ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
                              &
           IEEE LASERS AND ELECTROOPTICS SOCIETY


               Holiday Party & Dec. Meeting

Date:  Wednesday, 13 Dec. 2000
Time:  6:30 PM Christmas Party, 7:30 PM talk
Place: CU's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
       1234 Innovation Dr., Boulder, CO
       Main Auditorium (Rm 295)


Title: How to Improve Your Image ... a Potpourri of Interesting 
and Exciting Topics in Optics and in Magic


       Robert E. Fischer
       OPTICS 1, Inc.
       Westlake Village, CA



Abstract:

This talk will be a fast paced journey through many 
interesting and revealing aspects of optical system design. 
We will attempt in just over one hour to introduce you to 
some of the many fascinating and important subtleties of our 
field, and you will learn why optical design is in many cases 
both a science and an art.  Below are some of the topics to 
be discussed:

- Image degradations or aberrations, what they are and how to get rid of them
- Optical system configurations and design tradeoffs
- Optical design for different spectral bands
- Fabrication and producibility issues of high performance optical systems
- Off the shelf versus custom optics 

We will also discuss the Bob Fischer list of "Bloopers and 
Blunders in Optics" which has been compiled over many years.  
Each item has a succinct lesson to be learned.

As a special feature of the evening, the speaker being a 
Member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, will treat you his 
favorite magical illusions along the way, many of which are 
true classics of magic.


Biography:

Robert E. Fischer is President of OPTICS 1, Inc., a Westlake 
Village CA company involved in the design, engineering, and 
production of optical and electro-optical systems.  He holds 
BS and MS degrees in Optics from the University of Rochester.  
His major areas of expertise include the design, engineering, 
and production of optical and opto-mechanical systems.

Prior to founding OPTICS 1 in 1987, Mr. Fischer was Chief 
Scientist at Hughes Aircraft Company, Missile Systems Group.  
Previously he was responsible for lens design for the large 
optics programs at Itek Corporation.  A past president of 
SPIE, Fischer has also served as Chair of the SPIE Symposia 
Committee and the 1980 International Lens Design Conference 
as well as Chair of the OSA Optical Design Technical Group.  
Fischer is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and 
SPIE, and was a recipient of the SPIE Albert M. Pezzuto 
Award.  He received the Gold Medal of SPIE in 2000, the 
highest award of the society.