Laser Applications to Chemical, Security, and Environmental Analysis: introduction to the feature issue

Area of Science:

• Optics and Spectroscopy
• Chemical Analysis
• Environmental Science
• Security Technology

Background:

• The eighteenth Laser Applications to Chemical, Security, and Environmental Analysis (LACSEA) meeting convened in Vancouver, Canada.
• Held as part of the Optica Optical Sensors and Sensing Congress, it adopted a hybrid format for global accessibility.
• The event focused on cutting-edge laser and optical spectroscopy techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and discuss recent breakthroughs in laser and optical spectroscopy.
• To foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers in diverse analytical fields.
• To highlight the application of these technologies in chemical, security, and environmental analysis.

Main Methods:

• Presentation of 52 contributed and invited papers.
• Discussions covering photo-acoustic spectroscopy, imaging, and non-linear technologies.
• Exploration of advanced techniques including frequency combs and ultrafast spectroscopy (fs/ps).

Main Results:

• Comprehensive overview of current research in laser and optical sensing.
• Demonstration of applications in remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and combustion diagnostics.
• Integration of machine learning and computational sensing in analytical methods.

Conclusions:

• The LACSEA meeting successfully highlighted the dynamic progress in laser and optical spectroscopy.
• Significant advancements were showcased across a wide spectrum of scientific and industrial applications.
• Future research directions were implicitly defined through presented works on emerging technologies.