All Things Photonics

NIL Technologies CEO and founder Theodor Nielsen discusses the road to commercialization for meta-optical elements, metalenses, diffractive optical elements, and other ultrasmall components. The interview spans the complete product life cycle — from conceptualization and design to fabrication and market placement, and focuses on high-growth, high potential industries at a critical juncture for the technology.

"All Things Photonics" is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.

Nobel laureate Donna Strickland joins Francois Légaré and Heide Ibrahim from the Advanced Laser Light Source Laboratory (ALLS), located outside Montreal. The panel discusses the specifications of the ALLS laser systems, their functionality, and their applications in molecular imaging, agriculture, and metrology. Jan Lagerwall, head of the Experimental Soft Matter Physics group at the University of Luxembourg, introduces nonconventional applications for liquid crystals, including in sensing, machine vision, and more.

David Boas, director of the Boston University Neurophotonics Center, is our guest. The episode introduces techniques including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), laser speckle contrast imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and interferometric diffuse correlation spectroscopy, with expert insight on the advances and neurophotonic applications for each method. Boas is founding editor-in-chief of the journal Neurophotonics published by SPIE, and he is founding president of the Society for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy — a technique with practical application in wearable technology.

Chandra Breanne Curry, coordinator of the LaserNetUS consortium, offers insights into high-intensity laser systems, supported applications, and an update on fusion science. The 10-system consortium supports research across disciplines, from biomedical science to plasma physics. Miriam Vitiello, director of research at the National Research Council of Italy, professor of condensed matter physics at the Scuola Normale Superiore, and co-author of "The 2017 Terahertz Science and Technology Roadmap," picks up our running conversation on the terahertz band, quantum cascade lasers, and forthcoming developments.

Silicon photonics pioneer and President of Luminous Computing Michael Hochberg joins Luminous’ CEO Marcus Gomez for a conversation about advancing AI supercomputing. The company’s photonic approach is supported by a recently announced $105 million Series A award from investors including Bill Gates. A second segment revisits the notion of sending invertebrate organisms into space with help from optical components and devices.

UCLA researcher Mona Jarrahi breaks down critical achievements in the terahertz domain, with particular focus on terahertz optoelectronics. Biomedical, plasmonic, and imaging applications are explored, as are commercial pursuits. In advance of the inaugural Photonics Spectra Spectroscopy conference April 12-13, Richard Crocombe, principal at Crocombe Spectroscopy Consulting, and Ellen Miseo, president of the Coblentz Society, introduce listeners to the event program and individual sessions.

Bob Hess, one of the world’s leading collectors of lasers, laser accessories, and holograms, takes us through his exhibit, "Vintage Lasers & Holograms," on now in Tempe, Ariz. Hess is a career holographer and photonics technician, and his collection features more than 500 lasers and upward of 600 holograms. Also, a check-in with the University of Southampton's Pearl John to discuss the artform of holography and its ties to photonics outreach and education.

Building on the first episode of the season, University of California, Santa Barbara scientists Philip Lubin and Joel Rothman discuss Project Starlight, a NASA project that intends to send microscopic worms — among other creatures — into space. Lubin, the brainpower behind the directed energy facet of the project, identifies the considerable photonic advances that must be made before achieving atmospheric flight.

2022 SPIE Startup Challenge winner VitreaLab's glass-based waveguides are innovating the lighting and displays sector. Back from Photonics West (Jan. 2022), company CEO Jonas Zeuner details VitreaLab's laser writing technology and what it means for liquid crystal displays. In a preview of an upcoming episode, University of California, Santa Barbara scientist Joel Rothman discusses the biological implications of a directed energy interstellar project that proposes to launch invertebrate organisms into and beyond the depths of the galaxy. Plus, can goldfish be taught to drive?

"All Things Photonics" is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Contact us at [email protected].

Jerome Faist, co-inventor of the quantum cascade laser (QCL), reflects on nearly 30 years’ worth of innovations in semiconductor lasing and the history of the QCL. Faist discusses applications in the terahertz and mid-infrared bands, frequency comb spectroscopy, and ultrashort-pulse lasing. Plus, how did the QCL get its name?