Physics World 2014 Focus on Optics & Lasers is out now

By Matin Durrani

It’s time to tuck into the latest focus issue of Physics World, which explores some of the latest research into optics and lasers.

The focus issue, which can be read here free of charge, kicks off with a report from the Centre for Quantum Photonics at the University of Bristol in the UK, which is driving a new approach to quantum computing based on integrated photonic circuits.

Elsewhere in the issue, you can find out from Joel England, a physicist at Stanford University in the US, about the new photonic research that could see particle accelerators shrunk to the scale of microchips.

Meanwhile, the huge potential of the photonics sector in general is underlined in our keynote interview with the chief executive of Jenoptik, Michael Mertin, who is also president of the European Union’s Photonics21 consortium, which seeks to unify the European photonics community and advises the European Commission on photonics research, development and innovation needs.

You can also find out more from Richard Hague, Martin Baumers, Chris Tuck and Ricky Wildman from the University of Nottingham in the UK about the advanced optics driving a new era of multifunctional 3D printing, examine the state-of-the-art optical camera on board the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite – the largest such device ever flown in space – and get up to date with the optical sensors that are changing the face of farming.

Enjoy the issue and let us know what you think about any of the topics covered by e-mailing us at pwld@iop.org or leaving your comments below.

Read the 2014 Physics World Focus on Optics & Lasers now!