Wyant College of Optical Sciences News

Associate Professor Euan McLeod was named in the Photonics100 List by Electro Optics, a company dedicated to providing uncompromised, informed commentary and analysis on topics of interest to the global photonics industry. "The Photonics100 celebrates the people who are pushing the photonics industry forward, whether as the inventors, manufacturers, or end users of technology."

The Wyant College Industrial Affiliates Showcase and Meeting took place Oct. 28 - 30 in Tucson, AZ. The event kicked off with a busy poster session and corporate showcase in the Student Union Grand Ballroom. The second day was filled with student and faculty presentations that outlined current Wyant College research. On the final day student interviews took place as well as lab tours and a pizza party.

A new era of scientific innovation began at the University of Arizona on Oct. 24 when a ribbon was cut in the lobby of the Grand Challenges Research Building. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella said he expects the facility, also known as the GCRB, to play a pivotal role advancing fields such as optical sciences, health care and space exploration. Garimella and Cheu cut the ribbon on the GCRB alongside Thomas L. Koch, dean of the College of Optical Sciences; JP Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation; and Dr. Michael Dake, senior vice president for health sciences.

Tech Launch Arizona and the Wyant College of Optical Sciences had a great lunch with Faculty Innovation Ambassador Hong Hua on Friday, Oct. 11. There were amazing discussions about research, innovation and creating real-world impact! Hong led the conversation alongside Dean Tom Koch and TLA's Rakhi Gibbons and Rich Weite. Look for opportunities to connect with Hong or Rich if you have further questions, let's keep the conversation going! Rich will be hosting his next "Wednesday with Rich" on Nov. 6.

Beginning at SPIE Optics + Photonics 2025 will be a new biennial astronomy symposium on current and emerging applications for ground and space telescopes, and other optical technologies. To propose additional topics, contact Daewook Kim. Learn more and find updates on the SPIE website.

Researchers working with Jason Jones, John Paul Schaefer endowed chair in optical sciences and professor, have developed a breakthrough approach for optical atomic clocks. The new work significantly reduces the complexity of traditional designs while maintaining high accuracy and stability. By utilizing a single frequency comb laser, this new clock design eliminates the need for multiple complex laser systems, making it more practical for real-world applications.

From September 25-27, 2024, the Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona hosted the XII Conference on Ultrafast Dynamics & Metastability and Ultrafast Bandgap Photonics at the Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club in Tucson. Organized by Rolf Binder, Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, and Michael Rafailov, University of Alberta, Canada, the conference brought together leading scientists and researchers from around the world.

UPDATE: On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Daewook Kim, associate professor of optical sciences, and Roger Angel, professor of astronomy and optical sciences, were featured on KOLD News 13 discussing the potential for the twisting heliostat.
Kim and Angel are working to pioneer a new approach to heliostat design for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Their innovation aims to deliver solar thermal energy at exceptionally high concentrations throughout the day. It is believed that their work into this technology could potentially be the forerunner for advanced applications like atmospheric carbon removal—literally providing the energy needed for carbon capture and removal from the air. 

Congratulations to Kyle Seyler, assistant professor of optical sciences, on his selection as a 2024 Early Career Award winner by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), part of the Early Career Research Program (ECRP). Seyler’s proposal, titled "Light-Driven Proximity Control of Designer Moiré Nanomaterials," focuses on exploring light-induced quantum phases in two-dimensional (2D) moiré nanomaterials.

A publication from the Takashima Lab on all-MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) LIDAR was selected as one of the five best papers published in the journal of Micromachines in 2022. The Micromachines Best Paper Awards Committee, selected "All-MEMS Lidar Using Hybrid Optical Architecture with Digital Micromirror Devices and a 2D-MEMS Mirror" as one of five winners of the Micromachines  Best Paper Awards for 2022 (2,500 CHF) from among 2260 published papers. Congratulations to the authors!