Mission and Demographics
The mission of the Center for Optical Sensors and Spectroscopies (COSS) is to advance the research and development in optical sensing and spectroscopy related technologies through collaborative use of COSS resources and expertise at COSS/UAB and its university (UA, UAH, AAMU), government (ARL), and industrial partners (IPG Photonics, Light Age, Inc.). The research focus of COSS is to utilize optical sensor technology for detecting environmental contaminants and to improve these techniques using recently developed revolutionary laser and spectroscopic technologies.

One application is counter-terrorism related detection of chemical warfare agents and their precursors, explosive agents, and biological warfare agents. This capability promises to help to detect dangerous agents at the earliest possible stage (e.g., airport screening) before deployment by terrorists, and may avoid future chemical, biological, or radioactive terrorist attacks. This project could save thousands of lives.

Another application is to assist in emergency response to protect human health after natural disasters through the rapid detection of organic and inorganic toxicants. The recent problems emphasized by Hurricane Katrina show that a rapid and efficient method to detect organic and inorganic toxicants in sediments and waters would be a very important tool to protect the public health of rescue workers and those responsible for rebuilding the devastated areas.

In addition to developing new types of optical sensors, new methods of protecting eyes and sensors from laser threats are being studied.

Recent accomplishments include demonstration of the first room temperature (RT) optically pumped chip-scale laser in the 3.9-4.8 um spectral range and the first middle-infrared (2-3mm) electroluminescence of chromium doped ZnSe, both important steps toward developing the first electrically pumped RT, broadly tunable Mid-IR laser for spectroscopic sensing applications.

Training
The COSS offers special training in Modern Optics, including Fiber and Nonlinear optics, Laser Physics, and Laser Spectroscopy, Nanoscale Science and Applications, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering.

For additional information:

Director: Chris Lawson, PhD
Email: Lawson@uab.edu
Phone: 205-975-5059

Co-Director: Sergey Mirov, PhD
Email: mirov@uab.edu
Phone: 205-934-8088

Web Site: http://www.coss.phy.uab.edu

Approved by: Chris Lawson, PhD, Director
Date: May 10, 2007

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