Optical Engineering podcasts

Louise Willingale explains the NSF Zettawatt Equivalent Ultrashort Pulse Laser System, its role in high-intensity laser research and plans for further increases in capability. The discussion connects the facility’s technical design with the scientific experiments that an exceptionally powerful, short-pulse laser can enable.

Rajesh Menon discusses research combining optical systems with nanofabrication. The episode explores holographic lithography and how coordinated advances in light-based methods and fabrication can support new three-dimensional manufacturing technologies.

Nicholas Weiler talks with Guosong Hong about overcoming the limited penetration of light into brain tissue. Inspired by transparent tissues in glass frogs and the eye, Hong describes approaches involving fluorescent nanomaterials, focused ultrasound and molecules that temporarily reduce optical scattering. The conversation examines experiments with a common food dye and a project to genetically engineer mice with transparent brains from birth. These techniques could provide new ways to observe neural circuits and study how the brain develops and functions.

Hosted by Nicholas Weiler