER/407-380-1553 orbcohen@laserinstitute.org.

Engineers Week 2006Engineers Week, a consortium of more

than 100 professional and technical soci-eties and major U.S. corporations, is slatedfor Feb. 19-25, 2006. This year’s programwill extensively reach out to middle schoolteachers so educators can interact directlywith engineers and prepare students forcourses to come. For complete informationon the programs and events for EngineersWeek, visit www.eweek.org.

Additionally, the 2006 NationalEngineers Week Future City Competition™– an educational program that asks teamscomprised of students with mentor teachersand engineers to design and build a futurecity – will be held in January at the regionallevel with the finals to be held Feb. 20-22in Washington, D.C. during EngineersWeek. For more information visit www.futurecity.org.

Save the Date The 25th International Congress on

Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics(ICALEO®) will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 2,2006 at the DoubleTree Paradise ValleyResort in Scottsdale, Ariz. A Call forPapers will be announced in January 2006.For more information, contact ConferenceDirector Beth Cohen at bcohen@laserinsti-tute.org or visit www.icaleo.org.

LIA Announces

Happy Holidays from the LIA!

LIA TODAY

November/December 2005 16

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