How the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing technique can be used to simply and quickly assess the quality of optical systems
This white paper will review the theory of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing and explain how it can be used to simply and quickly assess the quality of optical systems.
Shaping light wavefronts is improving many areas of microscopy – and is enabling Nobel Prize winner Eric Betzig’s most important work yet, finds Andy Extance
Keely Portway looks at some of the latest advances in light-based test and measurement techniques
The stringent requirements for ground and space-based telescopes are driving the development of innovative materials and optical systems, Matthew Dale reports
The WaveMaster UST combines precise wavefront measurement technology with expertise and experience in the manufacturing of complex measurement systems
The Laser Mėgajoule facility in France is one of the latest in large laser installations. Tom Eddershaw looks at how this type of huge project helps the photonics industry
Faster lasers require ever more sophisticated mirrors. Rob Coppinger reflects
Greg Blackman on the intricacies of characterising optics with wavefront sensors
Greg Blackman discovers that building larger ground-based telescopes is pointless without adaptive optics
Organoid imaged with Andor’s desktop confocal microscope system, the BC43. Credit: Andor
As microscopes become ever more powerful, a growing band of businesses are racing to make the latest technologies more accessible and more affordable, reports Rebecca Pool
Illustration of a three-dimensional crystal with various types of confining centres. (a) Crystal with four confining centres, each trapping waves (yellow) in all three dimensions simultaneously. (b) Crystal with a linear confining centre where waves can propagate in one dimension, analogous to an optical fibre. (c) Crystal with a planar confining centre where waves can propagate in two dimensions, analogous to a 2D electron gas. (Image: Vos et al.)
Newly discovered fundamental rules have been embedded into software to dramatically optimise the design of photonic integrated circuits
