Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation

Optics and photonics technologies are ubiquitous: they are responsible for the displays on smart phones and computing devices, optical fiber that carries the information in the internet, advanced precision manufacturing, enhanced defense capabilities, and a plethora of medical diagnostics tools. The opportunities arising from optics and photonics offer the potential for even greater societal impact in the next few decades, including solar power generation and new efficient lighting that could transform the nation's energy landscape and new optical capabilities that will be essential to support the continued exponential growth of the Internet. As described in the National Research Council report Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for our Nation, it is critical for the United States to take advantage of these emerging optical technologies for creating new industries and generating job growth.

From the interior of the Sun, to the upper atmosphere and near-space environment of Earth, and outwards to a region far beyond Pluto where the Sun's influence wanes, advances during the past decade in space physics and solar physics have yielded spectacular insights into the phenomena that affect our home in space. This report, the final product of a study requested by NASA and the National Science Foundation, presents a prioritized program of basic and applied research for 2013-2022 that will advance scientific understanding of the Sun, Sun-Earth connections and the origins of "space weather," and the Sun's interactions with other bodies in the solar system. The report includes recommendations directed for action by the study sponsors and by other federal agencies-especially NOAA, which is responsible for the day-to-day ("operational") forecast of space weather. Report in Brief

Capability Planning and Analysis to Optimize Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Investments

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities have expanded situation awareness for U.S. forces, provided for more precise combat effects, and enabled better decision making both during conflicts and in peacetime. Furthermore, reliance on ISR capabilities is expected to increase in the future. This report reviews the current approach to the Air Force corporate planning and programming process for ISR capability generation and the various analytical methods, processes, and models for large scale, complex domains like ISR. It also identifies best practices and applies the current approach and recommended best practices to the Air Force corporate planning and programming process for ISR in the context of the future Joint, National, and coalition partner environment. Finally, the report recommends improvements/changes to existing analytical tools, methods, roles/responsibilities, organization, and management that would be required to ensure the Air Force corporate planning and programming process for ISR is successful in addressing all Joint, National, and Coalition partners' needs.

Report in Brief