LIALIA TODAY TODAY The Official Newsletter of the Laser Institute of America The professional society dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Volume 13, Number 6 November/December 2005 In ICALEO® 2005 Meets International Challenge The by Jack Dyer, Contributing Editor he 24th International Congress on The very large international presence had News... Applications of Lasers & Electro- participants from Europe, Asia, the United Laser-Etching TOptics (ICALEO®) in Miami, Fla. Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In Promotes Egg Safety starting Oct. 31, began just days after Hurricane addition to over 400 from the U.S., Germany Eggs that are laser-etched Wilma tore through the southern part of Florida. had 47, Japan 31, United Kingdom 23, Finland with an expiration date and a All attendees, nevertheless, showed great inter- 14, Canada 19, France 6, Netherlands 7, and code that traces the egg back est in overview presentations on laser diodes, Ukraine, Poland, Australia and several other to where it was packaged are fiber lasers and new market opportunities. countries made up the balance. now available in the U.S., The commercial advent of many new laser reported the Sept. 30 issue of General Congress systems has dominated the laser world the past Optics.org. Developed by General Congress Chair Andreas Ostendorf, several years, and Dr. Ostendorf said, the ple- EggFusion, the laser system CEO of Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. in nary session showed how these sources can be etches a permanent, easy-to- Germany, opened with “ICALEO over these 24 used for new applications. read and tamper-proof mark years has fulfilled exceptionally well the LIA on the eggshell that allows mission of fostering lasers, laser applications, Plenary: New Lasers – New Markets consumers to see when the and laser safety worldwide. Today it is the pace- Speaker Martin Behringer pointed to small egg should be used by. maker of the laser materials processing world.” (Cont. on pg. 6, see ICALEO) EggFusion uses a pulsed, sealed carbon-dioxide laser to etch the eggshells. The laser removes between 5 to 8% of Laser Pioneer Passes the eggshell and the structur- Gordon Gould al integrity of the shell is July 17, 1920-Sept. 16, 2005 maintained. The etching kit is by William T. Walter integrated into the existing optical spectroscopy. After a draft-deferred job machinery at a packing facili- aser pioneer Gordon Gould died in in a New York laboratory that was part of the ty and happens as the egg is Lennox Hill Hospital in New York Manhattan Project, work at a company that moving so it doesn't slow the LCity on Sept. 16 at age 85. Richard made specialized mirrors and teaching at City packing process down. Gordon Gould was born in New York City, the College of New York, Gould returned to gradu- In addition to the physi- son of a Scholastic magazine editor father and ate studies at Columbia University in 1951, cal laser system, EggFusion a mechanically gifted mother who stoked his where he began a doctoral thesis on optical also offers consumers the interest in invention through gifts of an Erector pumping of a thallium atomic beam under opportunity to type the trace- set and similar toys. Thomas Edison became Polykarp Kush and was also exposed to the ability code into a database his early idol stimulating his lifelong interest to early maser work at Columbia under Charles on its website. The code be an inventor. Townes. Many including Gould were pondering brings up a list of informa- Gould studied physics and optics receiving a bachelor’s degree at Union College in 1941 and whether coherent sources could also be achieved (Cont. on pg. 11, an M.S. in physics at Yale in 1943 where he in the infrared and optical spectral regions. see In The News…) used Fabry-Perot resonators in his studies of (Cont. on pg. 8 see Pioneer) 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128; Orlando, FL 32826 Phone: 407.380.1553 Fax: 407.380.5588 http://www.laserinstitute.org LIA TODAY Volume 13, Number 6 November/December 2005 LIALIALIATT TODAYODAODAYY The Official Newsletter of the Laser Institute of America LIA TODAY is published bimonthly and strives to educate 2005 LIA Officers and inform laser professionals on laser safety and new trends IN THIS ISSUE... related to laser technology. LIA members receive a free sub- President – William Clark, scription to LIA TODAY and the Journal of Laser Applications®, Clark-MXR, Inc. in addition to discounts on all LIA products and services. President-Elect – Joseph O’Brien, The editors of LIA TODAY welcome input from their readers. Features Trinity Technologies, LLC Please submit news-related releases, articles of general interest and ICALEO® 2005 Meets letters to the editor. Mail us at LIA TODAY, 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Past-President – Edward Metzbower, International Challenge ............1 U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Suite 128, Orlando, FL 32826, fax 407.380.5588, or send material Laser Pioneer Passes ..............1 by e-mail to [email protected]. Secretary – Nathaniel Quick, If you are interested in affordable advertising space in this LIA’s MLSO Course Now AppliCote Associates, LLC newsletter or a subscription, please contact Jim Naugle at Online ........................................7 Treasurer – Rajesh Patel, 3 R&M 407.380.1553 or 1.800.34.LASER. Quantum and Laser Physicists Consulting Services Win Nobel Physics Prize ......10 aser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional Lsociety dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications and Editorial Staff laser safety worldwide. LIA is the secretariat and publisher of the ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards, and is a leading Departments provider of laser safety education. In The News..............................1 Editor-in-Chief..................Peter Baker LIA offers educational programs, conferences and sym- Calendar of Events....................2 posia on the applications of lasers and electro-optics. LIA’s Managing Editor...................Kris Stell annual International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Executive Director’s ® Message ....................................5 Electro-Optics (ICALEO ) features the world’s foremost meet- Contributing Editor ..............Jack Dyer ing on laser materials processing. The biennial International Welcome New Members ......12 ® Laser Safety Conference (ILSC ) covers all aspects of laser ASC Update ............................13 Copy Editor ..................Barbara Sams safety practice and hazard control. Members In Motion................13 If you would like more information about the LIA, call Member Innovations ..............14 Copy Editor......................Anja Selnau 407.380.1553, 1.800.34.LASER or visit our home on the Web: www.laserinstitute.org. JLA Update ............................14 LIA Announces ......................15 LIA’s Calendar of Events Advertisers For more information contact LIA at 1.800.34.LASER Academy of Laser Dentistry..10 or visit www.laserinstitute.org BLS Certification....................16 Kentek........................................4 Laser Safety Officer Training Medical Laser Safety Officer Training LIA Safety Training..................5 Feb. 6-10, 2006 • Orlando, FL Jan. 27-28, 2006 • Tampa, FL Mar. 27-31, 2006 • St. Louis, MO Feb. 10-11, 2006 • Portland, OR Laser Focus World....................7 May 8-10, 2006 • Pittsburg, PA May 19-20, 2006 • Chicago, IL Lee Laser ................................15 June 5-9, 2006 • Boston, MA Sept. 22-23, 2006 • Boston, MA Photonics Spectra ..................12 Aug. 7-9, 2006 • Denver, CO Nov. 10-11, 2006 • Las Vegas, NV Precitec ....................................11 Sept. 18-22, 2006 • San Francisco, CA Spiricon......................................8 Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 2006 • Scottsdale, AZ PICALO 2006 Nov. 6-10, 2006 • Las Vegas, NV April 3-5 • Melbourne, Australia Trinity Technologies ................9 Dec. 4-8, 2006 • Orlando, FL Wilson Industries ......................3 ICALEO® 2006 Advanced Concepts in Laser Safety Oct. 30-Nov. 2 • Scottsdale, AZ Contact LIA for information on Mar. 13-15, 2006 • Orlando, FL any of the above advertisers. For a complete list of LIA corporate members, visit our corporate directory online at www.laserinstitute.org. November/December 2005 2 LIA TODAY WILSON’S COMPLETE LASER PROTECTION Wilson offers One-Stop-Shopping for all your laser protection needs. Of course, the Flagship of the Laz-R-Barrier is flexible, drapable Wilson line is the Laz-R-Barrier(r) and can be fabricated in most curtain — superior to all other laser curtains. sizes and shapes. When supported on Wilson’s easy rolling track framework, That’s because Laz-R-Barrier(r) the curtains are compatible with inter- protection curtains contain reflective locking circuits laser radiation and broadband optical radiation from laser plumes. These curtains protect against accidental and chronic eye and skin irritation that can result from exposure to reflective laser beams. Wilson also offers a variety of and those nearby. This fine quality Laser Eyewear, designed for Eyewear prevents eye injury from added protection for both operators errant laser beams. No matter what your needs may be, Wilson has the product line to fulfill your Industrial and Medical laser safety requirements. Whether it’s Optical Table Barriers, Roller Shades, Window Shades, Beam Stops, Signs, Illuminated Signs or Door Stops, Wilson has it all. 123 Explorer Street, Pomona, CA 91768 QUALITY SAFETY PRODUCTS Tel: 909/468-3636 Toll Free: 800/423-4277 Fax: 909/468-3640 www.wilsonindustries.com • E-mail: [email protected] 3 November/December 2005 LIA TODAY Executive Director’s Message More Team LIA n the last issue I talked about our It is your society (I can say our as I am alliance with OSHA, our teamwork a life member!), it serves your needs, so Ion the new LIA Chapter and our please send me your ideas and suggestions, discussions with other societies to find tell me what is new and what you think we cooperating ways to carry out our mission. should do about it. Best of all, volunteer to At the recent LIA Annual Meeting at work with the LIA staff and help make ICALEO®, I pointed out that everyone who something good happen.