Explore every episode of the podcast Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

This edition of Following the Photons features Anthony Musto, VP of sales and marketing at Fast Photonics, a company that provides fiber optic components to telecommunications, high-performance computing, data center, and AI customers.

We talk about his more than 40 years of experience in the microwave, telecommunications, and fiber optics industries—including as founder of both Optium Corporation and later ARM Consulting—as well as his travels and thoughts on the future.

In this episode, we talk with Jorn Smeets from PhotonDelta, a European integrated photonics ecosystem that has expanded into Silicon Valley in California. After several years as the organization's Chief Marketing Officer and Board Member, he has been named Managing Director for the organization’s North America region, a role in which he aims to accelerate the photonic chip industry by building collaborations between North America and the international PhotonDelta ecosystem.

This episode features Dr. Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect, a startup company filled with scientists, engineers, and developers dedicated to advancing quantum technology. Dr. Goddard is a serial entrepreneur, having founded and formerly led two biotech startup companies before joining the Qunnect management team in 2020. 

 

In this episode, Dr. Pierre-Mary Paul, VP and director of the Advanced Laser Solutions Business Unit at Amplitude Lasers, shares some unique perspectives from his time in the industry. He joined the company early on, with many years of research experience under his belt in various realms of laser photonics.

 

This episode features Gisele Bennett, a major player in the photonics and optics industry who has spent more than three decades in academia, industry, and research positions. She is a founder and managing member of startup software company MEPSS LLC, and was recently elected the 2024 Vice President of Optica.  

In this inaugural episode of Following the Photons, host Justine Murphy talks with optics industry powerhouse Alexis Vogt, endowed chair and professor of optics at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, where she also leads the only optical systems technology program in the U.S. 

 

 

Welcome to the Laser Focus World Podcast, where we dive deep into the fascinating world of photonics and optics. With a legacy dating back to 1965, Laser Focus World has been a trusted source for comprehensive global coverage of technologies, applications, and markets in these dynamic fields.

Join us as we bring you the latest news and insights from the forefront of the photonics industry. Our episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in photonics, this podcast is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired. Tune in and stay laser-focused on the future of light-based technologies.

In this episode, host Justine Murphy talks with Christophe Maleville, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of Innovation at Soitec. He joined the company just after its founding in 1993, and has been a driving force behind joint research activities alongside CEA-Leti. Christophe’s experience extends even further, too, as an author or co-author of 30 research papers who holds an impressive 30 patents.

In this episode, we talk with Juha Pietarinen, Chief Product Officer at Finland-based OptoFidelity. From nanophotonics, AR display technology, and the future to motorcycles and scuba diving... we cover it all! 

This episode features Dr. Daniel Feezell, a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and General Chair of the Optical Science and Engineering department at the University of New Mexico. He’s joined by his colleague, Dr. Jean-Claude Diels, a professor of Physics & Astronomy and Electrical Engineering at the university. 

Their combined years of experience in academia provide a very interesting perspective on the optics and photonics industry.

With an eye on the business aspect of photonics in his role as co-CEO of Power Technology, William Burgess discusses the changing laser technology and regulations realms, and how the industry can continue advancing with the next-generation of engineers and technicians.

This episode features Laurent Fulbert, Deputy Head of the Optics and Photonics division at France-based CEA-Leti. He has more 30 years of experience in various areas of photonics and offers his insight on everything from the state of the industry to spreading the word of its importance in our everyday lives.

Don't miss this latest edition of Following the Photons, featuring Andrei Dragomir, founder and CEO of Aquark Technologies, a U.K.-based start-up bringing next-generation quantum technology from the lab to real-world applications. 

With a background in physics research - a passion that dates back to his elementary school years - Andrei has a super interesting perspective on the quantum industry, and what the future holds.

In this episode, laser innovator Gregory Niven reminisces about his years in the laser industry, what the future holds for photonics, and his recent Academy Awards experience.

In this episode, we talk with Thomas Obeloer, the International Sales Director at Element Six. From educating people on the benefits of using CVD and related products to initiatives he's involved with (including in the growing quantum realm), and much more, this 35-year industry veteran discusses his experiences and offers insight into where the industry is headed.

This episode features Dr. Teresa Pace, an engineering fellow with L3Harris, and an algorithm and data architect with the Strategy & Technology office in the Integrated Mission Systems segment. She has an extensive career, which includes time as a chief engineer for Lockheed Martin. She also holds an impressive 14 patents and her work has been featured in 80 publications.

This episode features a chat with OpenLight CEO Dr. Adam Carter, a semiconductor communications industry veteran with an impressive 25-year track record. He’s also been instrumental in the growth and turnarounds of some of the world’s leading optics businesses and manufacturers.

Introducing our biweekly Light News! It's a quick roundup of some of the coolest, most exciting news in the photonics industry. Let’s follow those photons!

Here's the latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

• Funding advances photonics technologies
• Thermal metasurface design controls itself
• Laser tech boosts greenhouse gas detection
• Team bridges standard and quantum internet

In this episode of Following the Photons, we talk with Dr. Shari Worthington, a professor of entrepreneurship and marketing at Suffolk University in Boston who (among several other roles) is president of Telesian Technology, a management and marketing firm that works with technology startups and Fortune 500 companies like MKS Instruments, Raytheon, and Apple.

Your biweekly roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! This week...

• Recent acquisitions and mergers impacting the photonics industry
• Development of a chip-based tractor beam for bio imaging
• SLAC National Accelerator Lab's high-energy upgrades for LCLS
• LightPath Tech advancing the military’s F-35 combat aircraft program

 

This episode features Catalin Neacsu, vice president of business development at TAU Systems. He has experience in an array of photonics industry sectors, from physics research to sales, and now has a direct hand in some of the most advanced innovations in the world.

Your biweekly roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! This week...

• University of Bonn researchers can now imprint a simple lattice structure on a super photon, which could someday make communication tap-proof
• A team at Synopsys has designed a first-of-its-kind comprehensive virtual prototyping platform for system-level imaging
• IPG Photonics has officially sold its Russian subsidiary, IRE-Polus, and Lightwave Logic has named two new members to its Board of Directors
• A chip-scale photonic modulator that can control light on a silicon photonic microchip is addressing an evolving national security risk

 

Check out this really interesting interview with Caroline Boudoux, Ph.D., a renowned leader in the photonics and optics industry. She wears many hats, including professor of Engineering Physics at Polytechnique Montréal, and researcher at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montréal, the University of Montréal's Biomedical Engineering Institute, and the Center for Optics, Photonics, and Lasers in Quebec. She is also co-founder and co-president of Castor Optics, Chair of Optica’s Biophotonics Congress, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Optics Institute in Quebec, and an SPIE fellow. Caroline has authored several books, as well, including the recently released, It Goes Without Saying: Taking the Guesswork out of your Ph.D. in Engineering.

Presenting 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!

This episode features Dave Shelton, president and CEO of AmeriCOM, a Workforce Training Initiative and Defense Precision Optics Consortium.

Dave is a subject matter expert in infrared detectors, radiometry, and electro-optical infrared systems engineering who has worn many hats in the optics and defense industries.

 

This episode features Dr. Nikhil Balram, CEO of Mojo Vision. He has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and more than 30 years of experience in the semiconductor and display industries. He’s also received several awards, including a Gold Stevie Award for Executive of the Year in the electronics category and the Otto Schade Prize from the Society for Information Display.

In this episode, we talk with Andres Chavarria, the technical director of LUNA Innovations. He’s the former technical director at OptaSense, and has more than 20 years of experience in the field. He now focuses on fiber optic sensing tools for a variety of applications and industries, from smart infrastructure and telecommunications to energy, earth, and engineering systems.

The latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

This episode features Sam Rubin, CEO of LightPath Technologies. He says he’s an engineer at heart who got his start in the optics industry alongside his father before founding xLight Photonics. He talks about his experiences in optics and photonics, including the many years he spent in various roles at Thorlabs.

This episode features Mike Dunne and Greg Hays, from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The pair are part of a team that’s now making some exciting high-energy upgrades to the Linac Coherent Light Source, meant to help researchers and technologies advance.

This episode features a really interesting chat with Mike Noonen, CEO of Swave Photonics. He talks about the company's work with holography and other photonics technologies, and what it all means for the future.

Here's the latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

This episode features Cory Boone, technical marketing manager at Edmund Optics. An engineering, optics, and marketing guru, he's very active in educational outreach, he creates the company's popular YouTube and TikTok videos, and has even authored a children’s book ("Larry Laser Finds His Spark") to share the fun of STEM with future generations.

In this episode, Justine Murphy talks with Hagen Zimer, CEO of Laser Technology at Trumpf. He's got many years of experience in the laser industry, and a clear and true passion for all things photonics.

This episode kicks off a new monthly interview series presented by EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium, that will showcase the people and companies enriching and advancing the photonics industry.

In this edition, EPIC’s Dr. Ivan Nikitski talks with Pim Kat, CEO of Amazec Photonics, and Eelko Brinkhoff, the incoming CEO of PhotonDelta.

 

This episode features Dr. Andrea Armani, senior director of engineering and physical sciences at the Ellison Medical Institute and longtime professor at the University of Southern California. Host Justine Murphy sat down with her in San Francisco last month, as they prepared for Photonics West. 

The pair talked about Dr. Armani's career venture with the Ellison Medical Institute, her love of teaching and mentoring engineering students, her perspectives on the photonics industry, and what the future holds.

This episode features the renowned Dr. Michael Lebby, a photonics and optics industry veteran whose decades-long career spans all levels of research and development, technology startups, sales, finance, marketing…  and everything in between.

In this episode of Following the Photons, our host Justine Murphy talks with Mateja Lampe Rupnik, CEO of Red Pitaya and advisory CFO to its parent company, Instrumentation Technologies.

She has many years of experience in tech industries, and offers the unique perspectives she’s gained since joining the photonics realm, including on the growing and evolving roles of women in STEM.

 

 

 

The latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

This episode features Todd Haugen, CEO of Enablence. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, including a two-decade-stint at Microsoft, where he led several large-scale engineering projects. 

In our chat, we talked about many things impacting the industry, including the growing relationship between AI and optics, thoughts on the CHIPS Act, and what motivates his dedication.

This episode features Dr. Olivia Wheeler-Williams, coatings development manager at Edmund Optics, who has been named a 2025 Optica Ambassador, a position that allows her to help strengthen ties between academia and industry.

Olivia met up with host Justine Murphy during Photonics West back in early February, where they talked about things like her work at Edmund, being a mentor, and the importance of diversity in optics.

This episode features Siddharth Ramachandran, a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Boston University. He started his career in industrial research at Bell Labs, and his work with light wave devices has helped advance optical networks, laser-based defense systems, brain imaging, and quantum computing.

Here, he talks with host Justine Murphy about his experiences in the industry, from research to academia and beyond.

 

Join host Justine Murphy for a closer look into the research and education realm with Jana Jágerská, a professor, a researcher, and group and lab leader at the Arctic University of Norway, where she focuses in nanophotonics and laser spectroscopy for the detection of trace gases and pollutants.

In this chat, she shares some of the really interesting perspectives she’s gained from her years as a researcher, educator, and mentor.

In this episode, host Justine Murphy chats with Tyler Simays, marketing manager at KrellTech, where he works to drive growth and innovation, and has helped spearhead the company's Photonics Outreach Program that introduces high school students to the cutting-edge world of photonics. Tyler brings a global perspective and years of experience to his work bridging the realms of technology and business, and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation.

This episode features Brad Booth, CEO of NLM Photonics. He came to NLM with years of experience working on Meta platforms and Microsoft Azure, and has held roles at Dell, Intel, and Bell-Northern Research.

 

In this episode, host Justine Murphy talks with Atikem Haile, vice president of marketing and business development at Lightwave Logic. 

They cover his 20+ years of experience that spans a unique range of technology, finance, and business., as well as his perspectives on a number of issues impacting the industry.

In this episode, host Justine Murphy talks with Cicely Rathmell, vice president of marketing at Wasatch Photonics.

Their chat covers everything from Cicely's expertise in science and her experiences in the photonics industry to her thoughts on the future.

Here is another installment of our interview series presented by EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium. This episode features EPIC's Antonio Castelo talking with Alexander Weigl, head of Product Management at TRUMPF Photonic Components, and iThera Medical’s CTO Patrick Leisching.

Their discussion focuses on a recent collaboration on a solution for optoacoustic imaging: a VCSEL-based subsystem that can replace current photonic systems that developers are calling a game changer for routine clinical use that’s applicable to a wide range of diseases.

 

Here if the latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry!