Bob Parks on the Point Source Microscope, Alignment, and Optics

In this episode, Bob Parks discusses his background in optics. For those who are not aware, Bob has been a key figure in the world of optics, being a force to establish using an auto-stigmatic microscope for all sorts of alignment and assembly of optical systems (and that is only a small portion of his contributions). Bob explains how he entered optics, his early experiences at the Kodak company and how rich that experience was, his work on the Hubble Investigatory committee, and his work involved in creating the Point Source Microscope. We also explore recent innovations for using the PSM, and how computer generated holograms tie into these potentials. Bob is truly and incredible optical scientist, and was one of my favorite guests to interview. We only scratch the surface of topics I would like to discuss this episode but I highly recommend it.

After the end of the episode Bob shared a few more thoughts, which I am putting here. Bob Parks:"At the very end you asked me about advice for younger people and I mentioned diversity in interests. Another thing is being open to taking risks, much as you guys are. It is so much nicer to suggest a new adventure and have a yes response than no. And one other thing. As we talked about, science and engineering get you hard facts, and just one "right" answer. If a colleague gets a different answer, don't call them out, but ask what assumptions they made deriving their answer. That you differ is often that you have made different assumptions."

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Resources:

1. Optical Perspectives Group LLC , Bob Parks optical engineering company.

2. Alignment with Axicon Plane Gratings, by Robert Parks

3. Aligning Reflecting Optics with Bessel Beams, by Robert Parks

4. The Autostigmatic Microscope and How It Works, by Robert Parks

5. Hubble Space Telescope Secondary Mirror Vertex Radius/conic Constant Test Final Technical Report, by Robert Parks

6. A Canticle for Leibowitz, an excellent Sci-Fi book exploring meaning, ethics, and science.