April 17, 2007, Washington, DC--The Photonic Applications, Systems and Technologies (PhAST) Conference and Laser Focus World magazine are pleased to announce that Thorlabs (Newton, NJ) is the recipient of this year's PhAST/Laser Focus World Innovation Award. The award recognizes the company for integrating adaptive optical technology with microscopic imaging to provide micrometer resolution across a large and dynamically configurable field of view.
The Adaptive Scanning Optical Microscope (ASOM) combines classical microscopy principles with state-of-the-art adaptive optic technology to eliminate the traditional trade-off between magnification and field of view (see www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/289405).
Thorlabs will be accepting this award and presenting the science behind the development of the ASOM at the CLEO/PhAST Plenary Session on Monday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Ballroom III-IV of the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD.
In addition to the award given to Thorlabs, four honorable mention products were chosen from all entries. The honorable mentions are as follows:
Biophotonic Solutions, Inc.
Unlocking the Power of Femtosecond Lasers Using MIIPS
--For developing a pulse shaper that can automatically measure and compensate phase distortions that broaden femtosecond laser pulses.
Discovery Semiconductors, Inc.
Kitty Hawk Ultra-Fast Coherent Optical Receiver
--For creating the first commercial coherent optical receiver system.
FASTLITE
The PHAZZLER: A Unique Dual Mode Ultrafast Pulse Shaping and Ultrafast Pulse Measurement System
--For developing a commercial ultrafast pulse shaping and measurement system that enables the collection and comparison of measurement results using a single instrument.
PolarOnyx, Inc.
The World's First 10 W Femtosecond Fiber Laser Product
--For the development of a high-power, ultrashort pulse fiber laser.
The honorable mentions will be recognized by the PhAST chairs during the CLEO/PhAST Plenary Session.
The PhAST/Laser Focus World Innovation Awards Program honors the most timely, ground-breaking products in the field of laser science. Entries are evaluated on criteria critical to product success: impact, functionality, life expectancy, effect on the optics industry, innovation and patents or trademarks.
For more information on the PhAST/Laser Focus World Innovation Award, visit www.phastconference.org/innovation/.