RSS Newshttp://en_ENMon, 02 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0100Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0100typo3news-3041Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:10:37 +0100OpTecBB erhält Silber-Label der European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI)https://photonicnet.de/Mit dem erfolgreichen Assessment haben wir unter Beweis stellen können, dass wir zur kontinuierlichen Weiterentwicklung unserer Clusterinitiative beitragen und zu den leistungsfähigen Clusterorganisationen in Deutschland gehören. news-3040Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:57:20 +0100Innovationspreis-Gewinner AKmira optronicshttps://photonicnet.de/Mini-Kameras für die MedizintechnikAlexander Knüttel´s Firma gewann beim Innovationspreiswettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg unter 125 Firmeneinsendungen den 1. Platz. Das neu entwickelte ultra-miniaturisierte 3D Kamera-Modul der AKmira optronics GmbH basiert auf einem völlig neuartigen Konzept der digital-optischen Holografie. Mit dem nur wenige Millimeter messenden Modul wird die dritte Dimension erfassbar, ohne dass aufwendige Vorsatzoptiken mechanisch refokussiert werden müssen. Damit wird 3D-Bildgebung von der (medizinischen) 3D-Endoskopie, über 3D-AR-Brillen, Handy- als auch Ultraleicht-Drohnen-Anwendungen vereinfacht oder überhaupt erst ermöglicht.]]>news-3019Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:46:17 +0200Photonics Days 2024https://photonicnet.de/There were 4 eventful days with more than 400 participants, 100 national and international speakers, 36 exhibitors from all over Germany as well as the visit of our international political VIPs- Mr. Hidenao Yanagi (Ambassador at the Embassy of Japan in Germany), Mrs. Woldberg (Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin) and Mrs. Franziska Giffey (Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises).
A big thank you to our Silver Sponsor LTB Lasertechnik Berlin GmbH and our platinum sponsor OPTICA, which provided free access to the event for more than 50 students and thus gave young professionals the chance to get in touch with potential employers. Also a big thank you for FBH and WISTA for their generous financial support during this year's Photonics Days.
During Photonics Travel, taking place on Oct. 8.+11., registered participants enjoyed a guided tour through Adlershof Technology Park with Dr. Bernd Ludwig (WISTA), a BarBQ with a roof top view in Leap Quantum Technology Hub & Events (Adlershof), the Berlin Internet historical Tour to IPB and NTT Data Center at Marienpark and also some of our members opened their doors to interested participants. At this point, we would like to thank all involved parties who made everything possible.
Photonics Week 2025 will take place from October 6.-10. including Photonics Days (Oct. 8.+9.) and Photonics Travel ( tbd.) as usual at WISTA Event Center (Rudower Chaussee 17, 12489 Berlin). If you want to join as a Participant, Exhibitor & Presenter you can contact us at any time: guenther@optecbb.de.
]]>news-2973Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:14:09 +0200Aalen University founds "Aalen School of Applied Photonics"https://photonicnet.de/The Aalen School of Applied Photonics (AASAP) is a multidisciplinary international study programme in the field of photonics, which aims to promote the next generation of scientists.As a key technology of the 21st century, photonics is an important research focus at Aalen University. In addition to the Centre for Optical Technologies and the Laser Application Centre, photonics is also addressed in teaching - both in the Bachelor's degree programme in Optical Engineering and in the Master's programme in Applied Photonics. Aalen University is now founding the "Aalen School of Applied Photonics" as an umbrella brand.
The AASAP forms a house, so to speak, in which all optics activities are united. The special feature: "We offer a consecutive training programme across all academic levels, which is also practice-oriented. Whether at Bachelor's, Master's or doctoral level, our students and doctoral candidates independently develop scientific questions, form hypotheses, select suitable subject-specific research methods and implement them. This enables them to acquire and deepen their specific expertise and gain both subject-specific and interdisciplinary skills," says Prof Dr Andreas Heinrich.
The Bachelor's degree programme in Optical Engineering trains everyone to become a professional in the exciting combination of light, technology, physics, computer science and electronics. The programme lasts seven semesters and offers three options, which you can switch between until the 4th semester. You can either study "regularly" or according to a kind of "dual" model - either at a cooperating company or at the Centre for Optical Technologies (ZOT) or the Laser Application Centre (LAZ) at Aalen University.
This is followed by a Master's degree in Applied Photonics. Studied conventionally, this includes lectures, laboratory exercises and projects five days a week over three semesters. Alternatively, it can be studied part-time, so that two days of lectures, laboratory exercises and projects and three days of work experience per week take place at an industrial partner or in a research centre (ZOT/LAZ) over four semesters.
After completing the Master's degree, students can complete a doctorate on a selected research topic at Aalen University, for example at the Centre for Optical Technologies. This sees itself as Aalen University's optics competence centre. The ZOT carries out basic and application-orientated research projects with industry or other university partners. The working groups conduct research on optics technology and robotics, light-matter interaction and lasers, micro- and nanophotonics, biophotonics and opto-electronics.
The entire AASAP sees itself as an optics community that lives its enthusiasm for optics, lasers and light at Aalen University and wants to develop it further both regionally and internationally.
The AASAP is characterised by its close link between academic education and practical application. We look forward to close cooperation with partners from industry and to being able to offer our degree programmes on a career-integrated basis.
You and your company can help to promote the training of the next generation of skilled workers. You will benefit from the talents and innovations that our graduates can bring to your company. As it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find skilled labour and our students are usually "spoken for" before they have completed their studies, we would like to draw your attention to special opportunities for you to retain students at an early stage:
Dual study programme: Offer our study programme in cooperation with you as a special form of dual study programme (study of in-depth practice). By placing job advertisements for studying at AASAP on your homepage, you can draw the attention of potential joint students to our degree programmes.
Advertise vacancies: Let us know about your job postings. This will give you access to highly qualified students who can gain practical experience in your company during their studies.
Scholarships and grants: By providing scholarships, you can help support talented students and show your commitment to excellence in education. In return, you can benefit from early access to promising talent.
]]>Research and sciencenews-2972Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:49:33 +0200Kick-off for the Quantum Effects 2024https://photonicnet.de/The Quantum Effects 2024 trade fair is in the starting blocks: Messe Stuttgart is heralding the hot phase with a network meeting and the kick-off press conference.On 5 June, the network partners of Quantum Effects met for an exchange and the kick-off press conference in the press centre of Messe Stuttgart. After being welcomed by Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart GmbH, Guido von Vacano, Member of the Management Board, introduced the attendees to the topic and presented the highlights of the trade fair as well as current developments in trade fair planning.
Quantum Effects is being developed as the most important annual event for application-orientated quantum technologies and is intended to further expand the European presence in this future topic. The comprehensive European quantum ecosystem from industry, science and politics as well as networks and investors will be brought together here. The focus areas of computing & enabling technologies, software, sensing and communication will be supplemented by the topics of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing in 2024.
The Quantum Effects Academy will offer workshops and experiments for students and school pupils as well as guided tours for anyone interested. For start-ups, Photonics BW is organising a pitch and networking session with investors together with Quantum BW. The presentation of the Quantum Effects Award, initiated and co-organised by Photonics BW and OptecNet Deutschland, honours outstanding innovations that are used in various industries, enable individual services and open up new perspectives.
This was followed by a discussion with Stephanie Fleischmann (Head of Strategy and International Relations at the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation) about the importance of quantum technologies for the region.
In a video message, Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the state of Baden-Württemberg, emphasised how important technological development is for Baden-Württemberg: "Quantum technologies offer many opportunities for new applications in industry and society, for example in information processing, for high-precision measurement methods or the simulation of complex systems."
"Quantum technologies will not only help to improve existing processes, but also open up new future opportunities in the fields of MedTech, mobility and many more. They have the potential to change our society and economy. The next step - especially in the field of quantum sensor technology - is to master commercialisation. A comprehensive ecosystem along the entire value chain in Europe is important for this. I am therefore all the more pleased that we are helping to shape the international "Quantum Effects" event, which in its second year has a special focus on application orientation," says Dr Katrin Kobe, CEO of Bosch Quantum Sensing, hosting partner of Quantum Effects.
"The 'Quantum Land' of Baden-Württemberg is in an excellent international position, particularly in the field of quantum sensor technology, with outstanding science, a strong industry and beacons such as QuantumBW and the future cluster QSens," emphasised Prof. Dr Jens Anders, Head of the Institute for Intelligent Sensor Technology and Theoretical Electrical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart.
The launch of Quantum Effects 2023 was extremely successful with 2334 participants, almost one in five of whom came from abroad.
]]>New productsResearch and sciencenews-2971Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:47:47 +0200Apply now: hema visioneers award 2024https://photonicnet.de/hema electronic GmbH awards prizes for final theses in the field of embedded vision & FPGAs - cash and non-cash prizes, winning events and media attention.What is your "vision"?
Submit your thesis on embedded vision and FPGA technology for the hema visioneers award. hema honours interesting projects and implementations as well as outstanding achievements, selected and evaluated by an independent and high-calibre jury of experts.
For final theses on the subject of embedded vision & FPGA
There are cash and non-cash prizes, winner events and media attention
For students at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
What is the visioneers award?
The visioneers award is a young talent competition for students and prospective engineers who creatively tackle a technical task from the world of electronics.
The aim is to promote and recognise outstanding achievements in final theses in the field of FPGA-based embedded vision applications.
The award is named after the hema visioneers; visioneers are committed, curious and technology-orientated. We never shy away from a challenge and always ensure that our partners receive high-tech electronics from us. From trainees to management, we are committed to making hema a welcoming and respectful community.
The award is organised by hema electronic GmbH.
Who can take part?
Students at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland who are currently writing their final thesis for the academic year 2024/25 can take part.
What kind of theses can I submit?
Your thesis will be in the field of embedded vision. You will use an FPGA as hardware. Hardware and software topics can be submitted.
It does not matter which industry your project comes from. However, your idea and its realisation should show how innovative electronics can make our lives easier and perhaps even make our world a little bit better and safer.
What can I win?
The three best theses will receive cash prizes, valuable contacts to companies in the industry and plenty of media attention.
1st place: €500
2nd place: €300
3rd place: 100 €
Special prize: Woman in Technology - €300
The visioneers award will be presented at embedded world 2025 in Nuremberg.
How are the winners determined?
A panel of experts from the electronics industry will evaluate all submitted entries using a standardised matrix to determine the three winners. The following aspects are important in the evaluation:
Idea/creativity: How new and unusual is your idea?
Project description/technical understanding: Is your idea logical and detailed?
Design/quality: What characterises your project result? What does the realisation look like?
Woman in Technology: Special prize for final theses by female students/engineers
Everything clear? Then enter your work! It's very simple!
Submit the title and an abstract of your thesis by e-mail by 31 December 2024. After a short check, you will receive a confirmation of participation within one week of submission. The deadline for submitting the completed thesis is 28 February 2025. Unfinished theses cannot be considered - in this case, please submit your thesis again next year.
]]>From the member companiesResearch and sciencePrizes and awardsnews-2969Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:24:26 +0200LASEROPTIK participates in national programme for laser fusion research https://photonicnet.de/LASEROPTIK is one of ten selected partners in the PriFUSIO research project, which was initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and will be funded with 18 million euros over the next three years. PriFUSIO, led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), describes the systematic development of key technologies for future-oriented, climate-neutral fusion power plants.When made commercially viable, laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) offers clean and safe energy generation 24/7. One gram of fusion fuel can generate as much energy as burning eleven tonnes of hard coal - without producing long-lived, highly radioactive waste and safe from nuclear chain reactions.
The central project task of LASEROPTIK GmbH is to develop a new generation of precisely coated, extremely powerful, reliable and cost-effective high-end optics with which future high-performance lasers for IFE reactors can remain stable at extreme temperatures and thus be operated permanently.
"It is a special honour to be able to work on this outstanding project. In view of the dedicated project goals, this is a very serious obligation that we want to take seriously," comments Managing Director Dr Wolfgang Ebert on his company's involvement.
The BMBF-funded project is part of the "Fusion 2040 - Research on the way to the fusion power plant" funding programme, funding reference 13F1000I. The aim is for Germany to be one of the first countries in the world to develop and build a fusion power plant.
]]>news-2967Mon, 27 May 2024 13:23:39 +0200Qubig wins photo competition - bayern photonics company profiles 2024 https://photonicnet.de/As part of the annual update of the bayern photonics member profiles and a photo competition, member companies once again had the opportunity this year to submit a photo for the design of the cover picture.The winning photo 2024 comes from Qubig this time. Congratulations on this success!
The current issue of the brochure "Optical Technologies in Bavaria" provides an overview of the member companies of bayern photonics, as well as their subject areas, fields of application and focal points.d Schwerpunkte.
]]>NewsFrom the netsPrizes and awardsnews-2966Wed, 22 May 2024 15:59:50 +0200Opening of the Digital Business Campus at OTH Amberg-Weiden with Minister of State Markus Blumehttps://photonicnet.de/We create the future! - With this motto, the university launched its anniversary year "30 years of OTH Amberg-Weiden" with a grand opening of the new "Digital Business Campus" in Weiden. The Digital Business Campus was officially opened on 8 May 2024 by the Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts, Markus Blume, Member of the Bavarian Parliament. At the opening ceremony, Science Minister Markus Blume emphasised: "With the OTH Amberg-Weiden, we are turning the Upper Palatinate into Digital Valley: And the new modular building for the 'Digital Business Campus' will be the centre for smart digital ideas.We have invested around 3.35 million euros here from the Hightech Agenda Bayern modular construction programme.With clever and at the same time extremely sustainable construction methods, we have succeeded in further improving the infrastructure at our universities.This is how square, practical, good works in Bavarian."
University President Prof. Dr Clemens Bulitta emphasised the importance of the new Digital Business Campus for OTH Amberg-Weiden's digitalisation activities: "We have been consistently expanding our digital activities for years, from new degree programmes such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business to additional professorships and state-of-the-art laboratories. The Digital Business Campus is a further step into the future and expands the spatial capacities for teaching, studying, research and transfer. As a bridge between business and science, we want to make an important contribution to the regional economy."
The construction of the modern and attractive building was financed with 3.35 million euros from the Hightech Agenda Bayern modular construction programme; the total cost of the construction project was 4.75 million euros.
The difference was covered by the university's own funds and donations, such as those from the Maria Seltmann Foundation.The construction work was carried out in close cooperation between the university and the Amberg-Sulzbach State Building Authority.
Active learning environment for sustainable and practice-orientated teachingSimple beauty, modern and highly functional - this is how the new building can be described. Two lecture theatres and the large "Digital Business Lab" laboratory are at the heart of the new building, which covers a total of 876 square metres. "Our aim was to create an active learning environment through the design of the physical space, which will enable sustainable teaching and practice-orientated learning in the long term. The focus is on communication and collaboration between students and lecturers, particularly in the large lecture theatre and laboratory," said Vice President Prof Dr Christiane Hellbach, explaining the concept. In addition, conditions have been created to carry out digital business projects together with companies in the transfer and to promote digital training and start-ups.
Contact:
Sonja Wiesel, M.A.
Head of University Communication and Public Relations
East Bavarian Technical University (OTH)Amberg-Weiden
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 23
92224 Amberg
Tel. (09621) 482-3135
Email: s.wiesel@oth-aw.de
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesResearch and sciencepress reportnews-2965Wed, 22 May 2024 14:27:27 +0200Quantum Computing Exchange Forum of the DLRhttps://photonicnet.de/Stakeholders from politics, business and science discussed the applications and challenges of quantum technology in Stuttgart. Photonics BW was represented with an information stand at the subsequent exhibition on enabling technologies with companies from Baden-Württemberg.This year's "Quantum Computing Exchange Forum" (AFQC 2024) of the German Aerospace Centre took place on 13 and 14 May at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart. More than 150 participants from research, politics and industry came together to discuss the current central question of quantum technology: How can we work together to provide access to as many users as possible and accelerate the integration of the technology in industry.
The two-day event was opened by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and Minister Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Dr Anna Christmann (BMWK) and Dr Anke Pagels-Kerp (DLR). The unique opportunity for Baden-Württemberg to position itself in the burgeoning market at an early stage was particularly emphasised.
Keynote presentations and panel discussions on the applications and challenges of quantum computing then led through two days of intensive dialogue. Political players discussed scaling issues such as standardisation, export guidelines, funding measures and the essential steps on the way to a profitable ecosystem with representatives from industry and science.
In addition to computing, the focus was also on the simulation of physical systems, where quantum computers that are already available today can provide added value, e.g. in battery and materials research. The afternoon of the second day was dedicated to enabling technologies. Organised by QuantumBW, Prof. Tilman Pfau (University of Stuttgart), Prof. Rüdiger Quay (Fraunhofer IAF) and Prof. Kai Bongs (DLR) discussed together with Dr Volkmar Denner (Spokesperson "Economy", QuantumBW) and Dr Michael Marthaler (CEO, HQS Quantum Simulations) which milestones are realistically achievable in the coming years, especially in sensor technology and simulation.
Afterwards, renowned representatives of enabling technologies such as Stuttgart Instruments and IFSW presented themselves in an open dialogue with up-and-coming start-ups in the industry such as Advanced Quantum, Diatope and Quantum Brilliance. Photonics BW was able to represent the interests of its members in this context and expand its contacts in the young ecosystem.
]]>Research and sciencenews-2964Wed, 22 May 2024 13:47:02 +0200SphereOptics enters into partnership with International Light Technologieshttps://photonicnet.de/SphereOptics, a leading supplier of optical components and measurement equipment, is pleased to announce that it has signed International Light Technologies (ILT) as a new supplier. This strategic partnership will expand SphereOptics' product range and further strengthen the company's position in the optical measurement solutions market.International Light Technologies is a renowned manufacturer of light measurement equipment and solutions with over 50 years of experience in the industry and has recently become part of Labsphere Inc, an existing supplier of SphereOptics. By partnering with ILT, SphereOptics can now offer its customers an even wider range of highly accurate and reliable light measurement devices.
"We are excited about the partnership with International Light Technologies," says Dr Rainer Böhm, Managing Director of SphereOptics. "This collaboration enables us to provide our customers with innovative and high-quality products that meet their requirements for precision and reliability.
reliability. ILT brings extensive expertise and state-of-the-art technology to our product range, which offers our customers significant benefits."
The new product line includes a variety of compact light measurement devices, including radiometers and spectroradiometers, which are used in various industries such as lighting, printing, medical and research. With these new products, SphereOptics can offer customised solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of customers.
"Our partnership with SphereOptics marks an important step for ILT in expanding our global presence," explains Jill Fowler, Sales Director of International Light Technologies. "We are confident that our high-quality products and SphereOptics' expertise in consulting and sales will be a perfect match to meet the growing demand for precise light measurement solutions in Europe."
SphereOptics and ILT will work closely together to ensure a smooth integration of the new products into SphereOptics' existing portfolio. Customers can rely on the excellent service and support they have come to expect from SphereOptics while benefiting from the expanded product capabilities.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2962Tue, 14 May 2024 12:02:40 +0200International Day of Light 2024https://photonicnet.de/On 16 May, we celebrate the International Day of Light together with you!The International Day of Light is a global initiative that emphasises the importance of light and its role in science, culture and art, education, sustainable development and many other areas.
The date of 16 May was chosen because physicist Theodore Maiman developed the first functional laser on 16 May 1960.
The International Day of Light pursues the following goals:
Improving public understanding of how light and light-based technologies affect the daily lives of all people.
Building global educational capacity through activities focussed on promoting young talent, particularly in developing and emerging countries.
Emphasising the connection between light, art and culture
Promote international co-operation by using the International Day of Light as a central information resource for activities coordinated by NGOs, government agencies, educational institutions, industry and other partners.
Strengthening basic research, global professions in this field and promoting investment in light-based technology.
Promote the importance of light technology and the need for access to light and energy infrastructure for sustainable development and for improving the quality of life in developing countries.
Raise awareness that technologies can play an important role in achieving greater energy efficiency.
There you will find numerous materials and inspiration on the subject of light.
]]>Research and sciencenews-2961Tue, 07 May 2024 16:04:44 +0200PhoenixD celebrates the laying of the foundation stone for the OPTICUM research building https://photonicnet.de/The best conditions for research into one of the key technologies of the 21st century: the new OPTICUM research building of Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) is being built in the Hannover-Marienwerder Science Park, where more than 100 researchers will work together on high-performance optics for many different areas of application from 2026. The foundation stone for the four-storey building was laid on Monday, 15 April. Guests included Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, and Belit Onay, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover.
The best conditions for research into one of the key technologies of the 21st century: the new OPTICUM research building of Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) is being built in the Hannover-Marienwerder Science Park, where more than 100 researchers will work together on high-performance optics for many different areas of application from 2026. The foundation stone for the four-storey building was laid on Monday, 15 April. Guests included Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, and Belit Onay, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover.
Optical technologies are one of LUH's main areas of research. Laser technology is particularly important. The PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence, for example, conducts top-level research into optical precision systems - with the aim of making high-performance optics affordable. Many new areas of application are currently emerging for optical technologies in medical technology, agriculture, mechanical engineering and automotive engineering. The new optics centre will bring together LUH's currently dispersed activities in the fields of laser physics, production technology, materials development and computer science at a single location.
"Optical technologies make our everyday digital lives possible. With the OPTICUM, the federal government, state and university are investing in a forward-looking, modern research building in which the design, manufacture and application of precision optics will be redefined. We are thus expanding the appeal and relevance of our research far beyond the borders of the state and strengthening basic research and the transfer to industry in equal measure," says Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture. "Collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and close links with the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence are already special features of optics research in Hanover. In future, they will be even more effective under the roof of the new research building."
Belit Onay, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover, emphasises: "As a flagship project, the OPTICUM has immense appeal for Hanover as a science and business location. It also shows that we can successfully establish forward-looking research institutions in Hanover with Leibniz Universität and thus further raise the profile of Science Area 30 X as a centre of science. Optical technologies offer great solution potential for the challenges of the present and the future. Hannover is therefore ideally positioned for the future!"
"LUH already demonstrates the importance of optical technologies with its own research focus and its own research school, which is comparable to a faculty. It is logical and I am very pleased that this future-oriented topic is now also being underpinned by a new research building and is receiving scientific policy recognition and support," says Prof. Dr Volker Epping, President of LUH.
Prof. Dr Uwe Morgner, Director of the Institute of Quantum Optics and spokesperson for the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence, explains: "On the new optics campus with the OPTICUM, the Laser Zentrum Hannover and the many small and large company settlements, we are creating first-class research conditions, maximum synergy and short distances. In the increasingly tough competition for students and the world's best scientists, this makes us one of the most important photonics centres in Europe."
The building, which costs around 82 million euros, is being constructed in close collaboration with the general planner HENN Architekten Berlin; completion is planned for 2026. The costs will be borne proportionately by the federal government (a good 25 million euros) and the state of Lower Saxony. The Leibniz Research School for Optics & Photonics (LSO), which was founded in spring 2020, will manage the OPTICUM. It is closely linked to the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence. The four-storey building will have laboratories, offices and test halls. Marcus Fissan from HENN Architekten explains: "The rooms and open spaces that are so essential for research, exchange and communication - the basis for innovation - are now being created on 4,000 square metres. Innovation that is of enormous importance to us all."
Around 120 researchers from the fields of physics, electrical engineering and computer science, mechanical engineering, chemistry and mathematics will work together on precision optics under one roof. Areas of application include 3D imaging in medicine, applications of optical glass fibres, for example in minimally invasive endoscopes, optical sensors in environmental analysis, laser production of high-precision components, innovative skin cancer scanners with laser technology and pesticide-free weed control in agriculture.
Would you like to know more about our research building? Then please click here.
For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen, Head of the Communications and Marketing Department and Press Officer at Leibniz Universität Hannover, on 0511 762-5342 or by e-mail at kommunikation(at)uni-hannover.de .
]]>news-2960Tue, 07 May 2024 11:54:53 +0200BMBF-Bekanntmachung: GO-Bio nexthttps://photonicnet.de/Directive to strengthen start-up activities in the life sciences "GO-Bio next", Federal Gazette of 06.05.2024From 22 April 2024
1 Funding objective, funding purpose, legal basis
Life science innovations are drivers of social and medical progress. The transfer of ideas from academic basic research to application, for example through the spin-off of a start-up, is of particular importance.
With regard to this transfer, life science research projects face numerous challenges - including long development times, high risk of failure, high regulatory requirements and high capital requirements. Private venture capital is usually not available to a sufficient extent in the early phase.
This is where the guideline comes in, by preparing scientists willing to found a company for the commercial utilisation of their research results and supporting them in the sustainable further development of the research project in a spin-off.
For more informations switch the page on the german version.
]]>Research and scienceSupport measures / Announcementsnews-2956Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:58:00 +0200PHOTONICS GERMANY − Future summit and industry meeting Photonics & Quantum Technologies 2024https://photonicnet.de/On 11 June 2024, PHOTONICS GERMANY - the alliance of OptecNet Deutschland and SPECTARIS - cordially invites you to Berlin for the:
PHOTONICS GERMANY - Future Summit and Industry Meeting Photonics and Quantum Technologies 2024.The event will bring together leading figures from business, research and politics to discuss current trends and the need for action in the photonics and quantum technology sector.
On the evening before, 10 June 2024, there will be a get-together from 7 p.m. at Deck 5, Berlin's highest beach bar. You can expect a fantastic view over the city and a summery Berlin sunset. An excellent opportunity for intensive networking in a relaxed atmosphere.
Die Anmeldung ist bis spätestens 3. Juni 2024 möglich.
]]>NewsFrom the netspress reportnews-2958Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:21:16 +0200MPE First recordings with Einstein Probehttps://photonicnet.de/New images confirm the revolutionary ability of the new X-ray satellite to detect and track explosive events in the high-energy universe
The first images of the Einstein Probe satellite, a new X-ray satellite launched on 9 January 2024, released by the Einstein Probe science team, show outstanding performance and even partially exceed expectations for the two scientific instruments.The Wide-Field X-ray Telescope (WXT) is able to scan half the sky within 5 hours and systematically search for new X-ray sources that indicate high-energy transient phenomena in the vicinity of black holes and neutron stars. The Follow-up Telescope (FXT) carries out follow-up observations of the most exciting events with deeper images. The Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) contributed significantly to the satellite project led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in particular to the FXT instrument, which is based on the design of the eROSITA telescope and opens up a further field of application for the X-ray imaging technology developed at MPE.
The first images of the Einstein Probe satellite were presented to the public after the 7th Joint Workshop of the Einstein Probe Consortium, which took place in Beijing from 24 to 26 April 2024. Since the launch, the satellite and its instruments have been put into operation, and functionalities and characteristics have been measured and calibrated.
"The WXT has a unique combination of field of view and high sensitivity, and is designed to make new discoveries in the variable X-ray sky. With these first data, we now know that this promise can be realised," says Arne Rau, astrophysicist at MPE and member of the Einstein Probe Science Management Committee. Calibration has now been completed for 10 of the 12 WXT modules. With a positional accuracy of ~2 arcminutes, an angular resolution of 4-5 arcminutes and a light collection area of about 3 cm2 (at an energy of 1 keV), the instrument not only fulfils the scientific requirements, but even exceeds them in some areas. The performance of the WXT optics in orbit was well predicted by the previous calibration on the ground in the MPE's PANTER facility. Tests of the FXT in Earth orbit have similarly confirmed the performance of the two units, which were modelled on the design of MPE's eROSITA X-ray telescope. For the Einstein Probe FXT, MPE supplied the replacement mirror module from eROSITA and worked with ESA and industry partners to provide the second mirror module. "It is very pleasing to see that both mirror modules of the FXT in orbit show the performance in terms of resolution and collecting area that we measured in the extensive X-ray optical tests on the ground," says Peter Friedrich, who led MPE's optical contribution to Einstein Probe. "Personally, I am also pleased that the eROSITA replacement mirror module has now also found an appropriate scientific use.
The MPE also contributed the state-of-the-art pnCCD detector modules for both FXT units. As with eROSITA, these are based on a sensor technology developed at the Max Planck Society's Semiconductor Laboratory. "The FXT CCD detector modules developed at MPE for spatially and time-resolved spectroscopy of X-ray photons have fulfilled the high expectations we had of them before the satellite was launched. We are delighted to have made a decisive contribution to the success of the Einstein Probe mission," adds Norbert Meidinger, who was responsible for the detectors at MPE. The mirror-detector combination offers a source positioning accuracy of <10 arcseconds and a light collection area of ~300 cm2 at 1.25 keV, together with excellent performance in terms of energy and time resolution. Like the WXT, the FXT has met and in some areas exceeded its scientific requirements.
Even at this early stage of testing, the Einstein Probe satellite has already made new discoveries. "WXT started finding new variable sources almost as soon as it was switched on. We have since discovered more than a dozen new X-ray transients and over a hundred starbursts in our galaxy," adds Rau. These discoveries were quickly reported in more than 20 telegrams to the global astronomical community, leading to worldwide follow-up observations with ground- and space-based telescopes, including MPE's own GROND instrument at the 2.2 metre MPG telescope in La Silla. These initial results confirm the potential of Einstein Probe to discover new sources and possibly new astrophysical phenomena, in particular high-energy events associated with black holes, neutron stars and their mergers.
The project is the first major collaboration between MPE and CAS in space, combining unique technologies from China and Europe for a common scientific goal. "Einstein Probe utilises the instrument developments we have made for eROSITA to open up new scientific opportunities," says Paul Nandra, Director of the MPE High Energy Group, adding: "The collaboration has worked perfectly - we are already looking forward to the next one!"
In the coming months, the satellite will continue its calibration activities in orbit before starting regular operations around mid-June 2024.
Einstein Probe is a scientific mission in space led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in collaboration with MPE, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2902Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:56:29 +0100Menlo Systems Inc.: New General Manager Jens Schumacherhttps://photonicnet.de/Menlo Systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Jens Schumacher as the new General Manager of Menlo Systems Inc., its US subsidiary. Jens brings with him more than 20 years’ experience in the photonics industry, including long stretches at global photonics giants Coherent and Thorlabs. With previous roles covering sales, program and product line management, and customer service, Jens is well-placed to support Menlo’s continued growth and success in North America, as well as to manage the US-based team of sales and service experts.Jens and his team will continue to provide sales and service support to our customers, coordinated from Colorado, and will explore emerging application fields with the establishment of new facilities. This expanding presence showcases our commitment to our customers and partners in North America. “I am excited to take on this new challenge as General Manager of Menlo Inc., working with the team to move the US site to the next level,” says Jens of his new role. “We are delighted to have Jens on board. Our team and customers will benefit from Jens’ longstanding expertise in photonics, as well as his strong leadership skills,” says Michael Mei, Menlo co-founder and Managing Director. Menlo Systems, pioneers of the optical frequency comb, provides precision enabling technologies for applications including quantum technologies, terahertz spectroscopy, and biophotonics.]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2873Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0100Weihnachtlicher Laserstammtisch 2023- 30 Jahre Laserverbund Berlin Brandenburghttps://photonicnet.de/Der Laserverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (LVBB) wird 30 Jahre alt. Dies gilt es gebührend zu feiern.Der Laserverbund Berlin Brandenburg feiert sein 30-jähriges Bestehen im Konferenzbereich des Deutschen Technikmuseums Berlin.
Neben einem Rückblick auf die 30-jährige Geschichte des Laserverbunds und der Verleihung des Laserverbundspreises für 2023 an Norbert Strahler, für sein jahrelanges Engagement bei der Implementierung der Lasertechnik im Handwerk, erfolgt die feierliche Übergabe eines Exponats and das Technikmuseum.
Für Unterhaltung sorgt ein Gastauftritt der Physikanten mit verblüffenden Experimenten mit der physikalischen Erklärung. Kulinarisch werden Sie mit einem weihnachtlichen Buffet auf die kommende Weihnachtszeit eingestimmt.
Um verbindliche Anmeldung wird möglichst zeitnah gebeten, spätestens jedoch bis zum 4.12.2023. Die Zahl der Plätze ist limitiert. Es entscheidet die Reihenfolge des Eingangs der Anmeldungen. Die Anmeldung nehmen Sie bitte direkt über unsere Homepage vor: laserverbund.de/veranstaltungen
]]>news-2877Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:13:24 +0100Welcome on board SIBB e.V.https://photonicnet.de/Der OpTecBB e.V. und der SIBB e.V., der Interessenverband für Unternehmen der IT- und Internetwirtschaft in Berlin und Brandenburg, erfreuen sich ab sofort der gegenseitigen Mitgliedschaft. ]]>news-2859Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:16:43 +0200Management change at Instrument Systems Koreahttps://photonicnet.de/Munich, October 2023 – Jaeho Choi takes over as Managing Director of Instrument Systems Korea as of 1 October 2023. With his many years of professional experience in the fields of display, optics and sensing, he will be responsible for strategically strengthening and further expanding the company in the coming years in this very dynamic business environment. The subsidiary of Instrument Systems exclusively markets the complete Instrument Systems portfolio in Korea. It has strong engineering capacities and a production facility for components and systems for light measurement technology. Jaeho Choi succeeds former Managing Director Dr. Jin Sung Kim, founder and former owner of Kimsoptec. Along with Jürgen Tiepermann, CFO of Instrument Systems, and Dr. Markus Ehbrecht, CEO of Instrument Systems, he will form the new Board of DirectorsJaeho Choi assumes the position of Managing Director at Instrument Systems Korea as of 1 October 2023. He succeeds Dr. Jin Sung Kim, founder and former owner of Kimsoptec. Along with Jürgen Tiepermann, CFO of Instrument Systems, and Dr. Markus Ehbrecht, CEO of Instrument Systems, he will form the new Board of Directors. Jaeho Choi has many years of professional experience in the fields of display, optics and sensing as well as in management. After his electronics studies (1996) he took over various activities as R&D engineer at SKC and in the sales department of Oerlikon Optics Korea. He became Director of Global Sales at Trueyes in 2017 and joined IGS Inc. as Managing Director in 2021. In his new role as Managing Director of Instrument Systems Korea, in the coming years Jaeho Choi wants to step up efforts to tap the strategic potential of the future-oriented markets in Korea: “I look forward to the new tasks and challenges in a very dynamic business environment and would like to contribute to taking Instrument Systems Korea to the next level. We will continue the successful cooperation with Instrument Systems Munich and bring the teams in both companies closer together.” Dr. Markus Ehbrecht welcomes Jaeho Choi to his new position and looks forward to further developing the Korean subsidiary together with Choi. Ehbrecht would like to thank Choi´s predecessor Jin Sung Kim “for driving the growth of Instrument Systems Korea with his deep expertise, based on decades of experience and commitment.” Instrument Systems Korea, formerly Kimsoptec, was founded in 2005 and is a sought-after partner for technical consulting in display measurement technology in Korea. The company exclusively distributes the complete Instrument Systems portfolio in Korea, including technical consulting and customer service. With its 47 employees (as of October 2023), Instrument Systems Korea has strong engineering capacities and operates a production facility for components and systems for light measurement technology that complement the product portfolio of Instrument Systems. Through its sales channels, Instrument Systems Korea successfully addresses system integrators and manufacturers within the supply chains of the world’s largest providers in the ICT market as well as key accounts of Instrument Systems.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2858Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:02:04 +0200Quantum Computing for Germany: planqc subcontracts Menlo Systemshttps://photonicnet.de/The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has contracted planqc in the framework of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI) to build a 100-qubit quantum computer and to install it at the DLR Innovation Center in Ulm. This contract with DLR represents the first sale of a digital quantum computer based on neutral atoms in Europe. It paves the way for the further commercialization of quantum computing and establishes Germany as a world leader in this field.As strategic partners in this 29-million-Euro contract, Menlo Systems will deliver a state-of-the-art laser system capable of full control and manipulation of the neutral atoms based on our FC1500-Quantum, a complete laser solution for Quantum 2.0 applications.
The system, comprising an ultrastable laser, an optical frequency comb, and a range of continuous-wave (CW) lasers, uses the spectral purity transfer technique to transfer ultranarrow linewidth and exceptionally low phase noise to any and all wavelengths required by the quantum computing platform. The CW lasers used to address the atoms in the quantum computer’s physics package thus acquire sub-Hz linewidth, unparalleled frequency stability, and ultralow noise performance, providing an ideal tool for quantum computing based on neutral atoms.
“We are very proud that DLR has chosen planqc as a technology leader in the field of neutral atoms for the construction of a quantum computer. This contract is an important milestone in our commercialization and growth strategy, the next step of which is to expand into other key industries and enter global markets," says Alexander Glätzle, CEO and co-founder of planqc.
Sebastian Blatt, CTO and co-founder of planqc, adds: "Not only are we excited to install the first quantum computer based on neutral atoms at DLR, but we also want to work closely with DLR experts to run quantum algorithms on it, which will have a real added value for the many application fields of DLR.”
“The significant investment from DLR in this project, as part of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative marks a turning point in the commercialization and utility of quantum computing. It not only strengthens our technical capabilities, but it also creates sustainable jobs in Germany for the long term,” says Menlo Systems’ co-founder and Managing Director, Dr. Michael Mei. “At Menlo Systems we are delighted to play a role in such ground-breaking developments, and to be part of the quantum 2.0 revolution.”
“We are very pleased to contribute to the commercialization of a neutral atom quantum computer, and we expect to learn new ways in which our precision photonics instruments can be used to further advance the field,” says Menlo Systems’ co-founder and Managing Director Dr. Ronald Holzwarth. “Our precision instruments have been enabling the quantum community for more than 20 years; now we are also proud to impact the wider community through this joint project with planqc and ParityQC, providing the tools to realize a quantum computer that can solve real-world problems.”
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesResearch and sciencepress reportnews-2785Thu, 06 Apr 2023 22:35:58 +0200Change in Management at Instrument Systemshttps://photonicnet.de/He joined Konica Minolta Sensing Head Quarter in 2017 after four years’ experience in Singapore and Thailand subsidiaries with printing business and he had been Head of the Konica Minolta Sensing Global Group Management Department since 2021.
In his new role he will continue to promote the strong connection between Konica Minolta and Instrument Systems for the next years. “I look forward to the new responsibilities and challenges, and am eager to tackle the projects that await me at Instrument Systems!” says Yasumasa Kuboyama. Dr. Markus Ehbrecht welcomes Yasumasa Kuboyama to his new position. In the regular change in the double leadership of Instrument Systems, he is pleased to further develop the existing corporate strategy together with Kuboyama and to shape the future with new perspectives. Tsutomu Ogasawara has acted as Managing Director of Instrument Systems in Germany since December 2016. During this time, he was committed to close cooperation between the parent company Konica Minolta and subsidiary Instrument Systems. With over 25 years of experience in various sales-oriented functions at Konica Minolta in Japan and Germany, he has been instrumental in the success of Instrument Systems. His new responsibilities will be in the management of Light & Display and Color & Appearance Business within Konica Minolta Sensing in Japan, which also includes Instrument Systems.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2774Mon, 27 Mar 2023 22:13:37 +0200OQmented - $ 20 Million Series A financing success - also welcomes Sharp as a strategic investorhttps://photonicnet.de/The company adds a new board member and will use the Series A funds to establish its leading laser beam scanning (LBS) technology as the key enabler for the first generations consumer Augmented Reality glasses, long-awaited by the public and advertised by the major technology companies.
ITZEHOE, Germany, March 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OQmented, a technology leader in MEMS1-based AR/MR display and 3D sensing solutions, announced today that it has raised $ 20 million in its Series A fundraising round. In the new financing round, Sharp2, one of the world’s leading electronic device and display manufacturers, joined as a strategic investor in the company. It included participation of the existing investors Salvia, Vsquared Ventures and others.
OQmented enables tech companies and eyeglass manufacturers to build stylish all-day wearable Augmented or Mixed Reality glasses. To that end, the startup develops ultra-compact MEMS-based light engines, utilizing laser beam scanning. This technology offers several advantages over competitive approaches: lower power consumption, smaller size, higher brightness & contrast and superior display performance. All of these are requirements for lightweight consumer AR glasses, suitable for outdoor use. Technological research and consulting firm Gartner forecasts a booming demand for so-called head-mounted displays by 2026, associated with an increasing adaption rate of MEMS mirrors “to benefit from its lower cost, lower power consumption and smaller size”.3 The strategic cooperation with Sharp supports OQmented’s ambition to become the key enabler for consumer Augmented Reality glasses. It leverages the synergies of combining Sharp’s electronic device and display manufacturing expertise with OQmented’s unique IP and know-how in LBS-based micro-displays. The cooperation consolidates OQmented’s strategy to offer complete light engines as Plug and Play solutions, ready for integration.
“Big tech companies and other players are racing to accomplish consumer AR glasses that are ultimately able to replace the smartphone,” said Thomas von Wantoch, co-CEO and co-founder of OQmented. “There is overwhelming demand for our product and we will use the Series A funds to accelerate getting our light engines ready for the market. We are excited that we gained Sharp as strategic investor with years of experience as one of the largest suppliers for displays and electronic devices. Our unique cooperation bundles enormous know-how and enables us to offer an unmatched one-stop shop solution to our customers: a light engine with integrated MEMS, electronics and laser. This strengthens our position as key enabler for the Augmented and Mixed Reality market.”
David Woodward, President of Sharp Devices Europe GmbH, comments: “We look forward to accelerating our cooperation with OQmented and to realizing the developing market of all-day wearable Augmented and Mixed Reality glasses, along with the many differentiated markets that will eventually benefit from the key technologies and innovations driven by OQmented. Thomas and Ulrich are leading a fast moving startup company with a growing team of highly motivated dynamic staff, demonstrating leading edge innovation. We are very excited to utilize the many synergies available between OQmented and Sharp’s own technologies and device industrialization.”
OQmented was founded in 2018 by Thomas von Wantoch and Dr. Ulrich Hofmann. The company has grown to a team of around 80 people with five offices globally and plans to expand in office and laboratory space. Additionally, OQmented intends to hire several key employees and strengthen its business development team for access to the US and Asian markets.
About OQmented
OQmented is a deep tech company developing and selling ultra-compact LBS displays for Augmented and Mixed Reality devices and best-in-class 3D sensing solutions for mobile and stationary applications. The company offers complete solutions, including in-house developed ASICs that are highly customized and optimized to work with OQmented MEMS mirrors. The unique Lissajous scan pattern in combination with the vacuum encapsulation technology and proprietary electronics, algorithms and software enables new product categories in consumer, automotive and various other industries; the company’s extensive know-how and IP provide for numerous competitive advantages. With significant MEMS manufacturing experience, OQmented effectively designs for high-volume production. Further information can be found at www.oqmented.com.
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1 Microelectromechanical System 2 Sharp Corporation invested in the company through its group company Sharp Devices Europe GmbH 3 Gartner Reports: Gartner, Emerging Tech: Three MEMS Technologies Will Enhance Metaverse User Experiences, Stacey Yin, 14 February 2023
]]>news-2750Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:00:13 +0100FISBA receives ISO13485 certificate for medical deviceshttps://photonicnet.de/St.Gallen, Switzerland February 7, 2023. FISBA AG, one of the world’s leading suppliers in the optical industry, has further expanded its expertise in high-precision optical manufacturing, coating and assembly/system mounting for use in medical devices with the successful implementation of a quality management system according to ISO 13485:2016. The scope of ISO13485:2016 certification includes engineering, manufacturing and distribution of customized optical components, optomechanical/optoelectronic systems and microsystems. FISBA AG meets internationally recognized Medical Devices standards and applies these as an integrated quality management system also in the areas of Industrial Applications as well as Aerospace & Defense.
”With this additional certification, FISBA AG in St.Gallen confirms a sustainable service level based on the highest international quality standards in medical devices. The entire organization has worked together to achieve this,” said Bernd Reiss, Director of Quality & EHS at FISBA AG. ”For our current and future customers in the medical device industry, we see ourselves as an important strategic and qualified partner and therefore proactively fulfill the corresponding internationally recognized requirements and regulatory frameworks. These are required from our customers for the marketing of their final medical devices, which must ensure a high level of patient safety/functional reliability during use.”
As an internationally recognized standard in the medical device industry, ISO13485:2016 defines guidelines for management responsibility, resource management, overall product realization, and continuous measurement, analysis, and improvement. In particular, the certification places high demands on the capabilities as well as compliance of all processes, to the qualification of employees, to the constant consideration of quality risks in the event of changes, and finally to a consistent assurance and complete traceability of the product quality based on its documentation throughout the entire value chain.
About FISBA FISBA is a global company dedicated to shaping light through excellence in optical design, system engineering, high precision volume production and advanced optical coating. Specialties include aspherical/spherical microlenses, complex flat optics, precise/complex optical assemblies, sophisticated optical systems and compact laser modules. In the broad field of photonics, FISBA focuses on solutions for Life Sciences, Industrial Applications and Aerospace and Defense – always with the mission of empowering customers to exceed their goals. FISBA operates from its headquarters in Switzerland with subsidiaries in Germany, the US and China. The company is privately owned and employs over 360 people from 30 nations worldwide.
]]>news-2747Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:54:41 +0100FISBA Group enters into agreement to acquire Gray Opticshttps://photonicnet.de/St.Gallen, Switzerland January 30, 2023. FISBA, a developer and producer of optical and illumination systems has entered into an agreement to acquire Gray Optics, a developer of precision optical systems. The move to acquire Gray Optics is intended with a focus on deepening and expanding engineering and development capabilities to the North American operations.“The acquisition of Gray Optics further enables the expansion of FISBA in North America, leveraging our experience and capabilities in high precision engineered optical systems in our core markets,” said Markus Hersche, CEO of FISBA AG. “The combined team will further enable our customers to accelerate development and product solutions in Medical Technologies, Advanced Manufacturing, and Defense & Security”
The acquisition of Gray Optics fits into FISBA’s strategy to provide unique photonic solutions directed at improving Health, Productivity and Security. By purchasing Gray Optics, FISBA expands engineering and development skills in North America. This furthers FISBA’s global goals and provides customers with highly skilled local development resources, reducing the distance, time, and cultural impacts of programs. “We expect this acquisition to have an immediate impact on our customers, offering vertically integrated product development and manufacturing capabilities (including AS9100 and ISO13485 production sites) and advanced production technologies to produce the highest quality and highest performance solutions available.” Said Wallace Latimer, President of FISBA North America.
“The combined capabilities of FISBA and Gray Optics along with the existing synergies between the companies, offer fantastic value to our customers. This acquisition completes the product development and manufacturing capabilities that we have been building for the past 5 years in the USA. I’m excited for the future of our team at Gray Optics and the success of the combined companies” said Dan Gray, Founder and President of Gray Optics.
About FISBA The FISBA Group has a wholly owned subsidiary in North America focused on developing and supporting North American customers with our unique combination of engineering and high-volume production of micro-photonic assemblies and modules. FISBA is one of the world's leading suppliers in the optics industry and stands for excellence from optical design and system engineering to high-precision volume production and advanced optical coating since 1957. The company manufactures micro lenses down to 0.3 mm, complex flat optics, precise optical assemblies, advanced optical systems and compact laser modules, all from one source. FISBA focuses on solutions for Life Sciences, Industrial Applications and Aerospace & Defense. FISBA operates from its headquarters in Switzerland and subsidiaries in Germany, the USA and China. The company is privately owned.
About Gray Optics Founded in 2018, Gray Optics, located in Portland Maine, has become a leader in developing precision optical systems and early-stage product development for biomedical and industrial applications. Our team consists of highly skilled engineers, program managers, and technicians with years of dedicated product development experience. Together, we provide world-class designs and product solutions for our customers. www.grayoptics.com
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2698Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:14:52 +0100Instrument Systems VCSEL analysis camera wins Photonics Awardhttps://photonicnet.de/Photonics industry awards Instrument Systems a prize for VTC 4000 infrared camera for the 2D near-field analysis of VCSEL arrays.
Instrument Systems presented its new VTC 4000 infrared camera at Photonics West at the beginning of 2022. This camera has now received the “Laser Focus World Innovators Award 2022” in silver from a jury of experts from the photonics industry. The VTC 4000 VCSEL analysis camera was specially developed for the ultrafast, precise 2D near-field analysis of narrowband emitters, e.g. VCSELs or lasers. It can be seen live at the Instrument Systems Booth B5.418 at electronica 2022 in Munich in November.
“VCSELs are components with an intrinsic single longitudinal mode and normally exhibit complex polarization properties,” says Stephanie Grabher, Head of Key Accounting at Instrument Systems. “The light they emit is typically linearly polarized along one of two orthogonal directions. If there is a change in temperature or bias current, abrupt polarization switching can be observed. VCSELs thus emit in more than one polarization state, so that their polarization angle cannot be controlled. In order to exploit the full performance potential of VCSELs while guaranteeing safe operation, this polarization dependency should also be taken into account in the measurement of magnitudes and absolute power.” Thanks to an innovative one-shot process, the VTC 4000 simultaneously measures the spatial polarization of the single emitters of a VCSEL array in the near-field and supplies the information necessary to reduce the polarization dependency of the measurement setup. This procedure minimizes the error budget of the VCSEL test system and delivers highly accurate readings, e.g. for the eye safety of the laser source. In addition to defects, the infrared camera also characterizes position, power and radiation information of single emitters. In combination with a CAS spectroradiometer, the single emitter wavelengths can also be determined. An extended system with transmission screen measures the radiation behavior of emitters in the far-field. In its portfolio, Instrument Systems has tailor-made solutions suitable for the characterization and quality control of the electrooptic properties of VCSELs in the lab and in production environments. The high-resolution array spectroradiometers of the CAS series are the central components of the VCSEL measuring systems. They offer a spectral solution up to 0.12 nm, and due to short integration times they are also suitable for high throughput rates in production. The PVT Pulsed VCSEL Tester is specially tailored to the time-resolved measurement of nanosecond pulses in the lab.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesNew productsPrizes and awardspress reportnews-2654Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:06:57 +0200Instrument Systems extends its core business segments Display Testing and Optical Measurementhttps://photonicnet.de/Aquisition of a 100% shareholding in Kimsoptec in Korea
Instrument Systems GmbH (Instrument Systems), a German manufacturer of high-precision spectroradiometers, cameras and complex display and light measurement systems, has extended its core business segments Display Testing and Optical Measurement through the acquisition of a Korean manufacturer of display measurement systems.
A share purchase agreement has been signed to acquire a 100 % shareholding in Kimsoptec Co., Ltd. (Kimsoptec), a display measurement equipment manufacturer and exclusive distributor of the Instrument Systems product portfolio in Korea since 2005.
Instrument Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Japan (Konica Minolta). The company today announced that it has expanded its engagement in the Korean market by acquiring Kimsoptec, a technical consultant and manufacturer that has been exclusively distributing Instrument Systems’ solutions in Korea for the past 17 years. Instrument Systems has been working to augment its business in display, IR emitter and AR/VR measurement solutions in Asia for the ICT and automotive market. The company aims to develop these markets by obtaining new sales channels to existing major key accounts and new system integrators in Korea. Instrument Systems has contributed to display and IR emitter measurement technology with innovative systems for ensuring the safety requirements for 3D sensing (e.g. identity authentication, eye tracking etc.). With its high-end portfolio of spectroradiometers and cameras, Instrument Systems is active in the field of improving the color quality of AR/VR displays, which is expected to grow in the future. The Share Purchase Agreement was signed on July 26, 2022 and is expected to be completed at the end of August 2022.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2647Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:32:36 +0200New partner for Quality Control of Cameras https://photonicnet.de/To further expand its offering to its customers, SphereOptics is now partnering with world market leader, Imatest.
Driverless transport systems and autonomous systems in medicine, aerospace, and also driver assistance systems rely on highly complex sensor technology to navigate safely. This sensor technology uses lidar, radar and cameras, among others. The company has now enlisted the help of Imatest to optimize the camera systems.
Founded in 2004 by photographer and engineer Norman Koren in Boulder, Colorado, USA, Imatest develops software and test equipment for testing the image quality of digital cameras. Furthermore, the company has significantly contributed to the creation of new improved standards through active collaboration with ISO standards bodies. Accordingly, Imatest is a member of the International Organization for Standardization and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, contributing to the introduction of standardized methods for analyzing image quality. In cooperation with Imatest, SphereOptics can thus offer its customers a complete parquet for checking digital cameras.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2605Mon, 23 May 2022 20:38:46 +020020 years of eagleyard Photonics GmbHhttps://photonicnet.de/THE FUTURE IS HERE – how eagleyard became an innovative, successful and fast-growing laser diode company.There were several reasons for eagleyard employees to celebrate in May but the most important was the 20th anniversary of the company.
eagleyard Photonics gmbH was founded in 2002 and Jörg Muchametow, who has been the CEO since the beginning, shares some very special insights of the company’s history, the quick growth and the game changers of the last decades.
Learn more about the company’s history and the current situation here and get some exciting insights on the last 20 years and the company’s plans for the future in the interview with the CEO Jörg Muchametow.
]]>news-2603Mon, 23 May 2022 19:34:37 +0200VPIphotonics Design Suite – Version 11.3https://photonicnet.de/New release of industry-leading design software
for photonic components and optical transmission systemsVPIphotonics Design Suite Version 11.3 provides access to professional application-specific simulation tools and pluggable toolkits. They offer flexible usability, design process, and data analysis capabilities.
Version 11.3 advances the simulation and design flow for many applications: data-aided DSP, FEC, FSO communications, Raman pump optimization, grating couplers, SOAs, multimode coupling, and more.
Our software solutions have been proven by commercial companies and educational institutions who have utilized them to win and successfully execute many research an design projects. With the improved capabilities provided in Version 11.3, our design suite is set to deliver the same outstanding results in the future.
Short list of key features in Version 11.3
Sorting of DSP algorithms – Improved sorting order of built-in DSP algorithms, with updated categories for easy access and implementation • Pilot Symbols for DSP – New modules add/remove arbitrary sequences of pilot symbols for pilot-aided DSP algorithms • Pilot-aided DSP algorithms – New algorithms for frequency offset compensation and maximum likelihood based carrier phase recovery that exploit pilot symbols for single- and multicarrier signals • RS-based FEC – Enhanced FEC encoder/decoder to support Reed-Solomon codes of user-definable codeword lengths • PAM4 analysis – Direct calculation and display of signal metrics for PAM4 signals in the Analyzer • FSO channel – Enhanced model to simulate Gaussian beam propagation through a turbulent atmospheric channel in a satellite uplink and downlink • PPM encoding – New M-ary pulse position modulator with any number of bits per symbol using Gaussian-shaped pulses and corresponding demodulator • Raman pump optimizer – Enhanced module to support multiple optimization wavelength ranges and pumps within them • Interface to ZOS – New module interfacing to Zemax OpticStudio to calculate the light coupling between two multimode waveguides via an optical imaging system • S-Matrix without phase – Extended PIC Elements modules to support passive device modeling with absent or wrapped phase information in device S-Matrix files • Grating Coupler – New passive grating coupler with a measured and behavioral model supporting various spectral transfer functions • SOA – Measured SOA with length independent model definition and support of a chain of subsections to accurately calculate device properties • Parameter browser – New dialog to overview parameter usage, search for a parameter, change parameter values in multiple schematics at once • Copy traces in Analyzers – Enhanced support to copy signals between different Analyzer frames and Analyzer windows using different axis units • Python Debugging – New approach to debugging Python cosimulation, simulation scripts, or initialization scripts based on Microsoft Visual Studio Code • Resource Replacement – Greatly simplified update of obsolete module versions with redesigned Resource Replacement Wizard Version 11.3 provides access to more than 900 ready-to-run simulation setups. We added new and improved demo examples to illustrate the application of the new features and modules.
Design Example – 800G FR-4 WDM for Ethernet Applications
This simulation setup demonstrates the transmission of 4*200G FR-4 WDM channels with 112.5 Gbaud as specified by the 800G Pluggable MSA technical specification [1]. Four wavelengthseparated transmitters in the O-band emit a PAM4 signal each. The outer FEC encoder utilizes Reed-Solomon RS(544,514) coding. The setup shows the impact of bandwidth limitations on the system performance and the capability of the RS-based FEC. BER pre-FEC and post-FEC are used to evaluate the system performance.
]]>news-2591Wed, 18 May 2022 12:17:14 +0200Optical microsystems from Fraunhofer IPMS enable high-resolution fast light controlhttps://photonicnet.de/Optical microsystems are forging the Path of Light: The photonic systems of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS can modulate light using small deflectable mirrors to create images and structures in a unique way. Hereby the research institute is developing spatial light modulators with up to several million mirrors on a semiconductor chip. The main areas of application for mirror matrices are in the fields of microlithography in the deep ultraviolet range, production of printed circuit boards (PCBs), semiconductor inspection and metrology, as well as in adaptive optics, astronomy, holography and microscopy. With its developments in this field, Fraunhofer IPMS is currently a world leader.
he latest development of Fraunhofer IPMS is a CMOS-integrated micro mirror array with two tilting axes per mirror and associated technology platform.
In addition to its use in the semiconductor industry, the innovation enables novel methods of imaging in microscopy, especially for biomedical applications. The latter are realized in cooperation with the “Fraunhofer center for Microelectronic and Optical Systems for Biomedicine" MEOS within the Fraunhofer IPMS.
At the 25th world's leading trade fair for photonics components, systems and applications - LASER - World of PHOTONICS - in Munich from April 26 to 29, visitors can find out about the latest developments at Fraunhofer IPMS. "One of our exhibits is the 2-axis tilting mirror demonstrator, which can be applied in optical beam steering, among other applications. In general, the micro mirrors of the IPMS spatial light modulators are individually tilted or deflected vertically, depending on the application, so that optical patterns are projected and thereby for example surface structures are formed," explains Dr. Michael Wagner, head of the Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) business unit at Fraunhofer IPMS. "Using the tilting mirror macromodels, visitors can also move the micro mirrors of the spatial light modulators themselves using a large model and gain an impression of the deflection functionalities that are possible," continues Dr. Wagner.
]]>news-2601Sun, 15 May 2022 19:02:00 +0200Es werde Licht:Let there be a light: Lifecycle assessments for greener and more sustainable lamp designshttps://photonicnet.de/Using fewer resources, avoiding electronic waste, and saving energy: This is possible if the entire production chain for more sustainable lamps is investigated and levelled up. For the SUMATRA project, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM and their industry partners are working together on exactly this mission. The precise eco lifecycle assessments and resulting design recommendations produced by Fraunhofer IZM and the environmental services provider Interseroh will assist lighting brands like TRILUX or OSRAM in making their production processes better for our environment and selecting more sustainable materials for their products.It is the ambitious goal of the European Green Deal to bring carbon emissions to a net zero and decouple economic growth from its dependence on resources – more than enough reason for companies to think again about sustainability. The eco lifecycle assessments of the SUMATRA project will contribute to this endeavour by putting in place the framework that is needed to produce lamps that are not only built to last, but easy on our natural resources and energy-efficient. For this purpose, the project team has set its sights on two key aspects of sustainability – the consumption of energy and materials – in the production of LEDs as well as entire lamps.
For the SUMATRA project, Fraunhofer IZM is taking a step back from lamp manufacturing on the ground for a bird’s eye view of the entire production chain. The eco-design experts of the Berlin-based institute are scrutinizing established lamp designs with targeted lifecycle assessments to find opportunities to improve the lamps’ environmental footprint in terms of resource efficiency and carbon emissions. What is unique about these assessments is their modular format that allows different types of LEDs, drivers or even lamp body designs and materials to be cross-compared with each other. The researchers at Fraunhofer IZM are sent designs and finished products from TRILUX, the lighting company and leader of the project, to conduct their assessments and come up with ideas about how to make the lamps more durable and more efficient. One aspect that is of particular interest for TRILUX is the question of repairability, with lamps designed from the outset with later repairs and maintenance in mind. OSRAM, another leading lighting brand involved in the project, works on optimizing the system architecture to make sure that LED drivers can be more easily replaced, repaired, or reused in new configurations. At the other end of the chain, Interseroh is bringing its perspective to the table: The recycling experts care about the end-of-life stage and want to know what needs to change in lamp designs to facilitate recycling and help circular economy concepts along.
The project researchers have come to focus on three specific steps in the process. The first is a solid and comprehensive dataset to help ecological lifecycle assessments for LED lights, as the available data is frequently outdated. The second key factor addresses the question of resource efficiency writ large, going beyond the usual emphasis on a lamp’s energy efficiency. This can mean scaling the circuit board just right to make the best use of the available space with the best possible light yield. A balance needs to be found between the efficient use of the materials and the performance of the lamp in real-life working conditions. As modern LED lights are already far more efficient than their conventional forebears, saving resources in this respect is an important step towards more sustainable production processes. The third and final focus of the project addresses the ability to tear down a lamp at the end of its life: Easy disassembly is a precondition for correct recycling. On these and other factors like the choice of materials, the SUMATRA assessments will offer important pointers towards effective improvements.
Product developers in the industry can use these insights to feed into their new designs and receive regular feedback about their environmental footprint from the specialists at Fraunhofer IZM. Good communication between research and industry plays a major role for the success of the project. This also includes the careful balance between economic realities and eco-design potential: Lamp designs must be economical in their use of materials, but also energy-efficient, and price-sensitive. In industrial and office lighting in particular, there is little room to accommodate even smaller price increases for a more sustainable design. The immense leap in efficiency that came with the switch from conventional lightbulbs to LED lighting will not be replicated when updating an older LED lamp with newer units, even though the ecological benefits are still evident. Lamps should be both: Good for our environment, but also easy on the price tag.
TRILUX intends to take forward the findings from SUMATRA into several new lamp designs after the conclusion of the project, and it hopes to benefit from the work with Fraunhofer IZM in the form of insights with lasting relevance for later projects. The job for Fraunhofer IZM is to find the general eco-design principles that will continue to benefit future lamp designs. And in the long run, all of this will feed through to the end user with lamps to enjoy for longer and with a cleaner environmental conscience.
The SUMATRA project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the research campaign “Resource efficiency for the energy transition”. The €1.1 million project is scheduled to run from 1 June 2021 to 30 September 2023.
]]>news-2544Wed, 09 Mar 2022 14:42:27 +0100Silicon carbide pressure sensors working at 600°C could make air travel easier on the environmenthttps://photonicnet.de/Built to take the heat: While conventional sensors reach breaking point at around 300°C, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM are creating a sensor that works reliably at twice that temperature. The secret of the heat-loving sensors: Silicon carbide, etched with exceptional precision. Their ability to monitor pressure even in extremely adverse environments could help fine-tune the combustion process in jet turbines and reduce the fuel consumption of aircraft.Humans have dreamt of flying since our species first looked up to the sky. From the story of doomed Icarus to the design genius of Leonardo da Vinci, myth and imagination were slowly enriched with scientific and technical knowhow. Latest since the arrival of jet engines in the mid-20th century, humanity has taken to the skies in ever larger and ever more powerful flying machines. The working principle of the jet engine seems simple on the surface: An extremely powerful exhaust jet from the gas turbine engine generates thrust that propels the aircraft forward. But the picture becomes more complex when one looks under the hood. The compression of the air inside the engine creates enormous pressure, and the combustion chamber reaches temperatures of up to 600° centigrade, or more in the even more extreme conditions of rocket engines. To guarantee safety and be able to monitor these conditions in use, sensors need to fulfil tough requirements: They not only have to be sensitive and precise enough, but also absolutely reliable and durable in extremely adverse and corrosive environments.
In the north of Germany’s capital Berlin, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have taken on the mission to design and build a high-temperature sensor with the right properties. Silicon carbide or SiC, their material of choice, represents a quantum leap for the robustness of pressure sensors. Conventional silicon sensors would not be an option for this type of application, as they would reach their limit already at 150°C. With the Silicon-on-Insulator (SoI) technology, this limit can be pushed to around 400°C. But when this threshold is crossed and the sensors are exposed to mechanical pressure, they begin to deform and immediately lose precision.
Using SiC for the new generation of high-temperature sensors comes with many evident advantages: The material is extremely robust, chemically virtually inert, and stable even at high temperatures. It can cope with a vast temperature range, reaching up to 600°C. Its mechanical and chemical properties led to it being recognized as a possible gamechanger for microelectronics years ago. But the positive properties come at a price: “Silicon carbide is a blessing and a curse. The unique strength and durability of the material make it very promising for electronic components, but the same properties make processing SiC a real headache”, Piotr Mackowiak, researcher at Fraunhofer IZM, knows.
The team gathered around Mackowiak has now found a solution to this conundrum. The challenge for them was to create a semiconductor manufacturing process to build a tiny, but stable base body on a thin membrane. They did so with an extremely fast double etching process that etches the silicon carbide at four micrometres per minute. This is eight times the conventional speed, and it makes the technology interesting for the high throughput rates in industrial production. The sensor created by Mackowiak’s team also has an unusual shape that keeps the design stable at high temperatures without any need for external cooling.
“Our thinking was to keep the design to the essential basics, to ensure that it is heat resistant, but also so thin that it can bend and work as a piezometer – and we did both with deep etching”, Mackowiak explains. Current sensors in this field work by piezoelectric measurements, which can record dynamic, but not static pressure, and they cannot withstand the very high temperatures they are exposed to for too long. “Our sensors use the piezoresistive effect, which means that they can track both dynamic and static pressure, and that over long periods at even higher temperatures.” The sensor and the package are now available to future project partners, who could also get involved in adapting the sensors for other environmental parameters.
Sensors that work reliably at high temperatures of up to 600°C could make air travel easier on the environment. By monitoring the thermo-acoustic pressure oscillations and other process parameters right in the jet turbine, the system allows far better control over the process: The fuel-to-air ratio could be fine-tuned for more efficient and cleaner combustion. In the end, this would reduce the amount of jet fuel needed to fly. Small changes to the design can alter what the sensors measure, which would make the new sensors an interesting choice not just for air travel and spaceflight, but potentially also for electric cars or deep drilling.
]]>news-2538Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:32:33 +0100Research in the deep freeze: Fraunhofer IZM develops integration techniques for cryo-electronicshttps://photonicnet.de/Quantum technology and ultrafast computers using superconductors are no longer a vision for the far-off future, but some of the hottest topics in current electronics research. One major challenge remains: The electronic structures used to connect and work with the quantum parts of the quantum computers, such as qubits on chips, are often far bigger than the qubits themselves. Researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have innovated a process that could fit twice as many connectors on the same surface than conventional technology thought possible. Their idea of using indium bumps will now be used to optimize the control electronics in the quantum computers and devices of the future. A dedicated cryometrics lab was set up in Berlin to test the performance and potential of their designs.It is a common trope in science fiction: The novel’s or film’s protagonist is put into stasis in a cryochamber, only to wake up hale and sound even though centuries have passed in the meantime. As far-fetched as this might seem, the idea is grounded in real-life science: Cryotechnology. It works by turning gasses into liquids at temperatures of below -160°C. Long a reserve of experimental research since the principles of cryotechnology were developed in the late 19th century, the technology has recently attracted the attention of many people in industry for the great practical potential of working at such extreme temperatures: In spaceflight, cryosensors are used for gravitational measures or for low-noise amplifiers for extremely weak signals in the vastness of space. Cryosurgery can help treat damaged tissue. But one field where cryotechnology really comes into its own is: Quantum technology. The quantum world holds much promise in many practical fields, from computing or sensor technology to quantum communication. But this promise will only come true once working and, above all, genuinely scalable production technologies are available. For a quantum computer to run calculations and accelerate actual applications, it needs additional qubits that it can work with – hundreds of thousands or even millions of tiny physical bodies. These qubits are connected with each other via superconducting circuits, which have hardly any measurable electrical resistance once they are cooled down past a certain threshold. But reading and manipulating qubits needs an electronic switch with sufficient port density, and it needs to be thermally decoupled to stop its own heat signal from destroying the quantum entanglement of the qubits. What theorists call quantum supremacy – the point at which quantum computers outperform the most powerful conventional computers – can only be achieved with high numbers of qubits. Researchers expect this number to range in the six or seven figures, but the actual number of qubits that could be placed on a semiconductor chip is generally limited by the port density. Current technology has been stuck at a pitch, i.e. the distance between individual contacts, of 15 micrometres for several years, but now the research team of Dr Hermann Oppermann of the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM has achieved the seemingly impossible: With galvanic deposition of indium, they created a pitch of less than 7.5 micrometres.
As the system needs to be kept at a temperature of 20 milli-Kelvin during operation, its electrical connections can only give off minute amounts of thermal energy. This is what superconducting materials were created for. Hermann Oppermann and his fellow researchers managed to deposit and structure superconducting niobium and niobium alloys, the materials used for contacting vias through several layers of substrates, in socalled interposers. The end product of their work is an extremely low-loss circuit carrier that can connect entire qubit arrays in real time and integrate them into highly dense, but scalable systems for quantum computing.
Fraunhofer IZM set up a dedicated cryometric lab in Berlin as the place where this fundamental technology could be developed, suitable materials tested, integration concepts optimized, and superconducting interconnect technologies trialled for cryogenic applications. The new lab facilities let the researchers test, characterize, and evaluate electrical circuits and make progress with integration technologies for extremely low temperature scenarios. Individual circuit components are cooled down to an unimaginable 3 Kelvin to analyse their resistance properties and draw conclusions about their electrical performance and the reliability of the vias, redistribution layers, and control systems at cryo-temperatures.
Projects are under way to explore new packaging and interconnection technologies for integration under cryogenic conditions, and first measurements have already produced results. “As one of our next steps, we will be moving this cryogenic packaging and interconnection technology in the direction of high-frequency, millimetre-wave technology.” Hermann Oppermann has reasons to be optimistic: “We are constantly learning more in this field, which is creating amazing potential in the market for possible applications. This is not limited to quantum technology, but also opens up new prospects for conventional applications, like high-performance computing or cryosensors. We are always interested in other projects that could benefit from our expertise with packaging technologies for cryogenic applications.”
]]>news-2512Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:26:24 +0100New ITU focus group boosts digitization of agriculture worldwidehttps://photonicnet.de/The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has created a new focus group to explore the digitization of agriculture. The new focus group "AI and IoT for Digital Agriculture" (FG-AI4A) aims to work closely with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) using new digital technologies to make the global agriculture sector fit for the future. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bosse, group leader of the "Interactive & Cognitive Systems" group in the "Vision and Imaging Technologies" department at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) will chair the focus group.
By 2050, nearly 10 billion people will live on this planet, according to calculations by the United Nations. To ensure an equitable and secure food supply despite this population increase, we need to transform agricultural practices and technologies across the globe. To this end, the ITU, together with the FAO, has established the new focus group “FG-AI4A” to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture in order to identify standardization gaps and scalability opportunities. The global initiative is creating a platform that provides open access to digital innovations for all stakeholders in the agricultural sector from science, industry and practitioners.
For this purpose, the focus group will examine the potential of novel technologies for agriculture in a variety of use cases. These include, for example, data acquisition and processing, agricultural data modeling, and AI-based decision support to optimize agricultural processes. AI, IoT, connected services, and autonomous systems enable agricultural stakeholders to tailor decisions, such as fertilizer application or medical examinations, to individual crops or to individual animals. This precision enables more effective interventions, making agriculture more sustainable by helping to produce more using fewer resources.
"Our focus group is tackling the major challenges facing agriculture in the future with a solution-oriented, intelligent and, above all, global approach. Global networking is essential in the search for use cases, best practices and relevant standardization gaps. In addition to its technical expertise, Fraunhofer HHI will support this project through specific experience in digitized agriculture. A good example of this is our BMWi-funded project NaLamKI. In NaLamKI, we are working with partners from industry and science to examine the use of AI for sustainable crop farming. Together, we are developing intelligent methods along the entire agricultural process chain," says Chairman Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bosse. The focus group will put special emphasis on applications in developing countries, where people's livelihoods depend heavily on agriculture. In fact, these are also the countries where digital solutions will have the greatest impact in making agriculture more sustainable and resilient.
Practical implementation of the focus group's work will support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The potential of AI and IoT in agriculture can contribute to reducing poverty and hunger. At the same time, it will promote dignified work, economic growth, infrastructure, sustainable consumption and climate protection.
To prepare for the first group meeting in March 2022, the focus group will recruit experts who can provide valuable perspectives to future focus group meetings through ITU "AI4Good" seminars, hosted by the chairs, in the coming weeks.
Whether you grow lettuce, peppers or cannabis, you need light. Dependency on sunlight and the seasons has been one of the main constraints of agriculture and horticulture for thousands of years. But one Berlin startup aims to change that.
Today we are interviewing Dr. Prashanth Makaram, founder of Crocus Labs, who with the support of HTGF, seed investor for innovative technologies and business, aim to revolutionize farming.
So Prash, congratulations on your successful financing round. What does Crocus Labs do?
We bring sunlight into indoor spaces in order to enable the farming of a wide variety of crops while utilizing as little resources as possible.
Did you discover an interest in gardening as a child, or why are you intent on changing how we grow stuff?
No, it was more that as an adult I became interested in the impact of agriculture on biodiversity. On trips to Costa Rica and to Madagascar I noticed the beauty and fragility of undisturbed nature. I started to look for ways to protect what is left of it. So much of today’s form of agriculture has a harmful impact on rainforests through deforestation and consequent biodiversity losses. So I wanted to do something in that area, and since I come from a technology background I wanted to do something with a technical angle to it.
So the question I was asking myself was, how can we change today’s agriculture practices? At that time I began to look at indoor farming, which as a market was starting to catch up. And I saw that maybe this could be a solution, if we can make it widely adoptable. So with Crocus Labs we basically try to enable vertical farms so that they can provide an alternative to today’s farms and in that way we can stop biodiversity losses. That is my main drive behind it all.
What are “vertical farms”?
Well, in a generic way you can say indoor farms can be either greenhouses or vertical farms. Vertical farms are what we call “controlled environment agriculture”. So you basically grow everything in a very controlled manner inside a building. The crops are stacked on top of each other. This means that the resources you are using, from land, water, to pesticides etc., are much lower. So you can grow a lot more in a smaller area and produce food where most people live, inside cities, to keep transportation short.
And your solution to make these vertical farms more efficient has to do with light. So how is your artificial light better than sunlight?
Well actually, we try to remake the sunlight indoors. So the problem with sunlight is on the one hand that we don’t get enough of it in big parts of Europe. In the Netherlands growers already use artificial lights in greenhouses. Vertical farms rely even heavier on artificial lights, because the plants are stacked. In vertical farms you cannot bring the light uniformly to all the plants all the way down the stack. If you have five or ten storeys of plants that you’re growing, sunlight usually hits only the top two and by the time you get to the bottom you don’t have any light. Actually most vertical farms do not even have glass ceilings.
So basically our idea is to recreate the sunlight using proprietary lighting technologies so that you get the same amount of light across all the plants but without creating a huge burden on electricity consumption.
One of the biggest problems at the moment for vertical farms is that although the idea is nice, they may grow a handful of crops but they also have a huge carbon footprint, because of how much electricity is being consumed. We want to reduce this footprint so that vertical farms can become more meaningful and competitive with other agriculture.
Taste is also a big challenge because the lighting solutions currently available are too far away from the sun’s spectrum.
Now, you’re already claiming that your solution will be a lot more cost-effective than the competition. How so?
We talk about costs in terms of the whole thing, capital expenses plus operational expenses. So if for the same price we can give you lights that are much more efficient than the competition’s, then over the course of four or five years your total expenses are a lot less. So you get a lot more light output on the amount of Euros you spend, which means that your production costs are much lower. This is particularly interesting as you start growing higher value crops like berries.
So what is the core difference in the technology?
The core difference in technology is that we are the only company at the moment building lights from the ground up for this specific use case. We build our own LE diodes and our smart lighting systems make use of not only our proprietary LED technologies, but also sensor systems and advanced algorithms. And this goes back to our semiconductor know-how. We have been able to get a lot of light output with very little current.
This is one part of it. The second part is that we have been able to recreate the effects of real sunlight, which is crucial for taste. So these are the major advantages that we bring.
So there are surely more use cases for this new technology, right?
Yeah, there are. I think one of the biggest topics coming up is what is called “human-centric lighting”. In houses and office spaces they want to bring light that acts more like sunlight. If you look at many of today’s lights they mostly have a big blue peak, which means that is not very good for your sleep. So if you have white light on at night and then you try to go to sleep it affects your circadian rhythms. So human-centric lighting and lighting that matches the circadian rhythm is about getting people to sleep better and have better work schedules.
Your experience is in semiconductors. How much new stuff did you have to learn in the last couple of years?
A lot! Because this is the first time I am carrying my technical knowledge to farming. I don’t have anybody in the family with a farming background. So I had to learn a lot about indoor farming.
And lighting is not a space I was in before. I was in a lot of consumer sensors and medical devices, so lighting and how indoor lighting affects plants is something I had to learn over time. And also the whole complexity of light in the context of greenhouses and vertical farms. Not to mention how the lighting industry works.
Why did you choose Berlin as a base for Crocus Labs?
Berlin is my favorite European city. I did my PhD in the United States in Boston. I first came to Europe in Spain for my first startup, through which I had my initial introduction to Berlin because it was incorporated with Bayer pharmaceuticals. So I was here working with Bayer. And then I just fell in love with Berlin. It’s very cosmopolitan, it has a lot of energy, in terms of people it is a very human-centric city. It has this drive, creative as well as entrepreneurial.
My wife and I spent two years in Munich, but we very much prefer Berlin and desperately wanted to come back here. The one part is the human aspect, the second part is that there are very nice networks in Berlin, the universities and also the entrepreneurial startup networks. Berlin is a very welcoming city.
Where did the name Crocus Labs come from?
Back then we wanted to grow saffron, because saffron is a high-value crop, and crocus is basically the flower that gives you saffron. So that’s how we started Crocus Labs. We don’t do anything in saffron at the moment, so maybe we’ll re-brand at some point. Or we’ll keep it. It’s a nice name!
So this is, what, your third startup now?
Yeah.
So third time lucky?
I hope so!
2022 is going to be an exciting year for you. We wish you the best of luck!
Berlin, as one of Europe’s most exciting metropoli, may seem far removed from the countryside but could well be where the next revolution in farming technology originates.
]]>news-2486Fri, 07 Jan 2022 11:33:00 +0100PRODUCT LAUNCH: µMOPA https://photonicnet.de/μMOPA – fully integrated into standard butterfly platform.
TOPTICA eagleyard will set a milestone in the photonic industry with the launch of the µMOPA that was nominated as finalist for the 2022 SPIE Prism award.At this year’s Photonics West taking place in San Francisco from Jan 25th-27th TOPTICA eagleyard will introduce the µMOPA to the world. It’s an innovation that is already being valued highly by experts as this extraordinary product is nominated as SPIE Prism award finalist. Our developers managed to create a unique product to bridge the gap between science and industry: For the first time a DBR laser and tapered amplifier are monolithically integrated on a chip with a standard 14 pin butterfly package. As a result, the complexity for usage is reduced significantly. In addition, the product is easily mountable due to the use of standard sockets while the circular beam profile is especially beneficial for fiber coupling and focusing. The µMOPA will mainly be used in Raman spectroscopy and interferometry. Researchers at universities and institutes will benefit from this new variant as MOPA systems are more easily built up. In addition, the ease of use and the robustness of the package as protection against environmental influences enable a scalability for industry usage so that this innovation will lead to outstanding results and new applications along the value chain.
Major performance indicators are: • 1064 nm • High output power (2 W) • Small spectral width (typ. 3 pm) • 14 pin butterfly package • Very good SMSR (typ. > 50 dB) • Integrated beam collimation • Low residual divergence • Integrated thermal management by thermoelectric cooler and thermistor
]]>news-2485Thu, 06 Jan 2022 12:46:26 +0100CES 2022: OQmented Presents New MEMS-based 3D Depth Camera Technologyhttps://photonicnet.de/Itzehoe, Germany, January 5, 2022 – OQmented’s ultra-compact 3D depth sensing camera provides a cost-effective solution for upgrading mobile or stationary cameras with complimentary RGB-D technology. Applying a biaxial MEMS laser scanner, it is designed around a patented structured light projector and delivers accurate high-resolution scans across an adjustable large field of view. Unlike conventional low-resolution infrared dot projectors, OQmented’s LiDAR camera projects dynamically changing infrared patterns by applying the patented Lissajous laser scanning technology which is key to frame rates in the kilohertz range. Concentrating all laser energy of an eye-safe IR laser in a single spot that is dynamically scanned by the biaxial MEMS mirror is crucial for overcoming the typical depth range and resolution limitations of standard 3D LiDAR cameras with stationary IR dot projectors.The full press release can be found here.]]>news-2461Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:58:32 +0100“Laser Focus World's top 20 photonics technology picks for 2021”https://photonicnet.de/Fraunhofer HHI technology among The integrated optical modules for quantum communication developed by Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) have been selected as one of the “Top 20 photonics technology picks for 2021” by the renowned journal Laser Focus World. Laser Focus World is one of the leading international magazines in the field of lasers and photonics.The core of the award-winning integration technology is the so-called “micro-optical bench”. It was developed at Fraunhofer HHI by Hauke Conradi within the scope of his dissertation entitled “Nonreciprocity and Nonlinearity in Polymer Photonic Integrated Circuits”, which he will defend in early 2022.
This technology allows researchers to combine known material systems for quantum technology directly with photonic integrated circuits, while maintaining the performance of the micro-optical components. This method is essential to bring quantum communication into application. In addition, the scientists have used the micro-optical bench to produce and publish the world's best integrated optical isolator to date. The Fraunhofer HHI technology is already being used in the QuNET initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and in the EU projects UNIQORN , 3PEAT , POETICS and TERAWAY .
]]>news-2452Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:37:00 +0100OpTecBB member meeting 2021https://photonicnet.de/After the successful election, we warmly welcome the new board of OpTecBB.Yesterday OpTecBB had the pleasure of welcoming its members to this year's member meeting in the Bunsen Hall in Berlin-Adlershof.Despite strict Corona requirements with 2G regulations and a hygiene concept, numerous members came to participate in the life of the association.This year the election of the board members was the order of the day. Two board members: Prof. Dr. Günter Tränkle (FBH) and Mr. Christian Kutza (FOC GmbH) said goodbye after many years and resigned from their office in the association. The chairman of the board, Prof. Martin Schell (Fraunhofer HHI), thanked them warmly for their commitment in all these years. After the successful election, we can congratulate the new and old board members on their (re-) election and look forward to the successful cooperation in the next two years.We are pleased to introduce the new board members:
Prof. Martin Schell (Fraunhofer HHI) | Peter Krause (insenso GmbH) | Dr. Adrian Mahlkow (OUT e.V.) | Prof. Martin Roth (Leibniz- Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam) | De. Henning Schröder (Fraunhofer IZM) | Gerrit Rössler (Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH) | Ricarda Kafka (TRIOPTICS Berlin GmbH) | Jörg Muchametow (eagleyard Photonics GmbH) | David Mory (LLA Instruments GmbH & Co. KG)
]]>news-2446Tue, 09 Nov 2021 21:24:25 +0100Turning quantum discoveries into real-life products with advanced R&D facilities in Berlinhttps://photonicnet.de/Quantum computing is hailed everywhere as the technology of the future, but what about quantum sensing and communicating? These capabilities promise to make quantum technologies the seed for a new generation of products in information and communication technology and modern sensor systems. But manufacturers who want to use the great potential and fundamental principles of quantum mechanics need highly specialized facilities and processes. With funding from the EU and the State of Berlin, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have created a vision of a technology centre to power the development of new glass-based quantum technologies.Quantum objects measure just a handful of nanometres in scale, but they exhibit some unique behaviour: They do not exist in a certainly knowable position, nor do they move in a definable direction. Quantum particles can be entangled, even when they are far removed from each other. It is these phenomena that have inspired researchers worldwide to develop new quantum technologies with immense potential for applications in a wide range of industries.
The Fraunhofer Society is already playing its part in shaping this revolution with Germany’s first quantum computer, installed at the start of the year. But quantum research is not only about computing, as photonic quantum technologies promise groundbreaking innovations in quantum communications and sensors. In order for these revolutionary inventions to make their way into scalable components and market-ready products, researchers have to find ways to measure quantum states reliably and precisely.
Berlin’s QuantumPackagingLab will open in mid-2022 and is expected to become the go-to place for developing reliable packaging solutions for quantum photonics with its exceptional technical facilities. Researchers at the lab will be pursuing ambitious plans in their quest to close the remaining technology gaps and bring the second quantum revolution into industrial applications. Their endeavours include using glass as a transparent substrate and carrier for photonic circuits or expanding established waveguide technologies into the visible and near-infrared range, the so-called VIS-NIR spectrum. The researchers are using panel-level integration approaches originally designed for electronic circuit boards. To prepare the existing packaging and system integration technologies for this leap into quantum photonics, the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM is creating a completely new infrastructure landscape in no fewer than four separate labs, with five units playing a particularly crucial role:
Scanning Nearfield Optical Microscope (SNOM)
How it works:
As the centrepiece of the optical measurement lab, the SNOM uses optical spectroscopy to scan the surfaces of nanophotonic components. To do so, it focuses an incredibly narrow laser beam, with a smaller diameter than a waveguide, in the immediate proximity of the sample. Highly reliable measurements are also possible by using the evanescent field that is created around a surface when a light wave fades.
What it brings:
The SNOM gives researchers the ability to characterize nano-photonic components with extreme precision, at a resolution far below the diffraction limit for distortion-free imaging. The plans include the eponymous scanning near-field optical microscope for exploring the evanescent field of glass-embedded waveguides and optical nanofibers to optimize the interaction between light and matter as well as fluorescence microscopes for nanostructures (e.g. individual molecules, nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamonds, quantum dots, or nanocarbons).
Waveguide coupler
How it works:
This large automated unit uses an integrated camera and search and optimization algorithms to couple several waveguides with a fibre array. The coupled light can then be detected at the waveguide’s output side.
What it brings:
For glass-embedded waveguides to become usable in quantum technology, their production process has to be adjusted for the visible and IR light spectrum, with single-mode light guiding and minimal propagation losses. This has already been possible with a custom system built at Fraunhofer IZM, but the researchers hope to make the measuring processes much faster and more precise with the new facilities.
3D Glass Printer
How it works:
The 3D glass printer uses ultrashort light impulses to model glass structures. Its surfaces can then be modified by etching. The printer unit is expected to be particularly useful for laser direct writing, that is, the use of a laser to create waveguides and other photonic structures like diffraction gratings directly in the glass. The system will also be able to drill microcavities or weld glass by heating up only the immediate target area to create transparent, but hermetically sealed glass-on-glass joints.
What it brings:
The 3D glass printer opens up a world of possibilities: Level or curved optical surfaces can be created directly on the waveguides e.g. to activate quantum emitters. The novel weld joints will be crucial for thermally insulating quantum sensors or for producing miniature spectroscopy cells. The researchers expect a tenfold improvement over conventional technology in the roughness, precision, and reproducibility of glass structures created with this system.
Micro Ultra-High Vacuum Bonder
How it works:
The new bonder will be used for laser soldering and other hermetic joining processes for glass in a vacuum. The highly focused laser beam is absorbed by the glass solder, heating it up to the melting temperature and creating a joint between two glass surfaces.
What it brings:
The micro ultra-high vacuum bonder will be particularly useful for testing new ways to join glass surfaces. The key is to create joints that are hermetically sealed on the microlevel to allow the development of micro vacuum or micro gas cells or other thermally insulated designs.
Ultra-High Vacuum Vapor Deposition Unit
Highly Precise Vacuum Metalizing
How it works:
In the ultra-high vacuum vapor deposition system, glass surfaces can be metallized with extremely fine coats of only a few nanometres, applied with a record precision of a single nanometre. This process is used to create semi-transparent metalized mirrors or to turn the metalized surfaces themselves into plasmonic guides.
What it brings:
The system is taking the capabilities of conventional sputtering to the quantum technology domain. It can be used to create parallel or confocal gold coats with microscopically tiny cavities along the waveguide. When quantum emitters enter these cavities, the emission patterns change, and light particles are far more likely to be emitted in the direction of the waveguide.
Fraunhofer IZM is looking for research partners to tread new ground in application-driven system integration, especially assembly and packaging technologies, for quantum communication and quantum sensors.
The QuantumPackagingLab is supported by the State of Berlin with EFRE co-funding at an amount of €3,392,000.
]]>news-2443Fri, 05 Nov 2021 13:52:55 +0100OQmented, Technology Leader in MEMS-Based AR/VR Display and 3D Sensing Solutions, Secures USD 9.3M of Fundinghttps://photonicnet.de/OQmented, the Itzehoe-based deep tech venture, has successfully extended its seed round and has now raised a total of nearly USD 20 million. The fresh financing will be used to expand the company’s locations and R&D for strengthening its position as a leading enabler for Big Tech in AR and VR
Itzehoe, Germany, Nov. 4, 2021 - OQmented today announced that it extended its seed round and secured an additional USD 9.3 million. New investors IT-Farm, Leblon Capital, and Deeptech-A join a syndicate that includes Vsquared Ventures (Vsquared), Salvia, and Baltic Business Angels, along with several Angel investors. The deep tech startup has raised nearly US$20 million since its 2018 spin-out from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany.
The funds will be invested in the expansion mainly of the company’s location in Itzehoe, accelerating their Research & Development as well as fostering existing partnerships and establishing cooperations with new partners. They will fast-track market penetration of OQmented’s MEMS mirror-based laser beam scanning (LBS) technology for AR/VR smart glasses. The tiny projection display—the industry’s first one-chip solution—gives product innovators the essential enabling technology for smart glasses that offer powerful visualization capabilities in a stylish, virtually weightless frame. The product will help propel AR/VR technologies into the mainstream, smoothing the runway to the next iteration of the internet, and enabling applications like 3D cameras, LiDAR, and machine vision products.
Salvia Founder and Managing Partner, Helmut Jeggle, noted that with advanced AR/VR technologies the notion of smart glasses replacing the smartphone is becoming more real. “OQmented is at the forefront of this trend with its game-changing projection display technology,” he said. “Our investment decision was sparked by the team’s sharp market instincts and reinforced by the value that their innovation will create for myriad industries.”
Vsquared General Partner, Benedikt von Schoeler, remarked on the company’s disciplined execution, noting: “The team has been remarkably resource-efficient, innovating aggressively while scaling a company to support Big Tech customers. With a differentiated solution ready for adoption, as well as a manufacturing partnership with a MEMS leader, it is an exciting time to engage.”
Julian Nguyen of IT-Farm adds: “Proximity to key customers isn’t just a business imperative for a company with highly enabling technology, it’s also a competitive differentiator. With our roots and connections in Japan and Silicon Valley, we can help the team get their product into customer design flows faster and more efficiently.”
]]>news-2438Thu, 28 Oct 2021 10:50:20 +0200Zuverlässige Halbleiter für Space und Quantentechnologien – von Chips bis zu Systemenhttps://photonicnet.de/Das FBH besitzt langjährige Erfahrung bei der Entwicklung und Fertigung von robusten, kompakten Diodenlasermodulen für anspruchsvolle Weltraumanwendungen. Die Module haben ihre Leistungsfähigkeit bereits mehrfach in Experimenten unter Schwerelosigkeit bewiesen. Unter anderem fertigt das FBH derzeit 55 ultra-schmalbandige Lasermodule, die es für die BECCAL-Apparatur (Bose-Einstein Condensate – Cold Atom Laboratory) entwickelt hat. Sie sollen in der vom Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt DLR und der NASA ab 2024 betriebenen Forschungsanlage für quantenoptische Experimente mit ultra-kalten Atomen an Bord der internationalen Raumstation ISS eingesetzt werden. Fundamentalphysikalische Fragestellungen mit Quantenobjekten sollen damit nahe dem absoluten Temperaturnullpunkt (-273,15 °C) hochgenau untersucht werden.
Lasersysteme für quantenoptische Präzisionsexperimente
Das FBH besitzt langjährige Erfahrung bei der Entwicklung und Fertigung von robusten, kompakten Diodenlasermodulen für anspruchsvolle Weltraumanwendungen. Die Module haben ihre Leistungsfähigkeit bereits mehrfach in Experimenten unter Schwerelosigkeit bewiesen. Unter anderem fertigt das FBH derzeit 55 ultra-schmalbandige Lasermodule, die es für die BECCAL-Apparatur (Bose-Einstein Condensate – Cold Atom Laboratory) entwickelt hat. Sie sollen in der vom Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt DLR und der NASA ab 2024 betriebenen Forschungsanlage für quantenoptische Experimente mit ultra-kalten Atomen an Bord der internationalen Raumstation ISS eingesetzt werden. Fundamentalphysikalische Fragestellungen mit Quantenobjekten sollen damit nahe dem absoluten Temperaturnullpunkt (-273,15 °C) hochgenau untersucht werden.
Kernstücke dieser und bisheriger Diodenlasermodule sind am FBH entwickelte Laserdioden, die gemeinsam mit Optiken und weiteren passiven Elementen mit höchster Stabilität und Präzision aufgebaut werden. Dank der einzigartigen Mikrointegrationstechnologie des FBH sind die Module extrem robust und ideal für den Einsatz im Weltraum geeignet. Sie zeichnen sich durch geringe Abmessungen von nur 125 x 75 x 23 mm³, eine geringe Masse (750 g) sowie exzellente Leistungsparameter aus: Ausgangsleistungen > 500 mW bei zugleich schmaler intrinsischer Linienbreite < 1 kHz werden erreicht.
In enger Zusammenarbeit mit der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin werden derartige Module auch zu kompakten Quantensensoren und optischen Uhren für den Einsatz im Weltraum und für industrietaugliche Systemlösungen in der Quantentechnologie aufgebaut. Das gemeinsame Joint Lab stellt eine neuartige, völlig autonome frequenzstabilisierte Laserquelle mit integrierter DFB-Laserdiode vor, die auf dem D2-Übergang in Rubidium bei 780 nm basiert.
Lasermodule für Satelliten: von Kommunikation bis Klimaschutz
Weitere Lasermodule entwickelt das FBH für Satellitenanwendungen. Laserdiodenbänke (LDB) des Instituts werden seit vielen Jahren erfolgreich als Pumplaser in Laserkommunikationsterminals (LCT) der Firma Tesat-Spacecom eingesetzt. Damit werden unter anderem hohe Datenmengen der Erdbeobachtung besonders schnell zwischen Satelliten und zur Erde übertragen. Die LDBs werden nach den Standards der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation (ESA) für Weltraumanwendungen entwickelt und qualifiziert. Deren Wellenlänge wird so auf das Pump-Übergangsband eines Nd:YAG-Lasers stabilisiert, dass der Laserstrahl des Pumplasers die stabile LCT-Leistung gewährleistet. Hinzu kommt die exzellente Zuverlässigkeit über die gesamte 15-jährige Lebensdauer der Mission.
Das FBH zeigt auch ein DBR-Laserarray-Modul, das dank eines auf Chipebene integrierten, die Wellenlänge stabilisierenden Bragg-Reflektors sowohl ein geringes Rauschen als auch eine hohe Zuverlässigkeit bietet. Die Eignung derartiger Module wurde für einen Dauerbetrieb von mehr als 15 Jahren nachgewiesen. Damit qualifizieren sie sich als Flughardware für die nächsten LCT-Weltraummissionen. Ein weiterer Pumplaser soll künftig auf dem Klimasatelliten MERLIN eingesetzt werden, der die Methankonzentration in der Atmosphäre messen soll. Dafür hat das FBH Lasermodule entwickelt, qualifiziert und geliefert, die jeweils mit zwei Hochleistungslaser-Halbbarren ausgestattet sind. Diese Module liefern 130 W gepulste Emission bei 808 nm und pumpen einen Nd:YAG-Laser. Die Leistungsfähigkeit und Zuverlässigkeit über die gesamte Missionsdauer wurde anhand umfangreicher Qualifikationen der Technologie nachgewiesen und vom ESA-Technologiezentrum ESTEC bestätigt. So degradiert die Leistung selbst bei einer langen Betriebsdauer von über vier Milliarden Pulsen nur unwesentlich.
Energieeffiziente Komponenten für Satellitenkommunikation und -sensorik
Wegen ihrer hohen Strahlungshärte und der möglichen hohen Schaltfrequenzen eignen sich Galliumnitrid (GaN)-Schalttransistoren besonders für das Power Conditioning in Satelliten. Der vom FBH neu entwickelte 10 A/400 V Aluminiumnitrid Power Core mit GaN-Leistungstransistoren in Halbbrücken-Konfiguration minimiert Streuinduktivitäten und Kapazitäten der Schaltzelle. Dabei werden Leistungsschalter, Gatetreiber und DC-Link-Kondensatoren extrem kompakt heterointegriert und die Wärme wird effizient durch das Aluminiumnitrid-Substrat abgeführt. So konnten die Schaltzeiten der Leistungszelle gegenüber einem traditionellen Aufbau mit diskreten Bauelementen halbiert werden. Hohe Schaltfrequenzen bei gleichzeitig hohem Konverter-Wirkungsgrad sind die Voraussetzung für Leistungskonverter mit besonders hoher Leistungsdichte. Ein zentraler Aspekt, da jedes Gramm im Weltraum zählt.
Stromverbrauch und Verlustleistung sind weitere kritische Punkte beim Betrieb von Leistungsverstärkern im Weltraum. Daher entwickelt das FBH Konzepte zum Envelope Tracking – eine bekannte Technik, um die Effizienz von Hochfrequenz-Leistungsverstärkern zu steigern.
]]>news-2433Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:54:47 +0200Meet Prima, PicoQuant’s new multiple color pulsed diode laserhttps://photonicnet.de/The stand alone, compact laser module provides three individual wavelengths at an affordable priceIn a recent webinar, PicoQuant has unveiled its latest laser innovation: the stand alone, fully computer controlled laser module Prima.
“Our objective when developing Prima was to offer a solution to a common challenge faced by many researchers. They often need more than a single excitation wavelength to study all of their samples, but buying multiple lasers can become quite expensive. So we tapped our 25 years of expertise in laser development to create an affordable, compact module that can emit red, green, and blue light”, says Guillaume Delpont, Product Manager at PicoQuant.
Prima generates laser light at 635, 510, and 450 nm with each color being emitted individually, one at a time. These three wavelengths cover most of the excitation needs for daily lab tasks, such as lifetime or quantum yield measurements, photoluminescence, and fluorescence. The new laser module supports pulsed operation with repetition rates up to 200 MHz, continuous wave (CW) mode as well as fast switching CW capability with a rise/fall time of less than 3 ns. In pulsed mode, each wavelength can achieve an average optical output power of typically 5 mW, and up zo 50 mW in CW mode.
Thanks to its stand alone design, Prima does not require any additional laser driver. All settings and operating parameters are fully computer controlled via an intuitive, WindowsTM based control software. Prima’s flexibility and ease-of-use make it a versatile yet affordable tool for many research applications in life or materials science.
]]>news-2427Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:10:29 +0200Tiny package, greater depth – A plenoptic high-speed camera designed by Fraunhofer researchershttps://photonicnet.de/Researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have joined forces with TecVenture, Optrontec Inc., and KAIST to create a high-speed camera fitted with a unique multi-lens array that can capture images with a far greater depth of field than its conventional counterparts. The miniaturized electronics make the system a good choice for efficient damage analytics in industrial use or for many research activities. To prepare the camera for reliable work in the tough reality of industrial environments without compromising its compact size, the electronics for the system were miniaturized by Fraunhofer IZM using the Institute’s embedding technology.
As production processes are accelerating everywhere in industry, manufacturers need the right means to monitor these processes at every link in the chain. Increasingly, their weapon of choice for this mission is high-speed cameras. But conventional cameras struggle with adjusting their focus quickly enough to track objects moving through their field of vision. A solution is to use cameras with a greater depth of field with the same optics, with the focus virtually adjusted by processing the resulting image data to produce a clear image at the right depth. The Fraunhofer IZM researchers and their partners took on the challenge of creating a high-speed and highly miniaturized camera capable of this feat.
The right lens is chosen for the application and the image focused on a full-format sensor. A special multi-lens or polarization filter array, made by KAIST and Korea’s Optrontec, is placed in the path between lens and sensor to get a greater depth of field and better contrast to capture even the fine structural details of the monitored objects. Operating at a speed of 2000 images per second – a tenfold increase compared to conventional cameras – the system enables an accurate visual analysis of the very fast, often critical processes happening in laboratories or factories.
The Micro-Lens Array (MLA) consists of a closely populated matrix of lenses, each placed only 150 micrometres from the next. All of the components needed to supply the image sensor are mounted directly beneath the sensor itself in a highly integrated embedded module.
With 3D stacking and different electronic components embedded directly in the circuit board, the system could not only be miniaturized into a tiny package, but also equipped with far shorter electrical connections, a must-have for better signal quality in high-speed systems of this nature. The almost completely encapsulated design also makes the system extremely rugged and robust. The highly integrated electronic module was created with the production facilities available at Fraunhofer IZM.
The camera revealed its exceptional performance immediately in the first functional trials. Over the next months, the production process will be refined and ramped up for industrial use. But the plenoptic camera is not only a great tool for industrial process analysis: Its combination of great speed and an excellent depth of field also makes it a promising choice for scientists exploring other biological, chemical, or physical processes.
]]>news-2419Fri, 08 Oct 2021 14:57:17 +0200PHOTONICS DAYS BERLIN BRANDENBURG 2021https://photonicnet.de/After an all online event last year, due to corona, the Photonics Days were back this year in Berlin-Adlershof!From October 4th to 7th, this year's Photonics Days Berlin Brandenburg 2021 took place as a hybrid event. It was an exciting 4 days with 26 sessions, 18 of them on-site in hybrid format, over 100 speakers from over 15 countries and an accompanying exhibition with Germany and EU-wide exhibitors.
Over 540 participants had registered for the event, including over 250 for the face-to-face sessions on site. Despite the strict Corona requirements, many national and international speakers and participants took part in the face-to-face event.
On October 6th, many optics and photonics enthusiasts met for the evening reception in the Bunsen Hall for networking over wine and live music. As a small highlight of the evening, the Laserassociation Berlin Brandenburg presented an award for outstanding achievements in the field of laser technology to Mr. Igor Haschke (represented that evening by Tom Lueders) (B.I.G. Holding).
It was a wonderful atmosphere and a great feeling to see old friends and meet new ones. There were many exciting encounters and a lively exchange both online and on-site.
We, the OpTecBB-team, would like to thank our partners and sponsors: WISTA Management GmbH | Berlin Partner for Business and Technology GmbH | FISBA | EXFO, who supported us in the planning and organization of the Photonics Days.
Our big thank you also goes to the chairs and speakers who managed to present a large number of exciting topics from various areas of optics and photonics.
We look forward to the Photonics Days 2022 (Save-The-Date: autumn 2022) and hope to welcome you as a participant, speaker or exhibitor!
]]>news-2398Wed, 22 Sep 2021 22:29:44 +0200 VI Systems participates in energy efficient data link projecthttps://photonicnet.de/The Green ICT project of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has been awarded to a consortium of companies and universities which aims to reduce the energy consumption of edge servers in 5G networks by 90%.VI Systems is part of a consortium of companies and universities which is has been awarded with a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The total funding of EUR 12 million will be divided among the three winners of the Green ICT innovation competition. The project EC4 in which VI Systems participates ranks on the first place. It aims at the next generation of energy efficient high speed optical data communication links to reduce the energy consumption of edge servers in 5G networks by 90%.
The consortium is led by the Technical University of Dresden, Mobile Messaging Systems Section, and includes 11 companies and associated partners including Nokia Bell Labs, Vodafone, Globalfoundries, National Instruments. VIS is a leader in low cost optical components for the shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) spectral range (vertical surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and photodetector chips) presently capable to 224 Gbps per single wavelength. It is expected that much higher data rates can be achieved with VCSEL chips in the future.
]]>news-2396Wed, 22 Sep 2021 22:22:22 +0200German Astronomical Society 2021 Awardshttps://photonicnet.de/The German Astronomical Society (AG) has named its prize winners for 2021.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell is honoured with the Schwarzschild Medal; Fabian Schneider receives the Ludwig Biermann Award, Martin Roth the Instrument Development Award, Anke Arentsen the Doctoral Thesis Award and Uwe Reichert the Bürgel Prize. Lukas Weghs is awarded the Jugend forscht special prize.Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, currently visiting Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, receives the Karl Schwarzschild Medal of the German Astronomical Society 2021 for her outstanding contributions to the field of astrophysics. With the highest award for astronomical research in Germany, the Astronomical Society honours Professor Bell Burnell as an eminent scientist whose work has not only created the field of pulsar astronomy - with diverse applications in a wide range of fundamental physics and astrophysics - but has had a great impact on the field of astrophysics as a whole. Many prestigious institutions and organisations, such as the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society, have benefited greatly from her scientific leadership. With persistence and insight, driven by curiosity and determination, her discoveries, her research and her life-long dedication to conducting and promoting astronomical research, she has been one of the most inspiring scientists for generations.
Professor Martin Roth from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is being honoured with the Instrument Development Award for his significant work on the development of 3D spectroscopy, his outstanding contributions to the research and development of astrophotonics, to the teaching and training of young scientists in astronomical instrumentation, and to the resulting advances in the astrophysical study of resolved stellar populations. Under his leadership, the PMAS instrument was a breakthrough in the observational technique of integral field spectroscopy, crowned by the successes of MUSE and VIRUS, producing internationally visible science results. He also been a pioneer in multi-disciplinary research, and transfer of knowledge and technology, e.g., the use of astronomical instrumentation for medicine and life science. His achievements include the establishment of the interdisciplinary centre innoFSPEC, which is dedicated to the development of astrophotonic technologies and is unique in Germany.
With the Ludwig-Biermann-Award, the AG honours Fabian Schneider, junior group leader at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), for his work on the study of the evolution of massive stars, binary stars and supernovae. His research achievements led to numerous and highly cited publications. He is considered an internationally recognized expert in his field. Fabian Schneider received his PhD at the University of Bonn in 2015. He then moved to Oxford University as a Hintze Fellow. In 2018 he became a Gliese Fellow at the Center for Astronomy at Heidelberg University. In 2020, he received an ERC Starting Grant, and started to establish a research group focused on stellar evolution theory and the turbulent and explosive lives of massive stars at HITS in January 2021.
For her spectacular results on the chemical composition and dynamics of stars in the inner regions of our Milky Way, the AG awards the Doctoral Thesis Prize to Anke Arentsen. She received her PhD from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and is currently a postdoc at the astronomical observatory in Strasbourg. Her PhD thesis was dedicated to Galactic Archeology and the oldest stars in our home galaxy. Anke Arentsen made important contributions to the understanding of the Milky Way and what it looked like at its infancy. She published the scientific results of her dissertation in several publications and successfully presented them at international conferences and public lectures.
The AG awards the Bruno H. Bürgel Prize to Uwe Reichert, for excellent popular representations of the latest astronomy results in the German media. As editor-in-chief of the astronomy magazine Sterne und Weltraum, Uwe Reichert played a leading role in determining the development and content of the magazine for over 13 years, and was extremely adept at adapting the editorial and technical practices to the new challenges of the digital media world. Sterne und Weltraum is the leading German language publication for generally accessible astronomy. It is a globally unique cooperation between active professional astronomers, the amateur astronomy community, and science journalists. It is characterised by outstanding quality, educational materials, an internet platform with daily astronomy news, and a very successful Twitter and Youtube channel.
Lukas Weghs, from the Städtisches Gymnasium Kempen, receives a special price from the AG for the best work in the field of astronomy in the national competition "Jugend forscht" (youth's research). With his work "Photometric search for Exomoons by using deep learning and a convolutional neuronal network", which he developed at the Institute of Planetary Research at DLR in Berlin, he was also the national winner in the field of space and earth sciences. Lukas developed a self-learning program for a high-performance computer that supports the search for moons around exoplanets. The program systematically analyses deviations in the light curve of transit events that cannot be explained by the transiting planet alone. It thus provides clues to the possible existence of exomoons.
The award ceremonies will take place during the virtual annual meeting of the German Astronomical Society from September 13-17, 2021.
Photos and Credits:
Jocelyn Bell Burnell: Courtesy Royal Society of Edinburgh Martin Roth: BMBF Fabian Schneider: Annette Mück / HITS Anke Arentsen: private Uwe Reichert: private
]]>news-2390Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:13:52 +0200TOPTICA: New powerful laser passes field testhttps://photonicnet.de/A powerful experimental laser developed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), TOPTICA Projects1 and other industry partners2 passed a key test last month at the Allgaeuer Volkssternwarte Ottobeuren observatory in Germany. The adaptive-optics laser has important additional capabilities compared to existing systems. It is to be installed at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Optical Ground Station in Tenerife, Spain, in the frame of the ESO–ESA Research & Development collaboration. The higher laser power and its chirping system will lead to significant improvements in the sharpness of astronomical images taken with ground-based telescopes. The technology also opens the door for developments in laser satellite communication.Astronomical adaptive optics refers to systems on ground-based telescopes that correct for the blurring effect brought about by turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere — the same effect that causes stars seen from Earth to “twinkle”. To remove the distortions, these systems require a bright reference star close to the object of study. Because these stars are not always conveniently placed on the sky, astronomers use lasers to excite sodium atoms at 90 km altitude in the Earth's atmosphere, creating artificial stars near the field of interest that can be used to map and correct for the atmospheric turbulence. The narrow band highest optical quality laser power of 63 Watts locked to the sodium wavelength as such is already a significant leap forward compared to current astronomy laser technology. However, a second important step has been the experimental frequency chirping system developed and implemented by TOPTICA Projects in collaboration with ESO, that is targeted to also improve the signal-to-noise of the adaptive optics system. Chirping consists in rapidly changing the frequency to which the laser is tuned. This increases the number of sodium atoms excited by the laser, making the artificial star brighter and thus improving the turbulence correction. TOPTICA has installed the chirping prototype on the ESO 63 Watts CaNaPy laser and, together with ESO, has commissioned on sky both the laser and its novel chirping system. Once the technology is installed at the ESA Optical Ground Station in Tenerife — a collaborative project between ESO and ESA — it will provide both organizations with opportunities to advance the use of laser guide star adaptive optics technologies not only for astronomy but also for satellite optical communication.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesResearch and sciencepress reportnews-2386Thu, 09 Sep 2021 14:28:55 +0200Berlin Quantum Alliance launchedhttps://photonicnet.de/Yesterday the Berlin Senate has unlocked the first 10 Mio Euro for quantum research in Berlin for the years 2022 and 2023. This is part of a 25 Mio Euro program over five years.Within the newly formed Berlin Quantum Alliance (BQA) 15 Mio Euro will be used for basic research and 10 Mio Euro will be put into applied research in the next five years. On one hand the activities will focus on software – quantum computing in basic research and industry related applications. On the other hand new hardware will be developed – photonic quantum enabling technologies like for instance Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) for quantum sensing. The concept was developed between Berlin University Alliance (FU / Prof. Jens Eisert, HU / Prof. Arno Rauschenbeutel & Prof. Oliver Benson, und TU / Prof. Jean-Pierre Seifert), Fraunhofer Institute for open Communication Systems (FOKUS / Prof. Manfred Hauswirth) and Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI / Prof. Martin Schell). OpTecBB will support networking between the research institutes and the photonic SME landscape.]]>news-2379Mon, 06 Sep 2021 14:32:14 +0200New European Academy to boost the skills and know-how of industry in exploiting opportunities in the €615B global photonics sectorhttps://photonicnet.de/A programme to train thousands of industry workers in the adoption and development of innovative photonics-based solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges, from environmental sustainability to healthy living and smart infrastructure, has been established by a consortium of over 50 of Europe’s top photonics competence centres.
The European Photonics Academy will offer training courses beyond the lecture room with a strong focus on hands-on training. Course attendees will gain real-world experience using state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, test equipment and facilities. The academy’s training centres will offer unique courses across a wide range of photonics technology platforms and application domains. The academy will initially run for four years with the clear intention of becoming a sustainable long-term support to European industry.
Interest in photonics is booming, with the global photonics market estimated to be worth €615B in 2020 and recent research showing that the European photonics market is growing at more than double the rate of global GDP. However, gaining access to the cutting-edge technical know-how and the hands-on skills required to utilise photonics technologies remains difficult for many companies, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The academy, launched by PhotonHub Europe, the full-service one-stop-shop Photonics Innovation Hub funded by the European Commission, will make it easy for SMEs in particular to fully exploit this critical enabling technology for their own innovation activities.
“For the first time the European Photonics Academy means that SMEs have a one-stop-shop to pick and choose from a large menu of training options, making it easy to get the exact training course suited to their needs. Companies can be assured that their employees are getting top quality training from best-in-class facilities since quality assurance is overseen by PhotonHub,” said Prof Peter O’Brien of the UCC Tyndall Institute in Ireland, who leads training support services at the academy. “We expect to support 6,000 European companies with training over the next four years, each sending several employees on one or more of our courses, with several hundred companies immediately taking up photonics technologies in their applications and product manufacturing as early adopters. As a result, we believe the academy will be a massive catalyst for the take-up of photonics by European companies.”
Photonics involves the generation, manipulation and detection of light and is a key enabling digital technology that underpins many existing and emerging applications. Over the next decade photonics will make a significant impact to our everyday lives – transforming industries, tackling critical issues such as climate change, and improving societies across Europe. Some current applications include:
Agriculture (scanning technology and infrared imaging to monitor food production and quality, and sensor systems for planting and irrigation)
Green Energy Sources (LED lighting and Photovoltaic devices used for solar electric panels)
Information Communications Technology (optics for data storage, transmission across fibre-optic networks and displays)
Life Sciences (testing and analysis devices such as non-invasive glucose monitors and point-of-care and wearable diagnostics)
Medical Technology (lasers for surgery, photodynamic therapy, smart surgical instruments).
Europe is a global leader in the development of photonics technologies, with much of this innovation generated through research funded by the European Commission. The new academy will allow European workforces access to state-of-the-art photonics technologies and advanced methods of photonics manufacturing through structured training and education. To-date, 40 training centres across Europe have been selected for funding, with 10 more to be announced later this year. Critically all regions of Europe will have access to training, including those with little or no expertise in photonics, with centres as far apart as Ireland, Spain, Finland and Greece.
Three types of training courses are available:
Online Training, geared towards new entrants to the photonics sector providing a half-day introduction to photonics and an overview of the key enabling power of photonics technologies for wide-ranging applications.
Demo Centres, offering one-day training courses on-site with a focus on particular photonics technology applications.
Experience Centres, offering in-depth three-day or five-day training courses with a strong focus on lab-based activities and hands-on working using state-of-the-art equipment and application demonstrator tools.
People wishing to attend any of the Online Training, or either of the Demo or Experience Centre training courses, can browse the training catalogue via the PhotonHub website and register for the particular course of interest to them.
Further details about PhotonHub’s extensive Online Training, and Demo and Experience Centre training courses, can be found in the HERE.
]]>news-2375Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:40:26 +0200AEMtec GmbH announces USA Tech Center Opening in Boston, MA.https://photonicnet.de/Boston, MA – AEMtec GmbH from Berlin, Germany, a company widely known for its high precision microelectronic and Silicon Photonic assembly capabilities, announced today the September 1st opening of its anticipated Engineering Tech Center within the Boston University Photonics Center. Says Robin Jerratsch, a highly skilled and experienced microelectronics and optics engineer who relocated from Berlin, Germany to manage the Tech Center; “Our purpose here within the BU Photonics Center, is to be at the center of cutting- edge Silicon Photonic and microelectronic product development. Here we can better serve our US Customers by offering rapid prototyping for their product development programs which require wire bonding, flip chip and precision placement services within a cleanroom environment”. Jan Trommershausen, Managing Director for AEMtec GmbH had this to say; “We believe that the Tech Center will offer the opportunity for our USA based Customers to validate their new product designs and then seamlessly transfer the product to our large production facility in Berlin, and what better place to have a Tech center than in the heart of Boston, known for its science and technology development.”
]]>news-2370Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:53:00 +0200Astrophotonics – an emerging field in astrophysicshttps://photonicnet.de/Guest-edited by Dr Aline Dinkelaker and Dr Aashia Rahman in an international editorial team, two renowned journals in the area of optics and photonics have published a joint feature issue on the topic of astrophotonics, one of the research fields of innoFSPEC Potsdam at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP).Astrophotonics deals with photonic components for astronomy, which are intended to become an integral part of the next-generation astronomical instruments. Initiated by AIP researchers, the journals JOSA B and Applied Optics of the Optical Society (OSA) dedicated a joint feature issue to this topic. This feature issue, for which Dr Aline Dinkelaker and Dr Aashia Rahman acted as guest editors and contributed an introduction to the subject, looks into some of the significant developments in astrophotonics and shows the scientific maturity of this research field.
Collectively, more than 20 papers in different areas of astrophotonics, and their applications in instruments for astronomy, are being published from research communities worldwide. Dr Kalaga Madhav, head of the research group Astrophotonics at AIP, summarises the publications: “The articles from research groups around the world cover a broad range of astrophotonic topics, such as interferometric beam combiners to create extremely sharp images, e.g. of stellar surfaces or the environment of black holes, miniaturized spectrographs “on-a-chip” for next generation space telescopes, high precision frequency combs for the detection of exoplanets, and many more. The activities of the Astrophotonics group at AIP are prominently reflected in as many as six publications, after all a quarter of the papers in the feature issue”.
The launch of this feature issue celebrates the ongoing progress in astrophotonics and its incorporation into instrument designs: Fibre-based spectroscopy, which started with novel designs at the onset of innoFSPEC, is now an established and trusted technology and is included in instruments such as the future telescope 4MOST. The same development is foreseen for astrophotonics at innoFSPEC, and the researchers are already establishing collaborations and testing their components at telescopes and in astronomical instruments. With reference to the future of astrophotonics, section head of innoFSPEC professor Martin Roth states enthusiastically, ”The emerging area of astrophotonics has already supported important discoveries in astronomy, e.g. the ground breaking work of Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel about the black hole in the Galactic Center. Given the level of maturity and reliability that this technology has now reached, we expect that innoFSPEC, in collaboration with international partners such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO), will launch more exciting innovations”.
The excellence centers innoFSPEC in Germany and CUDOS in Australia were the first research groups to focus on exploring the diverse research areas under astrophotonics. However, the publication of this feature issue indicates that the emerging area of astrophotonics has now gathered momentum in many countries. The agreement for a joint astrophotonics research collaboration, signed between AIP and ESO in 2020, is another indication for the growing importance of the field. The editorial team of the feature issue consisted of nine members in total, with Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, an ARC Laureate Fellow Professor of Physics and Director of the Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIFA) as the lead editor.
“As researchers in astrophotonics, we see how fast the field advances. With the feature issue, we wanted to provide a platform to showcase the progress and highlight this relatively young topic to scientists from other research fields. As experimental physicists, being guest editors for a journal was new to us. It was an exciting experience to be engaged in every level of the entire publication process, especially in the exchange with authors, journal staff, and the community. Accompanying the manuscript from submission through peer review, finally leading to a high-quality publication, is very rewarding”, say Aline Dinkelaker and Aashia Rahman, who since 2019 have been focusing on bringing the idea of this feature issue from conception to fruition.
]]>news-2368Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:54:00 +0200Panel Level Packaging Consortium 2.0 – The First Year!https://photonicnet.de/Despite the COVID-19 crisis, Fraunhofer IZM and its 17 partners on the PLC 2.0 consortium have achieved excellent results within the first year. All partners met in a virtual meeting for two days. The time difference for such world-wide meetings is a challenge, therefore several sessions have taken place over the whole day to have easy access form Asia, Europe and the US.In 2016, Fraunhofer IZM teamed up with a group of industry leaders from Europe, the US, and Japan to develop the fundamental processes for new panel level packaging technologies that are ready to transition to industrial-scale high-volume production. The first incarnation of Panel Level Packaging Consortium (2016–2019) consisted of 17 international partners from industry and was judged to be a high-powered and impactful project, having a recognized expert for substrate technologies and wafer-level packaging at its helm in the form of the Fraunhofer Institute of Reliability and Microintegration. For its first run, the focus of the consortium was on the entire process chain in panel-level packaging: from assembly, molding, wiring, and cost modelling to standardization.
With the second consortium launched for 2020–2022, this focus has shifted to die placement and embedding technology for ultra-fine-line wiring down to 2 µm lines and space with a potential move to 1 µm. As such, migration effects and ways to exploit the migration limits of fine line wiring have become areas of interest for the consortium’s international members, including another 17 partners from industry: Ajinomoto Fine-Techno Co., Amkor Technology, ASM Pacific Technology Ltd., AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG, Atotech, BASF, Corning Research & Development Corporation, Dupont, Evatec AG, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials U.S.A., Intel Corporation, Meltex Inc., Nagase ChemteX Corporation, RENA Technologies GmbH, Schmoll Maschinen, Showa Denko Materials Co. Ltd (former Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd), and Semsysco GmbH.
The PLC 2.0 project has again made excellent progress: New equipment for panel level packaging had been installed during the run-up to the PLC 2.0, and the project benefits from several major investments made by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to promote the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany. The impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown restricted access to laboratory work and to the research network of the Fraunhofer IZM, leading to the work plan for the PLC 2.0 being extended by 4 months. All meetings of the first year were organized in virtual format with two dedicated sessions for the relevant Asia and US time zones.
One major focus of the project has been the investigation of warpage and die shift in large format reconfigured panels (18” x 24”), and considerable progress has already been made towards understanding the root causes. With these insights, the relevant parameters can now be controlled better to enable large-area fine-line RDL processes. The analytical effort has paid off, as RDL could be scaled down considerably on the panel level, making the most of the advantages of both wafer and panel-level technologies and paving the way for an entirely new process chain with new equipment and materials.
Building on this achievement, the consortium’s partners are now expecting twelve months of agile progress with developing and managing viable process options on the road to a complete high-yield process chain. The test structures for electrochemical migration tests were also designed in accordance with the IPC standard; the design of the test vehicles was guided by the standard’s description of the IPC multi-purpose test board, but with the structure sizes matched to the geometries reflecting the goals of the PLC 2.0 project as interdigital structures. Researching a combination of economic and environmental assessments to promote more sustainable production approaches is another strong part of the PLC 2.0. A first model to estimate the carbon footprint of the PLP technology has already been established. This first calculation will help all members to identify the most energy intensive stages and further improve the data quality in the most relevant steps.
Tanja Braun, Group Leader at Fraunhofer IZM, is the public face of the Panel Level Consortium: “What makes me happy about our work is seeing such a diverse consortium coming together and making progress towards one shared goal: Finding future manufacturing technologies for maximum integration density on the panel level.”
]]>news-2362Wed, 11 Aug 2021 13:47:32 +0200UVC calibration standards with accredited test procedure https://photonicnet.de/Instrument Systems test lab develops traceable UV A/B/C reference sources for the calibration and testing of UV measuring equipment.
Instrument Systems has been accredited for tests in the field of lighting technology to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 since 2009 and is now offering accredited testing of radiant flux and luminous flux with the “Goniospectroradiometry of optical radiation sources” procedure.This procedure has enabled the development of UVC-LED reference sources with traceable reference values of maximum precision for radiant flux and irradiance. These reference sources are used for monitoring and calibrating UV measuring equipment, e.g. the ISP-PTFE series. The accreditation of test labs is extremely important for photometry customers. With it they receive the assurance that their measuring equipment delivers reliable and traceable results. At the same time, the accredited testing of the measuring instruments often used in production guarantees the high quality of the final products and instills a high level of confidence in the final customer. Instrument Systems therefore maintains a test lab accredited to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 that offers traceable tests of all relevant photometric and radiometric measurands from UV to the NIR range with numerous measuring procedures and is flexibly and securely positioned for the future. The highly experienced lighting technology engineers at Instrument Systems developed a test procedure that is conformant with standard CIE 239:2020 and accredited for the production of high-precision UV-LED reference sources. The traceable reference values for radiant flux are determined by the measurement of UV-LED sources with a goniospectroradiometer consisting of a high-precision goniometer of the LGS series and a CAS spectrometer – likewise traceably tested by the test lab – with an irradiance optical probe. Extremely low extended measurement uncertainties (k=2) of reference values of only 4.5% (UVC), 3.5% (UVB) and 2% (UVA) can be achieved with this combination. Details of the procedure have been published in several trade magazines: LpS Digital Conference Proceedings 2021 (EN), ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS 11/2021 (DE), LEDs Magazine, September 2020 (EN).
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesNew productspress reportnews-2357Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:07:00 +0200Initiative QuNET demonstrates highly secure and practical quantum communicationhttps://photonicnet.de/Today, two German federal authorities communicated via video for the first time in a quantum-secure manner. The QuNET project, an initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to develop highly secure communication systems, is thus demonstrating how data sovereignty can be guaranteed in the future. This technology will not only be important for governments and public authorities but also to protect everyday data.It was a foretaste of the communication of the future - or rather, the "data security" of the future. Because when Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek invited members of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) to a video conference today, everything looked the same, at least for outsiders. Together with Andreas Könen, Head of Department CI "Cyber and IT Security" at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) and BSI Vice President Dr. Gerhard Schabhüser, the minister talked via video stream.
And yet this videoconference opens a new chapter in the highly secure communication of the future. Because what the eye can't see: The conversation was not encrypted using conventional methods but by means of light quanta. The trick is that if an attacker tries to access the to be generated keys, which are later used for data transmission, the light particles are manipulated. This manipulation is detected together by the sender and receiver, thus preventing an interception attempt. The detection is based on physical principles. If an eavesdropping attempt is discovered, the key is discarded and a new one is generated. By means of this strategy, only private keys are kept and therefore long-term security of the agreed keys is achieved. This sets a new milestone for data confidentiality in the digital world.
A new chapter for the highly secure communication of the future
This so-called "quantum communication" will become necessary in the light of future technological developments: In the future, quantum computers and new algorithms are expected to be able to crack previously used methods of data encryption. According to the motto "store now, decrypt later", data can already be stored today and read later, e.g., with the aid of more powerful computers.
This threatens especially data that requires long-term protection, i.e., data that will still be of great value to hackers in the distant future. This includes not only information from governments and authorities, but also corporate secrets or personal health data of citizens.
Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek explained: "Quantum communication is one of the key technologies that play a crucial role in IT security and can help us prepare for future threats. This is so important because cyber security and cyber sovereignty are preconditions for the stability of democracy and also why I launched the QuNET initiative two years ago. QuNET is an important driver of the translation of findings from basic research on quantum communication into systems that are suited for everyday use. Our objective is to take advantage of the work of QuNET and the other projects on quantum communication funded by the Federal Research Ministry to lay the foundations for an ecosystem of producers and providers of quantum communication solutions in Germany. In this way, we can ensure the swift translation of innovative technologies and components into broad application. "
In order to be able to protect the privacy of citizens as well as states and companies in the future, there is already a great need for action today. It is not just a matter of developing new and highly secure communication systems based on quantum know-how but also of finding ways to integrate this new technology into existing IT infrastructures (e.g., fiber optic cables) and to take established cryptographic processes into account. There is also a particular challenge when it comes to long distances. Here, satellites can play a central role.
Long-term data security through encryption with quantum
The QuNET initiative pursues the goal of enabling long-term data security. On the way to achieving this goal, today researchers from all participating institutes realized the first quantum-based video conference between BMBF and BSI in Bonn, Germany. The focus of the QuNET work is the so-called "quantum key exchange", also known as QKD (short for "Quantum Key Distribution"). QKD enables the exchange of symmetric keys whose security can be quantified. The BSI is supporting the QuNET initiative and is preparing accompanying and independent test criteria in international cooperation.
At the end of last year, the research organizations involved in the initiative - the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Max Planck Society and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) - presented important basic principles for modern and secure communication standards. Accordingly, the scientists have further developed the overall architecture for systems for quantum-safe communication, as well as possibilities for exchanging quantum keys over long, medium and short distances using free-space and fiber systems.
In the setup of the first quantum-based videoconference between BMBF and BSI, multiple free-space and fiber quantum channels have been used. This corresponds to a more complex scenario than a connection via a single quantum channel. Besides the video conference aspect of the demonstration, the set-up was also used to produce scientific data which might give important insights for communication in complex quantum secure networks of the future.
]]>news-2360Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:56:00 +0200PicoQuant and Seven Solutions jointly release white paper on synchronizing TCSPC units in a White Rabbit timing networkhttps://photonicnet.de/Free paper demonstrates the impact of synchronization protocol on the time accuracy of MultiHarp devices connected via Low Jitter White Rabbit switchesIn a recent paper, researchers from PicoQuant have demonstrated that synchronizing Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) devices in a White Rabbit timing network has only a negligible effect on their time accuracy. Multiple devices from PicoQuant’s MultiHarp product line were connected using Low Jitter White Rabbit switches from Seven Solutions the leading manufacturer of White Rabbit components. The authors have investigated how various network topologies, optical fiber lengths, and presence of Ethernet traffic affects the time accuracy of connected MultiHarp 150 and MultiHarp 160 devices.
Download the free white paper from PicoQuant’s or Seven Solutions’ website to learn more about the flawless interoperability of the MultiHarp devices with the switches from Seven Solutions. The experiments described in the paper demonstrated that - when using White Rabbit - the excellent timing performance of the MultiHarp can be maintained for reasonably sized networks and a timing jitter of less than 45 ps rms can be expected for such cases. Furthermore, the authors showed that the impact of fiber length differences of up to 5 km or simultaneous Ethernet data transmission was negligible.
White Rabbit technology is an open source project aimed at realizing an Ethernet-based net-work permitting simultaneous sub-nanosecond synchronization over long distances. White Rabbit is a powerful technology that allows synchronizing large numbers of detection channels over long distances without having to sacrifice any of the aforementioned channels for this pur-pose, which makes it highly valuable for a range of emerging applications such as e.g., quan-tum communication.
]]>news-2332Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:26:00 +0200Dutch Royals Visit Photonics in Berlin https://photonicnet.de/On July 7, the photonics community in Berlin enjoyed a public event with some rare guests: During their visit of the German Capitol Berlin, the Royal couple of the Netherlands visited a meeting of OpTecBB, the local photonics network, and PhotonicsNL. The latter is the national photonics network of the Netherlands. Both societies signed a memorandum of understanding at this occasion.The Berlin metropolitan region has a rich history in optics, photonics and quantum technology. Research and industry went hand in hand here, from eye glass development or the first electric light bulb to modern EUV lithography. Many of these developments were shared with Dutch organizations. Two of the city’s leading institutions hosted the royal visit: Technische Universität Berlin, an institution with a major research focus on photonics and optical systems, and the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, an organization with an international reputation for research into quantum and non-quantum communication networks, artificial intelligence, and photonic integrated circuits. During the royal visit, the ceremonial Atrium at Technische Universität Berlin was transformed into a showcase for light-based future technologies and German-Dutch cooperation. At the start of the program, competence networks Optec-Berlin-Brandenburg and PhotonicsNL officially celebrated their collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase this cooperation further and used the occasion to promote the global competitiveness of Europe as a center of Photonics innovation. Professor Dr. Martin Schell, head of OpTecBB and director of the Fraunhofer HHI said “Together, we want to strengthen cooperation in research and development, promote the mutual exchange of expertise, thus improving our position in the worldwide competition for excellence.” TU Berlin itself as host institution provided two glimpses into the future of photonics and quantum research. Firstly, its projects working to smooth the path to a global quantum Internet and open up collaboration with the Dutch QuantumDelta cluster, and secondly the unique, Berlin-wide Berlin School of Optical Sciences and Quantum Technologies doctoral program, which trains the next generation of top researchers and develops strong connections with Dutch partner institutions. The economic potential of photonics in the Berlin region was demonstrated by the 35 scientific institutions and 400 businesses active in this area. Among these was traditional optics manufacturer Berliner Glas. Founded in 1952, Berliner Glas was acquired by ASML, a Dutch-based world leader in production systems in the semiconductor industry, last November 2020. Both companies attended the event in the Atrium and presented their latest technologies for chip production as well as their current plans for expansion in Berlin, including new infrastructures and measures to increase the 1000-strong workforce (400 more high-tech jobs to be staffed in the next 18 months). The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) provided examples for how research can be put into practice and how German-Dutch cooperation is creating a leap forward in European Photonics innovation. The miniaturized BB84 transmitter chips developed by researchers at the HHI are so small that they can only be viewed under a microscope, but their impact could scarcely be greater as they provide the necessary technology to make communications and IT systems faster, more energy efficient and more secure. For very precise tunable lasers, the researchers are working closely with Dutch start-up LioniX as well as PhotonDelta, a consortium committed to developing strong European networks in the areas of photonics research.
]]>news-2323Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:30:00 +0200Register now for the ISLC 2021 conference –the international semiconductor laser community meets in Potsdam, Germanyhttps://photonicnet.de/In October 2021, the renowned International Semiconductor Laser Conference (ISLC) will be heldin Germany–for the first time in nineteen years and in person. Interested participants can register now – early bird registration until July 30.The Berlin-based Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) will host the International Semiconductor Laser Conference (ISLC) as a hybrid event in Potsdam from October 10 to 14, 2021. This makesthe ISLC one of the very first in-person international laser conferences since the COVID-19 outbreak.People interested in the conference who cannottravel to the eventare welcome to participate online.
The ISLC is dedicated to latest developments in semiconductor lasers, amplifiers and LEDs. Itrepresentsexcellence from all global regions and in all areas of currently active semiconductor laser research. The program committee has selected the top 100 papers for oral and poster presentations from the conference submissions. An extensive program complementsthe conference, including renowned speakers and workshops on topics such as automotive LiDAR and photodetection.
The program with all contributions will soon be available on the conference website, which will be continuously updated –among other things, a post-deadline session is planned: www.islc2021.org.
Register now for the ISLC
Registration for participation is now open on the conference website –until July30at the Early Bird price.For more information, please click here: https://www.islc2021.org/registration
More about ISLC
The ISLC has more than 50years of tradition, attended by a highly international audience and with locations cycling between the Americas, Asia/Australia and Europe/Mid-East/Africa regions every two years. Since its founding, many new and ground-breaking semiconductor devices have been first presented at this conference. The ISLC was last in Germany in 2002. ISLC 2021and the associated exhibition areorganized by the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Berlin and supported by IEEE Photonics Society as technical sponsor.
Topics include: semiconductor optical amplifiers, silicon compatible lasers, VCSELs, photonic band-gap and microcavity lasers, grating controlled lasers, multi-segment and ring lasers, quantum cascade and interband laser, sub-wavelength scale nanolasers, mid IR and THz sources, InP, GaAs and Sb materials, quantum dot lasers, high power and high-brightness lasers, GaN and ZnSe based UV to visible lasers and LEDs, communications lasers, semiconductor integrated optoelectronics.
]]>news-2290Thu, 27 May 2021 08:38:20 +0200Dispelix and OQmented Form Strategic Partnership for the Development and Commercialization of Dispelix LBS Waveguides and OQmented LBS MEMS solutionshttps://photonicnet.de/The partnership’s initial focus is to jointly develop high performance laser beam scanning solutions for Augmented Reality applications
Espoo, Finland; and Itzehoe, Germany, May 25, 2021 - Dispelix, the world leader in Waveguide Displays for Augmented Reality Eyewear, and OQmented, the global leader in developing high performance MEMS mirror-based ultracompact projectors, have entered a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development and commercialization of MEMS-based laser beam scanning (LBS) technology. OQmented LBS MEMS technology contributes unmatched performance and is noted to be exceptionally compatible with Dispelix’s LBS waveguides for top-notch AR applications.
]]>news-2276Wed, 05 May 2021 20:46:59 +0200OQmented Joins LaSAR Alliance for Augmented Reality Wearable Deviceshttps://photonicnet.de/Alliance formed to accelerate development of augmented reality eyewear applications
Itzehoe, Germany, May 05, 2021 - OQmented, a deep tech startup developing top-notch MEMS-based laser beam scanning technology, announced today that it has joined the newly established LaSAR Alliance (Laser Scanning for Augmented Reality). The alliance was launched by five founding members as a member program of the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (ISTO), an international federation promoting industry standards and technologies in the electro-technical sector.
The LaSAR Alliance was established to create an ecosystem to enable the efficient design and manufacture of augmented reality (AR) wearable devices, including smart glasses and headmounted displays. The alliance aims to facilitate the exchange and sharing of information, to create, build and grow effective and compelling LBS (Laser Beam Scanning) -based solutions and to help drive the growth of the market for AR wearables in general.
“LaSAR welcomes OQmented to the Alliance and looks forward to their contributions to building the solid foundation on which we can all drive the growth of augmented reality wearable devices through laser beam scanning solutions,” said Dr. Bharath Rajagopalan, Chair of the LaSAR Alliance and Director, Strategy Marketing at STMicroelectronics. “OQmented offers 25 years of experience in the development of customized, ultracompact, resonant 1D and bi-resonant 2D MEMS scanners, and we expect their participation to further fuel the technology and grow this dynamic market.”
The use cases for augmented reality technology are manifold: remote collaboration in theworkplace, training situations, education, manufacturing or entertainment are among them. PwC estimates that by 2030, virtual and augmented reality will boost the global GDP by USD 1.5 trillion.1 OQmented is developing technology that is a key enabler for AR mobile and stationary devices. The company has a strong background in electronics, drive and sync, combined with software expertise. Their unique Lissajous scan pattern and the vacuum encapsulation Bubble MEMS® technology2 enable highest resolution, lowest energy consumption and smallest chip size, at the same time guaranteeing long-term reliability for the hermetically sealed micro mirrors.
“We are excited about the forum that LaSAR provides to exchange with the other members and potential partners and strongly believe that the creation of a dynamic network is a crucial step for the advancement of AR wearables,” said Dr. Ulrich Hofmann, CEO/CTO and co-founder of OQmented. “With our unique Lissajous scan pattern and the Bubble MEMS® technology, OQmented can contribute complementary solutions to the alliance which did not exist this way before, providing new possibilities for the potential customers. Numerous applications can profit from this key enabling technology,” he added.
For more information about the LaSAR Alliance visit lasaralliance.org
About OQmented
OQmented is a deep tech company developing and selling high performance MEMS mirrors for ultracompact LBS displays and best in class 3D sensing solutions for mobile and stationary applications. The unique Lissajous scan pattern in combination with the patented vacuum packaging Bubble MEMS® technology and proprietary electronics and software enable new product categories in consumer and various other industries. Further information can be found at www.oqmented.com.
For Press Information Contact: Judith Woehl Public Relations OQmented Email: media(at)oqmented.com
]]>news-2230Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:42:07 +0200STMicroelectronics and OQmented to Jointly Develop, Manufacture, and Market Advanced MEMS Mirror-Based Laser-Beam Scanning Solutionshttps://photonicnet.de/Agreement focuses on increasing development and capacity for ultra-compact, low-power laser-beam scanners to expand the marketGeneva, Switzerland; and Itzehoe, Germany, March 29, 2021 -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and OQmented, a deep-tech startup focused on MEMS1-mirror technology, have agreed to collaborate on the advancement of the technology for Augmented Reality and 3Dsensing markets. The joint effort aims to build on the expertise of both companies to advance the technology and products behind the leading MEMS-mirror-based laser-beam scanning (LBS) solutions in the market.
]]>news-2214Wed, 24 Mar 2021 08:24:39 +0100Laser Components wins Prism Award 2021 with LaserLighthttps://photonicnet.de/SMD Chip Opens up New Application Possibilities in the Security Sector
LaserLight SMD W-IR, the world’s first white light chip with a switching function, received the Prism Award 2021 from SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. On command, the light source transforms into an IR emitter with 905 nm or 850 nm. Both light sources are housed on the same 7×7 mm chip. SMDs are optionally available with a starboard to facilitate mounting on the circuit board.With a luminous flux of 450 lumens and a luminance of 1000 Mcd/m², the KYOCERA SLD Laser product offers all the advantages of LaserLight white light technology, such as a long range and narrow beam angle, even in this dual function. The IR wavelengths are emitted with an output power of 250 mW.
The IR wavelengths of the SMD W-IR are mainly used in motion sensors, night vision cameras, and other professional security systems. This new development opens up numerous application possibilities. Instead of placing motion sensors and lighting in two different components, one element can perform both functions. For example, a surveillance camera automatically illuminates the corresponding area as soon as it detects something suspicious.
This chip is distributed in Europe and the USA by LASER COMPONENTS.
]]>NewsFrom the member companiesNew productsPrizes and awardspress reportnews-2192Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:13:00 +0100VI Systems demos 224G VCSEL https://photonicnet.de/VI Systems arranged a record speed data transmission demonstration of up to 224 Gbps using their new generation of 850 nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). VI Systems demonstrated a VCSEL data transmission at 224 Gbps using a standard telecom modulation format. In the setup the new generation of 850 nm VCSEL chips of the company were used. The experiment confirms that VCSEL based optical interconnects can also become available for the next generation of serial speed upgrade.
Details of the data transmission experiment will be presented at the Photonics West 2021 Digital Forum from March 6-11, 2021.
About VI Systems GmbH VI Systems GmbH, based in Berlin, Germany, is a fabless developer and manufacturer of components for optical communication and sensing. More information about VI Systems is available at www.v-i-systems.com
Press Contact: George Schaefer VI Systems GmbH Hardenbergstrasse 7 10623 Berlin, Germany phone: +49 30 30 831 43 41 fax: +49 30 30 831 43 59 email: George.Schaefer(at)v-i-systems.com
]]>news-2181Tue, 09 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0100Laser Technology for Agriculture 4.0https://photonicnet.de/With climate change, uncertainties in food security, and pressure to preserve resources, agriculture is facing difficult tasks. To meet these challenges with cost-effective and intelligent electronic solutions, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM are working with partners to combine smart system integration with sensor technology, thus enabling the leap to Agriculture 4.0. In an earlier project they developed a laser that uses optical detection and AI evaluation to prevent infestation with harmful insects in warehouses and that is intended to replace the usual fumigation.Between the cultivation of grain and its consumption lies the real work of farmers. The growth of the plants must be continually monitored, the soil quality checked, and harmful insects eliminated — processes that cost both time and money. To modernize them, Fraunhofer IZM and the TU Berlin are involved in the ZIM network “AgriPhotonik” which brings together 29 German and Israeli partners from industry and research to establish digital processes in agriculture by using the potential of agricultural technology and photonics. The network management is handled by the OpTecBB competence network.
In the precursor project “Insect Laser”, supported by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food and partners, a solution was developed at Fraunhofer IZM to protect the agricultural stock from contamination by grain weevils and Indian meal moths. Though barely four millimeters long, these pests can cause significant economic damage and carry diseases.
It is common practice to fumigate storage spaces with chemicals only after an infestation with harmful insects. These chemicals, such as hydrogen phosphide, are deadly to the insects but can be used only sparingly. When used more frequently, residues on the stock can cause health hazards to humans and, above all, environmental pollution.
To reduce the use of chemical protective agents, the researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Integration IZM set out to combine laser technology and automated image recognition to reliably ensure the safety of agricultural products. The project was coordinated by the Julius Kühn Institute in Berlin.
The researchers detect the moment of infestation before the pests can spread throughout the stocks. Using an image-processing method developed by the BTU Cottbus (Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus), the small pests are detected on the surface of the supplies or on walls. An AI system then analyzes and classifies the insects and compares them against reference images. Such algorithms for image recognition are already established in countless applications. In this project, however, the wide variety of dimensions was especially challenging, since harmful insects that are only a few millimeters in size need to be reliably detected in the warehouses. This had to be taken into account in the design and production of the IZM laser system.
Once the position of a pest is known, a fine laser beam is directed to the relevant coordinates via radio by a scanner, rendering the corn weevil or Indian meal moth harmless. Because of the low temperature and intensity of the laser, the grains located underneath are unaffected. By using a laser system, direct primary infestation is prevented, so that insects harmful to supplies do not spread in the first place.
The Fraunhofer IZM researchers in Berlin examined how different wavelengths and light beam intensities influenced the movement behavior of the pests and found that the infrared light had the lowest effect on the characteristic movement behavior used to identify the animals. The researchers were also significantly involved in developing the laser system, and initially created a laboratory setup. Following successful testing, they transferred this set-up into a compact insect laser system consisting of several units for use in test cells.
They also developed the interfaces for software and hardware between camera, laser, and scanner.
With these activities, Fraunhofer IZM is opening up to projects that will increase digitalization and automation in agriculture. In doing so, the researchers integrate optical sensors and electronic controls into unique systems and ensure that these can be manufactured efficiently and used sustainably.
]]>news-2076Thu, 15 Oct 2020 13:24:15 +0200CSEM: Alexandre Pauchard to succeed Mario El-Khoury as the new CEO of CSEMhttps://photonicnet.de/The Board of Directors has appointed Alexandre Pauchard as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CSEM. His appointment will be effective as of 18 January 2021. He will succeed Mario El-Khoury, who has successfully led the Center since 2009.CSEM is opening a new chapter. After 11 years at the helm of the Center, Mario El-Khoury, 57, is leaving his position as the head of CSEM to devote himself to personal projects. He is to be replaced by Alexandre Pauchard, who currently works for BOBST.
Arriving at CSEM in 1994, Mario El-Khoury, a Lebanese-Swiss engineer, held multiple leadership and executive positions before being appointed the role of CEO in 2009. Through his direction, he successfully managed to position CSEM as a key player in the development and transfer of cutting-edge technologies to benefit Swiss companies. A champion of innovation in all its forms and a passionate advocate for maintaining production in Switzerland, he has initiated several strategies aimed at digitizing Swiss SMEs to guarantee their competitiveness.
Under his leadership, CSEM has experienced unprecedented growth and development, with the number of employees increasing from 387 to 525. In 2013, he successfully established CSEM’s PV-Center, which fosters innovation in photovoltaics. He encouraged the Center’s growth in the MedTech and Additive Manufacturing domains and recently helped oversee the launch of the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar, Switzerland's first connected watch, whose operating system and watch dial were developed at CSEM.
“Mario El-Khoury is an extraordinary director, who has allowed CSEM to shine both internationally and in Switzerland. We are extremely grateful on many levels for the excellent work he has done for us,” acknowledges Claude Nicollier, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Working within this unique and magnificent organization has been an exceptional opportunity,” adds Mario El-Khoury, “my gratitude goes out to my colleagues, Chairman Claude Nicollier, and the members of the Board of Directors. Their unwavering support has enabled CSEM to strive for excellence without losing its humanity.”
Head of Group R&D at BOBST, Alexandre Pauchard, 49, will take over the reins of the Center on the 18 January 2021. He will jointly manage CSEM alongside Mario El-Khoury until Mr. El-Khoury’s departure on 28 February 2021. Alexandre Pauchard has lived in both California and Zurich, graduated with a degree in Physics from ETH Zürich, and holds a doctorate in microengineering from EPFL. He brings with him to CSEM extensive technical and managerial experience, and his dynamism perfectly complements the Center, whose future operations seem set to continue along a steady path. “We are very enthusiastic about Alexandre’s appointment and look forward to working with this competent new leader,” says Claude Nicollier. “His past activities align exactly with CSEM’s areas of expertise, and his strong motivation to pursue the Center's objectives, ensuring it remains a center of technological excellence and innovation, and guaranteeing the transfer of our products and research to the Swiss industry gives us full confidence in CSEM’s future.”
]]>NewsFrom the member companiespress reportnews-2147Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:35:00 +0200Search for traces of microplastics in humans: New joint research project funded https://photonicnet.de/The PlasMark project, which has been awarded 4.5 million Euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, will start in October 2020 with the aim of investigating the consequences of microplastics in the human body. Methods from astrophysics will be applied. The multidisciplinary research team from the fields of physics, biochemistry, biology and pharmacy is focusing on the question of how label-free diagnostics of plastic particles is possible. "We focus on three different state-of-the-art technologies," explains Prof. Martin Roth from the innoFSPEC research centre at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP). "In addition to confocal Raman spectroscopy and terahertz spectroscopy, which we know from the so-called body scanners at the airport, the suitability of multispectral light and electron microscopy for this purpose is being investigated.”
All three approaches - partly borrowed from astrophysics - are suitable for making statements about the chemical composition of a particle as well as visualising it. Raman spectroscopy take advantage of the fact that matter interacts with laser light, leaving behind a characteristic fingerprint - a spectrum in the scattered light. In this way it is also possible to assign the plastic particles to their original material - e.g. polyethylene, polystyrene or PVC. While this works well for sufficiently large pieces of plastic, the challenge for the team is to detect these fingerprints for small and minute particles. In addition, successfully scanning tissue samples with conventional Raman microscopes is very time-consuming and can take many hours to days. The innoFSPEC research centre at the AIP has set itself the goal of realising an imaging Raman spectroscopy setup that allows the identification of plastic particles within minutes or seconds. This is made possible by wide field spectrographs from astronomy - where this technique is used in observatories to save valuable observation time.
The joint project supports research at three Centres for Innovation Competence (ZIK) in the new federal states: ZIK plasmatis at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology Greifswald (INP), ZIK HIKE at the University Medical School and University of Greifswald and ZIK innoFSPEC at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP). The first results are expected to be available in two years' time in order to be able to better answer the question to what extent the contamination of the environment and thus of the human body with microplastic particles is one of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases or even cancer.
Press release of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology e.V. (INP)
The key areas of research at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) are cosmic magnetic fields and extragalactic astrophysics. A considerable part of the institute's efforts aim at the development of research technology in the fields of spectroscopy, robotic telescopes, and e-science. The AIP is the successor of the Berlin Observatory founded in 1700 and of the Astrophysical Observatory of Potsdam founded in 1874. The latter was the world's first observatory to emphasize explicitly the research area of astrophysics. The AIP has been a member of the Leibniz Association since 1992.
]]>news-1807Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:42:26 +0100LASER COMPONENTS Takes the Initiativehttps://photonicnet.de/Application for RoHS Exemption for PbX Detectors CompletedTogether with customers at home and abroad, LASER COMPONENTS has taken a leading role in the industry and made every effort to ensure that the supply of PbX detectors remains secure. These companies have applied for exemption from the RoHS regulations in Brussels.
The EU directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2) contains a list of chemical elements and compounds that may no longer be used in electronic products. This includes lead in concentrations above 0.1%. The legislators are primarily concerned with tin solder that contains lead. However, this heavy metal is also a crucial component in the PbS and PbSe detectors manufactured by the LASER COMPONENTS Detector Group.
Manufacturers can apply for exemptions from this rule if a product is indispensable for certain applications. Annex IV, point 1c of the directive explicitly mentions lead used in infrared detectors. Together with its customers, LASER COMPONENTS has formed a consortium that has been able to prove that an alternative to using lead salt detectors in certain areas is not available.
“Many SMEs would simply be overwhelmed with the burden of EU law if they tried to take it on themselves,” says Sven Schreiber, who coordinated the activities at LASER COMPONENTS. “As a well-known player in the international detector market, we have taken the initiative. We are confident that our application will be granted. This would benefit all market participants for another seven years. At that time, the exemption will be renewed.”
]]>news-1805Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:10:11 +0100Optical frequency measurement to the 21st significant digithttps://photonicnet.de/TOPTICA’s frequency comb DFC CORE+ demonstrates world record stability, as reported in an article by scientists of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Braunschweig, Germany and TOPTICA.TOPTICA’s frequency comb DFC CORE+ demonstrates world record stability, as reported in an article by scientists of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Braunschweig, Germany and TOPTICA.
This paves the way for a future improvement of some of the most sensitive instruments ever created: optical clocks and gravitational wave detectors. Both benefit from transferring the ultimate stability to a specific wavelength.
Read the text online. Download a high-resolution image here.
TOPTICA Photonics AG Lochhamer Schlag 19 82166 Graefelfing, Germany www.toptica.com
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TOPTICA has been developing and manufacturing high-end laser systems for scientific and industrial applications for 20 years. Our portfolio includes diode lasers, ultrafast fiber lasers, terahertz systems and frequency combs. The systems are used for demanding applications in biophotonics, industrial metrology and quantum technology. TOPTICA is renowned for providing the widest wavelength coverage of diode lasers on the market, providing high-power lasers even at exotic wavelengths. Today, TOPTICA employs 300 people worldwide in six business units (TOPTICA Photonics AG, eagleyard Photonics GmbH, TOPTICA Projects GmbH, TOPTICA Photonics Inc. USA, TOPTICA Photonics K.K. Japan, and TOPTICA Photonics China) with a consolidated group turnover of € 60 million.
]]>news-1473Thu, 24 Jan 2019 10:58:00 +0100Jahresauftakt bei ZEISS in Jenahttps://photonicnet.de/Fokus auf erfolgreiche Entwicklung am Standort und Jubiläumsjahr der Mondlandung ZEISS hatte gestern Abend zum Jahresauftakt in Jena eingeladen: Zu den rund 300 Gästen gehörten Kunden und Geschäftspartner sowie Vertreter von Politik, Wissenschaft und Bildung und des öffentlichen Lebens in Thüringen und Jena.
Grußworte überbrachten für den Freistaat Thüringen Ministerpräsident Bodo Ramelow und für die Stadt Jena Oberbürgermeister Dr. Thomas Nitzsche. Der Vorstandsvorsitzende der Carl Zeiss AG, Prof. Dr. Michael Kaschke, gab einen Überblick über die Entwicklung der ZEISS Gruppe. Der weitere Abend war anlässlich des 50-jährigen Jubiläums der ersten Mondlandung am 21. Juli 1969 der Raumfahrt gewidmet. In einem Dialog sprach Kaschke mit den beiden Raumfahrern Dr. Sigmund Jähn und Prof. Dr. Reinhold Ewald über ihre Missionen im All.
Robust und widerstandsfähig für die Zukunft gerüstet Kaschke konnte auf das vergangene Geschäftsjahr 2017/18 als wiederum eines der erfolgreichsten in der Geschichte von ZEISS verweisen. Dabei haben alle vier Sparten der ZEISS Gruppe zum Erfolg beigetragen. Er würdigte das Engagement, das Wissen und die Tatkraft aller ZEISS Mitarbeiter weltweit, die zu dem Rekordumsatz von 5,8 Milliarden Euro beigetragen haben.
Er hob ebenfalls hervor, dass die in Jena ansässige Carl Zeiss Meditec AG seit Ende Dezember 2018 aufgrund der nachhaltig erfolgreichen Entwicklung in den MDAX aufgestiegen und dort das einzige Unternehmen aus den ostdeutschen Bundesländern sei. Angesichts abflauender Konjunktur, zunehmenden Protektionismus und anderer Hemmnisse soll eine fokussierte Investitions- und Innovationsstrategie ZEISS laut Kaschke noch widerstandsfähiger machen. Basis sei ein an Megatrends ausgerichtetes Portfolio mit verstärktem Blick auf Produktivität und Effektivität. ZEISS investierte im abgelaufenen Geschäftsjahr knapp elf Prozent des Umsatzes in Zukunftstechnologien.
Zum weiteren Kurs von ZEISS sagte er: „ZEISS ist mit seiner Unternehmensstrategie gut gerüstet, um sich weiter dynamisch zu entwickeln. Da können wir durchaus zuversichtlich in die Zukunft schauen. Für das aktuelle Geschäftsjahr haben wir die 6-Milliarden-Euro-Marke bei einer stabilen EBIT-Rendite fest im Visier“.
Entwicklung der Region und des Standortes Jena Bodo Ramelow, Ministerpräsident des Freistaats Thüringen, und Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Jena, überbrachten ZEISS ihre Grußworte.
Der Ministerpräsident betonte die Rolle von ZEISS in Thüringen: „Die Zeissianer mit ihren technologischen Antworten auf viele Trends und Herausforderungen unserer Zeit sind und bleiben im Freistaat Thüringen und in ganz Ostdeutschland wichtige Impulsgeber für Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Durch seine Internationalität und Brückenfunktion zwischen Ost und West in Deutschland, aber auch über die Kontinente hinweg, hat das Unternehmen eine Vorbildfunktion für die Region und das Land. Nur so kann auch ein weltoffenes und bewegliches Thüringen erfolgreich sein.“
Jenas Oberbürgermeister brachte in seiner Rede noch einmal die Freude über die Investition am Standort Jena zum Ausdruck: „Das Großprojekt von ZEISS wird für die Stadt selbst und ihre Entwicklung wie eine Initialzündung sein und viele positive Folgewirkungen nach sich ziehen. Der Hightech-Standort wird sich mit Modernität und Eigenständigkeit, aber auch mit großer Offenheit in das Stadtbild einfügen und eindrucksvoll zeigen, dass Jena seine Zukunft als Forschungs-, Wissenschafts- und Wirtschaftsstandort fest im Blick hat. Ich freue mich, dass sich ZEISS über sein gesellschaftliches Engagement hinaus auch mit dieser Entscheidung zum Neubau zu seinem Gründungsstandort bekennt.“
Im Zeichen der Mondlandung Der Abend stand dann unter dem Motto Raumfahrt: ZEISS war vor 50 Jahren bei der Apollo-11-Mission mit einem speziell entwickelten Objektiv für die Fotoaufnahmen dabei. Eine Replik der Kamera war in einer für die Veranstaltung entworfenen Ausstellung zur Mondlandung zu sehen. Außerdem diskutierten die beiden Raumfahrer Jähn und Ewald mit Kaschke über ihre Missionen im All.
Jähn flog am 26. August 1978 als erster Deutscher in den Weltraum. Während der 124 Erdumkreisungen führte er an Bord der sowjetischen Raumstation Saljut 6 Experimente durch. Im Bereich Fernerkundung kam die Multispektralkamera MKF 6 von ZEISS zum Einsatz. Ewald, der heute an der Universität Stuttgart für das Fachgebiet Astronautik und Raumstationen am Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme tätig ist, nahm vom 10. Februar bis 2. März 1997 an der zweiten deutsch-russischen Mission teil. Dabei flog er als Wissenschaftskosmonaut zur Raumstation MIR.
Prof. Dr. Michael Kaschke, Dr. Sigmund Jähn und Prof. Dr. Reinhold Ewald (von rechts) zu Besuch in der anlässlich des 50-jährigen Jubiläums entwickelten Sonderausstellung „See beyond. Go beyond. The journey to the moon and ZEISS.“
Ansprechpartner für die Presse Gudrun Vogel Standort Jena Tel.: +49 3641 64-2770 gudrun.vogel@zeiss.com
Über ZEISS ZEISS ist ein weltweit führendes Technologieunternehmen der optischen und optoelektronischen Industrie. In den vier Sparten Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets und Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology erwirtschaftete die ZEISS Gruppe zuletzt einen Jahresumsatz von über 5,8 Milliarden Euro (Stand: 30.9.2018).
ZEISS entwickelt, fertigt und vertreibt für seine Kunden hochinnovative Lösungen für die industrielle Messtechnik und Qualitätssicherung, Mikroskopielösungen für Lebenswissenschaften und Materialforschung sowie Medizintechniklösungen für Diagnostik und Therapie in der Augenheilkunde und der Mikrochirurgie. ZEISS steht auch für die weltweit führende Lithographieoptik, die zur Herstellung von Halbleiterbauelementen von der Chipindustrie verwendet wird. ZEISS Markenprodukte wie Brillengläser, Fotoobjektive und Ferngläser sind weltweit begehrt und Trendsetter.
Mit diesem auf Wachstumsfelder der Zukunft wie Digitalisierung, Gesundheit und Industrie 4.0 ausgerichteten Portfolio und einer starken Marke gestaltet ZEISS die Zukunft weit über die optische und optoelektronische Branche hinaus. Grundlage für den Erfolg und den weiteren kontinuierlichen Ausbau der Technologie- und Marktführerschaft von ZEISS sind die nachhaltig hohen Aufwendungen für Forschung und Entwicklung.
Mit rund 30.000 Mitarbeitern ist ZEISS in fast 50 Ländern mit rund 60 eigenen Vertriebs- und Servicestandorten, mehr als 30 Produktions- sowie rund 25 Entwicklungsstandorten weltweit aktiv. Hauptstandort des 1846 in Jena gegründeten Unternehmens ist Oberkochen, Deutschland. Alleinige Eigentümerin der Dachgesellschaft, der Carl Zeiss AG, ist die Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, eine der größten deutschen Stiftungen zur Förderung der Wissenschaft.
Weitere Informationen unter www.zeiss.de ZEISS in Jena Am Standort Jena sind mit Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Medical Technology und Research Microscopy Solutions, dem Bereich Planetarien sowie der zentralen Forschung von ZEISS alle vier Sparten vertreten. Jena ist zudem der Sitz der zentralen Servicegesellschaft für Produktionsleistungen der ZEISS Gruppe.]]>news-1240Fri, 06 Jul 2018 11:22:15 +020013th DLP(r) Technology Symposium - Save the Date / Call for Presentationshttps://photonicnet.de/The 13th International Symposium on Emerging and Industrial TI DLP® Technology Applications will be held at Congress Park CPH in Hanau (near Frankfurt, Germany) on October 23, 2018.
The DLP Symposium is the established platform that aims to promote the dialogue and discussion between engineers, researchers, users and manufacturers/distributors in the field of innovative advanced light control optical solutions that can serve new markets.
XIII International Symposium on Emerging and Industrial TI DLP® Technology Applications
We are glad to announce that the 13th International Symposium on Emerging and Industrial TI DLP® Technology Applications will be held at Congress Park CPH in Hanau (near Frankfurt, Germany) on October 23, 2018. The DLP symposium is the established platform that aims to promote the dialogue and discussion between engineers, researchers, users and manufacturers/distributors in the field of innovative advanced light control optical solutions that can serve new markets. The event is jointly organized by OpSys Project Consulting and the photonics innovation network Optence e.V.
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
DLP chips and associated development platforms are enabling many exciting new systems and applications beyond traditional display technologies. By bringing together scientists, technologists, and developers, the goal of this conference is to highlight new and interesting means of applying DLP technology to end applications within these emerging markets:
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
3D machine vision (automated optical inspection (AOI), PCB quality inspection, robotics vision, factory automation, dental scanning, medical imaging and biometrics)
3D printing (rapid prototyping, direct manufacturing, and tooling & casting)
Spectroscopy (oil & gas analysis, food & drug inspection, water & air quality, and chemical & material identification)
DLP Pico™ video and data display (including smartphones & tablets, pico projectors, wearable displays, smart home displays, aftermarket head-up display, commercial gaming displays, and mobile smart TVs)
Technical aspects on subsystems and components comprised in DLP Systems (including light sources, optics, electronics, new product introductions)
Why submit a paper?
Get a large impact in the advanced light control community: Some 120 attendees and contributors from all over Europe, USA and Asia made the DLP symposium a huge success in 2015!
Please submit your contribution prior to August 15, 2018 to OpSys Project Consulting | Alfred Jacobsen |office(at)opsysconsult.com
Exhibition Space Offer
Seize the opportunity and register now for a table top presentation booth at the DLP Symposium exhibition area. Please find here information for the exhibition conditions including an application form. Please return order form by scanned copy to machemer(at)optence.de. Or confirm your requirements and preferences directly by e-mail.