Applications

Abstract

This chapter concisely describes the most important applications of photonics, which are based on the optical methods and devices discussed in Chaps. 1–7. Section 8.1 deals with the applications to information and communication technology. After introducing the design principles of digital information transmission and recording, the structure and properties of an optical communication link are presented. This is followed by a description of optical memories and of the prospects of integrated photonics. Section 8.2 is dedicated to optical metrology and sensing, including the optical radar, the laser gyroscope, and fiber-optic sensing of temperature, strain, and electric current. The achievements and the potentialities of laser materials processing are reviewed in Sect. 8.3, with some examples of the many possible biomedical applications treated in Sect. 8.4. The last three sections concern topics of very wide interest, with an impact on everyday life: displays, lighting and photovoltaic energy conversion. In all of these, photonic methods and devices play an increasingly important role, even if lasers are not directly involved.