Wednesday June 14, 2023
In-Person Reception 6:00 pm; Dinner 7:00 pm
(No fee to attend presentation only in-person or on-line)
Online Login: 7:15 pm PDT
OSSC Business: 7:30 pm
Presentation: 8:00 pm
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Abstract:
After a brief introduction to Spectra-Physics, MKS and Optica, I will describe a decades long journey to develop ultrafast laser sources, concentrating on their application in multi-photon microscopy. In this application the combination of tunable femtosecond lasers and advanced microscopy has produced incredible 3-dimensional images of biological samples and led to insights in Neuroscience.
I will highlight the innovative leaps in both the science and product development that drove the evolution of these lasers. I will conclude with a few more innovation lessons, including the advances that were honored with the 2018 Nobel prize in Physics.
About Our Speaker:
Jim Kafka received the B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester in 1977 and 1983, respectively. For the last 39 years, he has been developing new products and is currently the Chief Technology Officer for Spectra-Physics, and a Fellow of our parent company MKS. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles, conference presentations and seminars, he co-authored a book chapter on Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics and holds 45 patents. Jim was the principal designer on three products, the Tsunami, the Opal, and the Millennia X, which have won technology achievement awards.
Jim has served the optics community as the Ultrafast Phenomena topical editor for JOSA B and the co-chair for the CLEO and Advanced Solid-State Photonics conferences. He is a Fellow of Optica and has served as a Distinguished Traveling Lecturer for the Division of Laser Science of the APS. Jim is currently Vice President of Optica and is excited to progress through the presidential chain over the next few years.