Physics Department Receives Gentec-EO Laser Lab Award

Nov. 13, 2023

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Students studying optics and photonics at Illinois Wesleyan University now have access to a tool used in state-of-the-art professional labs to calculate laser beam measurements, thanks to an award from Gentec Electro-Optics Laser Lab.

Valued at $1,500, the PRONTO-SI laser power meter allows IWU physics students to use more precise laser beam measurements in their research. B. Charles and Joyce Eichhorn Ames Professor of Physics Gabe Spalding said the laser power meter will serve as an engaging resource in the Optics and Photonics Concentration, a focus available to IWU physics majors that he said is uncommon and in high demand.

“Precision measurement is a cornerstone of our program,” said Spalding. “The device offers calibrated readings down to a third of a nano-watt, a much lower power level than any previously available to our students.” 

Spalding said the PRONTO-SI is supporting Illinois Wesleyan hands-on instructional lab experiences and will lead to new concentrations and offerings. 

“The opportunity for our students to be directly mentored on cutting-edge work has led to the development of a number of experiments involving quantum information, which will form the basis of an emerging concentration that we will offer our students, on quantum information science and engineering,” said Spalding. 

Gentec Electro-Optics has been manufacturing instruments for precision laser beam measurements for more than 50 years, becoming an expert in the laser beam measurement field.