This month we begin our rollout of a new resource helping engineers solve problems and understand issues related to optical components and subsystems.
Optical Engineering Exchange was launched in the magazine with two articles:
- How to apply laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) test techniques
- Understanding key design principles of antireflection coatings
But there’s far more to it than these articles. We have also created a dedicated topic area on our website under the Optics channel, where you will find dozens of selected how-to articles—new and from our archives—tutorial videos, webcasts, and white papers – all organized around five topic areas:
- Optical design, tolerancing, and fabrication
- System discussions
- Optical coating design, fabrication, and use
- Optics practice and usage
- Peripherals
- The Optical Engineering Exchange community forums https://oex.laserfocusworld.com/
We have created the Exchange in response to a survey of the optics community and subsequent discussions with component and software vendors, engineers, and system integrators. It becomes part of our long-standing goal of providing solutions to engineers and other technical professionals in photonics.
To manage the Optical Engineering Exchange, we turned to senior editor John Wallace, a former optical engineer himself (MS, University of Rochester). He has been getting a great response by asking our reader base to help identify the pain points that everyone faces.
We have made a long-term commitment to Optical Engineering Exchange, and we expect the continual addition of new articles, webcasts, white papers, and video will provide a deep reservoir of reference and aid to engineers working in precision optics. Similarly, we expect our community forum to become the go-to place for questions and answers.
Please let us know what you think and what you would like to see in Optical Engineering Exchange—email us.
Conard Holton | Editor at Large
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.