Technical Event
Workshop on Methods of Complex Light
29 January 2025 • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM PST | Moscone South, Room 160 (Upper Mezz)
Join this interactive workshop that focuses on the tools, techniques, and technology being used in the field of complex light, providing insight into how to integrate these into your own photonic systems. The format will be small group discussion, where attendees will get the opportunity to see live experimental demonstrations and discuss in small groups the topics outlined below. Please note, these are not regular scheduled talks. In this session attendees will be organized into small groups and rotated around each speaker. The session is drop-in, so please join at any time during the workshop; however, to allow ample time to engage with all the speakers, we suggest arriving early in the session.
Imaging Through Fibres: Simon Mekhail, Research Fellow, University of Glasgow (United Kingdom)
An introduction to the tips, tricks and technology required to image through fiber with high fidelity. The core challenges will be discussed and methods for managing alignment, fibre perturbation, setup mechanical instability, and wavelength instability will be presented. This is a great opportunity to learn the tools of the trade for anyone interesting in imaging through fibers or general scattering media.
Advances in Spatial Light Modulation: Kelly Gregorak, VP, Sales & Marketing, Meadowlark Optics (United States)
Meadowlark is a global leader in Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs), used widely in optical beamforming, manipulation, and microscopy systems. They will present an introduction to the latest hardware and software on the market, while giving perspective into the use of SLM in a range of applications. A range of systems will be demonstrated and will provide a unique opportunity to explore how SLMs can be integrated into your experimental optical systems.
Diffractive Optics for Structure Light Generation and Measurement: Eric Johnson, Professor, College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida (United States)
Passive diffractive optics are an ideal method for beam sharpening for compact, mass-manufactured, or high-power applications. Prof. Johnson is a world leader in the design and fabrication of ultra-high-efficiency diffractive optics for a broad range of academic and industrial applications. Recently, he has pioneered the creation of mode multiplexers and demultiplexers that allow for rapidly tunable orbital angular momentum, enabling beam shaping in space and time, which he will discuss in detail at the workshop. He will provide insight into the do’s and don’ts in diffractive optical design and provide unique insight into where they can be used in advanced optical systems.
Communicating in Turbulence Channels: Mark Main, PhD Student, and Martin Lavery, Professor, University of Glasgow (United Kingdom)
Free-space optical communications (FSOC) has gone through many technical revolutions since the invention of the Photophone in 1880. Core technology advancements in recent years have focused on active schemes for the mitigation of turbulence and pointing accuracy. The current state of the art in communication technologies will be discussed, and remaining challenges outlined. They will demonstrate a creative reuse of off-the-shelf components to realize a low-complexity spatial diversity scheme for turbulence mitigation that can be used for bridging the digital divide for rural and peri-urban communities at a range of 1.3km in moderate turbulence conditions.
This workshop is part of the Complex Light and Optical Forces XIX conference.
SETUP: Round tables and seating for rotating to each presenter's station.
Imaging Through Fibres: Simon Mekhail, Research Fellow, University of Glasgow (United Kingdom)
An introduction to the tips, tricks and technology required to image through fiber with high fidelity. The core challenges will be discussed and methods for managing alignment, fibre perturbation, setup mechanical instability, and wavelength instability will be presented. This is a great opportunity to learn the tools of the trade for anyone interesting in imaging through fibers or general scattering media.
Advances in Spatial Light Modulation: Kelly Gregorak, VP, Sales & Marketing, Meadowlark Optics (United States)
Meadowlark is a global leader in Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs), used widely in optical beamforming, manipulation, and microscopy systems. They will present an introduction to the latest hardware and software on the market, while giving perspective into the use of SLM in a range of applications. A range of systems will be demonstrated and will provide a unique opportunity to explore how SLMs can be integrated into your experimental optical systems.
Diffractive Optics for Structure Light Generation and Measurement: Eric Johnson, Professor, College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida (United States)
Passive diffractive optics are an ideal method for beam sharpening for compact, mass-manufactured, or high-power applications. Prof. Johnson is a world leader in the design and fabrication of ultra-high-efficiency diffractive optics for a broad range of academic and industrial applications. Recently, he has pioneered the creation of mode multiplexers and demultiplexers that allow for rapidly tunable orbital angular momentum, enabling beam shaping in space and time, which he will discuss in detail at the workshop. He will provide insight into the do’s and don’ts in diffractive optical design and provide unique insight into where they can be used in advanced optical systems.
Communicating in Turbulence Channels: Mark Main, PhD Student, and Martin Lavery, Professor, University of Glasgow (United Kingdom)
Free-space optical communications (FSOC) has gone through many technical revolutions since the invention of the Photophone in 1880. Core technology advancements in recent years have focused on active schemes for the mitigation of turbulence and pointing accuracy. The current state of the art in communication technologies will be discussed, and remaining challenges outlined. They will demonstrate a creative reuse of off-the-shelf components to realize a low-complexity spatial diversity scheme for turbulence mitigation that can be used for bridging the digital divide for rural and peri-urban communities at a range of 1.3km in moderate turbulence conditions.
This workshop is part of the Complex Light and Optical Forces XIX conference.
Event Details
FORMAT: Small group discussions with informal presentations and interactions.SETUP: Round tables and seating for rotating to each presenter's station.