We group the breadth of research in our college into four general areas:  Optical Engineering, Optical Physics, Photonics, and Image Science.  While there is plenty of overlap of these areas, this categorization does a pretty good job of helping us describe our research specialties.  Generally, we think of these areas as follows.

• Optical Engineering.  Optical engineers examine and develop different uses of light with instruments like lenses, spectrometers and interferometers; they build the practical devices that put light to use.  See also http://www.optics.arizona.edu/research/faculty-specialties/optical-engineering for more description and faculty in this research area.  

• Optical Physics.  Optical physics concentrates on the inspection, manipulation and control of electromagnetic radiation in relation to matter, focusing on the discovery and application of new phenomena. Optical physicists use and develop light sources that span the electromagnetic spectrum from microwaves to X-rays.  See also https://www.optics.arizona.edu/research/research-specialties/optical-physics for more description and faculty in this research area.  

• Photonics.  Photonics is the science of the dual nature of light, emphasizing that it is both particle and wave at once; it covers the research and application of light from ultraviolet to the infrared.  See also http://www.optics.arizona.edu/research/faculty-specialties/photonics for more description and faculty in this research area.  

• Image Science.  Image science investigates the ways that image quality can be defined, measured and optimized; it touches and improves the visualization of everything from healthy bones to unstable atmosphere to millennia-old geological formations.  See also http://www.optics.arizona.edu/research/faculty-specialties/image-science for more description and faculty in this research area.  

It is also possible to work with professors in other departments for either PhD or MS research.  Many OSC students work in other departments, such as Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science, ...   So when you are searching for research groups, feel free to branch out and look around!  

You can access the research websites of many of our professors here:  https://wp.optics.arizona.edu/sites/faculty/, along with a ton of other great information here: https://wp.optics.arizona.edu/sites/

Check out some of our virtual lab tours below