Optics in Forensics: Separating Science from Fiction

In recent years, forensic science has been glamorized in prime-time television and movies. Beyond the special-effects magic, new optical technologies are making their way into the crime lab—as quickly as budgets and trial judges will allow.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of 3D: Parallax Barrier Experiments Part IV

The first two installments in this four-part series explored the history and principles of 3D imaging, and the third included anaglyph experiments. This fourth and final article provides instructions for parallax barrier experiments.

Non-Uniform Color Scales: The Artwork of Kristin Quinn

What is the color of amber? Iron ore? Pollen? How can wind and water be suggested? Kristin Quinn, daughter of former OSA Executive Director Jarus Quinn, explores such questions every day through her dynamic artwork.

Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Metallic Surfaces

Recent advances in nano-fabrication have enabled a host of nano-photonic experiments involving subwavelength metallic structures. This activity has, in turn, reawakened interest in surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Here, numerical simulations are used to verify the detailed structure of long-range SPPs.

Concentrating on Low-Cost Solar Technology

Soliant Energy probes an unlikely source for inspiration: its customers.

Science and Competitiveness: The Whole World is Worrying

American scientists who are concerned about their nation’s long-term prospects in science and economic competitiveness can take comfort from this fact: There is equal concern from the world science community.

OSA Meetings in the 1970s and 1980s

Too big? Too small? Too many? Too few? Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, OSA worked to get its meeting mix just right.

OPN Talks with Alan J. Heeger

Our conversation with Alan J. Heeger, Nobel Prize Winner and CLEO/QELS Plenary Speaker.

Slow Light Pulses Carry Information

Two-dimensional images can be delayed without destroying the information they carry—even at such low light levels that each pulse averages less than one photon.

Unusual Beetles Display Brilliant Whiteness

A type of beetle from southeastern Asia could teach scientists how to make delicate yet bright display screens.

Did You Know?

UCSB researchers created the first such laser diodes by growing the diodes on a different side of a gallium nitride crystal

Book Reviews

Letters

After Image

OSA Today

The OSA Foundation

With your support, the OSA Foundation exceeded its 2006 fundraising goal and supplied resources to a variety of outreach programs.

President’s Message