Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

In this second installment of our Expert Insights series, Dr. Yuping Huang, CEO and chairman of Quantum Computing Incorporated, discusses the growing alliance between quantum computing and classical photonics.

From Nobel Prize winners to Innovators Awards to PhotonicsNXT, this episode features a roundup of some of the amazing things happening in photonics!

This episode features Eric Diebold, vice president and general manager for Instrumentation, Software, and Informatics at Waters Biosciences. He was also founder and CEO of Omega Biosystems, a startup based on his postdoctoral research on high-speed imaging flow cytometry.

He talked recently with Host Justine Murphy about Waters Biosciences and his role there, the innovations he and his team have led, and what the future holds for the bio realm.

Here’s the second of a two-part series featuring Host Justine Murphy's chat with Dr. Garrett Cole, an associate professor and the Nelson E. Claytor Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

In this episode, he talks about his numerous accomplishments and accolades, he reflects on his career and lessons learned along the way, and he offers some advice and insight for the next generation researchers and entrepreneurs.

Space coatings don't get a second chance. There's no sending a satellite back to Earth to fix an underperforming mirror or filter, so every coating has to be built, documented, and qualified to hold its optical and mechanical performance for the entire mission—in vacuum, through thermal cycling, through atomic oxygen exposure in low Earth orbit.

That means the coating stack changes with the job: dielectric-enhanced aluminum or silver for UV and visible mirrors, protected gold or silver for near-IR, and gold for long-wave IR thermal imaging. Filters and AR coatings get the same rigor, tested in sequence against ASTM, ISO, and MIL specs before anything is cleared for flight.

With satellites now losing orbital lifespan faster than expected due to an intense solar cycle, lighter, more durable coatings matter more than ever.

Host Justine Murphy talked all about it recently with Matthew Balkonis, senior account manager at precision optical components specialist Omega Optical, and Joe Howe, Omega's Industrial/Semiconductor/MilAero sales director—both experts in this sector who qualify coatings for full-mission performance.

This first of a two-part episode features Dr. Garrett Cole, an associate professor and the Nelson E. Claytor Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

He has numerous accolades under this belt, experience as an entrepreneur in startups and major corporations, and has spent years as a researcher and applied scientist, including at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

In this fun, interesting, and rather enlightening talk with Host Justine Murphy, he discusses his current role in academia, his several decades in the industry, and the unconventional path that led him here.

Photonics is undergoing the same transformation the semiconductor industry experienced decades ago; evolving from specialized, low-volume manufacturing into standardized, highly automated, high-volume production.

In this episode, PI Physik's Nikta Jalayer explores how precision motion, intelligent alignment, and automation technologies are enabling that transition by transforming photonics manufacturing from a serial, labor-intensive process into a highly automated, high-throughput production environment, making large-scale deployment of optical interconnects both practical and economically viable.

This episode features Jennifer Kehlet Barton, a professor and Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona. There, her research focuses on the development of optical techniques for understanding disease processes.

In this really interesting chat she had recently with Host Justine Murphy, Jennifer talked about the diverse path that led her to where she is now, her research and technology developments, and what inspires her. 

This episode features Shankaran Janardhanan, senior vice president and GM of the Photonics and RF division at GlobalFoundries.

He talked recently with Host Justine Murphy about the company and the role of optical data centers and photonics components in the world’s ever-advancing technology landscape.

In this episode, we’re highlighting some of the interesting and exciting things that have been happening in the business realm. Check it out... it’s a sector that helps keep the photonics industry moving.

The need to boost the photonics and optics workforce remains critical. But attracting technicians and engineers remains a challenge.

In this episode, Host Justine Murphy examines the increasing number of technician training programs around the country, and talks with a few of those who remain motivated to help alleviate the industrywide struggle.

This episode features an interesting discussion with Jerome Paye, CEO of laser-powered particle accelerator developer TAU Systems. He has over 20 years of industry leadership and research experience, including as a contributor to the early design of France’s Laser Megajoule facility.

He talked with Host Justine Murphy about his different experiences, what he’s learned along the way, and his thoughts on the future.

Here is some Light News: quantum edition, which features a quick roundup of some of the coolest, most exciting news impacting the quantum sector of the photonics industry. 

This episode kicks off a monthly series that will examine specific topics via the perspectives of industry experts.

This installment focuses on the emerging relationship between photonics and AI. Host Justine Murphy chatted recently with two experts to get their thoughts: Oriole CEO James Regan and Vickram Vathulya, CEO of Sivers Semiconductors.

Host Justine Murphy talked recently with Maurice Steinman, senior VP and general manager of the U.S. division of optical computing specialist Lightelligence.

Here, he offers his perspectives on ever-advancing technologies and his thoughts on the future, and shares some lessons he’s learned throughout his storied career.

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting things happening in the photonics industry!

In this episode, Host Justine Murphy talks with Dr. Talya Vaknin, head of research at LightSolver, a company specializing in laser-based computer processing. 

They discussed her work and experiences in the industry, as well as her passion for enriching the world via technological advancements.

FAMES Pilot Line is the leading initiative under the European Chips Act, and it's helping advance Europe's semiconductor technologies.

In this episode of Following the Photons, FAMES coordinator Dominique Noguet talks with Host Justine Murphy about the initiative and related educational training programs, as well as its role in Europe’s ever-advancing semiconductor industry.

This second of a two-part series featuring Giacomo Vacca, founder/president/CEO of Kinetic River, takes a closer look at the company, its history, and many innovations.

Giacomo also offers an update on current happenings, what the future holds, and Kinetic River’s place in it.

This first of a two-part series features Giacomo Vacca, founder, president, and CEO of Kinetic River. 

In this episode, he and Host Justine Murphy delve into his background and many notable technology developments and accomplishments, and they take a look back at the experiences he says have helped shape his career.

In this episode, Host Justine Murphy talks with Félicie Albert, director of the Jupiter Laser Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Her years of expertise include work with high-intensity lasers, as well as involvement in LaserNetUS, a network of high-power lasers in North America.

Host Justine Murphy talked recently with Sebastian Bauer, CEO and co-founder of Ubicept. 

With a background in engineering, he says he's always thrived at the intersection of cutting-edge research and real-world innovation. 

There is a lot of growth happening throughout the financial sector of the industry! In this episode, Host Justine Murphy takes a deeper look at some of that growth and its place in the advancement of photonics technologies.

This edition features Yvain Thonnart, a chief scientist in the digital ICs and systems division of the French research institute CEA-List, where he focuses on areas including networks-on-chip and integrating emerging photonics technologies.

He talked recently with Host Justine Murphy about his work at CEA, and his team’s potentially game-changing development of the first dynamically channeled electro-optical router for photonic interposers.

In this episode, Erin Howard, a research scientist currently working at the University of Washington on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, talks with Host Justine Murphy about their passion for exploring the universe through data, and the excitement in contributing to cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

This episode features Dr. Aleksandra Kaszubowska, an assistant professor of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and an assistant professor and research fellow at the CONNECT Research Center.

She talked with Host Justine Murphy about the exciting work her team is doing, as well as her vast research experience and the remarkable path that led to where she is today.

This edition features Host Justine Murphy's chat with Dr. Brian Monacelli, a professor and director of Laser Technology at Pasadena City College in California.

They recently discussed things like the importance of training technicians in hands-on laboratory skills, and he also offered some perspectives on the future of optics and the crucial role technicians will play.

This episode features a technical conversation about co-packaged optics, the rapid rise of interest in this technology, and why active alignment is a major manufacturing bottleneck in photonics. The discussion, sponsored by Aerotech, focuses on the company’s new PICAlign approach, developed in collaboration with SENKO and Santec, which aims to improve throughput, quality, and efficiency in optical device assembly.

Talking with Host Justine Murphy, Aerotech Business Development Manager Justin Bressi explains how monitoring multiple optical channels at once and searching in all six degrees of freedom can improve alignment outcomes and reduce scrap.

The conversation also touches on the broader data center and semiconductor ecosystem, where demand for faster, more efficient photonic systems is driving new investment and partnerships.

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting things happening in the photonics industry!

Host Justine Murphy talked recently with Dr. Judy Wu, the Thomas A. Albright Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston, where her work has included computational quantum chemistry to study light-activated chemistry. 

They discussed her work as a computational and organic chemist and professor, unconventional ways to boost the next generation of scientists, and her contributions toward bridging theory with real-world application.

Here is an interesting interview Host Justine Murphy had recently with Kevin McComber, co-founder and CEO of Spark Photonics Design, and co-founder and executive director of Spark Photonics Foundation, a nonprofit STEM education, workforce development, and outreach organization.

He talked about his engineering background and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his thoughts on the education and workforce initiatives he calls crucial for the future of STEM.

This episode features Vivek Raghunathan, co-founder and CEO of Xscape Photonics, a Columbia University spinoff focused on silicon photonics and AI.

He has nearly two decades of experience in the silicon photonics sector, including at Intel. 

In this chat, he talks with Host Justine Murphy about Xscape Photonics and its innovative work, as well as the role silicon photonics will play in the future of AI.

Jennifer Cable, president of Thorlabs, talked recently with Host Justine Murphy about the company's role in the industry, as well as building an inclusive culture and enhancing employee engagement, while also investing in advanced manufacturing technology and infrastructure.

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting things happening in the photonics industry!

In this episode, Host Justine Murphy talks with Kevin Curtis, senior VP of Advanced Optics at Magic Leap, a developer of AR and waveguide technologies. He discusses his passion for AR and his thoughts on the future, and also details Magic Leap’s innovations and their influence on an ever-advancing sector of the photonics industry.

During SPIE Photonics West last month, host Justine Murphy had the opportunity to talk with many people across the photonics industry, including Dr. Lewis Johnson, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of NLM Photonics.

He has more than 18 years of research and development experience in materials and new technologies for photonics and cleantech, and a career that spans entrepreneurship, academia, and national labs. 

Listen now to this really interesting conversation from the Photonics West show floor!

This episode features Dr. Patrick Heissler, CEO of SCRONA. He has a doctorate in physics from the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, and has conducted research at institutions including Los Alamos National Lab.

In this chat, we covered his current work and initiatives at SCRONA, his involvement in organizations like the Plug and Play Tech Center, and some lessons learned throughout his extensive career.

This episode features Travis Wood, president of Montana-based Lattice Materials, a company specializing in custom infrared optics using silicon and germanium.

He’s also a board member of the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance, and works closely with the Photonic and Laser Technology program at Montana State University’s Gallatin College.

In this fun chat, he talks with host Justine Murphy about Lattice Materials and some recent accolades, as well as workplace culture, the company’s ever-advancing role in the photonics industry, and the growing photonics hub in Montana.

This episode features Barry Silverstein, a seasoned optics and photonics innovator (namely at Meta’s Reality Labs) who recently joined the University of Rochester as director of the school’s Center for eXtended Reality.

He talked with host Justine Murphy about the Center and its mission, and delved into the future of AR, VR, and AI.

This edition of Following the Photons features Brian O’Connor, vice president of Growth and Strategy at Aerotech, a globally reaching developer of advanced precision motion control and automation technologies for industries including optics and photonics, precision manufacturing, and life sciences.

He recently sat down with our host Justine Murphy at the SPIE Photonics West exhibition in San Francisco to talk about the company and its innovative products, as well as his thoughts and insight into the industry overall, what the future may hold, and Aerotech’s place in it.

Here is a great episode featuring Dr. Mario Paniccia, CEO and co-founder of silicon photonics startup ANELLO Photonics. He founded ANELLO with more than 20 years of experience under his belt at companies including Intel, where he started a silicon photonics program.

And for this work, and his many other contributions to the field of silicon photonics, Dr. Paniccia was inducted into the National Academy of Engineers in 2021.

This first episode of 2026 features Craig Bandes, president and CEO of next-generation nanomaterial developer/manufacturer Pixelligent Technologies. He has more than 25 years of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur, and investor covering industries including technology and defense.

As 2025 draws to a close, we're revisiting the year's interesting and intriguing interviews. Here are excerpts from the top 5 most popular Following the Photons episodes of 2025.

Thank you all for your continued support! Cheers to a happy and prosperous 2026!

Here's another edition of Light News! Join host Justine Murphy as she follows the photons into some of the coolest, most exciting news impacting the photonics industry.

Host Justine Murphy talked recently with Michele Nichols, president of Launch Team Inc., a strategic marketing firm that helps photonics-focused companies to navigate change and ultimately boost their competitive advantage.

In this episode, Michele shares her perspectives on the state of the industry and where it’s headed, as well as some thoughts and hopes for the future.

This episode features Dirk Hauschild, a Senior Strategic Marketing Expert with Focuslight Technologies.

He talks with host Justine Murphy about his more than 30 years of experience in the design, development, and integration of micro-optical components and systems, his work with Focuslight, and his thoughts on the future.

In this second installment of a two-part episode, Dr. Aydogan Ozcan—a chancellor’s professor in the Samueli Electrical & Computer Engineering school at UCLA, where he also leads the Bio- and Nanophotonics Lab—reflects on some important lessons learned throughout his career that he’s passing on to the next generation of researchers, and we delve into what’s needed to keep the U.S. competitive globally in the research and development realm.  

This week features another edition of Light News, a quick roundup of some of the coolest, most exciting news impacting the photonics industry. Let's go follow those photons!

Here, host Justine Murphy talks with Dr. Aydogan Ozcan, an extremely accomplished professor, lab leader, and mentor who has spent years studying and developing technologies in areas including computational imaging, deep learning optics, and microscopy.

This first of a two-part episode dives into some interesting aspects of his work and experiences in the photonics industry.

This episode features a fun, insightful interview with Lee Steneken, president of Esco Optics. He’s a third-generation president of the family-owned company who moved up the ranks from a part-time machine operator during his high school years, to various roles in marketing and sales after college, before taking the helm as president in 2011.

In this episode, he talks with host Justine Murphy about his years in the optics industry, finding the right balance between career and family life, and what the future holds for Esco Optics’ lasting legacy.