The objective of the 2012 Optical Fabrication & Testing (OF&T) OSA Topical Meeting, to be held at the Monterey Plaza Hotel in Monterey, California, on July 24-28, 2012, is to discuss the rapidly evolving technology, in a small group, with leaders in the field.
Intellectual merit: The conference will assemble the key leaders in the field to present recent advances in Optical Fabrication & Testing to discuss future developments and applications. The meeting discussions will advance the leading edge of this technology by bringing together researchers from the different impacted disciplines, to define and answer their emerging needs of the next decades.
Broader impact: It is expected that this meeting will be instrumental in defining the research required by the growing demands of Optical Fabrication & Testing. This Topical Meeting of the Optical Society of America will contribute to the training of participating students and the topics will be disseminated through the Conference Technical Digest.
The $7,998 requested was distributed to undergraduate and graduate students from US educational institutions, who would otherwise have been unable to travel to and participate in the OF&T meeting. Recipients will be required to present oral or poster presentations on selected topics relevant to the meeting at sessions specifically related to their research topics. Summary Optical Fabrication and Testing brought together experts working in the field to discussrecent advances and identify future trends. The meeting covered all aspects of optics fabrication and testing ranging from micro-optics to large optics, from high-value unique optics to mass-produced optics.The meeting emphasized new ideas and concepts in fabrication and testing of micro-optics, the fabrication and testing of aspheric, conformal and freeform optics, fabrication of optics from novel materials, and finishing science. Topics Covered: 1. Optical Materials ? New materials for new applications (plastics, crystals, glasses, lightweight materials, ceramics, carbides, UV optics materials) ? Metamaterials ? Thin films 2. Figuring and Finishing Science ? Grinding, precision grinding, diamond turning and milling, ultrasound assisted machining, vibration assisted polishing ? New ideas in traditional (pitch) polishing, MRF, ion beam figuring and polishing, jet polishing, novel finishing processes ? Glass and plastic molding ? Abrasives, novel abrasive formulations 3. Optical Testing ? Testing for sub-surface damage, homogeneity, form, finish, scratch/dig ? New ideas in interferometry ? Testing aspheric surfaces with and without null-optics ? Computer-generated holograms and spatial light modulators for testing ? Absolute tests for flats, spheres and aspheres ? New concepts in profilometry: optical and mechanical probes ? Testing of very large and very small optics ? White light interferometry, fringe projection metrology, deflectometry ? Testing in adverse environments: vibration, turbulence, vacuum, space, etc. ? In-process metrology ? Testing of freeform surfaces 4. Assembly, Alignment, Contamination Control, Cleaning, Packaging ? Adhesives and cementing ? Alignment of optical systems ? Alignment of systems containing aspheric elements ? Alignment of multi-element mirrors ? Mounting, control of deformation and stress birefringence ? Clean rooms and contamination control ? Handling and packing of precision optics 5. Process Engineering ? Cost effective optics manufacturing processes ? Cost effective fabrication of aspheric surfaces ? Automation in optics fabrication ? Fabrication of large optics ? Fabrication of micro-optics 6. Fabrication of Unusual Optical Systems ? Photolithography optics ? Telescopes ? Adaptive optics ? Integrated optics 7. Education and Training in Optics Metrology and Finishing Science Program Committee Chairs Stephen Jacobs, Univ. of Rochester, USA James "Ted" Mooney, ITT Industries, Space System Division, USA Jessica DeGroote Nelson, Optimax Systems Inc Jannick Rolland, Univ. of Rochester Shai Shafrir, Corning Incorporated Committee Members Dave Aikens, Savvy Optics Corp., USA Damon Diehl, Diehl Research Grant Services, USA Chris Evans, Zygo, USA Oliver Fanhle, FISBA OPTIK AG, USA Edward Fess, OptiPro, USA John Greivenkamp, Univ. of Arizona, USA Ulf Griesmann, NIST, USA Joe Howard, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA Kazuyoshi Itoh, Osaka University, Japan Matthew Jenkins, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS), USA Dae Wook Kim, Univ. of Arizona, USA Thomas Milster, Univ. of Arizona, USA Brigid Mullany, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA Paul Murphy, QED Technologies Inc, USA Francois Piche, L-3 Communications IOS Brashear, USA Joseph Randi, Penn State Univ., USA Kathleen Richardson, Clemson Univ., USA Joe Robichaud, L-3 SSG Tinsley, USA Markus Schinhaerl, Fachhochschule Deggendorf, Germany Katie Schwertz, Edmund Optics, USA Aric Shorey, Corning Inc, USA Erika Sohn, Instituto de Astronomia UNAM, Mexico Tayyab Suratwala, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA David Vanderpool, SCHOTT N America - Adv Optical Materials, USA Daniel Waechter, Fraunhofer IPT, Germany Ray Williamson, Ray Williamson Consulting, USA Yongbo Wu, Akita Prefectural Univ., Japan Use of NSF support NSF funds supported the travel and registration for students who otherwise would have been unable to participate in the meeting. Recipients presented oral or poster presentations on selected topics relevant to the meeting at sessions specifically related to their research topics. NSF’s support of these students allowed us to further our goal of getting "new blood" engaged in these topics which will continue to need interested participants in the field. This is especially important for those involved in teaching, research, and applied engineering related to the field of optics manufacturing. Presenting research results at a professional meeting and responding to questions and/or comments regarding the work is an essential part of any plan for educating students. Networking with a student after his or her presentation offers educators and industry participants alike a clear means for drawing students into the activities of our optical manufacturing community. But students must attend to receive these benefits, and individual academic researchers are finding it increasingly difficult to bring students with them.
