Submission Categories
Below is a list of 2013 Submission categories.
FiO 1: Optical Design, Fabrication and Instrumentation
FiO 2: Optical Sciences
FiO 3: Optics in Biology and Medicine
FiO 4: Optics in Information Processing
FiO 5: Fiber Optics and Optical Communications
FiO 6: Integrated Photonics
FiO 7: Quantum Electronics
FiO 8: Vision and Color
Laser Science Topics
FiO 1: Optical Design and Instrumentation
1.1 Coherence, Interferometry, Optical Testing, Diffractive and Holographic Optics
Topics of this theme include: coherence, interferometry, applications of interferometers, optical testing, digital holography for biomedical or nanophotonics applications, holographic micro- and nano-fabrication methods, 3-D holographic microscopy, 3-D optical image processing, 3-D display, computer generated holograms, dynamic holography, beam shaping, diffractive polarizing elements, polarization-independent diffractive elements, broadband diffractive elements, active diffractive elements, subwavelength optics, fabrication of diffractive and micro-optical elements, hybrid design with diffractive-refractive optics.
1.2 Three-Dimensional Structure Design, Fabrication, and Nanopatterning
The field of optical materials has been rapidly developing in recent years, promising to deliver new materials with exotic properties generally unattainable in nature. Full exhibition of their properties and functionalities relies on 3D control of metallic or dielectric structures in the nanoscale. This theme is focused on the design and fabrication of 3D optical materials and integrated circuits, which may include 3D photonic crystals, 3D metamaterials, and 3D optical circuits. Recent progress may bring new synthesis techniques that enable nanoscale spatial control in three dimensions. On the other hand, scalable, fault-tolerant designs and architectures that can lead to large-scale fabrication are also of great interest. The theme also includes optical nanolithography, EUV lithography, maskless lithography, plasmonic imaging and metamaterials, nanoimprint technology, self-assembly nanopatterning, organic electronic device patterning, lithography for display technology, flexible electronic devices, etc.
1.3 Optical Design with Unconventional Polarization and Complex Optical Fields (Joint with FiO 8)
The polarization of light plays an important role in optical science and engineering. Recently there is an increasing interest in complex optical fields with spatially inhomogeneous state of polarizations and optical singularities. New effects and phenomena have been predicted and observed for light beams with these unconventional polarization states. The topics of this theme include but are not limited to: description and characterization of unconventional polarization states (including radial polarizations, azimuthal polarizations, and other types of polarization vortices); novel devices for the creation and manipulation of unconventional polarization states and complex optical fields including active unconventional polarization sources; the interaction of unconventional polarized light and complex optical fields with nanostructures (such as atomic and quantum systems, quantum dots and nanoparticples, photonics crystals, optical antennas, plasmonic structures, metasurfaces and metamaterials, etc.); propagation of unconventional polarized light and complex optical fields in free space, waveguides and optical fibers; information processing and transmission with unconventional polarized light and complex optical fields; ray tracing and optical design with spatially variant polarizations; polarization aberrations in optical design and instrumentation, polarizing in tissue scattering, biomedical imaging, and bio-optics; retrieval techniques in imaging polarimetry.
1.4 Wavefronts and Aberrations: Engineering, Sensing and Applications
This theme is intended to promote technical exchange in the sciences and engineering of optical wavefronts and aberrations with broad coverage ranging from theory, algorithm developments, numerical simulations, to hardware implementation and applications. The topics to be covered include but not limited to: aberration theory; orthogonal polynomials in wavefront and aberration analysis, optical design, optical testing and wavefront sensing; orthogonal polynomials descriptions for optical systems with circular, annular, hexagonal, and other pupil shapes; design and fabrication of freeform optics; effective modeling and measurement methods for freeform optics; conventional wavefront sensing techniques; image-based computational wavefront sensing techniques (e.g., phase-retrieval and phase-diversity); compressive sensing techniques; various estimation approaches; applications in adaptive optical systems and optical instrumentation.
1.5 Optical Design of Ophthalmic Instruments for Retinal Imaging (Joint with FiO 8)
The ability to image the living retina with high-resolution has advanced significantly over the past two decades. This theme is intended to provide a forum for researchers to compare and contrast optical design parameters that must be considered when designing and constructing ophthalmic instrumentation for imaging the living retina in clinical and research environments, present innovative optical imaging techniques and discuss parameters requiring optimization for future instruments to facilitate high-fidelity retinal imaging.
1.6 General Optical Design and Instrumentation
Scope includes but not limited to: design of new optical elements and systems, classical optical design methods and software development, fabrication, testing, systems analysis and instrumentation, optical displays, including backlit LCD/LED, 3D, OLED, projection, novel methods, etc. and their applications
FiO 2: Optical Sciences
2.1 Frequency Comb Science and Technology
Frequency combs are transitioning from the subject of scientific study to a powerful tool capable of enabling a broad range of new science and technology including precision spectroscopy, stable microwave generation, time and frequency transfer, the search for exoplanets and many others. A critical step in this transition is the development of robust, compact, high-performance comb systems across the visible, UV and IR spectrum. This session will focus on novel new frequency comb designs and applications.
2.2 Extreme Light Sources and Laser-Driven Particle Accelerators
Laser acceleration of electrons and ions can produce high energies and ultrashort pulses in compact devices, potentially enabling new applications from light sources to energy frontier physics. Simultaneously, free electron laser-based light sources are revolutionizing our understanding of materials. Submissions on topics related to these areas, including improved electron injection, increased energies, stability, accelerator staging, and production of secondary radiation, are encouraged.
2.3 Peak and Average Power Bottlenecks for Fiber Lasers (Joint with FiO 5)
Optical fibers provide significant advantages, such as compactness, stability and immunity to environmental effects. Advances in both specially tailored fiber fabrication and pump laser diode technologies paved the way to both high average and high peak power fiber laser development. Recent progress in high-power fiber lasers has revealed limitations due to fundamental physical phenomena. This theme will be devoted to addressing power- and energy-scaling bottlenecks for practically realizable systems.
2.4 High-Field Physics
High-field physics theme covers a broad range of topics related to laser-matter interactions with matter in the intensity range from 10^14 W/cm^2 to ultra-relativistic values of 10^22 W/cm^2, including the characterization and application of attosecond pulses from plasma and atomic media.
2.5: General Optical Sciences
This is a theme encompassing a broad range of optical science topics which do not fit in the other specific themes. Submissions of both experimental and theoretical work are invited, ranging from fundamental to applied research in optical sciences.
FiO 3: Optics in Biology and Medicine
3.1 Translational Biophotonics – Focus on Pathology and Diagnostics
Optical tools have great potential for innovation in pathology and diagnostics. In pathology, new imaging modalities, contrast mechanisms and design improvements could enable novel ways of looking at tissue and diagnosing disease. In addition, optical technologies are entering the operating room and clinic as in situ diagnostics. Previously, technologies such as flow cytometry have revolutionized medical fields such as hematology. To facilitate translation, discussion will include pathologists who can familiarize scientist and engineers with current practices and technologies and highlight opportunities for advances.
3.2 Microscopy and OCT (Joint with FiO 1)
The fields of optical microscopy and optical coherence tomography remain at the forefront of biophotonics and medical optical imaging. The spatial resolution and exquisite sensitivity of these technologies to sources of both endogenous and exogenous contrast, enable scientists to push the boundaries of what is currently known about the structure and function of in-vitro and in-vivo systems. With use of novel superresolution techniques and a wide array of molecular probes and nanostructures, study of single molecules is possible. Advances in light sources and data-acquisition schemes enable real-time microscopy and OCT. Submissions on innovative technology research and the biological and medical applications of microscopy and OCT, are strongly encouraged.
3.3 Optical Trapping and Manipulation
Optics in biological experiments extends far beyond imaging and can be used to exert forces, change chemistry and alter biological function in cells and molecules. Combined with microscopy and other measurement techniques, these advances in optical trapping and manipulation enable new biological experiments. Optical trapping is an established method for study of single-cell behavior in solution, but recent developments extend the applications and capabilities of this technique. Other optical innovations enable novel manipulations and measurements in cultured cells and in vitro experiments. Submissions on novel techniques and combinations of methods that yield new biological experimental capabilities are highly encouraged.
3.4 Lab-on-a-chip and Optofluidics
The combination of inexpensive optical technologies, optofluidics, microfluidics and cellular technologies has led to novel technologies for biotechnology and medical applications. The potential to use these platforms for on-site diagnostic tests at the bedside or in resource-poor areas across the globe is considerable. In addition, the growth in microfluidic/lab-on-a-chip technologies enables development of novel combined optical/microfluidic approaches to achieve point-of-care diagnostics. Additional applications of these advances are high-throughput research and clinical screening tools. Submissions on innovative optical technologies and methodologies that are deployable, robust, scalable or applicable to the biotech industry are strongly encouraged.
3.5 Experimental Methods for Tissue Imaging and Therapy
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of biophotonics research projects, technologies and methodologies from both biology and optics are being combined to yield groundbreaking findings. This is a broad theme related to tissue and in vivo imaging, spectroscopy, therapy and a range of light-tissue interactions. As evidenced by the increasing number of high-profile journals that describe experimental methods and protocols, there is a clear growing demand for dissemination of innovative, unique methods to the scientific community. Submissions that are designed to disseminate details on innovative methods, analyze system capabilities and illustrate potential applications are strongly encouraged.
3.6 General Optics in Biology and Medicine
The pace of innovation in the application of optics to biology and medicine rapidly generates new technologies and opportunities. Broadly applicable submissions or topics that extend beyond the existing themes should submit to this theme.
FiO 4: Optics in Information Processing
4.1 Optical System Design for Information Optics
As the field of information optics grows, it becomes worthwhile to consider whether traditional design metrics (such as the MTF and PSF) retain their general utility, or if new metrics and design strategies must be developed. Contributions are sought on topics related to optical system design in the context of information optics. Examples include, but are not limited to, non-traditional optical system architectures and information-based design metrics.
4.2 Coherence and Quantum Imaging (Joint FiO 7)
Methods to extract information from the classical or quantum statistics of light have become a central part of the applied optical sciences. Contributions are solicited on topics in coherence and quantum optics that pertain to imaging or other sensing modalities. Examples include but are not limited to spatial coherence imaging, ghost imaging, and propagation in random media.
4.3 Image and Information Processing in Biooptics (Joint FiO 3)
Interrogation of biological systems with light simultaneously presents both unique opportunities and unique challenges. Contributions are sought that address the particular issues of imaging, diagnosing, and otherwise interrogating biological samples and the subsequent analysis and processing of the resultant data. Examples include phase retrieval in bioimaging, and image analysis.
4.4 Imaging/Sensing Over Non-spatial Dimensions
'Imaging' most typically refers to methods for mapping the spatial variation of a parameter (irradiance, electric field strength, refractive index, etc.). Submissions are solicited on topics relating to 'imaging' (or more generally, 'sensing'), where one or more of the relevant dimensions is non-spatial in nature. Examples include advances in not only the more-familiar multi-dimensional imaging modalities such as spatio-temporal or spectral imaging, but also quantum-state or phase-space tomography.
4.5 Analysis Techniques, Signal Recovery, and Synthesis
Contributions are sought in analysis of optical systems in the context of information capacity, image analysis and image quality assessment, computed imaging and inverse problems. The theme also encompasses new theoretical tools and mathematical transforms to represent and analyze optical signals, such as phase space optics.
4.6 General Optics in Information Science
Topics that do not fit into the above categories should be submitted to this theme. Representative examples of topics covered in this category include the display of imaging information including human factors, image quality assessment metrics, design of specialized optical components that enable new functions, advances in digital photography, multi-aperture imaging systems and image processing for these systems, and combined optical and focal plane design together with related digital processing for optimized system performance. Contributions are sought in analysis of optical systems in the context of information capacity and quality, image analysis, computed imaging and inverse problems.
FiO 5: Fiber Optics and Optical Communications
5.1 Optical Fibers from Novel Materials
This theme will be devoted to optical fiber exhibiting enhanced and unusual properties that arise from novel materials or combinations of materials. Particular topics of interest include: crystalline and polycrystalline optical fibers (oxide and semiconductor), novel glass compositions that cannot be made via conventional vapor deposition (e.g., MCVD, OVD, VAD) processes, and multi-material fibers.
5.2 Fibers for Biomedical Applications (Joint with FiO 3)
Fibers are ubiquitous in the field of biomedical engineering and in the study of biological systems – they are used for sensing, imaging, endoscopy, multi-photon microscopy, tissue engineering, tissue ablation, and a host of other technological applications, either as a simple delivery medium, or for complex photonic functionalities enabled by the fiber. This theme will explore new directions in which fibers can enhance the biomedical field. Papers will be considered on both novel fiber structures, as well as fiber devices and lasers motivated by biomedical applications, and on proof-of-concept demonstrations of the use of fibers in specific biomedical applications.
5.3 Optical Fiber Sensing
This theme covers advanced fiber optics sensing techniques including discrete, distributed, and hybrid sensor systems based on conventional and specialty fibers including photonic crystal fibers. Contributions will be considered ranging from new basic physical effects to be exploited for sensing physical and biological parameters as well as on practical applications of fiber optic sensing in strategic industrial sectors such as energy production, oil & gas monitoring, transportation, security, and structural health monitoring.
5.4 Fiber-Based Generation and Delivery of Novel Optical Sources
Novel optical sources are becoming increasingly important for many applications. This theme covers the use of fibers not only to generate such optical signals, but also to transport them without loss of fidelity. Particular topics of interest include: fiber-based generation and delivery of optical frequency combs, fiber-based generation and delivery of entangled photon generation, fiber-based generation and delivery of THz waves, and synchronization of laser sources over fibers.
5.5 Emerging Transport, Amplification, Signal Processing for Telecommunications
This topic will cover emerging technologies for telecommunications in three topical areas: Novel Transmission Fibers, including multi-core, multi-mode, and micro-structured fibers for transmission in unconventional bands; Optical Fiber Amplifiers for Optical Networks, including multi-mode and multi-core optical fiber amplifiers, ultra-wide band Raman amplifiers, parametric amplifiers, and optical amplifiers out of C-band; and Signal Processing, including novel techniques for signal generation, impairment mitigation, and switching/routing in the new transport media.
5.6 General Fiber Optics and Optical Communications
Topics which do not fit in well with the other specific themes should be submitted to this theme.
FiO 6: Integrated Photonics
6.1 Silicon Photonics
Silicon has emerged as an important building material for photonic devices and integration, offering advantages such as reduced footprint and power consumption, wide functionality, and the possibility of integration with electronics. This theme involves micro and nanophotonics in the silicon material system. Topics of interest include passive and active devices, components and circuits, modeling and simulation, fabrication processes and techniques, and applications such as optical interconnects and biological sensing.
6.2 Hybrid Integrated Photonics
Integrated photonics involving hybrid material systems aim to achieve unique or optimized functionalities that are challenging to obtain from any single material system. This theme focuses on novel integrated photonic devices and circuits consisting of dissimilar components or material platforms. Topics of interest include optical gain/absorption integrated devices, III-V's on silicon, ferroelectrics on silicon, integrated photonics incorporating graphene, organic/inorganic devices, and hybrid integration for on-chip non-reciprocal devices.
6.3 Waveguide Integrated Optics
Waveguide integrated optics involves that control of light in planar optical waveguides in a manner that is analogous to integrated circuits in electronics. Processing or routing of data in the optical domain can offer advantages compared to electronic solutions, especially at increasing data rates. This theme welcomes submissions based on planar optical waveguides including modulators, switches, couplers, resonators, filters, and nonlinear optics in a waveguide platform. The application space includes, but is not limited to, the areas of highly integrated photonics for communications, optical interconnects, and optical signal processing.
6.4 Photonic Crystals
Integrated photonics based on photonic crystals harness the dispersion engineered properties of guided wave periodic dielectric structures. Advances in the design and fabrication of photonic crystals have enabled the demonstration of novel capabilities involving the control of light. This theme includes the science and engineering of photonic crystal structures for photon emission, propagation, amplification, storage, and material interaction.
6.5 Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
Plasmonic and nanophotonic interactions with guided waves have been used both for the manipulation of electromagnetic fields on sub-wavelength length scales as well as for the enhancement of linear and nonlinear effects. This theme focuses specifically on optical guided wave interactions with free-metal electrons, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanostructures for integrated photonics. Submissions involving graphene plasmonics for integrated photonics are also of interest.
6.6 General Integrated Photonics
The subcommittee on integrated photonics encompasses the science and engineering of optical guided waves in highly integrated devices, components, circuits, and systems. Topical coverage includes theory, design, numerical modeling and simulation, materials, fabrication, test and measurement, and applications.
FiO 7: Quantum Electronics
7.1 Integrated Quantum Optics
Topics covered include: waveguides, couplers, interferometers, phase control, gates, etc.; sources: heralded (SPDC, SFWM, etc.) & triggered (single quantum emitter); single photon detectors, number resolving detectors, state tomography; circuit QED, various other integration schemes; implementation of algorithms using circuits; feedback and error control, quantum plasmonics.
7.2 Quantum Communications, Quantum Systems and Quantum-enabled Sensors
Topics covered include: quantum optomechanics, NV centers in diamond and other areas of diamond nanoscience, quantum-enabled sensors (e.g., magnetometry), transduction of quantum states for hybrid integration, and quantum simulations, quantum radiation pressure. This theme will also accept experimental and theoretical reports ranging in subject from enabling technologies such as detectors and sources to implementations of light-based quantum-information processing and communication protocols. This theme will also accept fundamental studies on non-classical aspects of light.
7.3 Nonlinear Optics in Micro/Nano-Optical Structures
Papers are invited on optics in frequency (up/down) conversion, including infrared and ultraviolet generation, nonlinear devices (for applications such as switching, modulation, memories and logic), nonlinear optics in waveguides and resonators, including frequency combs, nonlinear optics in metamaterials, and optomechanics
7.4 Optics and Photonics of Disordered Systems
Papers are invited on random lasers and control, localization, electrically-pumped random lasers, optical forces, aperiodic structures, transmission, focusing and imaging through random media, bio-photonic applications of random media, quasi-crystals, topologically protected transmission and disorder tolerant structures, and symmetry and optical nonreciprocity in photonic structures.
7.5 Quantum and Classical Phenomena in Non-plasmonic Polaritonic Systems
This theme is devoted to linear and nonlinear effects due to formation of strongly coupled exciton-photon excitations (polaritons) in structures with modified photon vacuum (photonic resonators, periodic and aperiodic photonic structures). Papers dealing with such phenomena as manipulation of polariton dispersion, stimulated polariton scattering and polariton lasing, Bose-Einstein condensation of polaritons are invited.
7.6 General Quantum Electronics
This is a broad theme related to laser physics, quantum mechanics, and light-matter interactions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following specific fields: quantum optics, nonlinear optics, meta-materials, random media, micro cavity design, and laser science and engineering. Submissions of both experimental and theoretical work are welcome, with an emphasis which can range from fundamental to applied research, and which do not fit in the above-mentioned specific themes.
FiO 8: Vision and Color
8.1 Ultrafast Laser Applications for the Eye
The purpose of this session is to showcase leading research on ultrafast laser applications for the eye. Contributions are solicited across many applications such as non-linear imaging, cornea thin-flap and refractive surgery, as well as laser safety issues.
8.2 Restoring vision and the future of retinal implants
The purpose of this session is to gain insight into the latest developments in restoring vision to the blind and visually impaired. Contributions are solicited on restoring vision, retinal implants, and clinical results in animal models and in human patients.
8.3 Applications of Physiological Optics to Vision and Color
The role of optics in vision and color science is very broad. Research ranges from optical models of the eye and methods for retinal imaging to the study of color vision and visual perception. Contributions are solicited across all areas of optics applications in vision and color science.
Laser Science Topics
1. Fundamentals and Applications of Photonic Crystals
2. Optical and Laser-Based Approaches in Chemical and Biological Sensing
3. Solid-State Quantum Optics
4. Cold Atoms and Molecules
5. Optics and Alternative Energy Sources
6. Attosecond and Strong Field Physics
7. Ultrafast Chemical Dynamics
8. Physics with Ultrafast X-rays
9. Precision Measurements and Metrology Using Lasers
10. Quantum Information with Photons
11. Nano-opto-mechanics
12. General Laser Science
1. Fundamentals and Applications of Photonic Crystals
The ability to fabricate structures on a nanometer distance scale is leading to exciting new possibilities in the field of photonics. One example is the fabrication of photonics crystals with controllable optical properties, such as the extreme values of the group velocity of light. Photonic crystals of this sort can be used to enhance the strength of nonlinear optical interactions and control the emission properties of quantum emitters located within the crystal. These and related ideas are to be explored.
2. Optical and Laser-Based Approaches in Chemical and Biological Sensing
This session addresses emerging research relevant to optical methods of biological and chemical detection or quantification. Specific focus is upon those techniques which improve detection limits, enable or enhance sensor specificity, improve device response time, and facilitate multi-target detection. Examples of such technologies include, but are not limited to, resonant cavity photonic structures, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS/CRLAS), laser-induced fluorescence or spectroscopy (LIF/LIBS), and on-chip or fiber-based microfluidic systems.
3. Solid-State Quantum Optics
Topic description to be announced.
4. Cold Atoms and Molecules
The study of cold and ultracold molecules has produced many remarkable results in the last few years. It appears that many of the long-sought goals of the work, e.g. dipolar many-body physics, ultracold chemical reactions, high-resolution spectroscopy, etc., are now within reach of experiment. Sessions will highlight these topics as well as explore the next generation of cold molecule experiments, which aim to produce cold molecular systems by entirely new techniques, such as direct molecular laser cooling, sympathetic cooling of molecular ions, and direct association to the ground state.
5. Optics and Alternative Energy Sources
Topic description to be announced.
6. Attosecond and Strong Field Physics
This session will focus on attosecond science and the physics underlying it. Topics include high harmonic sources, xuv and soft x-ray emission, and attosecond metrology. The study of atoms and molecules and solids using these sources, both on the attosecond and femtosecond time scales, will be highlighted.
7. Ultrafast Chemical Dynamics
This session focuses on the use of ultrafast laser sources to study the structure and dynamics of molecules. The sources include femtosecond visible and infrared lasers, high harmonic generation, recolliding electrons, x-ray free electron lasers, etc.
8. Physics with Ultrafast X-rays
The session focuses on the atomic and molecular physics problems that can be studied using novel ultrafast x-ray sources that include x-ray free electron lasers (XFEL) and high-harmonic sources.
9. Precision Measurements and Metrology Using Lasers
The last decade has seen a revolution in the way we can probe the physical world using lasers at the highest resolution and accuracy. Laser sources have now been refined in their frequency stability such that they can furnish phase stable radiation, probe optical transitions at the Hz level, and search for subtle physical phenomena such as the detection of gravitational waves. In addition, the methods of ultra-fast laser science have permitted the construction of absolute, referenced frequency combs of radiation that span large portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and allow a direct connection between currently defined microwave atomic time/frequency references and new reference transitions at optical frequencies. Together with the now established methods of laser cooling and trapping of atoms, precise measurements of physical constants, ultra accurate atom interferometry, and the development of a new generation of optical atomic clocks have now arrived. This session provides a survey of some of the exciting and frontline research being conducted in the area of precision measurements using laser sources applied in a number of areas. These presentations illustrate the realm of new measurements that can be attainable and our ability to advance our understanding of the physics together with opening new technology areas. The session is dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Norman Ramsey (Harvard) who played a critical role in the development of atomic time standards and precision measurements. He also trained a new generation of scientists who are playing a key role in current laser based precision measurements.
10. Quantum Information with Photons
This session will focus on the quantum properties of light and the use of quantum systems for information processing and novel technological applications. It includes quantum optics and quantum processing, including applications of single photons, entanglement, and other non-classical effects.
11. Nano-opto-mechanics
The scope of this session is to provide updated progress of experimental realization, theoretical proposal/investigation, and numerical design of optomechanical phenomena in nanophotonic structures and their applications.
12. General Laser Science
Any other topics in laser science that do not fit into the other categories.