All Things Photonics

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 Optical’s Prism Award-winning DeepUV Transmission Gratings are one such solution. Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com

"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. In a study published in the journal Optica, a research team from the University of Ottawa developed a way to alleviate the effects of atmospheric turbulence on spatial mode transmission, creating an all-optical self-correction scheme for turbulence resilience using stimulated parametric down-conversion (StimPDC)-based optical phase conjugation. Aarón Cardoso, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, joins us to explain why he turned to StimPDC to solve this quantum quandary. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com

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 submitted several works himself. Some made the cut; others didn’t quite meet those standards. In our Spotlight conversation, Kumar shares more about his accomplishments with Optica, his work in quantum, and his own journey in photonics. Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 therapeutics using lasers. On this episode of “All Things Photonics,” Igor discusses his work to evaluate mRNA vaccines and treatments through Raman spectroscopy, and he explains the role laser spectroscopy will play in advancing modern medicine. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 Nature, more than 7,800 grants have been terminated or frozen. Dan Garisto is a freelance physics journalist and is one of the three authors of this piece. On this episode of All Things Photonics, he discusses the biggest findings of his work as he dug into the status of U.S. science one year into the president’s second term. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 emeritus of the Pioneer Institute. Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 trip to San Francisco for the leading event in our industry, we decided to capitalize on this rare opportunity to bring together six of the brightest minds in XR for a conversation on the future of this market, the emerging tech driving innovation, and the importance of collaboration. In this very special episode of All Things Photonics, and with the assistance of the AR Alliance and SPIE, we’re bringing to the table: Stephane Bellosguardo, VP of Global Product Marketing with Luminus Devices Brian Chen, General Manager of Appotronics Theo Marescaux, Founder and CPO of Swave Jorg Rietterer, CTO of TriLite Technologies Robert Schultz, Vice President of Optics for Vuzix And Barry Silverstein, Director of the Center for Extended Reality at the University of Rochester and former chief technology officer and senior director of optics and display products at Meta Reality Labs All of our guests have unique backgrounds and differing areas of expertise, and they’re sharing their insights on the XR market and the technology at its core on this episode of All Things Photonics.   "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 fiber to transform your data into encrypted noise as it travels to its destination. In this episode, we’ll chat with Dan Sadot, the founder and CEO of CyberRidge. He shares his thoughts on the crimes driving demand for this tech, the groups likely to use it, and the finer points of post-quantum optical security for data in transit. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the University of Cagliari, Italy, joins us to talk about the silicon photonics and innovative materials behind this discovery. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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. Astrolight, a Lithuanian space and defense company, has already deployed terminals used by NATO forces. In this episode, Dalius Petrulionis, co-founder and CTO of Astrolight, discusses how lasers are advancing communication technology and the real-world turmoil that is driving demand for these systems. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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, Technology, and Industry for SPIE, previews some of the biggest changes to this year’s event and offers some helpful tips for attendees. Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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. A new retina e-paper has allowed researchers to create pixels so small that they can correspond to a single photon receptor in the eye. In this episode, Kunli Xiong, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Uppsala University, explains how this technology could go beyond AR/VR systems and improve remote collaboration and even accelerate scientific research. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 Optica, Rolland discusses her successes and setbacks in her early works with freeform optics and talks about the potential for this technology in a range of applications. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com

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 those plans and to talk about the different paths nations are taking towards laser fusion. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com American Elements - www.AmericanElements.com

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 developed optical biosensor that can quickly detect the virus at the point of care, without the wait for lab results. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com American Elements - www.AmericanElements.com

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 technology could provide men and women with maps, vital statistics, and mission-critical intelligence, right in front of their eyes. Rob Schultz, vice president of optics for Vuzix, joins us to discuss how technology is transforming video game fiction into real tactical equipment. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com American Elements - www.AmericanElements.com

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 Elements - www.AmericanElements.com

There is an ever-growing demand for power, whether it is to supply electricity for our power-hungry AI servers or to keep the lights on in more homes. Inertial confinement fusion has been referred to as one of the most promising paths to thermonuclear fusion, and it could one day provide a path to more efficient power. Omar Hurricane and Mike Campbell formed a professional relationship and a lasting friendship through their time together at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In this episode of All Things Photonics, they discuss the progress made in inertial confinement fusion and what this technology will need to reach its full potential. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com American Elements - www.AmericanElements.com

Photonics industry luminary Jason Eichenholz discusses hollow core fiber (HCF). Eichenholz is co-founder and CEO of Relativity Networks, a Florida-based startup pioneering the development and rollout of this transformative technology. It is hardly Eichenholz’s first such undertaking, and the Spotlight conversation looks back at some of his most consequential and influential projects. Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com American Elements - www.AmericanElements.com