Technology Features

Many beams make light work

Rob Coppinger discovers that splitting could be the answer to the economical treatment of surfaces using pico and femto second lasers

Rough and ready

Confocal microscopy provides an optical method for measuring surface roughness, one that's now much more accepted in industry as an alternative to tactile measurements, as Greg Blackman discovers

Red or violet, resolution is the answer

Rob Coppinger finds greater precision will provide a clearer picture for UV and IR photonics

Perfect beam, perfect defence

A coherent strategy is not the only way to stop your enemy, as Rob Coppinger finds that directed energy needs good beam quality to defend its military users