Optical fiber technology was developed for telecommunication applications. Very soon optical fibers were seen to expand its application area like sensing field. The growths of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with their significant optical properties have confirmed the prospective benefits of optical fibers in chemical and biological sensing. Fiber lasers are basically different from other laser types; in a fiber laser the active medium that produces the laser beam is actually isolated within the fiber optic itself. Fiber lasers are now widely known because of its most focusable or highest brightness of any laser type.
Optical communications networks are enhancing a vital role such as there is high demand for capacity links. Optoelectronics is the field of technology that associates the physics of light with electricity. Optoelectronics is built up on the quantum mechanical effects of light on electronic materials, sometimes in the presence of electric fields, especially semiconductors. Optoelectronic technologies comprise of laser systems, remote sensing systems, fibre optic communications, optical information systems, and electric eyes medical diagnostic systems. Optical or Photonic computing utilizes photons delivered by lasers or diodes for computation.
Optical physics is a study of atomics and molecules. It is the study of electromagnetic radiation, the interaction and the properties of that radiation, with matter, especially its manipulation and control. It differs from general optics and optical engineering, however among optical physics, applied optics, and optical engineering, the applications of applied optics and the devices of optical engineering are necessary for basic research in optical physics, and that research takes to the development of new devices and applications. Major study in optical physics is also keen to quantum optics and coherence.
The word LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is a device that emits a concentrated beam of photons, which are the basic units of electromagnetic radiation. The applications of laser radiation in the nanotechnology are ranging from fabrication, melting and evaporating. The combination of laser and nanotechnology in the field of cancer treatment has made a good progress over the year. There are many application of laser in the nanotechnology which will be discussed in detail in this section.
Optical metrology is using light to set the standards that define units of measurement and for other high-precision research. Optical tomography is a form of computed tomography that creates a digital volumetric model of an object by reconstructing images made from light transmitted and scattered through an object. Optical tomography is used mostly in medical imaging research.
Optomechanics refer to the sub-field of physics involving the study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with mechanical systems via radiation pressure, maintenance of optical parts and devices. Nano-optomechanics is a vibrant area of research that continues to push the boundary of quantum science and measurement technology. One of the most fascinating and useful aspects of nanomaterials is their optical properties. Applications based on optical properties of nanomaterials include optical detector, laser, sensor, imaging, phosphor, display, solar cell, photocatalysis, photoelectrochemistry and biomedicine.
Quantum sensor is the term utilized as a part of different settings wherever caught quantum frameworks are intimidated to improve more touchy magnetometers or nuclear timekeepers. Quantum Photonics is to investigate the crucial highlights of quantum mechanics and furthermore the work towards future photonic quantum innovations by controlling, producing and estimating single photons and in addition the quantum frameworks that emanate photons. Quantum cryptography is the science of exploiting quantum mechanical properties to perform cryptographic tasks.
Nanophotonics is the study of the behavior of light on the nano meter scale, and of the interaction of nano meter-scale objects with light. It is a branch of optics, electrical engineering, and nanotechnology. Biophotonics can also be described as the advance and examined, i.e. scattering material, on a microscopic or macroscopic scale application of optical techniques particularly imaging, to study of biological molecules, tissue and cells. Biophotonics also includes the photonic performance of biological materials
Nonlinear optics (NLO) is the branch of optics that describes the behavior of light in nonlinear media, that is, media in which the dielectric polarization P responds nonlinearly to the electric field E of the light. The nonlinearity is typically observed only at very high light intensities (values of atomic electric fields, typically 108 V/m) such as those provided by lasers. Above the Schwinger limit, the vacuum itself is expected to become nonlinear. In nonlinear optics, the superposition principle no longer holds.
Photonic crystals can also be considered as metamaterials with optical properties impossible to achieve with nonstructured materials. Photonic materials is extremely broad, including subfields of well-established glass and semi- conductor materials, polymer materials, tailored nano- and metamaterials, and emerging synthetic bio photonic materials, just to name a few.
The lasers can be used to focus very small diameters where the concentration of light energy becomes so great that you can cut, drill or turn with the beam. The lasers can illuminate and examine very tiny details with lasers, thus it is used in surgical appliances and CD players as well. Photonic devices are components for creating, manipulating or detecting light. This can include laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, solar and photovoltaic cells, displays and optical amplifiers.
Trials with laser beam showed that a finely focused beam from a carbon dioxide gas laser could cut through human tissue effortlessly and neatly. Lasers were considered as most effective in operating on parts that are easy to reach-areas on the body's exterior, including the ears, skin, mouth, eyes and nose. But in recent years doctors have established the remarkable progress in emerging laser techniques for use in internal exploration and surgery.
Photonic crystal (PC) materials exhibit unique structural colors that originate from their intrinsic photonic band gap. Photonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that can control light, specifically photons. Photonics is an area of study that involves the use of radiant energy (such as light), whose fundamental element is the photon. Photonic applications use the photon in the same way that electronic applications use the electron. Plasmonics is an emerging technology which is being used to increase the performance of thin-film devices via light trapping mechanism.
Silicon photonics is the modulation, processing, detection and generation of light in a CMOS compatible platform. Thus, silicon photonic chips can cost-effectively meet the ever increasingly data and bandwidth demands of a worldwide internet, growing with an annual rate of 20-30%. Diamond photonics in general is the physical science of photon generation, detection, and manipulation through emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, and sensing based on diamond or on nano-diamond.
There are many applications for laser, optics and photonics other than medicine. The other fields where the laser, optics and photonics are used are industries, defence, and scientific researchers. The development in this sector leads to the betterment of human life. This also affects the economic growth of the country. Some of the applications are ultrafast laser pumping, biophotonics research, annealing, LED laser lift-off, chemical detection and LIDAR.
The optical properties of nanoscale composite materials are often quite different from the properties of the constituent materials from which the composite is constructed. Generally, models used to study the optical properties of nanostructures are based on the electromagnetic theory. Optical engineering deals with design of optical instruments such as lenses, microscopes, telescopes, and other equipment that utilizes the properties of light using physics and chemistry.
Nano-optics or Nanophotonics is the study of the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, and of the interaction of nanometer-scale objects with light. It is a branch of optics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, and nanotechnology. It often (but not exclusively) involves metallic components, which can transport and focus light via surface plasmon polaritons.
Designing and utilization of novel materials for manufacturing of the sources of coherent irradiation is currently a vast area, which spans various theoretical and fundamental aspects of condensed matter physics.
The field of condensed matter physics explores the macroscopic and microscopic properties of matter. Condensed Matter physicists study how matter arises from a large number of interacting atoms and electrons, and what physical properties it has as a result of these interactions.
New discoveries in materials on the nanometer-length scale are expected to play an important role in addressing ongoing and future challenges in the field of communication. Devices and systems for ultra-high-speed short- and long-range communication links, power-efficient computing devices, high-density memory, logics, ultra-fast interconnects, autonomous and robust energy scavenging devices for accessing ambient intelligence and needed information will critically depend on the success of next-generation emerging nanomaterials and devices
Innovation and strategies which are used to give imaging-based programmed investigation and examination are called Machine Vision. Machine Vision technology is used for varied applications such as programme assessment, process control, and robotics etc. It is one of the booming techniques in the industry today. It endeavors to coordinate existing advances in new ways and apply them to take care of certifiable issues
Astronomical optics is a branch of optics and photonics that uses light-controlling components for imaging celestial objects. The most notable example is the telescope. Astronomical optics combines precisely machined lenses and mirrors to reduce any image distortion, and highly sensitive sensors to detect low levels of light.
Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in ophthalmology. Optometry is a health care profession that involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the medical diagnosis and management of eye disease.
A laser diode, (LD), injection laser diode (ILD), or diode laser is a semiconductor device similar to a light-emitting diode in which a laser beam is created at the diode's junction. Laser diodes can directly convert electrical energy into light.