Exciting advancements in the field of fiber-based devices were discussed with energy and humor by Jay Sharping, a professor at UC Merced, during his presentation Thursday, “Pushing the limits of glass.”

The presentation surveyed the recent developments in the field of fiber optics, a field that has grown in size and capabilities over the past few decades.

“We have the ability to manipulate light now better than we have ever had before,” Sharping said.

The presentation included a history and comparison of microstructure fibers, the base of fiber optics. Sharping also analyzed the variances of several types of fiber optics, as well as the most common methods of constructing fiber-based devices.

Observers of the presentation asked questions and laughed regularly as Sharping spoke with enthusiasm about lasers, fiber optics and chip scales.

“What advancements remain ahead for fiber optics are applications beyond telecommunications, as well as continuous improvements in the field of physics and laboratory sciences,” Sharping said.

Sharping’s seminar, hosted by the Astronomy and Physics Department, is one piece of the “Physics Colloquium Series”, a series of lectures at Sacramento State held on a variety of topics relating to science.

Sharping is an assistant professor of natural sciences at Merced. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2003.

Merced is the first research center constructed for the University of California system in the 21st Century. Sharping is one of six physics faculty members for Merced.

Upcoming lectures as part of the colloquium series include Lee Sawyer, a professor from Louisiana Tech on March 1, as well as Chris McKay of the NASA Ames research center on April 5. The lectures are free for everyone and they are held at 4:00 p.m. every Thursday at Mendocino Hall 1015.

Jordan Guinn can be reached at [email protected]