Photonics News No 67
Photonics News Magazine - Issue 67
Editorial
PN #67
Editorial
Dear Reader,
This year has seen many challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all our lives and many businesses. Brexit advantages to the UK bring challenges too such as driver shortages, whilst the COP26 climate change conference seeks to achieve global net zero by mid-century. LASER COMPONENTS has however continued to grow in staff numbers, bookings and revenue. We are now a 250+ people organisation across seven locations worldwide, all achieved within 40 years, which we will be celebrating next year. These achievements have doubled since 10 years ago showing a growing demand for the photonic products we manufacture, and those we distribute from our valued partner suppliers. To keep pace with this growth a holding structure has been created with the formation of a holding parent company called Photona, to provide support and direction for the group.
But what does our group do? We manufacture and supply photonic components covering the UV to FIR spectrum, from sources of light, optics for manipulating light, to detectors for specific wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths. Many instruments include a form of all three components, for example, a laser diode light source at 785 nm, focussing optics to deliver that light, and a detector to measure the Raman shifted light off a particular target material. Our components can be used to measure a particular property such as gas, dust, spectra, vibration, concentration of glucose, microgravity, communications, and so on, or functional uses such as delivering energy to satellites, mapping with LiDAR, curing inks with UV light, and more, the list is vast. Due to customer demand we also supply accessory products such as fibre optic tools, laser safety with curtains and goggles, and IR conversion screens. It gives us great pleasure to be involved in so many technologies providing solutions to new and challenging needs.
This Photonics News newsletter includes several exciting themes, such as using lasers to manufacture solar panels, delivery of optical fibre communications, water sterilisation with UV LEDs, and the use of infrared detectors to detect fires. We also present a range of new and improved components from UV photodiodes, efficient UV LEDs, single longitudinal modules (SLM) laser sources for Raman spectroscopy, and intelligent laser safety curtains.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Varney
Managing Director, Laser Components (UK), Ltd.
- Will Transparent Solar Cells Soon Be Available?
Laser Innovation Brings Photovoltaic Production Back to Europe. - Drinking Water Put Under the Microscope
Fighting the Invisible Threats with UV Radiation. - The Key Word: Bandwidth
Into the Future at the Speed of Light. - There Is no Smoke Without Fire
Optical Technologies in Fire Protection.
With the Power of the Sun
Beyond Borders
Electricity prices are rising, and environmental awareness is increasing. Many consumers are looking to gain more independence from the big energy suppliers – with renewable energy sources, of course. Upon closer look, setting up a wind turbine in the backyard or a private biomass power plant is an unrealistic endeavor. That leaves solar energy. The federal and state governments are promoting this initiative. At the same time, research and technology are working on more efficient and cost-effective ways to harness the power of the sun. Laser technology plays a decisive role in implementation. Will we soon be able to turn our houses into small solar power plants without having to cover them with “ugly” mirror surfaces?
How Pure Is Our Water?
Beyond Borders
When it comes to water hygiene, we tend to think of developed countries with safe water distribution systems and poor, third world countries where lots of people do not have access to drinking water. In the highly developed industrial countries of “the West”, we take it for granted that we can drink tap water without considering any health issues. It is true that authorities have set up high standards for water quality. Municipalities and water suppliers go to great lengths to make sure these standards are met. So why are there still drinking water-related infections in highly developed countries such as Europe, Britain, or the U.S.? And are there ways to increase tap water quality?
Data – Express Delivery Free of Charge
Beyond Borders
Since the beginning of digitization at the end of the 20th century, the development of networks has been dominated by one topic: bandwidth. Telephone, data, and moving images were once transmitted across different paths. The digital versions of terrestrial TV and cable TV are still in operation but are becoming less and less significant. Services are migrating toward an all-encompassing network. Streaming, VR gaming, and SmartHome applications are further fueling the hunger for bandwidth. Above all, they show that even private households are now retrieving data volumes that were reserved for companies not that long ago. Only one connection is currently capable of providing the necessary bandwidth over long distances and that demanded for shorter distances to the home: fibre optics. But why is that?
“It Is Useful to First See the Spark Before the Fire” – Japanese proverb
Beyond Borders
Residential fires are among the most feared dangers of everyday life. Luckily, we can take precautions: in many countries, homeowners are required to cover financial risks with fire insurance and experts recommend having a fire extinguisher ready at hand. Most of these measures only deal with the most obvious feature of a fire, though: the flames. For a long time, the most dangerous aspect went unnoticed. Most of the fire-related deaths are caused by smoke. It was not until about a decade ago that authorities in many countries took this into account and made smoke detectors mandatory for all homes.
New Products
Beyond Borders
LASER COMPONENTS UK - Your competent partner for optical and optoelectronic components in the United Kingdom.
Welcome to LASER COMPONENTS UK Ltd., your expert for photonics components. Each product in our wide range of detectors, laser diodes, laser modules, optics, fiber optics, and more is worth every Pound (£/GBP). Our customized solutions cover all conceivable areas of application: from sensor technology to medical technology. You can reach us here:
Goldlay House, 114 Parkway
Chelmsford Essex CM2 7PR
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1245 491 499
Email: info(at)
