Laser-sculpted Optical Devices For Future Giant Telescopes
Monday, February 9, 2009 - 09:15
in Astronomy & Space
Th emerging field of astrophotonics shows promise in analyzing light from the night sky. Future telescopes, with mirrors half the size of a football field, will need special components to deal with the light they collect. Astronomers are turning to photonic devices that guide and manipulate light inside specially-designed materials. The greatest potential may lie in a laser-based technique that carves out micron-sized light pathways in three dimensions.