Optical Sciences Division

Division Overview

The Optical Sciences Division is concerned with the fundamental physics of light and its diverse interactions with matter. Activities are coordinated through three Technical Groups: Applied Spectroscopy and Environmental Sensing, Short Wavelength and High Field Physics, and Ultrafast Optical Phenomena. Each group works with OSA to develop focused topical meetings, organize symposia at the CLEO, QELS, IQEC and Annual Meeting, and sponsor special issues of OSA peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, the Optical Sciences Division supports affiliated OSA technical meetings engaged in topics of relevance to the division.

What’s Hot in Optics Today?

Find out more about the current activities of this division, as well as emerging topics in the field and current challenges by reading this presentation by Barry Walker, University of Delaware, Division Chair-Elect.

Division Overview Presentation

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Technical Groups

Applied Spectroscopy and Environmental Sensing (SH)

The Applied Spectroscopy and Environmental Sensing technical group emphasizes the application of optical spectroscopy to detection and sensing problems in environmental, atmospheric, combustion, defense and biomedical fields. This group sponsors the biannual Laser Applications to Chemical and Environmental Analysis (LACEA) topical meeting and various technical sessions at CLEO.

Short Wavelength and High Field Physics (SX)

This group provides a focus for activities related to the development and application of high intensity lasers as well as novel XUV and x-ray sources. The group intends to serve fundamental and scientific researchers as well as the technological and industrial community. Specific interests include: the technology of high intensity, ultrafast lasers, the physics of high intensity light interactions with matter, and the generation of high brightness or ultrafast sources of short wavelength radiation with lasers. They are also interested in advances in traditional short wavelength sources including insertion devices for storage rings (undulators and wigglers), plasma X-ray lasers, electron beam based sources, and x-ray free electron lasers. Issues bridging high field optics and short wavelength source development, such as the production and use of attosecond x-ray pulses, are of particular interest.

Ultrafast Optical Phenomena (QY)

This group is interested in the rapidly expanding field of ultrashort pulse lasers and other broadband coherent sources and their application to problems in science and technology. Current themes involve methods for using short pulses for studying the dynamics and structural changes of systems on very short timescales, including novel methods for probing physical and chemical processes with extreme temporal resolution, and applications of ultrashort pulses in photonics, communications, microscopy, biomedicine and other emerging areas.

Division Leadership

Barry Walker, Division Chair (10/06-10/08) University of Delaware Department of Physics and Astronomy 223 Sharp Laboratory Newark, DE 19716-0000 Tel: +1 302.831.2673 Fax: +1 302.831.1637 E-mail: bcwalker@udel.edu

Martin Richardson, Division Chair-Elect (9/07-10/08) University of Central Florida, CREOL College of Optics 4000 Central Florida Ave Orlando, FL 32816-2700 Tel: +1 407.823.6819 Fax: +1 407.823.3570 E-mail: mcr@creol.ucf.edu

Applied Spectroscopy and Environmental Sensing

Azer Yalin, Chair (10/06-10/08) Colorado State University Department of Mechanical Eng. A-101 Engineering Bldg. Fort Collins, CO 80523-1374 Tel: +1 970.491.2813 Fax: +1 970.491.3827 E-mail: ayalin@engr.colostate.edu

Short Wavelength and High Field Physics

Koichi Yamakawa, Chair (9/07-10/09) Japan Atomic Energy Agency 8-1 Umemidai Kizu, Kyoto 619-0215 Tel: 774713327 Fax: 774713316 Email: yamakawa.koichi@jaea.go.jp

Ultrafast Optical Phenomena

David Reitze, Chair (10/06-10/08) University of Florida Physics Department PO Box 118440 Gainesville FL 32611-8440 Tel: +1 352.392.3582 Fax: +1 352.392.3591 Email: reitze@phys.ufl.edu

Andrea Cavalleri, Vice-Chair (10/06-10/08) University of Oxford Department of Physics, Clarendon Lab Parks Rd Oxford OX1 3PU UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 0 1865 2 72365 Email: a.cavalleri1@physics.ox.ac.uk