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The article focuses on the issue regarding the effects of innovation in optics industry in the U.S. It is pointed out that innovation has long been a hallmark of the optics industry which is also often accused of being too much a technology in search of an application taking manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and marketing cues. Further discussions regarding the issue are presented.

Reports on the combination of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) with optics to form complex devices. Methods of making optical MEMS; Techniques used to move MEMS; Model behavior. INSET: MEMS help project life-like images.

Focuses on the integration of faster computers and sensitive cameras on adaptive optics used in astronomy, laser communications and education. Samples of observations obtained with sophisticated ground-based telescopes such as the New Technology Telescope in Chile; Information on the Deep Space 3 project of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. INSETS: New telescope sees faint objects in deep space, by Roland Roux;ESO tests SOFI on the NTT telescope, by Roland Roux.

Focuses on the commercial applications of diffractive optics. Acrylic versus fused silica; Off-the-shelf availability of diffractive optics; Catalog diffractive optics.

Focuses on the applications of holographic optical elements (HOE). Wavelength-division multiplexers; Optical backplanes; HOE-based delay lines.

Focuses on the applications of sapphire as an optical material. Properties of sapphire; Sapphire crystal growth; Fabrication; Sapphire applications.

Elaborates on the development of higher-capacity optical-fiber-transmission methods based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). Information on the creation of a standard for 32-channel WDM transmission by the International Telecommunications Union; Details on a method that provides an absolute, compact wavelength standard; Use of acetylene and hydrogen cyanide absorption lines as the basis for a series of rugged reference sources for WDM work.

Presents news briefs on optics industry in the United States as of April 2000. Remarks from industry executives on optics; Business focus of Laser Power Corp.; Promotion of the manufacturing of a thin-film photovoltaic material by Global Solar Energy.

Discusses the optical signal transmission technique used in Japan. Division of data in units called packets in communications like the Internet; Use of optics in transfer of information in networks; Experiment conducted on optical code-division multiple access technology; Details on the experiment.