Sally Cole Johnson

Editor in Chief

Sally Cole Johnson, Laser Focus World’s editor in chief, is a science and technology journalist who specializes in physics and semiconductors. She wrote for the American Institute of Physics for more than 15 years, complexity for the Santa Fe Institute, and theoretical physics and neuroscience for the Kavli Foundation.

Science & Research

Celebrating women in optics, photonics, and quantum

Sally Cole Johnson

March 7, 2025

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, check out some of the cool optics, photonics, and quantum work being done by women.

Lasers & Sources

U.S. GAO issues report critical of DoD satellite laser comms progress

Sally Cole Johnson

March 5, 2025

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report about laser comms being built to support a network of Department of Defense (DoD) satellites—and recommends...

Natalie Fardian-Melamed in the lab working on a combo scanning probe—an inverted-optical microscope to explore single photon avalanching nanocrystal mechano-optics and photophysics. (Photo credit: William P.D. Hayes/Columbia Engineering)

Test & Measurement

All-optical nanoscale sensor of force changes intensity when pushed or pulled

Sally Cole Johnson

Feb. 27, 2025

Researchers discover photon avalanching nanoparticles are supersensitive to mechanical force—and nanosensors they went on to create are poised to redefine what’s possible in terms...