In This Issue
- Tolley Takes The Helm at Infotonics
- Young Astronomers
- Report from the APOMA Fall Workshop
- Recognition and Awards
- SBIR Solicitation Opens
- New Product Announcements
- Conferences and Events
Recent Tours and Notable Events
RIT Microelectronics Lab and Mems Fab with Stefan Preble
Light (fiber-optics, DWDM etc.) have been the key for achieving long-haul interconnects for 35 years. Now it is becoming the key for achieving high speed data communications on smaller scales. The ultimate goal of Preble’s research is to continue this trend to the smallest possible scale by developing a complex integrated Silicon Nanophotonic chip.
In his lab, Preble shared his research building blocks for such a chip. He gave an overview of why optical interconnects are needed on the chip scale and discussed the challenges and the advantages of using a Silicon platform for such a photonic chip. Silicon is ubiquitous in our lives and is now such a commodity… even in the Micro-E lab they buy their polished silicon wafers as commodities for about $6 a wafer. Preble showed us solutions to some of the challenges using silicon-based compact resonators to dramatically increase light-matter interaction. He discussed and demonstrated one of the most basic building blocks of a silicon nanophotonic chip: an all-optical modulator, where one beam of light controls the propagation of another.
He also described ultra-fast modulation using a ring resonator device with an integrated PIN diode. The diode is used to directly interface CMOS transistors on the chip to the photonic resonators (essentially performing electrical to optical conversion) in order to create photonic signals at very high speeds – more than 20 Gbit/s. Preble presented us with a technique he is working on for achieving wavelength conversion where the wavelength of light confined in a resonator is changed by dynamically tuning the resonator, a completely classical linear effect!
Preble’s group is one of many who are working to realize optical interconnects on CMOS chips within the decade. In fact, all of the largest chip makers are working in this area – including Intel - and IBM.
There are also several startup companies which already have products that are on the verge of coming to market – most notably Luxtera (luxtera.com) which has created a 40 Gbit/s Optical Cable which is being aimed to replace ethernet. The cable has a CMOS silicon nanophotonic chip, lasers and photodetectors all monolothically integrated in a small and low-cost package.
APOMA Fall Workshop
The APOMA 2008 fall workshop was held this year in Tucson, Arizona at the New Optical Science building on the University of Arizona campus. Altogether we had 65 APOMA members from around the county participate in the two-day event. Just like in the past, the workshop covered a variety of topics related to optical fabrication such as materials, inspection, metrology, optical tolerances, pitch and pad polishing, etc., including presentations by the top optical machine/metrology builders on their latest equipment and much more.
Monday, after the last talk in the afternoon, we toured the optical fabrication shop at the University of Arizona and the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab. Both of these facilities are famous for fabricating massive optical components and astronomical telescope optics. On Tuesday, Dave Aikens gave an in-depth tutorial on “Understanding Scratch and Dig Specifications.”
Overall, the consensus from the attendees was that the workshop was a big success; the APOMA board has already started working on the details for the workshop in 2010.
See you at Optifab 2009!
For more information on Optifab click here.
Report from Rick Nasca
Corning Incorporated
Nasca is a past President of APOMA
Young Astronomers Studying Active Galaxies
High School Science Classes Looking Into Deep Space
Active galaxies (AGNs) are objects that generate enormous amounts of energy in their cores and are powered solely by black holes. Active galaxies can be classified by different characteristics and orientations of the galaxy disk, including quasars, Seyfert galaxies, blazars, and radio galaxies. In addition to their great energy output, they can be highly variable. Some quasars vary in brightness over a few weeks or months.
These fluctuations place strict limits on the maximum size of the energy source, because an object cannot vary in brightness faster than it takes light to travel from one side of its energy-producing region to the other. The rapid flickering of AGN means that they draw their energy from a small volume, in some cases less than one light day across.
Furthermore, observations of the orbital motion of stars and other material around AGN show that a large mass, ranging up to several billion solar masses, is concentrated within its "engine room." This leads to the almost unavoidable conclusion that the central engine is a supermassive black hole. Since a black hole, by definition, emits nothing, the radiation from an AGN is believed to come from material heated to several million degrees in an accretion disk before tumbling into the black hole or, in some cases, being shot away in twin jets along the central engine’s spin axis.
This past June a small group of teachers from around the U.S. collected ground based observations and observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope of Seyfert 1.5 NGC 4051 on a daily basis for signs of variability at 3.6 and 5.8 microns. NGC 4051 has previously shown variability on this timescale at 2.2 microns. Based on the difference in variability at 3.6 and 5.8 microns limits can be placed on the dust distribution at the nucleus of the AGN.
This group of students is studying this data searching for a possible reverberation time, which is a measure of the area surrounding the black hole. This region is known as an accretion disk. We will be presenting our results at the January 2009 American Astronomical Society’s conference in Long Beach, CA.
While the students are making their own contributions, fundraising efforts continue. A local education foundation is making a contribution, but the travel costs are a challenge.
This past August, Adam Frank of the University of Rochester was able to provide substantial support for the group's first trip to the Spitzer Science Center in Pasadena, CA, and with the training that they received there they have been working through the data.
Teachers:
- Jeff Paradis (Rush-Henrietta SHS)
- Melissa Kulp (Roth Middle School)
Students:
- Marlena Vera-Schockner
- Becca Yuhas
- Jay Amin
- Joe Ciminelli
- Chris Fallon
- Chris Tasber
- Taylor Dennison
- Brian Dana
- Sam Becker
The Rush Henrietta Education Foundation has approved $2,500 in support for this project, pending the raising of additional funds elsewhere.
If you or your organization can support this worthwhile project, or if you know of someone who is interested in supporting young, developing astronomers, please contact Jeffrey Paradis at the Rush Henrietta School District.
Jeff Paradis
Rush-Henrietta Senior High School
Physics & Astronomy
(585) 359-5200
jparadis<at>rhnet.org
Heads Up on Real Estate
For any company in the Rochester Region looking for a nice manufacturing / light assembly location:
Available Spring, 2009
Built in 1991, 29 Jet View Drive is a 23,300 square foot manufacturing facility situated on 2.49 acres. The building is comprised of 19,300 square feet of manufacturing space and 4,000 square feet of office space. Zoned LI - Light Industrial, the property is minutes from the Rochester airport and 1-490 and 1-390. Ideal for manufacturing or light assembly.
The manufacturing space features: 1 truck dock, 1 grade level drive-in door with 14" overhead clearance. On site parking is available for approximately 51 cars. The building is fully air-conditioned. Lease rate at $5.50 per square foot, triple net. Taxes are $12,648 (2008 County) & $25,079 (2008-2009 School).
For information please contact:
James Sydor
C: 585-271-7300
Events and Conferences
University of Rochester
Optics Colloquia (ongoing)
Photonics
West
24 - 29 January, 2009
San Jose, California
Defense,
Security & Sensing
13 - 17 April, 2009
Orlando World Center
Orlando, Florida
Optifab
Call for Papers here
11
- 14 May, 2009
Rochester, NY
CLEO / IQEC 09
May 31 - June 5, 2009
Baltimore, Maryland
World Science Festival
11 - 14 June, 2009
New York City
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Paul Tolley Takes The Helm at ITC
Rapid Microsystems Commercialization Center Chooses Leader from Industry
Paul Tolley, most recently VP and General Manager at Syntec Optics, has been appointed CEO of Canandaigua's Infotonics Technology Center. Tolley will begin serving as Infotonics CEO Monday, Dec. 15, 2008
Tolley has over 20 years experience in leading edge polymer optics product development and manufacturing for systems, such as biometric identification, medical imaging, defense, and telecommunications. Paul also has experience in engineering management and strategic planning for several Fortune 500 companies. He is a member of OSA, APOMA, and the Technical Advisory Committee for Homeland Security.
Paul is also a Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC) Board Member and co-developer of Patented HRDT technology (covered in Our October Newsletter).
In his nearly nine years at Syntec, Tolley helped triple Syntec’s sales by transforming the company into a polymer optics leader and building collaborative industry relationships. Under Tolley's leadership Syntec Optics was the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Award in the North American polymer optics market.
“Paul is a fantastic fit for Infotonics,” said John Hart, Infotonics chairman of the board. “He understands the role this center can play in driving our local economy. He has the ability to bridge not only technological gaps, but also gaps between organizations. I know he will work tirelessly to introduce our capabilities to companies here in New York and around the globe to help commercialize their technologies,” added Hart.
After conducting a 14-day review of Infotonics, it is expected that Tolley will develop an immediate one-year plan alongside a long-term strategic vision, including rebranding the Center with target industries.
Fifteen RRPC members toured the Infotonics Center on Monday, December 8th, learning more about current projects in development from Glen Fricano, VP Sales and Marketing, and touring the Microelectronics Fabrication Laboratory and recently completed Packaging Laboratory.
RRPC members hear details from Nancy Stoffel, Director of Packaging, at Monday night's tour of ITC
New County / College Partnership
Monroe County and Monroe Community College Announce New Job Training Initiative
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks today announced that Monroe County has launched a new program in partnership with Monroe Community College to better meet the high demands of the local manufacturing industry.
The "Monroe Manufactures Jobs" program will connect MCC graduates in the Precision Machining, Optical Fabrication, and AAS Precision Machining programs with local manufacturing companies and offer both the employee and employer a $1,500 bonus if the employee works for the company for one full year.
"Monroe County's manufacturing community is strong and prospering but is currently facing a shortage of skilled workers to support the growing industry," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. 'The "Monroe Manufactures Jobs" program will help further cultivate our manufacturing industry and bolster our local economy by directly linking skilled workers with excellent jobs."
A recent study conducted by the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) of RIT found that there is an average of 4.7 positions available at area manufacturing companies. The goal of the program is to increase awareness amongst high-school, college, and post- college individuals about the vast opportunities available within the manufacturing industry.
"This program underscores the importance of college-county-industry collaboration to meet the community's needs and strengthen our local economy," said MCC Interim President Larry W. Tyree.
On hand was a 1975 graduate of the MCC Optician Training Program, Jim Sydor. Other graduates of the program are among the CEO's and others with prominent positions in the Region's OPI Industry, including Ed Fess at the Laser Energetics Lab; Tony Marino at AGI; Mike Mandina, Bob Wiederhold and Jim Vankouwenberg at Optimax and many others.
Monroe County is currently home to approximately 1,000 manufacturers and provides 50,000 jobs to area residents. For each manufacturing job, 2.7 service jobs are in turn created.
The program has an initial $400,000 set aside to assist 133 companies and employees. "Monroe Manufactures Jobs" is funded by fee income and loan repayments and no tax payer dollars are used to fund the program.
CSI: Optics
Damage Forensics in Precision Optical Components
Managing subsurface damage during the shaping process, and removing subsurface damage during the polishing process is essential in the production of low damage-density optical components, such as those required for use on high peak power lasers.
Removal of subsurface damage during the polishing process, requires polishing to a depth which is greater than the depth of the residual cracks present following the shaping process. To successfully manage, and ultimately remove subsurface damage, understanding the distribution and character of fractures in the subsurface region introduced during fabrication process is important.
If you were fortunate enough to be present at the APOMA meeting during Photonics West earlier this year, you had the pleasure of enjoying the fascinating presentation by Tayyab Suratwala about damage forensics, high power lasers, and MRF used in combination with microscopy as a diagnostic tool.
Tayyab, a materials scientist and Associate Program Manager for Laser Materials and Optics Technology at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory's National Ignition Facility, was in Rochester during OSA / Frontiers in Optics in October. Tayyab shared these PDF documents with us so that we can share them with you. Interesting stuff for companies and individuals who work with a variety of optical materials.
SBIR
SBIR 09.1 Solicitation is open for proposal submission
The DoD SBIR 2009.1 solicitation is open for proposal submission from December 8, 2008 through 6:00 a.m. ET January 14, 2009. Seven DoD components -- the Department of the Air Force, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) -- have R&D topics in this solicitation under which Phase I proposals are sought.
The Solicitation, which contains detailed information on the parameters of the SBIR program and how to submit a proposal, and Topics are available here. You may also search the topics by going here.
Eday
Thank you to everybody who participated in the Optical Society of America's Educators' Day 2008 on Thursday, October 23, 2008!
By the numbers: there were approximately 78 science teachers who attended the event, out of 99 who registered and 67 who RSVP-ed within the final two weeks. There were 21 activity booths; staffers included graduate students from various universities, faculty members, and employees at several companies.
Activity sheets (i.e. lesson plans, or at least the seeds of lesson plans) are available for most of the booths from EDay. Click here to see a list of them, along with contact info for the people who staffed those activities. Teachers, we look forward to hearing from you and perhaps coming to your schools to do demonstrations!
Video of the event was recorded. Check back with this space periodically to see if we have uploaded it yet! There are extensive interviews at each of the booths, hopefully enough to show how to do the activity.
If anyone is curious to see what the invitation this year looked like, here it is.
See you all at EDay 2010 (again in Rochester--spread the word), and some of you at EDay 2009 (in San José)!
Contact RRPC
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Reporter Badge?
Luke, you finally got yours and I want to see you wearing it at Photonics West. Everyone else: contact us with industry news and be the first in your
office to wear one (or hide it in your desk).
New York Photonics and the Rochester Regional Photonics
Cluster are active and growing collaborative organizations. Efforts are
under way on joint training events, workforce development, collaborative
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the development of our website to further facillitate business development.
Join us! There are advantages to working together, and
we are interested in working with you. Send an email to us at membership@rrpc-ny.org.
To subscribe, to unsubscribe, to submit a news item or upcoming event,
to suggest a feature or column, or to offer feedback, contact Tom
Battley, at 585-329-4029.
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