Topics include:

Materials

Materials are the basis for the technology covered by ASSL, and the meeting encompasses advances in optics, materials science, condensed matter physics and chemistry relevant to the development, characterization and applications of new optical materials. These include bulk crystals, glasses and ceramics, as well as micro-structured materials such as optical fibers, planar waveguides, and periodically patterned non-linear crystals. Materials used in the mid IR including both crystalline and non-crystalline and their application to the development of mid IR fiber lasers will be presented.

Sources

Coherent and high brightness radiation sources include lasers as well as pump and nonlinear devices. In this component, the emphasis is on advances in the source science and technology, aimed at some combination of improved power, efficiency and brightness, increased wavelength coverage, narrower and more stable frequencies and, for pulsed sources, shorter pulse widths.

Applications

Applications cover ways in which the advances in materials and sources highlighted by ASSL have an important impact on science and industry. Specific topics emphasized may vary from one meeting to the next, but, beyond science, may include materials processing including cutting and marking, advanced lithography, energy, metrology, welding, astronomy, security and medicine.