The Future of Optics and Photonics
Looking forward to the 21st century, the National Research Council report states, "As we move into the next century, light will play an even more significant role, enabling a revolution in world fiber-optic communications, new modalities in the practice of medicine, a more effective national defense, exploration of the frontiers of science, and much more."
Optical solutions to engineering problems are being increasingly found in many diverse applications from medicine, communications, entertainment, sensing, and homeland security. Promising areas of research include:
- pharmacogenomics (tailoring the choice of drug or other treatments based on the specific genetic makeup of an individual)
- chemical sensing for identifying biological agents and explosives
- security imaging through fog, sand, areosols, and other scattering media
- passive optical networks for ultra-broadband access
- optical spectroscopy of nanoscale systems
- solid-state lighting for general illumination
- photonic integration technology
Optics and photonics research and applications are poised to truly revolutionize the way we live.
