JOSEPH H. EBERLY, CHAIR
PAUL L. HOUSTON, CHAIR-ELECT
WILLLIAM D. PHILLIPS, VICE-CHAIR
WINTHROP W. SMITH, SECRETARY-TREASURER
Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3288; fax 716-275-8527
e-mail: eberly@pas.rochester.edu
Department of Chemistry
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-1301
607-255-4303; fax 607-255-8549
e-mail: plh2@cornell.edu
Atomic Physics Division
Phy A167
National Institute of Standards & Technology(NIST)
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301-975-6554; fax 301-975-3038
e-mail: wphillips@nist.gov
Department of Physics
University of Connecticut
2152 Hillside Road
Storrs, CT 06269-3046
860-486-3573; fax 860-486-3346
e-mail: winthrop@uconnvm.uconn.edu
I hope that all DLS members realize that we are beginning our first full year as a Division of the American Physical Society. The opportunities that come with full divisional status are great and so are the responsibilities. I've been repeatedly reminded of both in the past two months. Partner organizations in laser science are letting us know that they would value our participation with them in a variety of new ventures and our assistance in pursuing existing common goals.
We will continue to work with them whenever possible, and we will also take several steps to make sure that our own agenda is understood andreceives the attention we believe it deserves. One step will be a division of the semiannual meeting of the division's Executive Committee into two parts, following a suggestion by Pat Dehmer, last year's Chair. This will allow us to complete formal business matters, and then invite representatives of organizations and agencies that have an impact on the professional lives of division members to join the Executive Committee as a group for both formal and informal discussions, probably at dinner. The participants are expected to be drawn from a wide list including representatives of relevant federal funding agencies, committees of the National Academy of Sciences, other professional organizations in laser science, and journal and book publishers.
Chair's Message 1
New Officers of the DLS Executive Committee 2
APS Fellows 2
Student Travel Grants 3
APS Fellow Nominations 4
Laser Science at the 1997 APS March Meeting 4
Distinguished Traveling Lecture Program 5
Editor's Note 5
Schawlow Prize 6
NSF-REU Program 7
1996 Undergraduate Research Summer Projects 8
Calendar 9
DLS Minutes - CLEO 96 10
DLS Minutes - ILS XII 12
Another step, already taken, was to open discussions with Physical Review A, Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics Letters, and Physical Review Letters by correspondence and through discussions with representatives who attended the Executive Committee meeting held in Rochester during the ILS conference. One immediate concrete result is the appointment of two DLS members, Kenneth C. Kulander and John C. Miller, as Divisional Associate Editors of Physical Review Letters. They will have begun work by the time this message appears.
We would like to congratulate the winners of this fall's election. Bill Phillips was elected as the ViceChair, Win Smith as the SecretaryTreasurer, and Doreen Weinberger and Tom Mossberg as the MembersatLarge. Their term of office began at the conclusion of the ILSXXII Conference.
Congratulations to the five DLS members who were elected Fellows
of APS in 1996:
John Edward Bowers, University of California-Santa Barbara
For contributions to the understanding of the ultrafast characteristics
of optoelectronic devices and materials
Bob D. Guenther, Army Research Office
For seminal contributions to the fields of quantum electronics
and optics, including the development of the use of lasers for
enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and for contributions to
education in optics
Wayne Harvey Knox, Bell Laboratories
For his studies of fundamental physics of ultrafast lasers,
development of novel and practical ultrafast lasers, and studies
of ultrafast relaxation processes in semiconductors using such
lasers
Paul David Lett, N.I.S.T.
For his seminal contributions to laser cooling and particularly
to the study of collisions of laser cooled atoms and spectroscopy
of weakly bound molecules formed in such collisions
James Anthony Misewich, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center
For the development and application of innovative laser techniques
to elucidate fundamental problems in molecular dynamics and molecule-surface
interactions
The DLS is pleased to continue its program to support student
travel to DLS-sponsored meetings. A limited number of grants
for travel and living expenses, up to $700, are available to graduate
students who are DLS members and who are authors or co-authors
on an oral or poster paper at the ILS-XIII meeting. To make these
funds as widely available as possible, some priority will be given
to requests for a lower level of support and to distribution of
these grants to students of different institutions.
Applicants should submit a letter stating their estimated need
for travel funds, including commitment of institutional support,
if any, attached to a copy of the submitted abstract on which
they are first author, and a letter of nomination from a member
of DLS. Please list daytime phone number, fax number, e-mail
address, and social security number. Applicants are required
to fax or e-mail their acceptance letter or attach it to the application
upon receiving the official notice from OSA. Only one award will
be given to a research group. If it is likely that the paper
cannot be given without financial support, the student should
indicate whether the paper would have to be withdrawn if this
request for funds cannot be met. Checks will be issued at the
meeting. Hotel accommodations will be covered at up to half the
conference rate for a double room.
The nominator should certify that the applicant is a full-time graduate student, and, in the case of foreign students, that they have a student visa valid through the meeting dates. The applicants will be evaluated by the selection committee chaired by Dr. Winthrop W. Smith. Applications should be sent to Dr. Smith at the address given on the first page of this Newsletter. The deadline for submitting applications for the QELS/CLEO Meeting is March 7, 1997 and for the ILS-XIII/OSA Meeting is August 15, 1997.
Chair's Message (contd. from pg. 1)
A new proposal, being considered jointly with the Optical Society
of America, will offer support for student attendees at the annual
joint ILSOSA meeting if plans can be worked out. Both organizations
want to encourage participation by students who would not previously
have considered attending. A full or partial registration fee
waiver is being considered. I hope it will be possible to complete
our discussions in time to offer some incentive of this kind at
the next meeting, in Long Beach next October. It's clear I may
have news to report on several fronts in the next Newsletter.
In the interim, I encourage comments at any time about improvements
in services or procedures of DLS. They can be sent to me. Finally,
I send to all DLS members the best wishes of the Executive Committee
for a productive and Happy New Year.
J.H. Eberly
The DLS has made many distinguished contributions to the list
of APS Fellows. Nominations for next year's fellowships are now
being solicited. The number of DLS nominations chosen to be forwarded
to the APS for confirmation as Fellow in a given year is typically
in the range 510. This depends on the good judgement of
the nominators in the first place and also on the Divisional Committee
on Fellows headed by the DLS ViceChair, Bill Phillips, but
the Committee can do nothing without nominations. This is where
DLS members must come into the picture. The Executive Committee
is urging all DLS members to think whether a colleague deserving
of the rank of Fellow comes to mind. If you are uncertain about
a colleague's status, consult the APS Membership Directory, where
an asterisk identifies Fellows.
Any member can nominate any other member, and the supporting documentation is not difficult to assemble. The deadline for a nomination and supporting letters to reach the APS, in time for DLS consideration, is more than 3 months away, April 1, 1997, providing plenty of opportunity for action. All of the required information is available on a WWW page and easily found via http://aps.org/fellowship/fellform.html. A phone call to Ken Cole of the APS at 3012093268 will also work.
The Division of Laser Science will sponsor two symposia at the
APS March Meeting
1. Probing Electron Dynamics at and near surfaces with Ultrafast Lasers, a onesession symposium organized by Richard Haight (Thomas J. Watson Research, Center, PO Box 218, Room 29027, Yorktown
Heights, NY 10598, Office: (914) 9453805, email: rhaight@watson.ibm.com).
Invited speakers include Ulf Karlsson (Royal Institute of Technology,
Stockholm) and Yongli Gao (University of Rochester).
2. Formation, Detection, and Study of Small MetalCarbon and metalOxygen Clusters, a twosession symposium organized by W. Castleman (Pennsylvania State University, office: (814) 8657242,
email: awc@psuvm.psu.edu) and K. Bowen (Johns Hopkins, office:
(410) 5168425). Invited speakers include R. Compton (Oak
Ridge), T. P. Martin (Stuttgart), M. Duncan (U. Ga), B. Freiser
(Purdue), S. ElShall (VCU), and P. Jena/S. Khanna (VCU),
W. Castleman, and K. Bowen.
More information on the Division of Laser Science's March Meeting
participation can be obtained at: http://www.msc.cornell.edu/~plh2/group/plhhome.html.
The Division of Laser Science (DLS) is accepting applications
from host schools for the next round of awards for the Distinguished
Traveling Lecturer (DTL) Program. The DTL Program is intended
to bring distinguished scientists to predominantly undergraduate
colleges and universities for two day visits, which may include
lectures and informal meetings with faculty and students.
Lecturers for the 1996-1997 Academic Year and their topics:
The Distinguished Traveling Lecturer Selection Committee members
are Michael Raymer (Chair), Neal Abraham, and Paul Kleiber.
Detailed information about the program and the application procedure
is available on DLS Homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.physics.wm.ed/~cooke/dls/dls.html
DEADLINE FOR FALL 1997 APPLICATIONS IS JANUARY 17, 1997.
DEADLINE FOR SPRING 1998 APPLICATIONS IS JUNE 15, 1997.
Several changes have occurred in this issue of the Newsletter. First, a new logo has been introduced. The logo was originally created by Mr. Toby Wilson, a former student at Oklahoma State University, and modified by Carol Wicksted. Second, some formatting changes have been made, such as an "IN THIS ISSUE" table appearing on the first page. In the next issue, an "IN FOCUS" section will be added. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send letters concerning the Newsletter to Jim Wicksted, DLS Newsletter Editor, Center for Laser Research, 413 NRC, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-3038; (405) 744-5807; FAX (405) 744-6406; e-mail: jpw519@vms.ucc.okstate.edu
Purpose: To recognize outstanding contributions
to basic research which uses lasers to advance our knowledge of
the fundamental physical properties of materials and their interaction
with light. Some examples of relevant areas of research are:
nonlinear optics, ultrafast phenomena, laser spectroscopy, squeeze
states, quantum optics, multiphoton physics, laser cooling and
trapping, physics of lasers, particle acceleration by lasers,
and short wavelength lasers.
Nature: The prize consists of $10,000 plus an allowance
for travel to the meeting at which the prize is awarded and a
certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient. The
prize will be awarded annually.
Establishment & Support: The prize was endowed
by the NEC Corporation in 1991.
Rules & Eligibility: Nominations of candidates
for this prize can be made by any member of the American Physical
Society. Nominations are active for three years.
1997 Prize Selection Committee
H. Jeffrey Kimble, Chair
Div of Phys Math & Astro 1233
Caltech
1201 E California Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91125
Phone: (818) 3958340
Fax: 818 793 9506
Email: HJKIMBLE@CC.CALTECH.EDU
OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Duncan Gregory Steel
Richart E Slusher
Thomas J McIlrath
Margaret M. Murnane
The National Science Foundation makes possible a number of opportunities for undergraduates to join research projects each summer. This allows students to experience firsthand how basic research is done, and to
contribute consequentially. The principal support by NSF of such activities is through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. REU "Sites" are established in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering.
Each Site usually operates for about ten weeks in the summer,
and consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates, who work
in the research programs of the host institution. Students are
in general accepted from throughout the country most
come from schools other than the host institution. Each student
is assigned to a specific research project, where he/she works
closely with the faculty, postdocs, and graduate students.
In addition, seminars, lunch meetings, and social functions are
organized to facilitate interaction between the undergraduates.
Students are granted stipends, and in some cases assistance with
housing and travel. Women and members of underrepresented
minorities, and those with disabilities or special needs, are
particularly urged to apply. The complete list of these Sites
can be obtained at http://www.nsf.gov/ftp/MPS/letters/reulist.txt.
The NSF Divisions of Physics, Materials Research, and Astronomical Sciences support a total of over 100 such Sites each summer. Most of these Sites cover a broad range of physicsrelated subjects, and each Site usually
includes research topics typical of several APS Divisions. The following Sites do have major components in atomic, molecular, optical, laser, and chemical physics:
University of Colorado/JILA
Kansas State University
National Institutes of Standards and TechnologyGaithersburg
University of New MexicoLos Alamos
Rice University
University of Connecticut
Oklahoma State University
SRI International
For more information on the NSF-REU Program contact Rolf M. Sinclair, Program Director for Special Programs, Division of Physics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA 22230
e-mail: rsinclai@nsf.gov
Keep up on the Division of Laser Science on the DLS home page at http://www.physics.wm.edu/~cooke/dls/dls.html
John Bloodgood, a University of Delaware student, investigated
the photonic band structure of bcc colloidal crystals and his
work resulted in coauthorship of an article submitted to
Physical Review B with his advisor George Watson and Ranjit Pradhan.
John writes: "My investigations were highly productive.
... [In addition to the manuscript] I also plan on making a poster
presentation at the 1997 CLEO/QELS conference in Baltimore."
Catherina Glasheen, a senior at Swarthmore College, worked in the laboratories of Thomas Donnelly and Frank Moscatelli. The project, entitled "Investigations of the Time History of the Temperature and Density of Sodium Plasma", involved forming a Na+ plasma by ablation using a 10 ns YAG laser pulse. Spectroscopic linewidth and other measurements were used to make measurements of electron density and temperature in the plasma. Such a plasma is potentially useful in a recombinationpumped soft xray laser.
Seed Money:
Kristin Hogan, a student in the University of Pittsburgh Chemistry
Department worked with Prof. David Pratt using a liquidnitrogen
"cold finger" technique to study phosphorescence induced
in target molecules by collision with laserexcited benzaldehyde
molecules from a pulsed jet. The project is continuing with some
photochemical studies of benzophenone derivatives.
Eric Gansen worked in G.R. Sudhakaran's laboratory at the University
of WisconsinLa Crosse on farIR laser Stark absorption
spectroscopy of deuterated methanol. Preliminary results have
already been published as a letter coauthored with M. Jackson
and Sudhakaran in the J. Molecular Spectroscopy [176, 439441
(1996)]. He says in his report "I have become aware that
I cannot achieve my goals with a classroom education alone. Research
is the only way students can see how the knowledge they accumulate
in the classroom relates to the development of technology in
real life."
John W. Thoman, Jr., Associate Professor of Chemistry at Williams
College, reports that his sophomore summer student, James M. Rowe
had a successful project, leading to a poster presentation at
the ACS National Meeting in August 1996. Rowe's work involved
measurements of collisional fluorescence quenching cross sections
of the Astate of NO, excited by a YAGpumped dye laser,
by collisions in acetone, ammonia or ethylene vapor. The temperaturedependence
of these cross sections was used to elucidate the details of the
quenching mechanisms. Thoman's evaluation: "Jim had a productive
and instructive summer, as can be seen from his 4page final
report. The $3600 grant was used entirely to support Jim. My
lab has benefited substantially from the summer student support
of the [LSTG] ... now the Division of Laser Science; I hope
that the program will continue for many years."
Interdisciplinary Studies:
Sandra Bonilla presented an interesting report on her collaborative
research in the Materials Science Department and the Optical Sciences
Center at the University of Arizona. She studied a solid state
laser dye material, pyrrometheneBF2 (pyrromethene567)
in a solgel host with the aim of increasing laser dye photostability.
The porosity of the host material was found to have a strong
effect on the useful lifetime of the dye. The effect of antioxidants
on improving photostability was demonstrated. A research paper
is expected to result from the work. Sandra comments: "It
was an incredible experience to be part of original research,
and it proved to be a very productive Summer."
As this sampling indicates, institutions of various sizes and types received summer student support. Students were at various levels of their undergraduate experience from sophomore up. The degree of progress ranged from giving a student a first task of research to ultimate presentations at meetings and/or publications in top refereed journals. Several disciplines were represented: e.g. physics, chemistry and materials science departments. Interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged but are not a requirement. The experience of the students seems to have been almost universally positive and worthwhile to them.
Winthrop W. Smith
Photonics West, 11-13 Feb, 1997, San Jose Convention Center,
San Jose, CA. Contact: SPIE's Exhibit Department; (360) 676-3290;
fax (360) 647-1445; e-mail photonics@spie.org
Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics
(CLEO '97), 18-23 May, 1997, Baltimore, MD. Co-located
with the Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS
'97). Sponsored by: IEEE-LEOS/OSA in cooperation with EPS-QEO/JQEJG.
Technical Meeting, Short Courses, Technical Exhibit.
Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS '97),
18-23 May, 1997, Baltimore, MD. Co-located with the Conference
on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO '97). Sponsored by APS-DLS/IEEE-LEOS/OSA.
Technical Meeting.
First International Conference and School on Polarization
Effects in Lasers and Spectroscopy Fundamentals and Applications,
2628 May 1997, University of Toronto, Canada. Submission
deadline: February 1, 1997. For more information, contact:
Prof. G.M. Stephan, ENSSAT, 6, rue de Kerampont, 22305 Lannion,
FRANCE (fax: 3396370199; email: stephan@enssat.fr).
CLEO®/Pacific Rim '97 14-18 July, 1997,
Chiba, Japan. Co-located with InterOpto '97. Abstract and Summary
Deadline: January 20, 1997. Sponsored by The Japan Society of
Applied Physics, IEICE, IEEE-LEOS/OSA, Optoelectronic Industry
and Technology Development Association. Technical Meeting, Tutorials,
Short Courses, Technical Exhibit.
ICPEAC XX, July 23 29, 1997, Vienna, Austria.
The twentieth meeting of the International Conference on the Physics
of Electronic and Atomic Collisions will be held July 23
29, 1997 in Vienna, Austria. Further information may be obtained
from Prof. HP. Winter, Institut fuer Allgemeine Physik, TU Wien,
A1040 Wien, Austria. FAX +431 5864203; email
ICPEAC97@iap.tuwien.ac.at Homepage: http://www.iap.tuwien.ac.at/icpeac97/.
OSA '97 Annual Meeting, 11-17 Oct, 1997, Long Beach, CA.
Co-located with ILS-XIII. Abstract Deadline: May 1, 1997.
Technical Meeting, Tutorials, Engineering "How To" Program,
Short Courses, Technical Exhibit (Technical Exhibit sponsored
by: OSA\Photonics Spectra).
Interdisciplinary Laser Science Conference
(ILS-XIII), 11-17 Oct, 1997, Long Beach, CA. Co-located
with the OSA Annual Meeting. Abstract Deadline: May 1, 1997.
Sponsored by APS-DLS, in cooperation with OSA. Technical Meeting.
The meeting was called to order by the DLS ChairElect Joe
Eberly (in the absence of Chair Pat Dehmer) at 12:00 noon in the
Anaheim Marriott Hotel. The meeting was held in conjunction with
the Conference on Lasers and ElectroOptics (CLEO) and the
Quantum Electronics Conference (QELS). Other Executive Committee
(EC) members present were ViceChair Paul Houston, Secretary
Treasurer John Miller, MembersatLarge John Weiner,
Wendell Hill III, and Naomi Halas, and Divisional APS Representative
Dan Grischkowsky. Chair Pat Dehmer, Past Chair Carl Lineberger,
and MembersatLarge Bill Cooke, Paul Kleiber, and Mike
Raymer were absent.
Tom McIlrath, Gary Eden, and Ian Walmsley were present as nonvoting
ex officio members of the EC (representing the Joint Council
on Quantum Electronics) as were Jag Shah and Richart Slusher (representing
the ILS Conference Committee). New Newsletter Editor James Wicksted
was not present. Eberly expressed the regrets of Pat Dehmer who
could not attend and conveyed her appreciation for the efforts
of others, in helping her with the management of DLS affairs.
He also congratulated Dan Grischkowsky on his recent election
as the DLS Representative to the American Physical Society. In
addition, he announced the appointment of James Wicksted as the
newsletter editor, replacing Roger Becker who had served in the
capacity for the previous three years. By unanimous declaration,
those present thanked Becker for his excellent performance during
his tenure.
Membership
Miller reported the official membership statistics as of December
31, 1995. The DLS membership stands at 1363 which represents
3.34% of the APS total. A brief discussion concerning recruitment
of chemists, electrical engineers, and other nonphysicists
was held. Grischkowsky outlined the techniques used in the successful
membership drive which he had directed over the previous two years.
It was noted that attention to membership was required to ensure
continued division status.
Finances
Miller presented and briefly explained the April financial statement.
Discussion focussed on the DLS payment of $2,000 annually as
dues to the International Commission on Optics (ICO). McIlrath,
a current member of the U.S. Advisory Committee to the ICO (along
with Bill Cooke and Michael Loy) described the activities of the
ICO and the benefits of DLS involvement. Miller presented the
minutes of the last ICO meeting where it was noted that the APS
members (appointed by DLS) had not been active recently. General
discussion centered on the benefits to the APS of participation
in the ICO and the appropriateness of the DLS as the responsible
division within the APS. It was pointed out that DAMOP was also
potentially an interested party. Eberly will initiate further
discussions with the APS and DAMOP on these issues.
Committee Reports
Schawlow Prize McIlrath reported that Theodor Hänsch
was the winner of the 1996 prize, was awarded at the Rochester
ILS meeting. The current prize committee, headed by Jeffrey Kimble,
consists of Tom McIlrath, Duncan Steel, Richart Slusher, and Margaret
Murnane.
Fellowship Committee Paul Houston, Chair, reported
that five DLS members had been named to the status of Fellow.
It was noted that very few nominations for DLS members were received
last year and strategies for increasing the number were discussed.
Other committee members are Wayne Itano, Phil Bucksbaum, Andy
Tam, and Anthony Johnson. Committee member terms and succession
procedures were briefly discussed.
Nomination Committee Tom McIlrath, Chair, reported
the following candidates have agreed to stand for election to
the DLS EC: ViceChair, Bill Phillips, and Tom Gallagher;
Secretary/Treasurer, Winthrop Smith and Stephen Pratt; MembersatLarge,
John Carlsten, Thomas Mossberg, Steve Rolston, and Doreen Weinberger.
Other members of the committee included Ray Garrett, Andy Tam,
Harold Metcalf, Neal Abraham, and Elsa Garmire.
Newsletter
Miller distributed a draft copy of the Summer newsletter and thanked
past and future contributors for cooperation and attention to
deadlines.
Distinguished Traveling Lecture Program
The current committee is composed of Mike Raymer, (Chair) Neal
Abraham, and Paul Kleiber. No report was presented.
Undergraduate Summer Research Program
Naomi Halas, Chair, reported that grants totaling $19,750 had
been awarded to seven institutions (one grant was returned as
the student withdrew from the program for personal reasons).
Two awards went to alternates following notification that the
students had accepted other research arrangements. Discussions
centered on the competitiveness of the DLS grant versus other
similar grants and whether or not to increase the award amount.
Decisions were deferred to the Rochester meeting when next year's
awards will be authorized. Other committee members are Geraldine
Richmond and Wendell Hill.
Student Travel Grants
Miller reported that only three travel awards to CLEO had been
granted (there were four requests) and noted that considerably
more requests were usually received for the ILS meeting.
Joint Council for Quantum Electronics
McIlrath reported that attendance at CLEO/QELS was up from previous
years and that the LEAP program appeared successful. As the JCQE
meeting was to be held the next day he had no further report.
Interdisciplinary Laser Science (ILS) Conference
Weiner summarized the status of the upcoming Rochester ILS-XII
Conference. Some discussion ensued concerning details of the
Schawlow lecture, banquet/reception, and DLS "celebration
dinner." Funding from the ACSPRF for $2,000 had been
recommended and proposals to NSF, AFOSR, and ONR are pending.
Shah requested that council approve $14,000 in funding for the ILS-XIII conference providing a safety net while agency proposals are being considered. Because of the lack of a quorum, voting was deferred to a later email ballot [approved by email ballot]. A slot of potential candidates for the new ViceProgram Chair was submitted for EC approval. [Approved by email ballot].
Committee Appointments
Miller summarized the 199697 committee compositions. He
discussed the need for a more systematic approach to committee
appointments and succession procedures. It was suggested that
the educational committees be comprised of EC members at large
who would step through a sequence of ViceChair, Chair, and
PastChair during their three year term. A summary of duties
and deadlines should be prepared for each committee. It was generally
agreed that the DLS committee structures and responsibilities
were sufficiently mature and stable and that more systematic procedures
would be helpful to all concerned. Committee chairs were asked
to prepare activity summaries and time lines for their committees.
Miller will coordinate such an effort for the DLS Chair and Secretary/Treasurer.
The meeting was called to order by DLS ChairElect Joe Eberly
(in the absence of Chair, Pat Dehmer) at 12:15 p.m. in the Rochester
Holiday Inn Hotel. The meeting was held in conjunction with the
Interdisciplinary Laser Science Conference (ILS12) and the
annual meeting of the Optical Society of America. The ILS conference
constitutes the annual meeting of the DLS. Other Executive Committee
(EC) members present were ViceChair Paul Houston, SecretaryTreasurer
John Miller, Past Chair Carl Lineberger, Divisional APS Councillor
Dan Grischkowsky, and MembersatLarge John Weiner,
Wendell Hill III, Paul Kleiber, and Mike Raymer (Bill Cooke and
Naomi Halas were absent). Newsletter Editor Jim Wicksted was
present. Ian Walmsley and Gary Eden (for Rick Freeman), representing
the Joint Council on Quantum Electronics were present as nonvoting
ex officio members of the EC, as were Marsha Lester,
John Weiner, and Dick Slusher representing the ILS conference
committee.
Lorenzo Narducci, Associate Editor of Physical Review A, and Don
Levy, Associate Editor of the Journal of Chemical Physics were
present by invitation.
Newly elected EC members Bill Phillips, Win Smith and Tom Mossberg
were also present by invitation as were Tom McIlrath and Bill
Stwalley.
Election Results
Eberly announced the election of Bill Phillips as the incoming
ViceChair, Win Smith as the new SecretaryTreasurer
and Doreen Weinberger and Tom Mossberg as new MembersatLarge
of the DLS Executive Committee. Their term of office begins at
the conclusion of the ILS12 conference. Eberly thanked
outgoing members Miller, Lineberger, Cooke, Weiner, and Lester
for their service and leadership on behalf of the DLS.
DLS Business
Laser Science Journals - Representatives were present from
a number of core journals of the laser science community. These
included Narducci (Physical Review A), Levy (Journal of Chemical
Physics), Houston and Miller (Journal of Physical Chemistry) and
Lineberger (Chemical Physics Letters). Eberly asked those representatives
to briefly describe these journals and editorial policy and suggest
ways that the DLS membership could interact in fruitful ways
as associate editors, reviewers, and authors. Narducci, Levy,
and Houston each welcomed nominations from the EC or its members
for editorial positions and explained their policies in choosing
such persons. Lineberger noted that Chemical Physics Letters
had no women in such positions and encouraged suitable nominations
to be sent to the editor. Houston mentioned the expansion of
the Journal of Physical Chemistry and their use of topical issues
and feature articles. Some discussion of electronic publishing
and its impact also ensued. Miller suggested similar interaction
with OSA journal editors at future meetings.
Future EC Meeting Format Eberly announced a new
format for the next EC meeting to be held at the CLEO/QELS conference
in the spring of 1997. Patterned after meetings by other divisions,
the agenda would include a brief "closeddoor"
session of the EC followed by a dinner meeting where representatives
of funding agencies or important committees like CAMOS or COSE
could summarize important issues relevant to the DLS membership.
Weiner suggested that issues requiring extended discussion take
place in subcommittee meetings or, phone or email
conferences, and then be briefly summarized for the full EC.
Miller briefly discussed problems with the annual business meetings
(required by our bylaws), and suggested that more attention
be paid in the future to scheduling and attendance.
Finance
Miller presented the yearend financial summary. Discussion
about the role of the DLS and APS in the payment of the annual
$2,000 dues to the International Commission on Optics (ICO) was
spirited. McIlrath briefly explained the issues and pointed out
that OSA, APS, SPIE, and LEOS jointly fund the activities of the
ICO. He discussed the upcoming 1999 conference in San Francisco
which would be hosted by the US members of the commission. A
motion to continue payment of dues until the 1999 meeting was
presented, seconded, and passed by voice vote. At that time
a decision about future payment would be considered. Eberly needs
to appoint new APS representatives and charge them with more active
participation in the future.
Committee Reports
Schawlow Prize McIlrath reported that the 1997 winner
had been selected but that the winner's name could not yet be
released.
Fellowship Committee Houston reported that five
new fellows were nominated from the DLS. As in past years, it
was noted that the number of nominations received was low and
that more attention should be given to soliciting future nominations.
Houston has recommended sending letters to all current Fellows
to solicit new nominations. Lineberger suggested that each EC
member be solicited for 23 nominations. The current committee,
chaired by Houston, consists of Wayne Itano, Andy Tan, Phil Bucksbaum,
and Anthony Johnson. Bill Phillips, new DLS ViceChair,
will head next years Fellowship Committee.
Newsletter
Wicksted reported the status of the newsletter. He is currently
accepting material for the fall newsletter. He presented a possible
new logo and was authorized to reimburse the artist up to $300,
if necessary. Increasing use of the World Wide Web was discussed
along with the possibility of future electronic mailings of newsletters.
Distinguished Traveling Lecturer (DTL) Program
Raymer, DTL Chair, presented a written report summarizing the
current program. Last year's cycle generated three completed
visits and 56 more in progress. For next year eight visits
are projected with three already planned. A motion authorizing
$15,000 for the next year was passed. Other committee members
were Neal Abraham and Kleiber.
Undergraduate Summer Research Program
Miller presented a report in the absence of Halas, the current
Chair. Final reports have been received from last summer's winners
and brief summaries will be published in the newsletter. A motion
to authorize $24,000 for next year's program was passed. Other
committee members were Geraldine Richmond and Wendel Hill, III.
Student Travel Grants
Miller reported that he had served as the coordinator for this
program in the absence of a current committee. He recommended
that in the future, for logistical reasons, the SecretaryTreasurer
should handle all travel grant requests with the assistance of
an ad hoc committee drawn from the Secretary/Treasurer
home institution, if possible. For the ILS meeting 10 travel
grants were approved for a total of $5,480. The year's total
was 13 grants for $7,580. A motion to authorize $12,000 for next
year was approved.
Joint Council for Quantum Electronics
Eberly presented a brief report on behalf of Walmsley who was
absent at that time.
Interdisciplinary Laser Science Conference
Lester presented a report on conference funding. A total of $14,000
was received from NSFPhysics, ARO, ACSPRF, Spectra
Physics and Continuum. Much of the funding was slated for student
or foreign speaker support. Some unspent funds remained and Lester
will request a nocost extension allowing the funds to be
used for ILS13. There was discussion on enhancing the conference
for students and post docs by including sessions as jobs, resumé
writing, etc. A proposal to underwrite free registration for
students will be investigated.
Other Business
Houston requested $3,000 to fund DLS participation in the APS
March meeting. The funding was approved. Hill requested $1,0002,000
for participation in "Congressional Day" during the
April APS/DAMOP Washington meeting. The request was approved.
DEADLINES
Distinguished Lecturer Applications
(Fall 1997): 17 January 1997
CLEO/QELS Student Travel Grants:
7 March 1997
ILS-XIII/OSA Student Travel Grants:
15 August 1997
Fellow Nominations:
1 April, 1997
OSA '97 & ILS
Abstracts: 1 May, 1997
Distinguished Lecturer Applications
(Spring 1998): 15 June 1997
The Division of Laser Science (DLS) is a subunit of the American
Physical Society (APS) specifically concerned with the use of
lasers in science, the application of lasers in technology, and
the interests of the laser community within the APS.
If you are already an APS member, check the DLS on your APS renewal
form and include the additional $6 with your dues. If you have
already renewed your APS membership for the year beginning
1 July 1996, or if you are not an APS member, call the
APS Membership Department at (301) 209-3280 or look up the membership
information on the APS Home Page at http://aps.org./memb/membapp.html
(select ASCII Text or HTML format).