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Optics and photonics
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The purity of the glass in fibre optic is such that if the wavelength of the light is in the near-infrared, the light signal is able to travel many hundreds of kilometres before needing to be amplified. However, to amplify an optical signal you need to convert it to an electrical signal, amplify the signal and then convert it back to an optical signal. In doing so, the speed and capacity of the network is reduced. Research and development is concentrating upon all optical systems. As well as all-optical amplifiers which are beginning to be developed (removing the need to convert the signal back to the electrical domain) optical switches (the heart of a telecommunications network) and other optical components will significantly improve the capabilities of telecommunications systems, as well as grow new businesses to develop and build the all-optical networks.

Solid-state lasers are ideal when you only need low power. Many interesting physics problems demand higher powers or exceptionally short pulses. High power lasers are used to study the properties of plasmas and to understand the properties of processes in extreme conditions. Ultra-short laser pulses can study interactions between light and matter and are finding many applications in the study of chemical and biological systems. New surgical techniques use ultra-short laser pulses to safely remove tissue without damaging the surrounding body.

As well as industry demanding innovative ideas and highly skilled graduate scientists and engineers there is much leading edge research in universities and laboratories worldwide. Quantum cryptography uses the theory of the quantum mechanical properties of light to encrypt messages (or their keys - the information needed to decode a message) so that they cannot be intercepted without revealing the interference to the sender. Reports on the first experimental verifications of these ideas are beginning to appear.

Laser technology has enabled physicists to isolate and work with single atoms (or ions) held in electromagnetic traps. Lasers are used to cool the ions down to a fraction of a degree above absolute zero and then probe and manipulate their internal states. This has led to fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and it is hoped that a better understanding of the interaction of radiation with matter will lead to applications in amongst other things quantum information processing.

Optics and photonics continues to be an area that is both scientifically challenging and is a key driver for growth industries such as medicine, telecommunications and consumer electronics. However, these areas cannot continue to thrive unless there are talented trained scientists and engineers with the education and enthusiasm to develop new ideas and technologies as well as giving themselves rewarding careers in optics and photonics.