Weekly Lasers Wrap Up – Week of December 19, 2016

The Laser Institute of America LasersToday.com Weekly Wrap-Up aggregates industry news, conference updates, and LIA happenings. Here is the latest:

Laser Industry News

Scientists at Cern are using lasers to unlock the secrets of antimatter. The physicists shone a laser on trapped anti-atoms to see if they react differently than atoms. Using a uniquely-designed magnetic trap, the researchers were able to study the effects of anti-hydrogen. To learn more about the team’s findings, check out the original article from BBC here.

A Scottsdale, Alabama church is planned to be repurposed into a commercial office and retail space. The key difference between this and other forms of redevelopment? A 3D laser scanner is being used to measure the space. The company heading the project, Eco3d, used a FARO Focus X330 laser scanner, capable of scanning over 900,000 points per second. A full scan of the building took half a day, which is fractional compared to traditional scanning methods. Learn more about the project here.

LIA Updates

The latest issue of LIA Today is now available. The November/December edition is a year-end review on the state of laser applications, including global laser sales. Also featured are articles on using lasers to increase car efficiency, ICALEO® 2016, Industrial Laser Conference 2016, and more! Find the digital edition of LIA Today here.

Conference News

The Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®) will take place February 21-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas. LAM® 2017 will feature a brand new set of workshop chairs, with a focus on leading additive processes. Milan Brandt (RMIT University) will serve as the General Chair, with Minlin Zhong (Tsinghua University) and John Hunter (LPW Technology, Inc.) serving as co-chairs.

LAM® will feature presentations from companies influencing the international marketplace in additive processes. New to LAM® 2017 is a new session on the emerging area of micro/nano manufacturing. For more information, find the full press release here.

To register for LAM® 2017, please visit the registration page, here.

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The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Find us at www.lia.org

Three Companies Illustrating the Importance of Electro-Optics and Photonics

Electro-optic and photonic technology is expanding and evolving at a rapid rate. Disrupting established norms, innovating processes, and making new contributions to society every day, these growing fields are changing the way we see the world as we know it.

LasersToday.com – bringing you the latest Laser Innovators.

As a supporter of laser applications and practices, LIA acknowledges and celebrates these accomplishments in our newly launched Lasers Today Laser Innovators Series. In no particular order, here are three of the many companies doing their part to further the importance of electro-optics and photonics.

From life-saving bioimaging, to creating the most immersive parts of our favorite theme park rides, these notable advancements will inevitably impact some corner of each of our lives:

IPG Photonics Fiber Laser Used in Projector Prototype

Earlier this year, a fiber light laser, developed by IPG Photonics, was used in a prototype 4K RGB laser projector. This projector, made by NEC Display Solutions of America, is designed for large theater screens. According to Businesswire, NC3540LS (the prototype) can be stacked into a two-projector setup, becoming one of the brightest projector options available, at 70,000 lumens. The projector was demonstrated at CinemaCon, this past April.

Credit: Spectra-Physics

Spectra-Physics Debuts Three Photon Imaging Ultrafast Laser Source

This year, Spectra Physics debuted Spirit-NOPA-IR, a three-photon imaging ultrafast laser source. With a peak power of > 10 MW, imaging of live tissue “results in exceptional clarity,” according to the company. This new imaging source is intended for neuroscience and other bio-imaging and expands on the company’s previous developments in bioimaging.

Credit: Jenoptik

Jenoptik Builds Theater Dome to Test Laser Projection Lenses

Photonics and electro-optics are becoming a focal point for cinemas and amusement parks, as they put a greater focus on projection technology. Jenoptik, anticipating future and current needs, recently completed a theater dome designed to test laser projection lenses. The theater hosts a screen 24 feet in diameter, elevated five feet in the air, as well as a 30 by 16 foot flat screen for digital cinema testing. Jenoptik has created a number of large-scale stage and movie projectors for 3D theaters, dark rides, and simulators. This development shows no sign of that trend coming to an end.


Electro-optics and photonics are creating a significant impact on a wide array of disciplines and industries. Outside of manufacturing and research applications, these companies are not only participating in innovative development, they are consistently changing the way laser and photonic applications are viewed in the world.

Want to learn more about these companies and other industry trailblazers? These and more will be in attendance at ICALEO taking place October 16-20 in San Diego, CA. With a 34 year history of uniting researchers and laser end users, you do not want to miss this year’s event. Click to Register today!

Don’t miss a single laser industry update! Lasers Today features the latest in laser applications, education, conferences  and more. Sign up for the mailing list and get weekly updates sent directly to you at www.laserstoday.com.