Inaugural lectures
Wednesday 26th October, 2011 at 5pm - Lecture Theatre T.0.03, Wolfson Building
Making light work for us
Professor Jeremy Coupland, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
The phrase “seeing is believing” reflects the faith we place in our sense of sight. The light that passes through the pupils of our eyes carries sufficient information to guide us through the complex and sometimes dangerous environment that surrounds us.
As a measurement tool light has been exploited by engineers for many centuries. Interferometry was used by early lens makers to verify the form of their high-precision optical components but its wider implementation in engineering demanded a light source with special qualities. In the 1960s laser light was demonstrated for the first time and interference effects were observed almost everywhere!
In this lecture Professor Coupland will explain why light provides such a powerful measurement tool. Recent advances in optics and laser technology; from interferometers that measure surface structure, to optical instrumentation to classify rain, snow and other precipitation, will be demonstrated and the impact of optical metrology, both in the present and in the future, will be discussed.