Alex Ning

NEED PRECISION OPTICAL METROLOGY? AOM IN TUCSON, AZ, HAS ANSWERS. I’ve just been talking to Tyler Steele, part of the dedicated team working with AOM - Arizona Optical Metrology LLC. Established in 2009, they are well-known globally as a leading computer-generated hologram (CGH) supplier for the world’s most challenging optical engineering projects. Often, metrology is the limiting factor in fabricating complex optical surfaces, as methods for qualification and feedback are not precise, flexible, or capable enough. A CGH overcomes many of these surface testing challenges to make optical surface qualification feasible for most complex surfaces while maintaining precision, resolution, and speed. EXPANDING HORIZONS Now, AOM are reaching out to bring CGH technology to a broader set of optics and photonics applications. Complex optics are being used more widely than ever–and at precision and production volumes that seemed impossible just a few years ago. The challenges these applications face are on par with the biggest space telescope projects of the past, but with a fraction of the budget and extremely tight timelines to complete. Think of the volume market for AR glasses. AOM - Arizona Optical Metrology LLC is delivering new and novel solutions to optics projects and programs to address this new world of optics production. They enable a new level of precision and ease of use for complex optics metrology from surface figure error of aspheres, freeforms, and off-axis sections to optical system alignment. A CGH converts an interferometer regular wavefront (collimated or spherical) into a custom-designed wavefront that matches the unique shape of the surface to be tested. The result is an interferometric null test when the test optic is well aligned to the CGH. In my conversation below, Tyler answers the Optica question: What can you do for other Optica corporate members, and what can they do for you? Quite a lot, it seems. Together, the future of optics is very bright indeed! Contact them directly or drop me a line for an introduction.

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If reports are accurate, researchers at KIMS have developed a new composite material that absorbs over 99% of electromagnetic waves across multiple frequencies. Let that sink in for a moment. What does this mean? Radar systems may be rendered obsolete. Stealth technology could reach unprecedented levels. The ripple effects on defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and even consumer tech are hard to overstate. This innovation has the potential to disrupt industries in ways we can’t fully comprehend yet. Imagine the possibilities: Vehicles or drones that are invisible to radar. A complete overhaul of electronic warfare strategies. A paradigm shift in signal interference management. Material science breakthroughs like this remind us how technology shapes not just industries, but the world we live in. What are your thoughts? Do you think this will be disruptive? #Innovation #MaterialScience #Disruption #RadarTechnology #ElectromagneticWaves https://lnkd.in/gUEP2ykq

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Check out my new blog on using our #radhard #MCU to reconfigure #Space deployed #FPGA. Please reach out if you have interest and we can provide specific details on how to deploy

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When it comes to accuracy in portable profilometers, "hand-held" is a compromise, not a feature. Don't settle for anything less than LAB-QUALITY. Discover superior profilometry: https://lnkd.in/gqHyqbNW #profilometers #profilometry #portableprofilometer #portableprofiler #surfacestudy #materialsscience #surfacemetrology

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T-ray enabled isosurface imaging is a great tool for visualization and metrology.

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Karin Gustavsson's research group at Rice University published a paper last month featuring the Double Helix Optics Spindle technology to create high-resolution (technically SUPER-resolution) 3D images of the interior of mammalian cells in a single shot . You can read the abstract below or just admire the beautiful picture. https://lnkd.in/e73XQcfv

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🚀 Advancing Photonics in Aerospace: Discover how the INPHOMIR Project pioneers cutting-edge applications like nano-satellite-based space navigation and autonomous driving units through the development of compact, efficient sensing devices. 🛰️🌟 Our research focuses on the integration of photonic integrated control units and devices to revolutionize aerospace technology. By leveraging advanced photonic integration techniques, we aim to enhance navigation precision and remote sensing capabilities in aerospace applications. 🔍✨ Stay informed on our scientific approach to propelling technological advancements in aerospace engineering. 🌐🔬🚁 #INPHOMIR #Photonics #EUResearch

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We are launching a series of video presentation of our #Nanofabricator Lite product and its advantages. Check it out! Soon more interesting video would come! #NanofabricatorLite #AdvancedManufacturing #AtomicPrecision #Microelectronics #SemiconductorIndustry #DirectAtomicLayerProcessing #DALP #Photonics #ATLANT3D #lithography #coatings #thinfilms #deposition #coatingsindustry

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📣 The latest issue of the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs is now available! 🔗 Read the April 2024 issue today: https://loom.ly/U81ptqg #TCASII #CircuitsandSystems #ResearchBriefs #LatestIssue #ReadMore

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Explore our advanced pipeline for creating a preference dataset using Nemotron-4 340B Instruct; we generate tailored questions and responses, which are then assessed by Nemotron-4 340B Reward to ensure precise training with NeMo Aligner. https://bit.ly/3zVaY4k

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"Bandwidth-voltage trade-off paradigm in low-loss LNOI electro-optic modulators, using equalizer configuration" is the title of our latest work published by OPTICA Publishing group in Optics Express.

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Design for Manufacturing and Integration of Solid-state cells: Overcoming Industry-wide Challenges on the Path to Scaled Manufacturing with Gregory Hitz from Ion Storage Systems. Ion Storage System’s (ION) core solid-state electrolyte bilayer structure enables a Li-metal cell which is simultaneously safe, energy-dense, and manufacturable for easy integration into EV packs and beyond. Commercialization of this cell is dependent on success in cell development alongside maturation of manufacturing and supply chains. The challenges to scaling are often clear and shared between cell-makers; ION has made strides in manufacturability and is building out its Maryland manufacturing facility for evaluation sample delivery. https://lnkd.in/davw7MK #CET4SolidState

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Interesting Article on Optimizing EVs with SiC and GaN Semiconductors: This article reviews the technical operating parameters and advantages of compound WBG Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductors. It also discusses the role of SiC in drivetrain power and traction inverters, highlighting optimization, consolidation, and emerging applications. Lastly, the article explores how SiC could further improve sustainability and reduce raw material costs by enabling EV manufacturers to refine externally excited synchronous machines (EESMs) and potentially replace permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). #electricmotors #electricandhybridvehicles https://lnkd.in/gMWVc-AS

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BRISTOL Optica QUANTUM SUMMIT REVIEW: I am back home, time to wrap up our coverage of the 3rd Optica Quantum Industry Summit. While most discussions were behind closed doors, it’s clear last week was packed with practical insights, strategic shifts, and a few surprises. For the first time, the summit was focused on the needs of end users from Airbus, Cisco, Qubit Pharmaceuticals and NVIDIA among others. Here are my top highlights: Number 1. Companies are opening up to partnerships. A great example is PsiQuantum. Historically, it has focused on fault-tolerant quantum computing, and it has been seen by the community as a closed and secret company, but now things have changed. At the summit, they were actively looking for partners and they’re now licensing components through GlobalFoundries to accelerate innovation. With their expansion into technologies like SiN and BTO, along with new facilities near Brisbane airport and the UK, they have become the flagship for the industry to follow. Another example is ORCA Computing’s collaboration with ID Quantique. They’re integrating cutting-edge single-photon detectors into the PT-2 system for quantum-enhanced AI. I was personally impressed with Pixel Photonics, they developed a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector compatible with silicon photonics. Now they are actively seeking a foundry partner to scale their SNSPD building blocks—mirroring GlobalFoundries’ support for PsiQuantum’s wafer-level production. 2. QKD is facing hurdles. Quantum Key Distribution is under scrutiny. U.S. and international cybersecurity agencies still hesitate to trust QKD for classified communications. But companies from all over the world see the UK and EU as testbeds to prove the resilience of QKD technology. BT is driving early adoption. However, in their view, miniaturization will be critical. This explains the surge in interest around Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) from companies like LuxQuanta, Qunnect, and KETS Quantum Security, with support from players like Cornerstone and Light Trace Photonics. 3. Quantum chips need hybrid integration. For Photonic Quantum Computing to succeed, we need broad wavelengths, accurate detectors and stable modulation. We need hybrid integration of different PIC platforms. At the summit, we saw the rise of LIGENTEC, LioniX International and QuiX Quantum: With their low-loss silicon nitride platforms. ALUVIA: with their aluminum oxide platform offering a wide wavelength range, crucial for ion-based quantum systems (as companies like Oxford Ionics demand). And Quantum Computing, Inc. Their thin-film lithium niobate offers unmatched stability for ultra-precise modulation. 4. Investors are cautious. While quantum is still exciting, having the right business plan and early revenue streams is becoming essential. Do not miss the 4th edition, when we return to Bristol, on November 10th and 11th 2025, and we will have a big surprise for you. Look where we are going for dinner.

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Superlative work by our colleagues in the Departments of Material Sciences, and College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Vermont, University of South Carolina, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Electrostatic Force Microscopy (#EFM) provides a pathway to local dielectric property measurements, but extracting local dielectric permittivity in complex interphase geometries from EFM measurements remains a challenge. This paper demonstrates a combined EFM and machine learning (ML) approach to measuring interfacial permittivity in 50 nm silica particles in a PMMA matrix. {Dielectric Properties of Polymer Nanocomposite Interphases Using Electrostatic Force Microscopy and Machine Learning} “We have established a methodology to measure the interfacial permittivity in nanodielectrics from EFM measurements, leveraging ML models to avoid implifying assumptions. Capacitive profiles from raw phase shift images were generated for a single isolated particle dispersed in the matrix. Simultaneously, a ML model was trained on a numerical data set to predict a given geometry’s interfacial permittivity and thickness. The trained model was used to predict the interface permittivity and thickness from the capacitive experimental profile. Interfacial measurements were carried for two different grafted silica nanoparticles dispersed in PMMA. For a PAN-grafted composite, an interfacial region surrounding the nanoparticle is observed from EFM measurements. The dielectric permittivity and thickness of the interfacial region were quantified using the ML model with high accuracy as validated by independent measurements of the grafted brush thickness and the PAN permittivity. For PMMA-grafted composites, no prominent interfacial layer is seen in the EFM images, but an interfacial region of higher permittivity than the matrix was detected.” The #AFMProbe Brands used for this research – available in stock at NanoAndMore USA: --> BudgetSensors – ElectriMulti75-G (Multi75E-G): https://lnkd.in/gpdEd5Fx --> MikroMasch – NSC18/Pt: https://lnkd.in/gF4cwjyB #AFMProbes #AtomicForceMicroscopy #ElectrostaticForceMicroscopy #DielectricPermittivity #MachineLearning

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This article proposes a strategy to consider the dielectric effects in the thin-wire integro-differential formulation and applies it to analyzing #microstrip #metasurfaces (#MTSs) that support magnetic resonances. These structures comprise a periodic arrangement of subwavelength unit cells; therefore, the thin-wire approximation can be applied to analyze them. However, the substrate is usually disregarded. This work achieves more accurate results with a homogeneous equivalent medium approximation considering the dielectric properties. ---- Icaro Veloso Soares, Ursula Resende More details can be found at this link: https://lnkd.in/emYQv9T6

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FINAL CALL OPTICA ONLINE INDUSTRY MEETING- PHOTONICS IN CANCER DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT. It's an incredibly busy week for Optica. In a few hours, Tuesday, June 25th, marks a very special online industry meeting. REGISTER FREE HERE: https://lnkd.in/dmmGFKKM. We want to discuss the role of photonics in helping a growing number of people survive and recover from cancer. As we live longer, the incidence of cancer is rising, particularly in developing countries. We all know someone who has been affected. However, early detection vastly improves the chances of long-term survival. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform cancer screening. How? By improving accuracy, efficiency, and speed of diagnosis. It may also help to solve the growing shortage of qualified radiologists. Optica is responding to requests from several corporate members to exchange ideas, strategies, and technologies to accelerate the detection and treatment of cancers. I still find it strange that I can use my phone to order something to be delivered anywhere on the planet. But there are still no consumer, handheld medically-certified devices to scan for lung, breast or prostate cancer. Yet personalised healthcare is shifting from the clinic to the home. Our online meeting brings together some of the world’s leading companies in Early Diagnosis and Treatment.  We will hear from Anna Nikiel, who leads Teledyne Technologies Incorporated's healthcare revolution in breast cancer screening. Meanwhile, in Tampere, Finland, I recall my visit to Modulight Corporation, who have 14 years of experience in building complete medical laser systems for oncology professionals. Inside their state of the art dedicated labs they work with industry partners to use lasers to treat lung, prostate, brain and spinal cancers. In our meeting, we will hear from Henni Teittinen of Modulight Corporation to better understand the mixture of technologies used to find the cause and the cure. We also welcome meaningful contributions from Jonathan Liu, Alpenglow Biosciences, Håkan Karlsson, HÜBNER Photonics, and Michele Lacerenza of Milan-based PIONIRS with their non-invasive brain measurement technology. Plus, we will have input from Celia Millon, the founder of RayVen, Mary Johnson, CEO Wavelength Electronics, Inc., Nathan Stebbins, Tech5USA, Francesca Mastropietro, ALPhANOV, and Piao Daqing of Oklahoma State University. We start our live conversation this Tuesday, June 25th (at the usual time of 10 AM EDT, 3 PM in the UK and Ireland, and 4 PM in Central Europe. I hope you can join us! Please share posts with others who could benefit from the conversation. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

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Combinatorial optimization problems (#COPs) are crucial in various #industries. Solving NP-complete problems using traditional #vonNeumann computing faces challenges like #latency, complex #interconnections, and #integration issues in compact electronic systems due to exponential #energy #consumption with problem #complexity. #Oscillating #NeuralNetworks #ONNs promise ultralow power consumption and rapid computation for tackling complex optimization problems #COPs. Olivier Maher, Bernabé Linares-Barranco, Aida Todri-Sanial, Giacomo Indiveri Siegfried Karg, and colleagues demonstrate VO2-based #ONNs to solve complex optimization problems #COPs with a power consumption of 13 µW/oscillator. An industrial-academic collaboration between IBM Research University of Zurich ETH Zürich University of Montpellier Eindhoven University of Technology Universidad de Sevilla Now out 👉 #naturecommunications Nature Portfolio https://lnkd.in/ek-sbaid

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