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From space exploration and quantum optics, to biomedical imaging and defense, today’s top scientific minds are using lasers, spectroscopy, sensors, and optics to deliver cutting-edge innovation to our society. In intimate conversations with those pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, “All Things Photonics” spotlights photonics industry progress from beyond the lab. Hear how 3D printed microscopes — and those developed for a fraction of the cost — offer our best hope for diagnosing disease in the developing world; why spectroscopy might be the most valuable tool in the crime scene technicians’ arsenal; how light can motorize drug delivery; and how the quantum cascade laser, CMOS image sensor, and robot-assisted surgery became realities. Notable guests include Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland; Columbia University Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering Michal Lipson; inventor of the CMOS image sensor Eric Fossum; serial entrepreneur Jason Eichenholz; co-namesake of the Hockney Falco Thesis Charles Falco; and SPIE President and founder of the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center Anita Mahadevan-Jansen. “All Things Photonics”® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. The podcast was a shortlisted finalist in two categories — Best Science & Medical Podcast and Best Technology Podcast — for The Publishers Podcast Awards in 2021. It has again earned shortlist honors in the Best Science and Medical Podcast category for 2022. Contact us at Allthings@photonics.com.
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
Leading groups among the scientific community are expressing their concerns over proposed White House budget cuts. America may sit on top of the mountain when it comes to research efforts, but other nations are catching up, and funding cuts could lead to there being a new global leader in R&D. SPIE has issued a call to action, asking Americans to contact their government officials to express their concern over proposed cuts. Jennifer O'Bryan is the Government Affairs Director for the society. In this episode of All Things Photonics, she shares her own concerns with President Trump's attitude towards science and what SPIE is doing to help protect research efforts.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Tuesday May 26, 2026
Tuesday May 26, 2026
imec and Ghent University researcher, Bart Kuyken, discusses his group’s recent Nature Photonics paper. The micro-transfer printing process, material platforms utilized, and prospects to innovate upon existing silicon photonics process and workflows are discussed.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday May 19, 2026
Tuesday May 19, 2026
Xavier Lafosse, commercial technology director, precision glass solutions at Corning, discusses how data center dynamics are ushering in a new era for optical materials — centered as much on demand as on innovation. As leading companies optimize their partnerships, drive research breakthroughs, and unveil commercial product, meeting the moment necessitates deep understanding of the market, but at present and in the future. Lafosse, an expert in optical materials, offers his perspective in this exclusive conversation.
Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday May 12, 2026
Tuesday May 12, 2026
Unmanned aircraft, like drones, have become a weapon of choice. They are effective and cheap to produce, but the systems to stop them are not. Laser- and microwave-based systems are slowly coming online, but there are still hurdles to overcome before they become a staple defense on the front lines. Ganesh Balakrishnan, or “Gunny" as he’s known, is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Mexico. He sat down with the All Things Photonics team to discuss how molecular beam epitaxy, VCSELs, PCSELs, and other photonic tech all play a part in the wider ecosystem behind counter unmanned systems.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday Apr 28, 2026
Tuesday Apr 28, 2026
Computing with light can enable high-performance compute with dramatically lower energy use and reduced heat. Q.Ant is a Stuttgart-based photonic computing scale-up, leading the way to more sustainable AI and high-performance computing. CEO Michael Förtsch joins us to share his thoughts on the hidden costs of AI, the technology and materials driving Q.Ant’s photonic solutions, and why the future of compute is in need of a fundamental change.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
In this discussion with Omega Optical’s David Ventola, a leading authority on diffraction technology, "All Things Photonics" navigates the complete gratings value chain, from concept and design, to replication and fabrication, to application and deployment. A mature technology, optical grating innovation is measured today by industry-driven advancements that are found in the marketplace. Omega Optical’s Prism Award-winning DeepUV Transmission Gratings are one such solution.
Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
"All Things Photonics" is teaming up with the journal Optica to bring you insights on the latest studies leading to breakthroughs in optics and photonics.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows encrypted information to be distributed without being intercepted. In free-space QKD, however, fluctuations in atmospheric conditions can cause distortions and impair the retrieval of the encoded information. In a study published in the journal Optica, a research team from the University of Ottawa developed a way to alleviate the effects of atmospheric turbulence on spatial mode transmission, creating an all-optical self-correction scheme for turbulence resilience using stimulated parametric down-conversion (StimPDC)-based optical phase conjugation. Aarón Cardoso, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, joins us to explain why he turned to StimPDC to solve this quantum quandary.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Before today’s ubiquitous technologies became tangible products, they began with a research proposal. The journal Optica prides itself on publishing high-impact peer-reviewed articles covering a spectrum of fields throughout optics and photonics, and for years, Prem Kumar served as the editor-in-chief for the journal. Even before taking on that title, he was familiar with the journal, having submitted several works himself. Some made the cut; others didn’t quite meet those standards. In our Spotlight conversation, Kumar shares more about his accomplishments with Optica, his work in quantum, and his own journey in photonics.
Spotlight from "All Things Photonics"® is a special series of intimate sit-down conversations with preeminent figures in our industry.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology made headlines five years ago when Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arrived in the fight against COVID-19. Today, mRNA research is expanding into cancer treatments, cardiovascular regeneration, and other areas. Igor Lednev is a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University at Albany. His lab is developing a new technique to test mRNA-based therapeutics using lasers. On this episode of “All Things Photonics,” Igor discusses his work to evaluate mRNA vaccines and treatments through Raman spectroscopy, and he explains the role laser spectroscopy will play in advancing modern medicine.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Every White House administration has its priorities. Government reform and the elimination of waste are among President Donald Trump's top priorities. Cutting down on waste is not a partisan issue; no one wants to throw away money. But how you define waste can draw a mixed response. The president has targeted scientific grants as an area in need of reform, and according to a piece published by Nature, more than 7,800 grants have been terminated or frozen. Dan Garisto is a freelance physics journalist and is one of the three authors of this piece. On this episode of All Things Photonics, he discusses the biggest findings of his work as he dug into the status of U.S. science one year into the president’s second term.
"All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.
Sponsored by:
Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com