The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its UV calibration facility to ensure accurate calibration of UV detectors. The Ultraviolet Spectral Comparator Facility (UVSCF) measures and calibrates UV detection equipment sent in by industry. The germicidal properties of UV light make it useful in sanitation and disinfection, especially in healthcare settings. It is also used to combat microbial contamination in water, and for curing epoxy. This automobile-sized black box is the heart of NIST’s Ultraviolet Spectral Comparator Facility (UVSCF), which holds the instrume ..read more

Global eyewear firm EssilorLuxotica has reached an agreement to acquire an 80% stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a provider of diagnostic solutions and technologies for clinical ophthalmology. EssilorLuxotica is the parent company to ophthalmology equipment suppliers Essilor Instruments and Satisloh, as well as a number of eyewear brands including Ray-Ban and Oakley, as well as lens manufacturers including Essilor, Varilux, and Transitions. Heidelberg Engineering brings extensive technological and scientific expertise in OCT, real-time image processing and analytics, large-scale data analysis ..read more

Using graphene as the emission source, researchers at AMO GmbH worked with other European universities to develop a MIR emitter for integrated photonic gas sensors. The researchers integrated the graphene-based emitter with photonic waveguides that couple directly into silicon waveguides operating in the region relevant for gas sensing. The integration of these components at the wafer level could reduce the size and cost, improve the mechanical stability, and potentially enhance the performance of environmental sensors. Applications in environmental monitoring, industrial process control, m ..read more

SCHOTT AG has appointed Marcus Knöbel as CFO effective Sept. 1. Previously acting as SCHOTT’s executive vice president of its advanced optics business unit, Knöbel will assume responsibilities related to finance, purchasing, information technology, and mergers and acquisitions within the company’s management board. He succeeds Jens Schulte, who had been SCHOTT’s CFO since 2016 until he stepped down from the position on April 30. Marcus Knöbel. Courtesy of SCHOTT AG. ULM, Germany — Lidar technology developer Scantinel has appointed Frank Lindenberg as chairman of its advisory board. He brings ..read more

A study published by the European technology platform Photonics21 shows China’s substantial growth in the photonics industry, prompting calls from EU photonics experts for increased funding to close a gap in market share. Over the past two decades, China’s global market share has increased from 10% to more than 30%, eclipsing both the U.S. and Europe, each with 15% market share respectively, the report said. Photonics production in China is expected to reach €315 billion (approximately $342 billion) in 2025, the report said. The study, Political Steering Processes in China in Core Segments of ..read more

The management board of STEMMER IMAGING has concluded an investment agreement with MiddleGround Capital. MiddleGround Capital plans to submit an offer to acquire all outstanding shares of the company at a price of €48 (~$52) per share, implying an equity value of €312 million. Following the acquisition’s completion, expected in the fourth quarter of 2024, MiddleGround intends to take STEMMER Imaging private. MiddleGround Capital has already secured a stake of approximately 69.4% of all outstanding shares through a purchase agreement with Stemmer’s majority shareholder PRIMEPULSE SE, who plans ..read more

Quantum computing company Quandela has partnered with quantum networking company Welinq to develop custom quantum interconnects. The collaborators aim to establish clusters of interconnected and error-protected photonic quantum computers by combining Welinq’s full-stack quantum interconnects technology with Quandela’s photonic quantum computing processors. The result, the partners said, will be the ability to provide custom quantum supporting fault-tolerant computing and the expansion of comprehensive quantum networks connecting numerous chips. Tom Darras (left), CEO and co-founder, Welinq an ..read more

Sivers Semiconductors AB, a supplier of integrated chips and photonics modules for advanced communications and sensor solutions, has appointed Vickram Vathulya president and CEO. Vathulya will succeed Anders Storm, effective Aug. 19. Vathulya has more than 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, most recently serving as president of Nuvotronics, a developer of millimeter-wave devices and packaging technology supporting the satellite communications, defense, and test & measurement sectors. Additionally, he formerly served in a variety of executive leadership roles at Maxim Int ..read more

By broadening the availability of light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) world-wide, a team at Juntendo University is helping to smooth the path to future discoveries in biomedicine. Advancements in tissue clearing techniques have made LSFM systems an important tool for biomedical research. However, the complexity and high cost of these systems have put them out of the reach of many end-users in the biomedical field. Greater accessibility to tissue clearing techniques could help accelerate research in neuroscience, drug pathology, and other areas. To make LSFM more accessible, the resear ..read more

An algorithm developed at the University of Michigan is expected to enhance the design process for optical components including solar cells, smart windows, telescopes, and others. OptoGPT harnesses the transformer neural networks powering large language models to work backward from desired optical properties to the material structure that can provide them. The algorithm designs optical multilayer film structures — stacked thin layers of different materials — that can serve a variety of purposes. Well-designed multilayer structures can maximize light absorption in a solar cell or optimize ref ..read more