Laser technology

Angela Dudley wins award at SAIP conference Angela Dudley, who has been employed at the CSIR National Laser Centre for a mere four months, received the best scientific poster award recently at the 53rd Annual South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) conference held in Limpopo.

Photonics initiative of South Africa gathers momentum The CSIR National Laser Centre and the Laser Research Institute at Stellenbosch University are currently driving the South African Photonics Initiative (PISA). It ultimately aims to stimulate multidisciplinary research, human capital development (HCD), as well as create economic benefits for South Africa via photonics.

Breakthrough published in highest-ranked optics journal in the world For the first time, a special instrument called a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor has been used to analyse the wavefront and determine the optical turbulence introduced by a spinning pipe gas lens (SPGL) to a laser beam.

Research showcased in the SA Journal of Science In another achievement, the work of scientists at the CSIR National Laser Centre, Liesl Burger and Igor Litvin, as well as their supervisor Dr Andrew Forbes, has been showcased on the front cover of the South African Journal of Science's latest edition.

Experts illustrate the true diversity of lasers The CSIR National Laser Centre rental pool programme, which offers tertiary education institutions access to laser equipment and research support, held its annual user meeting on 7 July 2008 where the grant-holders, most of whom are high-ranking professors and doctors, gave promising feedback on their research projects.

Laser spectroscopic analysis in atmospheric pollution research Dr Egmont Rohwer, professor at the University of Pretoria's Chemistry Department and a CSIR National Laser Centre rental pool programme grant-holder, is involved in research into a novel method of monitoring atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).