59th Annual STS (1999–2000)
Finalists
William Axel Leight

MASSACHUSETTS
William Axel Leight, 17, of Cambridge, researched laser micromachining techniques for his Intel Science Talent Search project in engineering. Micromachining can produce, in miniature, almost any optical device, a feature with many potential applications in the fiberoptics industry. Willie used two ultra-short pulse lasers-kilohertz lasers and oscillators-to machine optical devices in glass and compared results. He concluded that the oscillator is superior to the kilohertz laser in size, cost, energy efficiency and machining speed. He suggests that the oscillator method has far more potential for industrial uses than kilohertz lasers. Willie co-authored a paper on ultra-short pulse laser interactions with transparent materials scheduled for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. At the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, he is co-captain of the science team, captain of the academic decathlon team, president of the math club and Harvard Book Award winner. Willie is the son of Peter Leight and Dr. Margaret Bruzelius and hopes to study physics or math in college before pursuing a career as a scientific researcher in academia.