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January 2018 Issue
Feature Articles
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Lidar for Self-Driving Cars
Autonomous vehicles need to monitor everything fixed or moving in their immediate environment. Next-gen lidar will play a vital role in achieving that comprehensive view.
by Jeff Hecht![](https://opn-web-afd-d3bfbkd5bcc5asbs.z02.azurefd.net/opn/media/images/articles/2018/1801/features/nahmias-360x270-thumb.jpg?t=638452537441769204)
Neuromorphic Photonics
Photonic neural networks have the potential to revolutionize the speed, energy efficiency and throughput of modern computing—and to give Moore’s law–style scaling a new lease on life.
by Mitchell A. Nahmias, Bhavin J. Shastri, Alexander N. Tait, Thomas Ferreira de Lima and Paul R. Prucnal![](https://opn-web-afd-d3bfbkd5bcc5asbs.z02.azurefd.net/opn/media/images/articles/2018/1801/features/albert-360x270-thumb.jpg?t=638452537366063759)
Laser Wakefield Accelerators: Next-Generation Light Sources
A new breed of compact particle accelerators, capable of producing electron-beam energies in the GeV range, could soon bring some of the experimental power of synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers to a tabletop near you.
by Félicie AlbertDepartments and Columns
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Research and Industry News
Tiny methane sensor; tweaking fundamental constants; from on-chip to in-chip; inkjet-printed nanophotonics; structural colors in a heartbeat; jellyfish-inspired skin; Ford partner buys Princeton Lightwave; smart-car joint ventures feature optics; imaging blood flow; a photonic abacus.
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AVs: The Supply-Chain Angle
A new manufacturing ecosystem will be required to enjoy the tremendous opportunities that autonomous vehicles offer for integrated photonics.
![](https://opn-web-afd-d3bfbkd5bcc5asbs.z02.azurefd.net/opn/media/images/articles/2018/1801/departments/market-360x270-thumb.jpg?t=638452537308399143)
What’s Hot in Optics and Photonics?
The answer depends largely on where you look.
![](https://opn-web-afd-d3bfbkd5bcc5asbs.z02.azurefd.net/opn/media/images/articles/2018/1801/departments/engineer-360x270-thumb.jpg?t=638452537285665125)
Exceptional Points: An Emerging Tool for Sensor Applications
Leveraging singularities in non-energy-conserving optical systems could open up a new route to ultrasensitive devices.
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Also in this Issue
Opening New Doors
30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in OPN
News from the Society
OSA Fellow stories; World Science Day; New York start-up accelerator; Tucson Industrial Affiliates; Light, Energy and Environment Congress; new Honorary Members; awards for Winzer and Leuchs; Invented at Duke; IONS Okinawa; Thanks, volunteers and editors.