Editorial
Johannes Verst (QBN)
Interview
The head of the family-owned German company tells the story of running a producer and distributor of optical and optoelectronic components and laser modules for a wide range of technology sectors.
Everyone is talking about quantum technology (QT) – but what does this buzzword, with its origins in the photonics industry, actually mean in practice? As an experienced company in the QT sector, Toptica Eagleyard shares some key insights on its pivotal role in the industry in an interview, and reports on what QT has to do with the ‘valley of tears’ and ‘coming home’.
Imaging and Sensing
Katrin Kobe (Bosch Quantum Sensing)
Quantum sensing may be less well known than quantum computing but its impact on our world may be just as significant. Quantum sensors promise accuracy 1,000 times greater than that provided by today's conventional sensors, opening up new applications in medicine, navigation and more. Quantum sensing is also closer to market readiness than quantum computing.
Hao Pang (Quantum Science)
With technology like lidar heralding a revolution in vehicle automation, SWIR (short-wave infrared) imaging and sensing will become increasingly vital to the automotive sector. Quantum dots, nanoscale semiconductors tunable to SWIR wavelengths, could provide the answer to empowering SWIR and bringing enhanced capability to the mass market.
- Pages: 36-38
- First Published: 01 December 2023
Technology Feature
Rubén Pérez-Aranda (KDPOF) & Joseph Pankert (Trumpf Photonic Components)
With the ever-increasing need for faster data communication in cars, electrical interconnects are beginning to show bandwidth and electromagnetic compatibility limitations. The new IEEE 802.3cz ethernet physical layer has been developed specifically to meet these needs, based on a long-wavelength multimode VCSEL (vertical cavity surface-emitting laser) and mature bend-insensitive multimode fibers. A major innovation is taking place that will make automotive-grade, multigigabit optical transceivers possible.
- Pages: 39-43
- First Published: 01 December 2023
Beam Shaping
Gwenn Pallier (Cailabs)
The electric mobility (e-mobility) revolution is upon us, driven by the imperative need to reduce carbon emissions, navigate evolving political landscapes, and meet societal expectations.
- Pages: 44-47
- First Published: 01 December 2023
Laser Micromachining
Mitchell Leering (MTC), Cliff Jolliffe (Physik Instrumente), and Sundar Marimuthu (MTC)
Scaling up clean hydrogen production using renewable energy is essential for decarbonizing a range of sectors, including transportation, chemicals, and steel, where reducing emissions and achieving net-zero targets have proven to be challenging. Advances in laser-based manufacturing, particularly ultra-high-speed laser drilling, are crucial for economically producing and scaling up hydrogen components, including high-temperature hydrogen electrolyzers (HTHE).
Laser Sources
Richard Hogg (III-V Epi)
How can design engineers use epitaxial regrowth to enhance semiconductor laser performance and unlock new markets? First, we need to take a closer look at the relatively mature, epitaxial regrowth process for indium phosphide (InP) lasers, commonly used in 5G, datacomms, telecoms and co-located optics applications. Then we can consider gallium arsenide (GaAs), a less mature material system, which suits a multitude of emerging industrial, biomedical imaging, datacomms, and sensing laser applications.
- Pages: 53-55
- First Published: 01 December 2023
Optical Measurement Technology
Sergius Janik, Thorsten Lubinski, Michael Kaluza, and Werner Mäntele (all: Diamontech)
Diabetes patients rely on frequent measurement of blood glucose that is presently performed by painful pricking and analysis of a drop of blood. Diamontech has developed a noninvasive technique that targets a prominent mid-infrared signature of glucose. This technique uses quantum cascade lasers and photothermal detection. Clinical validation has proven an accuracy similar to current invasive techniques.
Technology Report
Ivan Nikitskiy (EPIC)
This article examines the latest developments in hybrid photonics integration, with a focus on the European ecosystem. It discusses the transition from low-cost prototyping of photonic integrated circuits to the pilot line production of photonic chips.
Meetings
Index & Masthead
