Intro to Photonics Experience | Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab

The Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab Experience offers students the opportunity to get hands-on experience with Photonics – the science of light! Guided by current Thorlabs employees, visitors can learn about key photonics concepts and equipment, gain insight into potential careers, and network with individuals that have years of experience working in the field.

In this video, Dr. Bill Warger, Director of Photonics Education at Thorlabs, provides a walkthrough presentation of the Mobile Photonics Lab, highlighting the Introduction to Photonics Experience, which is presented at every visit in the United States. In this Experience, three photonics applications are explored: Biomedical Optics and Imaging, Spectroscopy, and Optical Communications.

Biomedical Optics and Imaging: A noninvasive imaging technique, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) uses light to image subsurface features in real time. OCT allows visitors to image the layers of skin in their fingerprint, see where the nail is growing from, and view the layers of a cell phone display. The technology is typically used during routine eye exams to image the retina.

Spectroscopy: A spectrometer is a device that measures the color (or wavelength) of light. The measurement of light over many colors (or wavelengths) provides an optical spectrum. The interaction of light with a molecule (or chemical) can create unique optical spectra that can be used to identify their presence in the air. The technology is typically used for astronomy and greenhouse gas detection.

Optical Communications: Information can be transmitted with light by encoding the information on a laser beam that travels through the air and then hits a detector to create an electrical signal played on a speaker. However, any disturbance to the light can affect what is heard. Light can also be transmitted without interruption through optical fiber. A magnified image of optical fiber shows the structure of fiber, but a water stream demonstrates how light travels through optical fiber by total internal reflection. The technology is used to bring high-speed internet into our homes.

In addition to the Intro to Photonics Experience, visitors to the Mobile Photonics Lab can learn about careers in photonics, available photonics programs, and potential funding opportunities. Other hands-on experiences such as Quantum Optics, OCT Imaging, and Lab Basics Experiences are also available.

To find out more, please visit www.thorlabs.com/mobilelab/?&ytid=hZMAtfUTujk and follow our journey on social media!

Timeline:
0:00 Introduction to Photonics
0:56 Biomedical Optics and Imaging
2:56 Spectroscopy
6:24 Optical Communications
8:06 Optical Fiber
8:56 Water Tank Demo