Publications

Recent clips are available by e-mail. This list is woefully out of date, yet it still provides an idea of the sort of articles I write. Most of my articles are about light-related science and technology, although I have started covering energy-related technologies. This article list also includes a healthy helping of materials sciences, robotics, Internet, and just bizarre science topics.

At last guess, I've published over 1000 paid articles since April 1987.

The list is in rough reverse chronological order.

Recent articles with comments

"Seeing the Light" IEE Review, cover feature, February 2006
Do advances in nanotechnology presage high-efficiency low-cost solar cells?
IEE Review is the magazine of the British organization, The Institution of Electrical Engineers. PDF clip available.

“Building a Better Molecule Trap” ScienceNOW, news, 18 February 2005
How do you hold small molecules still long enough to study them?
ScienceNOW is a web publication of the AAAS, associated with Science magazine. Link requires a subscription to the website. PDF clip available.

Adding depth to displays Laser Focus World, feature, September 2005
Images that appear in three dimensions are intuitively easier to understand, but these displays are still expensive, limited, and sometimes clunky.
Laser Focus World is a trade journal covering optoelectronics.

“Teasing out the electronic structure of perovskite manganites” in APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005.
Perovskite has weird electronic properties that are still mysterious after 50 years of research. New data leads researchers to suggest that some of its electronic orbitals are oddly shaped.
APS Science 2004 is a publication of Argonne National Laboratory. PDF clip available.

Using light for nanometric imaging Laser Focus World, feature, November 2005
There are ways of tricking light into creating images of things smaller even than the light’s wavelength.

“The surface affects polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex formation” in APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005
Water, salt, detergent and polymers interact in odd ways – and their ways are even odder at the surface of the water.

Flat-Panel Displays: Organic electronics support rollable display Laser Focus World, news, August 2005
If flexible displays are possible, why not a display you can roll up like a scroll?

Roving robots learn to think about what they see Laser Focus World, feature, May 2005
Vision-guided robots are still pretty dumb – at the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge all the autonomous robot entries fell down on the job. In outer space or down in the dirt, mobile robots are pushing the limits of machine-vision.

X-band radar is set to reap benefits of GaN technology Compound Semiconductor, feature, March 2005
Better materials provide more energy-efficient radio and radar.
Compound Semiconductor is a trade journal covering GaAs and III-V integrated circuits, LEDs, telecoms components and wide-bandgap semiconductors.

Head-up displays hide the hardware Laser Focus World, feature, March 2005
A newly available motorcycle helmet displays your speed on the clear visor. Other head-up displays are coming to windshields and gaming systems near you.

“Coherent x-rays help measure microstructure of processed materials” APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005
A new research method gives researchers a view of microscopic features in fast-changing opaque materials.

“Stuctural study of unusual protein uncovers binding site”APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005
Learning more about a protein that guides neurons growth.

“Dislocation formation in nickel single-crystal alloy welds”APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005
Welding some superalloys damages the nearby materials.

“Probing Bond Changes in Boron Nitride at High Pressure”APS Science 2004, extended abstract, published May 2005
We’ve known for decades that boron nitride can change from flaky to diamond-hard – now we’re learning how.

"Organic electronics support rollable display" Optoelectronics Report, news, June 2005
An active-matrix display that can be rolled into a smaller package was demonstrated at the Society for Information Display meeting. Lifetime remains a concern.
Optoelectronics Report is an industry newsletter.

Terahertz imaging brings new capabilities to QC applications Laser Focus World, feature, July 2005
The Columbia Space Shuttle disaster was caused by a piece of foam breaking off and damaging the heat shield. Now, terahertz imaging is being used to catch flaws in the insulation. By building machines that see at frequencies between radio waves and visible light, we can catch defective parts that aren’t visible in other parts of the spectrum.

Report from CLEO/QELS 2005: Expanding the Horizons of Photonics Science and Technology Optics and Photonics News, feature, September 2005
Over 1600 papers were presented in one week – I picked a score of the most exciting ones to describe.
Optics and Photonics News is the magazine of the Optical Society of America. Link is to a PDF.

Silicon photonics moves toward practical use Laser Focus World, news, November 2005
Silicon is cheap and common – can we make lasers and detectors on silicon?

“Surf's Up for New Type of Chip”ScienceNOW, news 8 December 2005
Waves on metal surfaces can shuttle light much like microchips manipulate charge.

SiC suppliers shoot for emerging 100 mm market Compound Semiconductor, feature, January/February 2006
Which industry players have the technical chops to weather intense competition?

Progress is made on zinc oxide emitters Laser Focus World, news, January 2006

2001 to 2005

“Teaching computers to recognize faces#8221; Laser Focus World, January 2005
“Low-index slot serves as waveguide" Laser Focus World February 2004
"Patterned substrates get the light out" Laser Focus World February 2004
"Silicon modulates IR at more than 1 GHz" Laser Focus World, April 2004
"CLEO/IQEC 2004 heralds novel technology and exciting applications" Laser Focus World, April 2004
"Two-photon process cures hybrid polymers into photonic-crystal lattices" Laser Focus World, May 2004
"Barriers slow moisture, boost lifetime" Laser Focus World, June 2004
"Roll-coating organic LED is first step to cheaper fabrication" Laser Focus World, June 2004
"VCSEL becomes an optical inverter" Laser Focus World, August 2004
"Photonic-bandgap devices graduate to real applications" Laser Focus World, September 2004
"Electrons probe to subangstrom levels" Laser Focus World, November 2004
"Ion milling makes diamond micro-optics" Laser Focus World, November 2003
"Hempfield grad gets a kick out of soccer robot" Lancaster Sunday News, 2 Nov 2003
“Mesh paves way for higher-sensitivity spectroscopy” Laser Focus World, December 2003
“Bright source of entangled photons aids teleportation research” Laser Focus World, December? 2003
“Ring resonators provide dynamic dispersion compensation” WDM Solutions, January 2003
“Passively aligned integrated regenerator offers low coupling loss” WDM Solutions, January 2003
“VCSELs emit 10 Gbit/s at 1.55 µm ” WDM Solutions, January 2003
“InP integrated wavelength selector suits packet-switching applications” WDM Solutions, January 2002
“Making microdisks into switches” WDM Solutions, June 2002
“Modelocking a tunable dual-wavelength fiber laser” WDM Solutions June 2002
“Making ultrasmall integrated optics” WDM Solutions, April 2002
“Method enables cheaper pulse sources for OTDM systems” WDM Solutions, May 2002
“Monolithic 2 x 2 switches use QW intermixing” WDM Solutions April 2002
“Photonic crystals could provide compact multiplexers” WDM Solutions March 2002
“Simpler fabrication promises cheaper tunable DFB lasers” WDM Solutions, March 2002
“L-band amplifier uses backward ASE” WDM Solutions, March 2002
“AWG device simultaneously monitors multiple channels” WDM Solutions February 2002
“Integrated SOA provides high power from tunable laser” WDM Solutions, February 2002
“Automatic PMD compensation uses feed-forward approach” WDM Solutions, February 2002
“Wavelength-selective crossconnect switch is scalable” WDM Solutions, January 2002
Editing monthly features for oe magazine 2002- Sep 2003
"Understanding the layers" and "Networking Glossary" oe magazine, May 2002
BU's Wide Bandgap Lab grows better GaN for novel devices , Compound Semiconductor, November 2001
"Stacked microrings form add/drop filters” WDM Solutions, July 2001
“Reflective optical switch offers digital operation for DWDM” WDM Solutions, May 2001
“Novel microsphere demonstrates efficient channel dropping” WDM Solutions, February 2001
“All-optical wavelength conversion works at high speed” WDM Solutions, March 2001
“Widely tunable DBR laser uses holographic grating mirror” WDM Solutions, March 2001
“Integrated optics generate 1-THz WDM pulse trains” WDM Solutions, March 2001
“Dual-core fiber flattens amplifier gain” WDM Solutions, April 2001
“Optical amplifiers fit on a single chip” WDM Solutions, June 2001
“16 x 16 nonblocking switch operates at low power” WDM Solutions, August 2001
“Gain-shifted thulium-amplifier efficiency rivals that of EDFAs” WDM Solutions, July 2001
“Surface-emitting laser provides high pump powers at 980 nm” WDM Solutions, June 2001
“Researchers generate DWDM channels without a modelocked laser” WDM Solutions, April 2001
“Integrated tandem modulators provide 40-Gbit/s demux” WDM Solutions, February 2001
“MEMS cantilever controls a guided-wave optical switch” WDM Solutions, January 2001
“Birefringence allows EDFA gain flattening” WDM Solutions, November 2001
“Gratings/OTDR combo monitors networks” WDM Solutions, November 2001
“Packet transmitter switches wavelengths fast” WDM Solutions, October 2001
“10-Gbit/s system transmits 100 km without dispersion compensation” WDM Solutions, October 2001
“All-optical fiber demultiplexer can use long control pulses” WDM Solutions, October 2001
“System offers fast optical-label-switched routing of optical packets” WDM Solutions, September 2001
“Polymers improve modulator performance” WDM Solutions, September 2001 “Multichannel switch uses liquid-crystal SLM” WDM Solutions, September 2001
“Polymer AWG multiplexer resists temperature shifts” WDM Solutions, August 2001
“OPA provides wideband, tunable pulse source” WDM Solutions August 2001
“Ion beams tailor long-period fiber gratings” WDM Solutions, August 2001
“Transmitting solitons forever” WDM Solutions, July 2001
“Opening up the S-band to WDM transmission” WDM Solutions, June 2001
“Silicon FP interferometer provides tuning and filtering for DWDM” WDM Solutions, June 2001
“Fast all-fiber system compensates for PMD” WDM Solutions, May 2001
“Cross-phase modulation adds to PMD challenges” WDM Solutions, January 2001
“Tunable ring laser locks precisely on ITU frequencies” WDM Solutions, February 2001
“Liquid-hydrogen drops make microcavities”, oe magazine, March 2001
"What is normal, anyway? Photon migration imaging characterizes breast tissue physiology" Photonics West newscast show daily, 23 Jan 2001
" 'Squinching' techniques support stereoscopic animation for amusement park rides" Photonics West newscast show daily, 24 Jan 2001
"Sensor uses surface effects of LEDs and photodiodes" Photonics West newscast show daily, 24 Jan 2001
"Self-referencing controls ultrafast laser pulses" Photonics West newscast show daily, 25 Jan 2001
“Center focuses on integrated optics” Laser Focus World February 2001
“Laser beams provide spin control” Laser Focus World, June 2001
“Laser/X-ray experiment plumbs secrets of nitric oxide” Laser Focus World, June 2001
“Tracking images laser coagulation” Medical Laser Report, August 2001

2000

1999

"Tomography provides 3-D images of IC interconnects", Semiconductor Online, Jan
"Optical device measures brain oxygen in babies", Medical Laser Report, Feb
"Nanofabrication techniques allows nanocircuits and optoelectronics with new range of sizes" Semiconductor Online, Feb
"Nanolithography method using scanning near-field optical microscope" Semiconductor Online, Feb
"Atom laser emits well-collimated beam" Photonics Online, Feb
"Ultrafast lasers demonstrate pulses shorter than 6 fs" SPIE's OE Reports, Apr
"Epitaxial method yields poled nonlinear optical material" SPIE's OE Reports, Apr
"Optical tools offer minimally invasive medical diagnostics" Optics & Photonics News, June
"Slowing light in a Bose-Einstein condensate" SPIE's OE Reports, May
"Breath analyzer detects UV skin damage fast", Medical Laser Report, Apr
"Phase-shifted gratings provide efficient nonlinear frequency conversion", Photonics Online, Mar
"Hollow-fibers deliver high-power IR pulses" Photonics Online, Apr
"Self-doubling laser emits CW in the red" Photonics Online, Apr
"Lab studies human, machine, and computer touch", SPIE's OE Reports, Jun
"Lead-silicate glasses offer higher-efficiency fiber gratings", Lightwave, May/Jun?
"Transfering silicon films to low temperature substrates" Semiconductor Online, May
"Zap-master: Lasers direct lightning strikes" SPIE's OE Reports, Jun/Jul
"Get over FET -- --logic gates uses single electrons, not current to calculate" Semiconductor Online, May
"CLEO 99 Tech Brief: Quantum cascade lasers go far into the IR", Photonics Online, May
"CLEO '99 Postdeadline: Airy Fiber Performs Frequency Conversion" Photonics Online, May
"CLEO 99 Tech Brief: Side-pumped fiber amplifier offers 4 W circular output" Photonics Online, May
"Laser developers chase rainbow" InSCIght, 10 Jun
"Holey fibers shift dispersion, open up possibilities for
telecommunications" Lightwave, Aug/Sep
"Holey fibers achieve laser rainbow" Medical Laser Report, July
"Doppler OCT images Subsurface Blood Flow" Medical Laser Report, Aug
"Micro-optics: Plenty of room at the bottom" Optics & Photonics News, Sep
"Beyond lasers: designing extreme UV sources for microlithography" Photonics Online, Jul
"GaN pyramids prove promising for microcavities", Laser Focus World, Sep
"Learning to grow quantum dot lasers" Photonics Online, Aug
"AFM nanomachines tiny transistors" Semiconductor Online, Aug
"Tiny beams provide high power for denser data storage" Photonics Online, Sep
"New Coherent Chief Brings Fresh Eye to Industry" Medical Laser Report, Oct
"ECOC '99 Postdeadline: Dynamic filter flattens EDFA gain" Photonics Online, Oct
"ECOC '99 Postdeadline: Raman amplifiers provide higher-quality amplification" Photonics Online, Oct
"ECOC '99: Liquid Crystal Switching Moves to the Forefront" Photonics Online, Oct
"Photon recycling enhances laser hair removal" Medical Laser Report, Nov
"Optics solves microelectronics bottleneck" Photonics Online, Nov
"Teams of robotic tourists investigate dangerous situations "Spring-loaded spies" New Scientist, 13 November
"Spring-loaded spies as cop's best friend" pre/reprint of the New Scientist article in explorezone, 11 Nov
"Materials Research Society Fall Meeting: Diamond micro-optics " Photonics Online, Dec

1998

I was the American editor of the book "Nanotechnology", published by STT
Diamond Micromachines InSCIght, 8 Dec
Distributed Feedback GaN Lasers Produce Single Mode Output
Making Light Work of Encryption ScienceNOW April 14 requires subcription
Longer Life for Plastic Transistors InScight, Apr 6
Tuning Microcavities Across the Spectrum Photonics Online, Apr 1
"Autonomous robots battle at MIT: golf as a contact sport" SPIE's OE Reports, Apr
Expanded Range for Quantum Lasers InScight, Feb 18
"Multilayer mirrors image high-energy x-rays" Laser Focus World, Feb
"Organic semiconductor lasers" Photonics Online, Jan 26
"Optical router runs at 250 Gbit/s" Lightwave, Feb
"Porous silicon biosensor measures parts-per-quadrillion" Laser Focus World, Jan
"Better than paper, cholesteric liquid crystal displays" Laser Focus World

1997

"Solar energy closes in on cost-effective electricity" -Laser Focus World, December
"Common optics obtain quadrature images" -Laser Focus World, December
"Fiber grating spectrometer" Laser Focus World, Nov
"Counting on kitsch" New Scientist, 8 Nov , p. 10
"Endoscopic imaging allows optical biopsies" Laser Focus World, Oct
"Upgrade multimode LANs with offset launching" LightWave, Sept
"Multi-wavelength VCSEL arrays ready for tech transfer" Laser Focus World, Sept
"You Gotta Lava It!" Editorial Humor, Sept 2
"Multi-wavelength VCSEL arrays ready for tech transfer" Laser Focus World, Aug
"Technique images picosecond switching in CMOS circuits" Solid State Technology, Aug
"Microresonators make versatile optoelectronic components" Laser Focus World, July
"Organic semiconductor lases even on flexible substrate" Laser Focus World July
"Laser deposition technique allows high-temperature reactions with low- temperature substrates" Laser Focus World, June
""Wireless monitor uses light to probe patient pulse" Medical Laser Report, May
"Research on III-V semiconductors demonstrates visible diode lasers" Laser Focus World, May
"OPO works at record pulse-repetition rates" Laser Focus World, May
"Photodiode combines speed and gain" Laser Focus World, April
"Twist-bonded compliant substrate serves optoelectronics" Laser Focus World, Mar
"Twist wafer bonding defeats lattice mismatch limitations" Solid State Technology. Mar
Simulation scientists apply finesse to complex subject SPIE's OE Reports, Mar
"Passive Millimeter Wave Sensing" SPIE's OE Reports, Mar
"Unattended Ground Sensors" SPIE's OE Reports, Mar
"Low temperature process enables monolithic devices" Laser Focus World, Feb
"Low-cost fiber link aimed at automotive applications" Laser Focus World, Jan
"Internet II to implement next-generation technology" Computers in Physics, Jan

1996

"Exhibit surrounds visitors with holograms" Laser Focus World, Dec
"Endospectroscopy promises less-invasive diagnoses" Laser Focus World, Dec
Endoscopy article Medical Laser Report, Dec
"Vision system finds faces in a crowd" Laser Focus World, Nov
"Photonics East presents broad coverage of security technologies" SPIE's OE Reports, Nov
"Telecom laser makers converge to drive access markets" Lightwave, Oct
"Video-based technique recognizes smooth surfaces" Laser Focus World, Oct
"Digital cameras give vision-systems developers a better picture" Vision System Design, Oct
"Intelligent systems shine at Photonics East" OE Reports, Oct
"Microlenses combats diffraction in color LCDs" Laser Focus World, Oct
"Intelligent systems shine at Photonics East" OE Reports, Aug
"Laser device generates wide range of RF frequencies" Laser Focus World, Aug
"Microwave generators and nonlinear organic materials appear at Annual Meeting" SPIE's OE Reports, July
"Semiconductor Lasers: Inverted ridge suggests high power output" Laser Focus World, July
"Microlens arrays aid femtosecond pulse shaping" Laser Focus World, June
"External cavity integrated with laser proves robust to temperature changes" Laser Focus World, June
"Fusing CCD and IR images creates color night vision" Laser Focus World, May
"Aerosense preview" SPIE's OE Reports, April
"What's New at Aerosense 96" SPIE's OE Reports, Mar
"Laser chip hikes channel capacity" Lightwave, Feb

From 1988 to 1995 I wrote several dozen items per month for Laser Focus World including features, news articles, newsbreaks, abstracts, columns covering industry happenings, a monthly software column, and new products. When I had two brain-cells left to rub together, I wrote freelance articles.

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