Micro, Nano and Ultrafast Fabrication Sessions
Conference Chair:

Erol Harvey
IRIS, Swinburne
University of Technology Melbourne, Australia

Program Committee:
Akira Endo, The Femtosecond Technology Research Association (FESTA), Tokodai, Tsukuba, Japan
Min Gu, Centre for Microphotonics, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Peter Hannaford, Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Willem Hoving, Philips CFT, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Andreas Ostendorf, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hannover, Germany
Jim Piper, Centre for Lasers and Applications, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Dafydd Thomas, Spectra Physics Lasers & Photonics, Mountainview, CA, USA
Deepak Uttamchandani, The University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde, UK
Justyna Zawadzka, The University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde, UK

Micro and Nano fabrication processes stretch the boundaries in materials, processing technologies and applications. It has almost become traditional for lasers to be used in the explorative phase of any new field, and so it is no surprise to see the level of activity represented in the Lasers and Microfabrication streams at PICALO.

Where lasers have become entrenched tools in microfabrication, we now hear about the application of the structures created. At PICALO papers cover a range from microfluidic device fabrication to the rapid machining of microsensors. New methods for laser patterning are presented that may give a high speed, high throughput alternative to lithography, together with papers that deal with the CAD aspects of laser microfabrication. High precision nano structuring is discussed by several papers in the femtosecond lasers session which, consistent with the global activity in the field, is one of the strongest sessions in the microfabrication streams.

A fascinating area that brings together laser processing to create nano-structured devices that are themselves manipulators of light is that of photonic bandgap crystals. These periodic optical devices rely upon sub-wavelength dimensioned structures that channel and manipulate optical fields as a compact and efficient alternative to waveguides in integrated micro devices. One of the hot topics in photonic processing and application, this and other papers will bring together scientists and engineers to share new ideas and discuss experiences in applying lasers to micro and nano scale fabrication.

Micro Session 1: Photonic Devices
Monday, April 19 - 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Session Co-Chairs: Erol Harvey, Industrial Research Institute Swinburne, Swinburne Univ. of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; John MacKay, Coherent, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA

Micro Session 2: Femtosecond Applications
Tuesday, April 20 - 9:00am - 12:20pm
Session Co-Chairs: Xiasong Gan, Centre for Micro-Photonics, School of Biophysical Sciences and Electrical Engineering, Swinburne Univ. of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; Arnan Mitchell, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, RMIT Univ., Melbourne, Australia

Micro Session 3: Biomedical Applications
Tuesday, April 20 - 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Session Co-Chairs: Liang Hao, Manufacturing Engineering Division, School of Mechancial and Production Engineering, Materials Lab, Nanyang Technological Univ.; Frank Meyer, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hannover, Germany

Micro Session 4: Materials & Interactions I
Wednesday, April 21 - 9:00am - 12:20pm
Session Chair: Jason Hayes, Industrial Research Institute Swinburne, Swinburne Univ. of Technology, Melbourne, Australia

Micro Session 5: Materials & Interactions II
Wednesday, April 21 - 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Session Chair: Paul Stoddart, Centre for Imaging and Applied Optics, Swinburne Univ. of Technology, Melbourne, Australia