Advances in optical metrology equipment are helping the semiconductor industry increase productivity and reduce downtime, finds Keely Portway
In deflectometry, a camera images fringe patterns that have reflected off a surface under test, so that a system can deduce a map of the surface slopes from the deviation of the projected fringes, and from that determine the surface shape. Credit: Mahr
Lens features have been getting too small to properly characterise – but metrology providers are catching up, finds Andy Extance
Keely Portway looks at some of the latest advances in light-based test and measurement techniques
Verifying the surface quality of optics has long relied on a visual, non-quantitative approach, finds Jessica Rowbury
Aspheres and other freeform optics are becoming more commonly used in areas like consumer electronics - but, as these lenses move further away from rotational symmetry, can the metrology equipment to test them cope? Tom Eddershaw finds out
Image credit: bogdanhoda/Shutterstock.com
Tiny nanodiamonds are being used to dramatically optimise the calibration of optical microscopes, Matthew Dale finds
After the test disk is placed inside the chamber, some fine tuning is required to ensure they are horizontal and perfectly centred (credit: Caltech)
LIGO scientists have developed a new mirror coating that could dramatically increase the observatory's detection rate of gravitational waves
Image credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com
Advances in research have made strides in the improvement of wearable and AR/VR displays
LLNL optical engineers Justin Wolfe (left) and Simon Cohen are seen through the 'r' filter (credit: Garry McLeod)
A telescope, described as one of the world’s newest, has been completed following a project undertaken by researchers to develop some very specialist optical filters
Magic cinema/Shutterstock.com
Advances in optical prisms are being used to help researchers gain a greater understanding of space and astronomy
Universities offering associate degrees for optics technicians could help answer the photonics skills shortage, finds Jessica Rowbury
