New engine optics to fuel future research

by Michael PadillaSandia team develops optical diagnostic that helps improve fuel economy while reducing emissionsA new optical device at Sandia National Laboratories that helps researchers image pollutants in combusting fuel sprays might lead to clearer skies in the future.An optical setup developed by researchers at Sandia’s Combustion Research Facility and the Technical University of Denmark…

Hope Michelsen elected OSA Fellow

by Micheal PadillaHope Michelsen, a distinguished member of the technical staff at Sandia’s Combustion Research Facility, has been elected as a Fellow Member of The Optical Society (OSA).Hope is honored specifically for pioneering contributions to the fundamental understanding of laser-radiation interactions with soot particles through laser-induced incandescence (LII), absorption, and scattering, and using LII to…

Finding a molecular needle in a haystack

Sandia Labs creates better ‘fingerprints’ to detect elusive, valuable chemical compounds By Sarah Sewel Imagine being able to see the entire Statue of Liberty and a small ant on its nose simultaneously. The drastic difference in size between the two objects would seem to render this task impossible. On a molecular level, this is exactly…