What is Photonics ? - Photonics include
technologies which generate, guide, control,
propagate, and process light. These typically include
lasers, optical fibers, electro-optic modulators, beam
shaping optics, and detectors.
Photonics found in every day life such as supermarket scanners, CD-players, etc. can also be used to build state-of-the-art atmospheric instrumentation. Currently, devices used in optical telecommunications offer an amazing spectroscopic performance, which can be used in numerous ways to utilize the interaction of light with atmospheric matter, such as molecules and aerosols.
Instruments for atmospheric research are called to answer to the most challenging performance requirements. Many instruments are operated in rugged conditions, either on the ground or mounted on airborne platforms such as the C-130 (a converted military transport plane).