This is the syndication feed for photonics.com: FEATURES. https://www.photonics.com/Splash.aspx?Tag=FEATURES Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:38:06 GMT Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:45:00 GMT 1800
In 2000, Berthold Leibinger, the man who brought laser technology into Germany’s TRUMPF Group, established the Innovation Award — expressed in native German as the “Innovationspreis” — to honor outstanding R&D in the field of laser technology. Next to this prestigious award, the Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis was added in 2006 to recognize scientists driving fundamental laser research to new heights.

Leibinger sadly passed away a few weeks after the Innovationspreis ceremony in 2018, but he had handed the company over to his children years before, along with the Berthold Leibinger Foundation and its associated awards.

At the 2023 ceremony, held on September 22 in Ditzingen, the Foundation...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Berthold_Leibinger_Awards_Honor_Laser_Research_at/a69354 A69354 Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:45:00 GMT
Many trends in the manufacture of photonic systems are well known: miniaturize and integrate components, scale-up batch sizes, and, increasingly, expand automated and sustainable manufacturing. At the same time, quality control remains a priority but faces ever more challenges, such as zero-defect production or full traceability. Maintaining these goals calls for a “detect/predict/prevent/repair” approach based on comprehensive sensor networks that monitor every step in the production chain as well as complex software to make use of the data that these networks produce. Artificial intelligence is critical to success.


Laser deflection allows the monitoring of mirror alignment during production. Courtesy of...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/How_AI_Is_Advancing_the_Manufacture_of_Photonic/a69321 A69321 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:34:57 GMT
In 2018, when California became the first state to pass legislation requiring the measuring of microplastics in drinking water supplies, it essentially set off a competition that would pit photonic technologies against one another as well as nonphotonic counterparts. To determine which technologies could most precisely, consistently, and cost- effectively measure microplastics, California’s State Water Resources Control Board, or State Water Board, recruited 22 laboratories to evaluate several analytical methods.


A comparison of remote water monitoring with multispectral and hyperspectral imaging. Courtesy of Pixxel.
In July 2022, the board released the interlaboratory comparison results. A month later, it essentially...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Spectroscopy_Rides_a_Rising_Tide_of/a69320 A69320 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:32:52 GMT
It is strange that the study of materials has been intertwined with the study of our universe. Somewhat paradoxically, improving our grasp of atoms has enabled us to answer questions about the cosmos. Although humanity has always looked to the stars in awe, our understanding of them has been constrained by our knowledge of geometry, algebra, physics, and materials. Throughout history, the discovery of new materials enabled the most advanced astronomical instruments of the era. These advanced instruments informed and enhanced the predictive capability of our physical, geometric, and algebraic models.

Figure 1 provides an overview of how the evolution of materials technology paced our ability to create increasingly stable astronomical...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/How_Materials_Advancements_Advance_Our_View_of/a69319 A69319 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:31:26 GMT
Many researchers and product developers using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for biomedical research and clinical treatment choose to build their own system. This requires multiple optical and mechanical components, an understanding of signal and image processing, and the optics and programming expertise needed to bring it all together — as well as a significant investment of time to assemble and calibrate the system. Using a prebuilt, off-the-shelf OCT spectrometer as one of the starting components can speed and simplify this process, reduce risk, and improve the quality of images collected.

This primer will delve into key considerations for the optical designer when building an SD-OCT system, with a...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Build_Versus_Buy_Considerations_in_SD-OCT_System/a69245 A69245 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:36:13 GMT
Alan Eddy is a machine vision specialist at Tensor ID, a system integrator that develops solutions to difficult manufacturing problems. The company has devised ways to overcome challenges for large automakers using vision to gauge spark plug gaps and piston rings and to determine the quality of finishes on cars.

Recently, though, Tensor ID has been called upon to solve a whole new category of problems as automakers confront the demands of mass-producing a new technology.


Four high-resolution cameras inspect an electric vehicle battery pack. AI improves the inspection performance. Courtesy of Tensor ID.
“Over the last five years, we’ve done a lot of work with electric car companies,” Eddy said. “For...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/AI_Aids_Automotive_Manufacturing_Inspection/a69244 A69244 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:26:18 GMT
Growth in e-commerce has significantly increased the volume of products and goods that businesses have had to transport, putting pressure on the quality and throughput in logistics and warehousing scenarios. For companies in e-commerce, industrial automation technologies have become more important than ever before, but as processes evolve and expand, machine vision components must be able to keep pace.


Figure 1. High-speed processes in logistics environments require advanced machine vision technologies to keep pace with customer demands. Courtesy of Smart Vision Lights.
When trying to penetrate highly reflective plastic wraps or shipping bags, for example, high-speed barcode reading and optical character recognition (OCR) is...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Novel_Lighting_Designs_Tackle_Vision_Challenges/a69242 A69242 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:55:00 GMT
The introduction of AI in fields such as quality inspection is the latest development in a wider transformation involving the introduction of automation and digitalization on the factory floor. Previous stages of this evolution have included the introduction of robots and collaborative robots, as well as the replacement of paper records with digital ones.


An aerial view of an automated robot arm assembly line manufacturing advanced, high-tech green energy electric vehicles. Courtesy of iStock.com/gorodenkoff.
The next phase will involve the introduction of greater levels of automation and the use of AI to provide insights into data. The introduction of greater AI in quality inspection must be understood as part of this broader...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/AI_to_Transform_Quality_Inspection_Across/a69241 A69241 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:15:42 GMT
For demanding machine vision applications, sputter-coated thin-film interference filters deliver exemplary performance. Filters for wavelengths from the ultraviolet (UV) to the short-wave infrared (SWIR) boost contrast, enabling an imaging system to acquire more information more efficiently and at a lower overall system cost.

In the realm of industrial machine vision systems, multiple components play a crucial role in determining the system’s performance. Factors such as illumination, lens, camera, sensor, image processor, and, of course, filters can significantly impact the effectiveness of a machine vision setup. Figure 1 shows a typical machine vision setup that includes certain components.


Figure 1. An example of a...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Custom_Sputter-Coated_Filters_Are_Transforming/a69226 A69226 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:25:36 GMT
Ultraviolet laser optics tend to have limited lifetimes, due primarily to two processes: laser-induced contamination (LIC) and UV fatigue. LIC is caused by the deposition of unwanted material on the surface of the optic, whereas UV fatigue results from the breakdown of the optic due to cumulative exposure to UV light. Both degrade the performance of optics over time until the effects become intolerable.

Long-term experiments on UV optics at 355 nm in various environments have revealed key insights into sources of contamination and fatigue, as well as mitigation strategies and cleaning techniques that can potentially recover contaminated optics.

What is laser-induced contamination?

Contamination of optics can occur when UV...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/How_to_Preserve_Your_Laser_Optics_Against_UV/a69221 A69221 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:44:02 GMT
Chalcogenide glasses — more commonly known as chalcogenides — have been around for some time and offer several benefits over other IR optical materials. They are comparatively lightweight, offer excellent thermal properties, and can be precisely engineered for easy integration with other IR materials. But they have traditionally posed problems for small manufacturers who sought to document consistent production processes for these glasses. In the last ten years, this situation has drastically changed as larger companies have entered the IR glass market and geopolitical circumstances have affected the germanium supply. Today, it’s possible to obtain solid production data, such as refractive index and transmission at...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Chalcogenide_Glass_Sharpens_the_Outlook_for/a69219 A69219 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:38:06 GMT
From applications in ophthalmology, endoscopy, and microscopy — to use in head-up displays, lidar systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellites — freeform optics are enhancing the performance of existing imaging systems and are key enablers in a host of lightweight, high-performance applications.


Manufacturing freeform optical surfaces and built-in alignment features in the same process improves manufacturing accuracy and ease-of-use for end users. These alignment features are beneficial for measuring surfaces during fabrication and facilitate end-user alignment. Courtesy of Edmund Optics.
Freeform optical surfaces can be defined as surfaces with no axis of rotational invariance within or beyond the optical part....]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Manufacturing_Methods_Make_Freeform_Optics_More/a69218 A69218 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:24:37 GMT
We have all heard that photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can pack a ton of functionality into high-performance, energy-efficient, and low-cost microchips, as well as the promise that they will enable a revolution of powerful optoelectronic devices for a host of applications. However, the complexity of transforming chips into functional devices is often underestimated and the cost of PIC packaging can take a notoriously big chunk out of the development budget.

Compared to strictly electronic chips, PICs and their packaging are far more complex and not nearly at the same level of maturity and standardization. In addition to needing both electrical and optical interfaces, integrated photonics packaging must deal with a multitude of...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Five_Common_Design_Mistakes_Can_Send_PIC/a69216 A69216 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:20:43 GMT
If lasers helped to redefine many manufacturing operations, then ultrashort-pulsed (USP) lasers promise to revolutionize them. They can process almost any material, and they can do so with a precision that extends below micrometers.


Ultrashort-pulsed lasers that can deliver kilowatt powers promise more precise, scalable, and digitally controllable materials processing. Courtesy of Fraunhofer ILT.
This advantage of USP lasers, however, is also their biggest limitation: Ultrashort laser pulses only ablate minute amounts of material. The USP laser community has conducted substantial research to develop stronger laser sources to overcome this limitation.

But has that solved the problem?

“It depends on how you...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Ultrashort-Pulsed_Lasers_Ramp_Up_the_Power/a69215 A69215 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:19:27 GMT
The internet is an inescapable part of modern life, and the hardware that enables it is almost as ubiquitous. Fiber cables transmit terabytes of data around the world every second and, although the technology is constantly evolving, it has become almost commonplace. The growing interest and investment in quantum technology, however, promises to enable an evolutionary leap in internet technology. But will this quantum internet replace or build upon the current internet? Will it emerge anytime soon? And what might it look like?


Artist’s impression of a three-node quantum network. The diamonds allude to one of the ways to generate the single photons on which the quantum internet relies — namely, the use of color centers in...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/What_Is_the_Quantum_Internet/a69124 A69124 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:00:00 GMT
Ultrashort pulse lasers, such as femtosecond lasers, are becoming increasingly easy-to-use plug and play devices suitable for a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. Fifteen years ago, these lasers were large mainframe affairs requiring daily cleaning of the optics, regular maintenance of water for cooling, and constant optimization of laser parameters.

Today, solid-state and fiber-based platforms using well-established photonic-crystal fiber amplification technology and chirped pulse amplification architectures have produced femtosecond lasers that are compact, highly reliable, and less expensive.


A femtosecond fiber laser laboratory setup for the generation of a broadband frequency comb in the visible...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Ultrafast_Laser_Technology_Continues_to_Achieve/a69153 A69153 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:13:42 GMT
Ten years ago, Tony Amarel’s recruitment firm in Rochester, New York, rarely heard from clients who were willing to pay a fee to fill optical technician positions. But by 2021, the six-county Rochester metropolitan area saw the number of jobs in its local optical equipment and lens manufacturing sector increase by 12.5% to 1293 — more than double the national average growth rate of 5.7%, according to employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and New York State Department of Labor.




Optical technicians working at Sydor Optics. Sydor has helped maintain its optics manufacturing workforce by sponsoring apprenticeships since 2020. Courtesy of Sydor Optics.
Around 2015, the U.S. Department of...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Optical_Workforce_Training_Comes_into_Focus/a69127 A69127 Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:36:41 GMT
Diffuse reflection spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy are having a major effect in medicine and the life sciences, with expanding application in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. And fiber optic-based probes are becoming an essential and versatile solution for collecting the necessary spectroscopic measurements for analysis. This data ultimately informs both in vivo and in vitro analysis and diagnosis to detect cancer cells or the presence of specific diseases and may in some instances render traditional biopsies unnecessary.

Blood analysis

Fiber optic probes are ideal for performing fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with in vitro blood analysis. They allow a scientist or clinician to illuminate a sample...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Fiber_Optic_Probes_Help_Customize_Spectroscopic/a69106 A69106 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:24:54 GMT
In many academic research and medical settings, microscopy and imaging have transitioned from using traditional lamp illumination, such as mercury and Xenon lamphouses, to solid-state LED technologies. The benefits of moving to LEDs include long lifetimes and increased stability of the light source, eliminating the need to replace or dispose of toxic bulb waste. Fluorescence microscopy, for its part, has traditionally used and been limited by the spectrum of the mercury arc lamp, which has defined the chemistry of fluorophores, as well as the excitation and emission filters used in fluorescence imaging across the world. The discrete peaks of the mercury arc lamp spectrum have dictated the chemistry of the most common fluorophores,...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Illumination_Advancing_Fluorescence_Microscopy_in/a69105 A69105 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:17:13 GMT
Mid-infrared (MIR) optoacoustic spectroscopy is a well-established technique that is currently being leveraged with modern instrumentation to push boundaries in life sciences research and medical diagnostics. Researchers recently demonstrated significant improvements to MIR optoacoustic imaging and detection techniques that have yielded promising results in noninvasive glucose monitoring and label-free analytic histology as well as other applications. Many biomolecules, such as glucose (opening image), lipids, and proteins, are excited by photons in the “fingerprint region” of the MIR, from 1800 to 700 cm−1 (5.5 to 14 µm).


An illustration of blood cells and glucose in a vein. Courtesy of iStock.com/ILexx.
...]]> https://www.photonics.com/Articles/QCL-IR_Powers_Photoacoustic_Spectroscopy_in/a69104 A69104 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:10:10 GMT