Allan Carswell
Encyclopedia
Allan Ian Carswell, CM
, FRSC
(born 1933) is an internationally recognized leader in the field of laser radar (lidar
) applications since the technology's beginning in the early 1960s. Carswell has been actively engaged in the study of the properties and applications of laser
s and coherent optical frequency radiation since 1963. He was a member of the Plasma Physics Laboratory at the RCA Victor Research Laboratories in Montreal
, Canada
, studying electromagnetic waves with ionized gas systems. In 1965 Carswell was appointed Director of the RCA Optical and Microwave Research Laboratory, and led the group there that developed the first
laser in Canada and the first Canadian commercial HeNe laser.
Carswell was a respected Professor of Physics at Toronto
, Canada
's York University
, where he conducted laser research. His work included the investigation of the properties and applications of high-power , nitrogen
and dye
lasers, and the application of laser scattering techniques for remote sensing
and environmental diagnostics.
In 1974, Carswell founded Optech Incorporated
and led the company from its inception. He became Chairman of the Board of Optech in 2000. Carswell founded Optech to develop the more practical applications of lidar systems, and the company has since grown to become a world leader in laser ranging applications, because of its widely recognized expertise in advanced electro-optical systems. Optech now has over 200 employees and conducts 90% of its business internationally.
Carswell is a co-investigator on the Phoenix Mars Mission
,
launched in 2007, which will use lidar to measure dust particles in the air on Mars.
Carswell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1984.
In 2006 Carswell was honoured with the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for his significant achievements and lifelong dedication to space science and development in Canada. Dr Carswell became a Member of the Order of Canada
in 2005. The award is the highest civilian award a Canadian can receive and is given only to those who have made outstanding contributions in their field of endeavour.
Carswell continues to actively participate in both Optech and the development of lidar technologies as part of his life-long endeavour to develop cutting-edge technologies.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(born 1933) is an internationally recognized leader in the field of laser radar (lidar
LIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
) applications since the technology's beginning in the early 1960s. Carswell has been actively engaged in the study of the properties and applications of laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s and coherent optical frequency radiation since 1963. He was a member of the Plasma Physics Laboratory at the RCA Victor Research Laboratories in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, studying electromagnetic waves with ionized gas systems. In 1965 Carswell was appointed Director of the RCA Optical and Microwave Research Laboratory, and led the group there that developed the first
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
laser in Canada and the first Canadian commercial HeNe laser.
Carswell was a respected Professor of Physics at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, where he conducted laser research. His work included the investigation of the properties and applications of high-power , nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
and dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
lasers, and the application of laser scattering techniques for remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
and environmental diagnostics.
In 1974, Carswell founded Optech Incorporated
Optech Incorporated
Optech Incorporated is a Canadian-owned for-profit company operating since 1974 and focusing on Laser-based survey systems.Optech Inc is known for its association with Phoenix, a spacecraft launched for Mars in 2007.- The company :...
and led the company from its inception. He became Chairman of the Board of Optech in 2000. Carswell founded Optech to develop the more practical applications of lidar systems, and the company has since grown to become a world leader in laser ranging applications, because of its widely recognized expertise in advanced electro-optical systems. Optech now has over 200 employees and conducts 90% of its business internationally.
Carswell is a co-investigator on the Phoenix Mars Mission
Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix lander descended on Mars on May 25, 2008...
,
launched in 2007, which will use lidar to measure dust particles in the air on Mars.
Carswell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1984.
In 2006 Carswell was honoured with the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for his significant achievements and lifelong dedication to space science and development in Canada. Dr Carswell became a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2005. The award is the highest civilian award a Canadian can receive and is given only to those who have made outstanding contributions in their field of endeavour.
Carswell continues to actively participate in both Optech and the development of lidar technologies as part of his life-long endeavour to develop cutting-edge technologies.