News From Student Sections

New England Section of the Optical Society of America

The New England Section of the Optical Society of America would like to share information about their upcoming meeting with OSA membership:

Chemical Recognition and Remote Sensing in the THz Spectral Region

New sources in the THz spectral region offer access to unique spectroscopic signatures of gases, liquids, and solid materials. In many cases, these spectroscopic signatures may be probed while the material is enclosed in a package that is opaque to traditional light sources. Thus, new opportunities for chemically-specific sensor in both in-situ and stand-off, or remote sensing, configurations are possible.

This tutorial will begin by exploring the intra- and inter-molecular origin of spectroscopic signatures in selected gases, liquids, and solids. It will also describe the transmission spectra of many common packaging materials and highlight spectral regions where through-packaging inspection of chemical substances may be possible.

Much basic spectroscopic data in the THz region is acquired through laboratory studies using pulsed, broadband THz sources derived from mode-locked visible lasers. The tutorial will explore the use of the laser-based THz sources for quantitative spectroscopic measurements, including the time-domain formulation of the complex Beer's Law, methods for optimal numerical filtering of frequency inversions, and experimental methods for reliable and repeatable spectroscopic measurements of condensed phase materials in time-domain measurement systems.

Differential Absorption LIDAR techniques are being adapted for use as stand-off sensors in the THz spectral region. The tutorial will discuss general approaches to this problem, especially with respect to THz emitter selection, atmospheric spectral windows for long-distance transmission, and signal processing algorithms. The use of THz QCL's in these applications will be analyzed in detail.

Mark G. Allen

Dr. Allen received his B.S. with honors in Mechanical Engineering in 1981 from the University of Kentucky . He received M.S. (1982) and Ph.D. degrees (1987) in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University under the guidance of Prof. Ronald K. Hanson.

Since joining Physical Sciences Inc. in 1987, Dr. Allen has continued his research in the development of laser and optical devices, sensor systems, and measurement techniques. He is currently Vice-President of Photonics at PSI, where he directs research and development of advanced sensor and optical components for defense, security, environmental, medical, and industrial applications. Dr. Allen is leading the development of practical applications of room-temperature laser technologies based on quantum cascade laser technology for 4.5 - 100 microns, interband cascade technology for 2 - 5 microns, and engineered optical materials for Difference-Frequency-Generation in the 2 - 5 microns spectral region. He is an author of over 170 papers and presentations in laser-based sensors and spectroscopy.

Dr. Allen is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, former Chair of the OSA Optical Science Division, and founding co-chair of the OSA Topical Meeting on Optical Terahertz Science and Technology.

Reservations:
DINNER reservations are required by noon, Monday, February 13, 2006. MEETING ONLY reservations are required by noon, Thursday February 16, 2006.
Please make reservations on line or by email ( nesosa@lambdares.com). Reservations may also be left on the answering machine at 617.584.0266. When making reservation requests, please provide the following information:

Location:
Sheraton Lexington Hotel in Lexington ( map below).
Networking-5:45 PM, Dinner-6:30, Meeting-7:30 PM.

Menu:
Dinner will include --- and coffee, tea, or milk.

Vegetarian option available on request

Dinner Prices:

General Information on NES/OSA Meetings

Cancellations and No-shows:

If the meeting must be canceled for any reason, we will try to call you at the phone number you leave with your reservation. Official notice of cancellation will be on our answering machine.

We have to pay for the dinners reserved as of the Tuesday before the meeting, so no-shows eat into our cash reserve. If you will not be able to attend, please let us know as early as possible. Otherwise, no-shows will be billed.

Membership Rates:

NOTE: The extra $5.00 of the non-member dinner fee can be used toward membership dues if the nonmember joins and pays dues for the current year at the meeting.

Meeting address:
Sheraton Lexington Hotel
727 Marrett Road