All Things Photonics

Ultrafast lasers are transforming how optical and photonic systems are designed, fabricated, and integrated. This evolving approach to processing offers a fundamentally different method than conventional means like diamond turning and ion-beam figuring. Jie Qiao is the director of the advanced optical fabrication, instrumentation, and metrology laboratory in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imagi...

In April, Artemis II launched on a 10-day voyage around the moon. It was humanity’s first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. Along with its four astronauts, it carried a series of photonic systems with it. On the core of its space launch system rocket, Imperx charge-couple device cameras monitored engines and provided measurements vital to ensuring a safe and successful launch. Petko Dinev ...

Leading groups among the scientific community are expressing their concerns over proposed White House budget cuts. America may sit on top of the mountain when it comes to research efforts, but other nations are catching up, and funding cuts could lead to there being a new global leader in R&D. SPIE has issued a call to action, asking Americans to contact their government officials to express t...

imec and Ghent University researcher, Bart Kuyken, discusses his group’s recent Nature Photonics paper. The micro-transfer printing process, material platforms utilized, and prospects to innovate upon existing silicon photonics process and workflows are discussed. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –   www. Hamamatsu.com O...

Xavier Lafosse, commercial technology director, precision glass solutions at Corning, discusses how data center dynamics are ushering in a new era for optical materials — centered as much on demand as on innovation. As leading companies optimize their partnerships, drive research breakthroughs, and unveil commercial product, meeting the moment necessitates deep understanding of the market, but at...

Unmanned aircraft, like drones, have become a weapon of choice. They are effective and cheap to produce, but the systems to stop them are not. Laser- and microwave-based systems are slowly coming online, but there are still hurdles to overcome before they become a staple defense on the front lines. Ganesh Balakrishnan, or “Gunny" as he’s known, is a professor of electrical and computer engineering...

Computing with light can enable high-performance compute with dramatically lower energy use and reduced heat. Q.Ant is a Stuttgart-based photonic computing scale-up, leading the way to more sustainable AI and high-performance computing. CEO Michael Förtsch joins us to share his thoughts on the hidden costs of AI, the technology and materials driving Q.Ant’s photonic solutions, and why the future o...

In this discussion with Omega Optical’s David Ventola, a leading authority on diffraction technology, "All Things Photonics" navigates the complete gratings value chain, from concept and design, to replication and fabrication, to application and deployment. A mature technology, optical grating innovation is measured today by industry-driven advancements that are found in the marketplace. Omega Opt...

"All Things Photonics" is teaming up with the journal Optica to bring you insights on the latest studies leading to breakthroughs in optics and photonics. Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows encrypted information to be distributed without being intercepted. In free-space QKD, however, fluctuations in atmospheric conditions can cause distortions and impair the retrieval of the encoded information...

Before today’s ubiquitous technologies became tangible products, they began with a research proposal. The journal Optica prides itself on publishing high-impact peer-reviewed articles covering a spectrum of fields throughout optics and photonics, and for years, Prem Kumar served as the editor-in-chief for the journal. Even before taking on that title, he was familiar with the journal, having submi...

Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology made headlines five years ago when Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arrived in the fight against COVID-19. Today, mRNA research is expanding into cancer treatments, cardiovascular regeneration, and other areas. Igor Lednev is a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University at Albany. His lab is developing a new technique to test mRNA-based ther...

Every White House administration has its priorities. Government reform and the elimination of waste are among President Donald Trump's top priorities. Cutting down on waste is not a partisan issue; no one wants to throw away money. But how you define waste can draw a mixed response. The president has targeted scientific grants as an area in need of reform, and according to a piece published by Nat...

Optikos Corporation CEO and founder Stephen Fantone joins the podcast. In this exclusive interview, Fantone discusses the pathways and opportunities that professional organizations create, and their profound influence on individuals at all stages and in all reaches of professional life. Fantone chairs the board of the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, is past president of Optica, and chairperson e...

XR technology has moved from a novelty to something more ubiquitous, with real applications in communication, training, entertainment, and much more. Helping propel these systems is the newly formed AR Alliance. This group recently became a division of SPIE, and together they elevated the advances in XR systems at the AR/VR/MR Expo during Photonics West. With so many industry leaders making the tr...

Online crooks commit what’s called “harvest-now-decrypt-later” attacks to record data in transit to later decode for all the valuable information. There is a way to stop it, but it takes more than some antivirus software. CyberRidge is a photonic encryption technology and security startup. Its flagship product is a plug-and-play photonic-layer transmission system that integrates with existing fibe...

We are teaming up with the journal Optica to bring you insights into the latest studies driving breakthroughs in optics and photonics. Traditional magnetometers are big and can only operate in extremely cold temperatures. But a new chip-scale magnetometer could offer high-precision readings in an ultra-compact form, while still operating at room temperature. Paolo Pintus from the University of Cal...

The interference with satellites actively in use for military operations is a real threat to security and civilian safety. But laser communication could provide a deployable solution to the front lines. Unlike radio-frequency links, laser terminals use narrowly focused optical beams that are difficult to jam or intercept. Pairing lasers with existing systems could prove to be unstoppable. Astrolig...

The start of the new year means the return of the biggest event in our industry, SPIE’s Photonics West. Returning to the Moscone Center in San Francisco for its 31st year, the showcase promises to be even bigger than ever with more than 1,500 exhibitors from around the world set to display their latest and greatest tech. In this Spotlight conversation, Bob Hainsey, Senior Director of Science, Tech...

From TVs to AR/VR headsets, tech giants have always pushed for the highest picture resolution. That push may soon come to an end after researchers demonstrate the smallest pixels to date, reaching the very limits of the human eye. Using nanoparticles, those pixels reproduce colors whose dimensions and arrangement control how light is scattered, and its optical properties can be electrically tuned....

We are teaming up with Optica to bring you insights into the latest studies that are leading to breakthroughs in optics and photonics. In this episode, we’re joined by, Jannick Rolland, the Brian J. Thompson Professor in Optical Engineering at the University of Rochester, to explore how freeform optics are reshaping modern optical design. Following her work in a study published in the journal Opti...

PhotonDelta CEO Eelko Brinkhoff joins the podcast to discuss the recently concluded PIC Summit Europe. It is no secret that the present need to upscale in the PICs sector is top of mind for industry leaders. But do stakeholders at different reaches of the value chain perceive this bottleneck in the same light? Brinkhoff discusses this dynamic challenge and recaps this year’s summit. Spotlight from...

The global race to realize the potential of laser fusion is heating up. We’ve already seen ignition; now the question is, how do we get to commercialization? Focused Energy is working to develop Europe's first pilot plant for laser fusion by converting the former Biblis nuclear power plant into a fusion power plant. Thomas Forner, CEO and Co-Founder of Focused Energy, joins us to share details on...

While the threat of MPOX may not be making headlines in the U.S., the virus is still present. The World Health Organization says it has been on the rise in more than 40 countries, and the latest strain is more severe and more infectious. Partha Ray and Mete Aslan are part of a research team from the University of San Diego School of Medicine and Boston University. Hear them discuss a newly develop...

Detailed digital displays are leaping out of our video games and onto the front lines. Vuzix specializes in AI-powered smart glasses, waveguides, and augmented reality. It just secured a contract to provide customized waveguides for one of America's leading defense contractors. Those waveguides will be designed to operate in new, lightweight, head-up displays for military personnel. This technolog...

A conversation with Tal Carmon, a professor at Tel Aviv University, who led the team behind the recently unveiled method of photonic origami. The conversation covers the technology’s origins, how it works, and what its potential applications may be. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –   www. Hamamatsu.com American Element...