World's First Hard X-ray Laser
The world's brightest X-ray source sprang to life in April 2009 at the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) offers researchers the first-ever glimpse of high-energy or "hard" X-ray laser light produced in a laboratory. The work is selected as one of the top 10 breakthroughs this year by Science Magazine.
Adaptive Optics Lecture
An online adaptive optics lecture by CLAIRE MAX of UC Santa Cruz, Dept of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
How not to shoot down aircraft in the name of science
Sarah reviewed a paper on a radio system for avoiding illuminating aircraft by the guide star laser (W. A. Coles, T. W. Murphy Jr., J. F. Melser, J. K. Tu, G. A. White, K. H. Kassabian, K. Bales, & B. B. Baumgartner (2009). A Radio System for Avoiding Illuminating Aircraft with a Laser Beam submitted to PASP arXiv: 0910.5685v1), and gave a brief review on the laser guide star technology as well.
Atomic Density Matrix
AtomicDensityMatrix is a package for Mathematica version 6 that facilitates analytic and numerical density-matrix calculations in atomic and related systems. It is intended to be both general and user-friendly, and to be useful to the working physicist as well as to students.
The Metallic Vapor Layers
Magic metallic vapor layers in the sky.
A natural global layer (usually about 3 miles thick) of sodium atoms exists between about 50 and 65 miles (80 and 105 km) altitude. The sodium originates from the ablation of meteors. The atoms are naturally excited and emit a weak glow near a wavelength of 589 nm (yellow) known as "the sodium D lines". Above the layer, sodium exists in its ionized form (which does not emit yellow light) and below the layer, sodium exists as chemical compounds such as sodium oxide (which also do not emit yellow light).
Real Lives and White Lies in the Funding of Scientific Research
The granting system turns young scientists into bureaucrats and then betrays them.
An excellent article on the problems of current research support system. Scientists are hired for doing Science, not for writing grant application all the time!
journal impact factors, 2008
can be downloaded from above link.
Virtual Journal of Laser
Virtual Journal of Laser is a web tool to help laser researchers follow new publications from major academic journals, discover and promote interesting works by voting, commenting and simply visiting.
I use it for tracking new publications in the field. Very useful to me.
Altruism repays the best-connected individuals
Unselfish behavior spreads through society in a way that most benefits the "hubs" in the network
Innovation Award Laser Technology
Honoring outstanding innovations in laser technology
* Technological fields of interest: the whole range from development of new laser beam sources and systems for use in laser materials processing to the qualification of innovative laser manufacturing processes for use in an industrial production environment
* Eligible applicants: Individuals or project groups working for universities, R&D centres or companies established in Europe
* Condition: The innovation must have been implemented in industry no more than 3 years prior to application for the award
* Jury: An international panel of experts
* Prize money: 10,000 euros
* Closing date for applications: January 15, 2010
* Official presentation: May 5, 2010 at the International Laser Congress Aachen AKL´10 (www.lasercongress.org )