School of Mathematics and Physics

Research

Scientific Meeting - 13th September 2010

in conjunction with:

Introduction

On 16 May 1960, at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, Theordore Maiman and his co-workers C K Asawa and I J D'Haenens produced, from a single-crystal ruby rod, the first ever beam of coherent visible radiation. This was the first working example of a laser.

To celebrate this event QUB coordinated, in conjunction with the Institute of Physics in Ireland and Physics Departments in Irish Universities, a one day meeting to reflect the history, applications and future of the laser along with insights into current leading research within Irish Universities. Young scientists were also encouraged to present their innovative research work at a poster session with an award for the best presentation.

At the time the laser was seen as a scientific curiosity looking for an application. Now lasers are ubiquitous being used in a vast range of applications from producing thermonuclear fusion to metal welding to delicate eye surgery.

Soon after the discovery Irish scientists were working on developing and applying lasers for their research and in various applications. Today they continue their internationally renowned work. Queen's for example has one of the most powerful University-based lasers outside of the USA while also housing some of the most delicate experiments exploring new optical phenomena with nano-structured media.

The Meeting also gave the scientific community of Ireland an opportunity to reflect on the life and work of Professor Dan Bradley (1928 to 2010) who pioneered laser research as a Professor at Queen's University Belfast, Imperial College London and Trinity College Dublin.

Meeting photographs

Final programme

10.00	The history of the laser	Roy Taylor (Imperial College)
10.45	Coffee
11.15	Optics at Trinity College Dublin: Old and new	James Lunney (TCD)
12.00	Laser Micro-structuring with short pulse lasers and assist media	Tom Glynn (NUIG)
12.30	Laser micromachining of medical devices	David Gillen (Blue Acre Technology)
13.00	Lunch
14.00	Nanolasers	Anatoly Zayats (QUB)
14.45	Multiphoton processes with extreme-UV free electron lasers	John Costello (DCU)
15.15	Fibre Bragg gratings: fabrication, development and applications	Simon Grattan (Segenia Limited)
15.45	Coffee & poster session
16.30	Lasers and the science of the eye	Brian Vohnsen (UCD)
17.00	Novel semiconductor lasers	Brian Corbett (UCC/Tyndall)
17.30	The future of lasers	Matt Zepf (QUB)
18.15	Poster session and reception
19.30	Dinner with talk reflecting on the life and work of Professor Dan Bradley	Wilson Sibbett (St Andrew's University)

Download programme

Poster Presentations

All attendees were encouraged to present A0 posters describing their own innovative research work involving the use or applications of lasers in any discipline. Poster titles, author and affiliation list were sent to laserat50@qub.ac.uk with the name of the presenter underlined. There was a prize for the best poster presentation by a postgraduate student. In addition the first two students to enter the competition from each Institution in Ireland got free registration and a ticket for the Banquet.

Download poster list

Dinner

In the evening, after the Laser at 50 Meeting, a Dinner, reflected on the life and work of Professor Dan Bradley, was held in the Great Hall of Queens University. The cost of the dinner was £40 which includes an invitation to the Meeting Reception. Attendance at the Meeting is not required to attend the Dinner.

Alistair Montgomery's photographs

Registration

Registration for the meeting and the dinner was at http://admin.qol.qub.ac.uk/ecommerce/laserat50/index.php.

There was a separate procedure for the free registration of students who are entering the poster competition. This required the poster title, author list and a letter of support from the student's supervisor to be sent to laserat50@qub.ac.uk with subject "Poster Competition".