Femtosecond laser factory opened.

Chipmaking, data centre equipment, and medicine all need more femtosecond lasers, yet global production capacity was only an estimated 9,600 units last year. Femtosecond laser company LITILIT have just opened a new factory in Vilnius (LT) and plans to reach 3,000 lasers a year at full capacity.

According to the company, the factory currently has the highest potential femtosecond laser capacity in the world. The majority of the company’s lasers will be exported to North America, Asia, and Europe.

The new factory covers 4,000 sq m and will produce around 3000 lasers a year at full capacity. The €6 million project includes a modern CNC metal machining shop, robotized femtosecond laser assembly and testing shops, and an ISO 5 cleanroom of about 2,500 sq m, one of the largest in the Baltics.

Nikolajus Gavrilinas

Nikolajus Gavrilinas, co-founder and CEO of LITILIT, says that the new factory marks an important milestone both for the company, which has been developing its laser technology since 2014, and for the whole laser industry.

“The growing use of femtosecond lasers in semiconductor manufacturing, data centre equipment, electronics, medicine and other fields is driving demand across Europe, North America and Asia. Our factory comes at exactly the right time and will serve businesses on all three continents. The Vilnius plant is only the first stop; later, we plan to replicate this model in other countries together with our international partners," says Gavrilinas.

Located in a modern logistics park developed by SIRIN Development in Vilnius, the factory covers over 4,000 sq m and houses a CNC metal machining shop, robotized assembly and testing shops, and an ISO 5 cleanroom of about 2,500 sq m, one of the largest in the Baltics. The total value of the project is €6 million.

Gavrilinas notes that femtosecond laser production remains limited worldwide because the technology evolved from scientific systems and is notoriously difficult to produce at scale. Last year, global femtosecond laser production capacity was an estimated 9,600 units, according to Reports and Markets.

LITILIT can scale laser production quickly because of its patented architecture based on modular design, reduced component complexity, and a high level of automation. At full capacity, the factory will employ about 150 people, several times fewer than conventional production would require. Besides scalability, the architecture also gives LITILIT's lasers a performance edge. According to Gavrilinas, they reach around 20% electrical-to-optical efficiency and are up to half the size of the industry average, which makes them easier to integrate into production lines.

The company developed its technology based on two international patents, one of which was made in collaboration with the centre for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) in Lithuania.

Ramūnas Skaudžius, director at FTMC, says the factory is a reminder that the value of scientific research is measured not only by publications or patents. It also confirms that in Lithuania it is possible to complete the entire journey from a scientific idea to a product serving global markets.

“The laser technology developed and patented at FTMC has now become the foundation of advanced industrial manufacturing. Yet the technology itself is not the most important part of the story. What matters most is that knowledge created in Lithuania has been transformed into a business capable of competing on the international stage. This is a long and demanding journey that requires not only scientific excellence, but also entrepreneurial courage, investors’ confidence, and perseverance,” Skaudžius says. 

Femtosecond lasers use extremely short pulses that process materials with only minimal heat damage to surrounding structures. This quality, known as cold ablation, makes them indispensable in applications ranging from eye surgery and vascular stents to manufacturing computer chips and display screens.

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#Litilit #laser #Ai  #PAuto #Lithuania

See farther. Protect more - A world first!

Datalogic’s Sensor & Safety and Machine Vision business unit, Datasensing, has launched the SLS10 Safety Laser Scanner. Offering the largest safety coverage currently available on the market, the new SLS10 also delivers ultra-fast response times, and best-in-class angular resolution to help manufacturers boost protection. All while reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).

As the world’s first 10 m safety laser scanner, the SLS10 enables customers to see farther and protect more. With a maximum safety range of 10 m (32.8 ft) across a 275° scanning angle for 70 mm detection capability, the device provides up to 240 m² of safety coverage from a single scanner. This impressive capability supports the protection of larger workspaces, longer production lines, and bigger industrial machinery with fewer devices. Instead of deploying multiple scanners to achieve full coverage, users can rely on a single SLS10, lowering hardware investment and shortening commissioning times, as well as reducing maintenance requirements.

“Safety should never be a compromise between protection, productivity, and cost,” said Andrea Donadel, Industrial Automation Products and Solutions Executive Vice President at Datasensing. “With our new SLS10, we are advancing safety laser scanning for the benefit of both end users and system integrators. Its market-leading 10 m range, rapid response time, and advanced configuration tools not only mean protecting wider areas with fewer devices, but also better operational efficiency and flexibility”

Greater safety coverage costing less.
The new SLS10 provides multiple detection capabilities for different applications. Alongside its 10 m safety range for 70 mm detection capability, it also offers 5 m safety range for 30 mm, 5.5 m for 40 mm, 7.5 m for 50 mm, and 8.75 m for 60 mm. This flexibility makes the scanner ideal for palletizing systems, robotic cells, laser cutting machines, woodworking machinery, warehouse AGVs/AMRs, and much more. Customers gain peace of mind that every risk has been safely addressed while lowering total system costs.

Value beyond safety.
Beyond safeguarding, the SLS10 delivers powerful performance in navigation applications thanks to its best-in-class angular resolution of up to 0.059°. Angular resolution defines the minimum distance between consecutive laser measurement points. The outcome for users is higher accuracy in support of improved navigational capabilities, making the SLS10 particularly valuable for high-payload AGVs/AMRs and automated forklifts. This potential for further applications adds value beyond traditional safety tasks.

The SLS10 delivers an ultra-fast 84 ms response time, the best in its class for safety distances above 9 m, allowing installation closer to hazardous areas while maintaining compliance. The result is a smaller machine footprint, greater design flexibility, and improved productivity.

Smarter configuration and easier commissioning.
Datasensing has also introduced a redesigned DL Sentinel user interface through its new ONEGUI platform, improving setup and day-to-day management. Users can configure safety zones more easily, monitor Master and Remote devices simultaneously, and use the new OptimaTune technology to automatically select the best balance between safety distance, response time, and environmental conditions. Benefits include reduced commissioning time and improved stock flexibility by replacing previous scanners without any compromise in performance.

Selected models also include positional zone set switching by encoder, a patent-pending feature that enables automatic zone changes without additional sensors.

Complying with SIL-2 and PLd safety standards, SLS10 delivers the reliability required for mission-critical industrial environments. Notably, strong immunity to dust helps reduce false triggering, preventing unnecessary and costly machine shutdowns.

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@DatalogicGroup @mepaxIntPR #Datasensing #PAuto #Laser

Build lasers with reduced complexity.

Scaling production without losing precision: Automation transforming the laser industry.

Ageing populations are set to put growing pressure on labour markets in Europe, with similar demographic pressures emerging in the US and China. As companies look to stay competitive with fewer workers, automation is becoming increasingly important for boosting productivity. Femtosecond laser company LITILIT says automation will allow it to manufacture 3,000 lasers a year with a team of just over 100 employees.

In a recent report, the European Commission warned that as Europe’s population shrinks and ages, labour market, healthcare, public finances and other sectors will be impacted. Similar aging trends are also visible in the US and China. The report points to automation, innovation and AI as part of the response.

For businesses, automation's benefit goes beyond easing the labour squeeze – it also significantly increases productivity. An August report(pdf) by the International Federation of Robotics found that automation can help smaller manufacturers reach productivity levels and competitive advantages that were previously available mainly to larger industrial companies.

Nikolajus Gavrilinas

According to Nikolajus Gavrilinas, co-founder and CEO of LITILIT, which recently started building a large-scale femtosecond laser facility in Vilnius, the laser industry is a clear example of how automation can help smaller businesses to scale. For LITILIT, it will allow the company to manufacture up to 3,000 femtosecond lasers a year, one of the highest capacities in the world, with just around 150 employees.

"Typically, building a femtosecond laser required highly trained specialists, because these advanced lasers evolved from scientific systems. While they deliver strong performance, they are notoriously difficult to produce at scale. We build ours on a patented, purpose-built architecture with fewer components, allowing us to significantly speed up production and reduce headcount," he says.

Another advantage of automation is making precision repeatable at scale. Femtosecond lasers require tiny optical components to be aligned with extreme accuracy, work traditionally done by highly trained specialists one unit at a time. Automation allows manufacturers to maintain that same level of precision across thousands of lasers while reducing variation between units.

Gavrilinas notes that automated manufacturing will also help LITILIT advance its goal of making femtosecond lasers scalable. The company is on track to finish its Vilnius factory this October and immediately begin production, gradually increasing capacity.

"Femtosecond lasers are used in fast-developing fields, from manufacturing the latest generation of semiconductors and data center equipment to performing complex eye surgeries. As demand for these advanced lasers grows, it would be very difficult to meet it using traditional methods, where complex assembly makes it difficult to scale output," Gavrilinas explains.

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@EU_Commission #Litilit #IFR #Robotics #Ai  #PAuto

Advanced lasers for Datacentres.

Femtosecond lasers, from LITILIT, are used to manufacture components for Ai data centre equipment, including parts used in advanced optical connections that speed up data transfer. Femtosecond lasers emit extremely short pulses, lasting quadrillionths of a second, that allow manufacturers to process next-generation materials with minimal heat damage.

The Ai data centre boom is projected to more than double Ai infrastructure capital expenditure in the next five years, while the market for optical connections that speed up data transfer will increase nearly 400 times, reports from Goldman Sachs and TrendForce show. According to experts at femtosecond laser company LITILIT, the Ai boom is also increasing the demand for advanced lasers that can process materials with high precision and minimal heat.

This Goldman Sachs report estimates that annual Ai infrastructure capital expenditure will grow from $765 billion in 2026 to $1.6 trillion by 2031, driven by surging demand for compute power, data centre construction, and energy infrastructure. The report also warns that power, labor and equipment bottlenecks could lengthen the time between capital commitments and operational data centres.

Nikolajus Gavrilinas CEO LITILIT

According to Nikolajus Gavrilinas, CEO of femtosecond laser manufacturer LITILIT (pictured right), one of the less visible bottlenecks could be the precision tools needed to manufacture components for next-generation data centre equipment.

“Many advanced Ai components, from semiconductor packages, glass substrates, to optical interconnects and advanced PCBs, require manufacturing technologies that can process materials without introducing heat damage. Femtosecond lasers are becoming one of the key enabling tools for this transition, and we believe demand will grow rapidly as Ai manufacturing scales,” Gavrilinas says.

Currently, one of the biggest issues in making data centres more efficient is speeding up data transfers. TrendForce recently forecast that the market for co-packaged and near-packaged optics - optical connections that speed up data transfer - will grow from around $100 million in 2025 to over $39 billion by 2030.

According to Gavrilinas, femtosecond lasers are increasingly used to make components for equipment that enables faster data transfer. For example, they can be used to make glass interposers – wiring layers used in advanced Ai hardware and data centre equipment to help connect chiplets. The laser drills microscopic holes through the glass, which are then filled with copper and turned into tiny vertical connections.

“A normal laser or mechanical drill heats the material as it cuts, and glass can crack or chip when heated unevenly. A femtosecond laser fires pulses so short – quadrillionths of a second – that the surrounding glass has almost no time to heat up. The same precision is also used to manufacture other data centre equipment wherever something needs to be cut, trimmed, or fixed with almost no heat,” Gavrilinas explains.

He notes that despite surging demand, producing femtosecond lasers at industrial volume remains difficult, as most femtosecond laser systems evolved from scientific systems and can deliver strong performance, but are difficult to automate and depend on qualified specialists.

To narrow the adoption gap, LITILIT developed a new technology based on a few patented inventions (link to patent 1, link 2), made by LITILIT co-founders Kęstutis Regelskis, Nerijus Rusteika, and Gavrilinas, in close collaboration with the Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) in Vilnius (LT). The technology allows to manufacture femtosecond lasers with purpose-built design, reduced component complexity and high level of automation.

In June 2026, LITILIT started the construction of a laser factory in Vilnius, and later plans to replicate the model together with international partners.

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@SensusPr #Litilit #Datacentres #Ai #Lithuania

Multi-junction VCSEL simulation.

Photon Design has enabled pioneering, multi-junction Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) simulation, within its HAROLD simulation tool. Multi-junction VCSELs deliver higher optical power than traditional VCSELs, while retaining their compact, efficient, manufacturable and reliable design. Instead of one gain junction, a multi-junction VCSEL has several junctions stacked vertically within its epitaxy.

Efficiency comes from using the same current across the multiple gain junctions. This enables either a higher optical power for the same current, or a longer lifetime and reliability from delivering single-junction power levels with less current and therefore generating less heat. The high power and efficiency of multi-junction VCSELs is contributing to their rapid uptake in many markets, including high-speed datacoms, machine vision, longer-range automotive LiDAR and consumer 3D sensing applications such as facial recognition.

Dr Dominic Gallagher, CEO of Photon Design, said: “Photon Design’s HAROLD simulation tool supports the demanding design requirements of multi-junction VCSELs, providing 3D optical, electrical and thermal simulations. HAROLD shows engineers how additional junctions can raise output power, before efficiency then declines as a result of losses in what is now a larger epitaxy structure. HAROLD provides designers with band diagrams using 3D drift-diffusion modelling of the energy-band structure; thermal analysis of current-induced temperature gradients and their effect on gain; and rigorous output-power predictions from combining the 3D optical profile of the DBR gratings with simulated gain spectra.”

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@photond  #Design #Simulation #PAuto

New CTO at leading photonics group.

Dr. Frank Lison has been named to succeed TOPTICA founder Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders as CTO/Vorstand of the TOPTICA Photonics group.

Dr Frank Lison with Dr Wilhelm Kaenders

Following the company’s long-term succession plan designed to ensure continuity in leadership and sustained technological excellence, Frank Lison will take over the main responsibilities of Wilhelm Kaenders. Wilhelm will remain within the TOPTICA group as founder and continues to support the company’s successful evolution in some of its focus markets.

"I'm excited to take over the role of CTO at TOPTICA," said Frank Lison. "The company’s strong foundation in scientific excellence and laser technology is something I value highly. Together with our teams, I look forward to advancing our laser technologies further."

He has been with TOPTICA in various roles since 2002 and currently, since 2016, serves as founding and managing director of TOPTICA Projects GmbH.

He has a physics degree from University Hannover, a PhD in cold atom physics from University Bonn, both with Prof. Dieter Meschede, and after a Postdoc with Prof. Ed Hinds in Britain, he started to work in the Central Research Group of Bayer AG.

Already in the important phase from 2002 to 2010, Frank accompanied the steady growth of TOPTICA as VP of R&D. When in 2009 the company TILL Photonics GmbH was acquired by TOPTICA and then sold to FEI München GmbH, Frank was the acting General Manager, before he rejoined the TOPTICA group.

The board of TOPTICA Photonics SE from Octoberr 2026 will consist of Dr. Frank Lison (CTO & President, spokesman of the executive board), Dr. Thomas Renner (CSO & President), Dr. Mathias Schindler (COO) and Fabian Uhl (CFO).

Wilhelm Kaenders states: “For me, it was an honor and pleasure to start in 1998 and grow the company together with Thomas Weber, at the time as a five person endeavor with focus on scientific and optical data storage markets. We were quickly able to identify and attract excellent people to work with us, and most importantly, to adapt and meet market demands over the last three decades. As TOPTICA group, we have doubled our revenue and workforce since 2020”.

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox@UnnGmbh #Pauto #Photonics

New Director of Laser Development.

Dr. Bertrand Viellerobe has been appointed as Director of Laser Development at TOPTICA France, reinforcing its capabilities in laser design and validation while further advancing its innovation activities.

Dr. Bertrand Viellerobe

In his new role, Bertrand Viellerobe will lead the development and validation of next-generation laser systems, contributing to TOPTICA’s portfolio of high-performance solutions for scientific and industrial applications. He brings extensive experience in laser and optical system development, with a strong track record of leading multidisciplinary R&D teams, managing complex innovation projects, and translating advanced photonics technologies into real-world applications.

The appointment reflects a strategic evolution of responsibilities within TOPTICA France. Dr. Germain Guiraud will transition to the role of Director of Laser Innovation, focusing on innovation and research, supporting forward-looking technology development and exploratory projects, notably within the framework of the joint laboratory Starlight+. 

 “With Bertrand, we are strengthening our laser development capabilities at TOPTICA France. His expertise will be instrumental in advancing our technologies and supporting our ambition to deliver high-performance laser solutions for quantum technologies and precision applications,” said Dr. Nicholas Traynor, President TOPTICA Photonics SAS.

“I’m pleased to join TOPTICA and contribute to advancing laser development. I look forward to working with the team and building on the strong technological foundation in France,” added Dr. Viellerobe.

By sharpening the focus on both product-oriented development and long-term innovation, TOPTICA France continues to play a key role in the company’s strategy to drive cutting-edge photonics technologies for research and industry.

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@TOPTICA_AG @OpticaWorldwide @PresseBox@UnnGmbh  #Pauto #Laser

Robust industrial Raman integration.

The enhanced TopMode 405 from Toptica Photonics, has strengthened its portfolio of single-frequency lasers for industrial spectroscopy, supporting OEM manufacturers in building scalable, high-precision Raman systems. The redesigned unit is a single-frequency diode laser engineered for high-accuracy Raman spectroscopy in industrial OEM environments.

“Industrial Raman systems require more than high optical performance – they demand long-term stability and seamless integration into production environments,” said Stéphane Junique, Product Manager OEM Laser at TOPTICA Photonics. “With the enhanced TopMode 405, we provide OEM partners with a stable and reliable excitation source designed for continuous operation.”

In Raman spectroscopy, the excitation laser directly impacts system accuracy and reproducibility. The TopMode 405 addresses these requirements with a compact, integration-ready design and enhanced robustness, supporting stable operation in continuous and high-throughput industrial settings.

Operating at 405 nm with output powers of up to 100 mW, the laser enables strong Raman signal generation while remaining fully compatible with standard silicon detectors. Its single-frequency emission and narrow linewidth ensure high spectral resolution and measurement repeatability across inline applications.

Core Positioning and Key Differentiators.
The enhanced TopMode 405 is positioned as an industrial-grade OEM Raman laser platform that combines:

• Single-frequency 405 nm emission
• Excellent wavelength and power stability
• Up to 100 mW output power
• Industrial-grade robustness

With the enhanced TopMode 405, TOPTICA Photonics strengthens its portfolio of single-frequency lasers for industrial spectroscopy, supporting OEM manufacturers in building scalable, high-precision Raman systems.

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox@UnnGmbh #Pauto #Photonics

Ultra-Stable Clock Laser.

for real-world Quantum applications.

Toptica Photonics is strengthening its position in ultra-stable laser technology with its Clock Laser System (CLS), designed to deliver reliable and ultra-low phase noise optical frequency references for quantum technologies, precision metrology, and advanced sensing.* As quantum applications transition from research labs to real-world deployment, demand is growing for laser systems that combine highest frequency stability with operational robustness. The CLS addresses this need by integrating narrow-linewidth external cavity diode laser technology with a highly stable optical reference.

“Our focus was to combine ultimate frequency stability with a system design that is robust and practical to operate. This enables users to benefit from ultra-stable laser performance without the complexity and maintenance efforts of laboratory setups,” says Dr. Florian Schäfer, Development Engineer Laser Reference at Toptica.

The system achieves frequency instabilities at the 10^-15 level and phase noise levels down to -90 dBc/Hz. It is engineered to minimise environmental influences such as temperature fluctuations, vibrations, and optical power variations. This ensures stable operation over extended periods, even outside controlled laboratory environments.

Available in both tabletop and rack-mounted configurations and across a wide wavelength range, the CLS can be flexibly integrated into applications including optical atomic clocks, quantum computing, quantum simulation, and optical frequency combs.

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* Further details are presented in the white paper “Design, Implementation, and Performance of the Toptica Clock Laser System” by Dr. Florian Schäfer, Dewni Pathegama, and Dr. Filippo Bregolin, describing the system design, stabilisation approach, and performance validation of the CLS.

@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox@UnnGmbh  #Pauto #Photonics

Quantum dot laser simulator.

Photon Design has officially released its HAROLD QD, quantum dot laser simulation tool.

HAROLD QD enables engineers to model a quantum dot (QD) laser’s multi-layer, graded epitaxy structure, including dot size and distribution. It has an eight-band, K.P-based modeller to calculate the energy levels of the quantum dots, where previously it was six-band. As an evolution of the company’s HAROLD, hetero-structure semiconductor and laser simulator, developed over many years, HAROLD QD enables engineers to produce 3-D stress and strain models for each quantum dot shape. From this, HAROLD QD also allows engineers to calculate QD laser gain and absorption spectra, which reliably match the results of quantum dot lasers in field tests.

Dr. Dominic Gallagher, CEO of Photon Design, said, “OFC is the leading, global exhibition for the optical communications and networking supply chain; an ideal platform to officially launch HAROLD QD. Quantum dot lasers are critical to next-generation data centres, AI, and HPC applications and HAROLD QD puts Photon Design at the forefront of their design. QD lasers offer unparalleled, high-temperature operation, when compared to existing lasers, along with superior modulation, data transmission performance and power efficiency. They also bring practical, silicon-based manufacturing benefits, where quantum dots can be grown directly on silicon waveguides.

“HAROLD QD enables engineers to work in a single, integrated environment for gain materials, including InP and silicon. Seamless integration into Photon Design’s PICWAVE, to give engineers three-dimensional, time evolving, quantum dot laser models will follow.”

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@photond #Design #Communications #OptimumPDM

Laser fires.

Warning of gaps in purely organisational measures and how companies of all sizes can realistically assess risks.

CO₂ lasers are now among the most important tools in the daily workflow not only in workshops, manufacturing facilities, start-ups, and small businesses, but also in industry, which is increasingly discovering their potential. Whether for series production or one-off production, for many users the laser is not just a machine, but their main source of income.

This makes the consequences of a fire all the more serious. Even though laser fires are statistically rare, in practice they almost always develop into serious incidents: from several days of downtime in small businesses to costly machine and production losses in industrial manufacturing. The causes are often the same, regardless of company size:

• Thermal stress
• Combustible materials
• Deposits in the machine room
• brief moments of unsupervised operation

Many companies, whether small businesses with two employees or industrial plants with 500 or more, rely on manual safety rules. However, increasing workloads, parallel tasks in everyday workshop operations, and growing automation in industry mean that purely organizational measures are increasingly reaching their limits.

“Especially with CO₂ lasers, companies should not leave fire protection solely to their operating personnel,” explains Trotec Laser. “Small businesses often have only this one machine – if it fails, operations come to a standstill. In industry, on the other hand, downtime costs are enormous. Both groups need a level of safety that goes beyond classic prevention rules.”

Trotec is committed to a new understanding of safety – from craft businesses to highly automated manufacturing. In its latest white paper, the manufacturer shows how companies of all sizes can realistically assess risks and which factors significantly increase the likelihood of a fire incident. The publication contains real-life case studies from small workshops as well as examples from industry and multi-shift operations. The risk chains are similar in both worlds – but the economic consequences differ dramatically. This makes a reliable and modern safety concept all the more important.

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@UnnGmbh @PresseBox #Trotec #Laser #Safety

Excellent laser.

The PRONTO-250-EZ laser power meter from Gentec-EO was honored with the Silver Laser Focus World Innovators Award at SPIE Photonics West 2026. Each year, the jury presents this prestigious award to recognize particularly practical and forward-looking new developments in laser technology.

The PRONTO-250-EZ features a novel, flat EZ absorber. Using nanotechnology, Gentec-EO has developed a surface that is significantly easier to clean and considerably reduces the risk of contamination-related damage. The new absorber layer is a refinement and improvement of the H-coating used in the previous PRONTO-250-Flex model. It can withstand even higher power densities, which makes the PRONTO-250-EZ the ideal solution for industrial, medical, and research applications.

The robust laser power meter is extremely versatile: it measures laser powers from 0.5 W to 250 W in the UV (248 nm) to near-infrared (2.5 µm) spectral range. An optional additional calibration is available for the CO₂ wavelength of 10.6 µm.

This winning handheld measuring device exclusively available from Laser Components.

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@GentecEO @LaserComponents #PAuto #SPIE

Laser light source.

SuperLight Photonics has announced the SLP-2000, a compact full-spectrum SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared) supercontinuum laser that expands the company’s broadband light-source portfolio.

Engineered for both stationary and mobile integration, the SLP-2000 is a SWIR supercontinuum laser with ultra-low noise output in a compact, maintenance-free platform. Its spectrum is matched to the InGaAs detector high-efficiency range, ensuring uniform spectral power density where near IR systems are most efficient, therefore making it ideal for non-destructive, high-resolution and real-time OCT and cross-sectional imaging without complex multi-laser architectures. Utilizing PAD - Patterned Alternating Dispersion™ technology, the SLP-2000 delivers a coherent, wide-bandwidth output in a small-form-factor source ready for OEM and instrument-level integration.

Covering the two most in-demand OCT wavelengths - 1060 nm and 1300 nm - the SLP-2000 enables deeper tissue penetration, improved contrast, and reduced water absorption at 1300 nm for dermatology and internal imaging, while 1060 nm offers a versatile balance of resolution and depth for retinal, anterior eye segment, and neuroimaging applications. In industrial and metrology environments, the SLP-2000 delivers exceptional performance for non-destructive testing of composites and semiconductors, coating thickness measurement, packaging and sealing inspection, and transparent material 3D imaging.

Jeroen Biesterbos, CCO of SuperLight Photonics states: “Our innovative SLP-2000 delivers unmatched versatility and precision for OCT and advanced spectroscopy. The launch of this new device completes our product portfolio and together with the SLP-1050, we cover the full spectrum from 900 to 2500 nm. Our solution will elevate operations and quality standards in inspection and material analysis, process and quality control. Our customers confirm that it is ideally suited for fiber component and photonic device testing. In OCT, it offers new paths to deeper penetration, higher contrast in challenging tissues, and real-time imaging performance, enabling applications previously limited by spectral bandwidth or noise instability.”

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#Superlight #TandM #Photonics

In-line 3D measurement and inspection.

The Z-Trak™ Express 1K5 3D laser profiler series has been introduced by Teledyne DALSA. Purpose-built for cost-effective, in-line 3D measurement and inspection, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 is the latest innovation in the Z-Trak family. It delivers high-speed 3D inspection with real-time processing, achieving a maximum profile rate of 5,000 profiles per second across its full measurement range. This makes it ideal for a wide range of industries, including secondary battery production, automotive, lumber inspection, factory automation, and logistics.

Featuring a 1,700mm horizontal field-of-view, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 enables precise measurement and inspection of wide-body objects such as wooden planks, road surfaces, pallets, and automotive body parts, using a single sensor. It also supports the integration of multiple sensors in a variety of topologies, enabling advanced measurement and inspection tasks such as measuring the thickness of moving parts, performing continuous 360° inspections, and extending the horizontal field-of-view, all without compromising Z-resolution. To simplify deployment and reduce costs, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 synchronizes multiple sensors using a data cable and supports content-based triggering for enhanced flexibility.

All Z-Trak profilers are deployment-ready, delivering micrometer level measurements without the need for in-field calibration. To accommodate objects of varying sizes, shapes, colors, finishes, and material compositions, Z-Trak Express 1K5 includes real-time, user programmable profile enhancement functions, two-point HDR, and models with eye-safe red or blue lasers. Like all Z-Trak laser profilers, Z-Trak Express 1K5 performs on-board processing without compromising the profile rate.

The Z-Trak Express 1K5 series comes bundled with:

• Z-Trak 3D Apps Studio – a license for a powerful suite of software tools for in-line measurement and inspection
• Z-Expert – a graphical configuration utility
• Sherlock™8 – a field proven rapid deployment platform for machine vision, enabling seamless communication with PLCs and other devices via industry standard communication protocols such as TCP/IP, MODBUS®, ProfiNet® and more.

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@TeledyneDALSA  #PAuto #Manufacturing #TandM

Laser simulator.

Photon Design has announced that its quantum dot module for its HAROLD laser simulation tool, is now available as a release candidate for customer evaluation. The HAROLD module enables engineers to model a quantum dot (QD) laser's epitaxy structure, including dot size and distribution. Its eight-band K.P-based modeller predicts laser gain and absorption spectra, reliably matching the results of beta sample, quantum dot lasers in recent field tests.

Dr. Dominic Gallagher, CEO of Photon Design, said, “The HAROLD quantum dot simulator is at the forefront of quantum dot laser design. QD lasers operate reliably at higher temperatures than existing lasers, with superior modulation and data transmission performance, and heat and power savings. They also bring practical, silicon-based manufacturing benefits. Quantum dot lasers are expected to play a critical role in many, next-generation, laser applications, including supporting the move to optical architectures within data centres, AI, and HPC.

“The HAROLD quantum dot laser simulator is a release candidate which we are inviting customers to test and evaluate. It is a development of Photon Design’s long-established and well-respected, HAROLD, a mature simulation platform with an established library of material systems available to designers. When released, the HAROLD quantum dot module will have seamless integration into Photon Design’s PICWAVE simulator, giving engineers a full, three-dimensional, time evolving, quantum dot laser model.”

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@photond #Design #Laser

Photonics award.

Recognised for revolutionising multi-photon microscopy with automated femtosecond fibre coupling.

The prestigious 2025 Laser World of Photonics Innovation Award in the Biophotonics and Medical Engineering category for its revolutionary Femtofibre ultra FD laser system has been awarded to Toptica. Developed to simplify multi-photon microscopy, this compact platform offers turnkey femtosecond beam delivery via optical fibre – enhancing safety and operational ease in modern bioimaging labs.

The Femtofibre ultra FD provides robust, hands-free femtosecond laser delivery using hollow-core fibre technology combined with Topticas proprietary COOLAC auto-alignment system. Originally developed for the iChrome fluorescence microscopy platform, COOLAC now brings automated fibre coupling to the ultrafast regime – making multi-photon imaging faster, safer, and more accessible.

“Our goal was to remove complexity from high-performance imaging,” said Luisa Hofmann, Product Manager Biophotonics & Materials at Toptica. “With the Femtofibre ultra FD, users can focus on their science – not on beam paths.” 

The award was presented by Europa Science Ltd and the Laser World of Photonics jury, recognising the system’s impact on both clinical and research imaging environments. With support for popular wavelengths (780/920/1050 nm), the Femtofibre ultra FD is compatible with common fluorophores and optimised for deep-tissue imaging and nonlinear excitation techniques.

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@TOPTICA_AG @ScienceEuropa @PHOTONICSWORLD@PresseBox #Pauto

Optical spectrum analyser proves essential.

The promise of quantum computing could extend the potential of digital technology far beyond the capabilities of today’s conventional computers. However, ensuring that quantum computing fulfil its potential requires the deployment of special lasers able to keep emissions at an accurate wavelength in the visible or near-infrared (NIR) spectrums. With such lasers becoming increasingly complex to design and manufacture, the need for precise measurements over a wide wavelength range is of paramount importance.

University spin-out Vexlum, based in Tampere, Finland, is one of very few companies worldwide with the facilities, technology and expertise to manufacture Vertical External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) for quantum computers. The vital factor in quantum applications is the ability to emit light at a single frequency with an extremely narrow bandwidth. Generating this precise output means Vexlum’s technology must control the three main elements of a high-power laser system: the semiconductor gain, the optical pump and the external cavity.

Other laser solutions for producing high power over a narrow bandwidth require three separate components, namely a seed laser, amplifier and main emitter. In contrast, the unique advantage of the Vexlum VECSEL is its single-module concept. This ‘three-in-one’ design offers several benefits, not least its compact size and simplicity in comparison with competing products. In addition, the Vexlum VECSEL produces higher optical power output than either an edge-emitting laser or a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).

To emit light reliably at the specified wavelength of a quantum application, the VECSEL requires precise characterisation. However, quantum applications operate at many different wavelengths.

Vexlum overcomes these challenges by relying on Yokogawa’s optical spectrum analysers (OSAs), which combine two capabilities: ultra-precise (>1 nm) wavelength measurements that minimise uncertainty and assure the test engineer of conformance to a quantum application’s tight wavelength specification; and a wide wavelength range from visible light up to 1700 nm. By using an OSA with these attributes, Vexlum not only achieves effective characterisation of its VECSELs, but also avoids the need to maintain multiple test systems.

Yokogawa’s easy-to-use AQ6370E OSA provides a wavelength range of 600 nm to 1700 nm, supported by a typical wavelength measurement accuracy of ±0.015 nm and 0.02 nm resolution. For detailed analysis of VECSEL emissions, the AQ6370E features a high-resolution HCDR (High Close-in Dynamic Range) mode that sharpens the spectrum around the peak and provides a clearer visual representation of the side modes than is possible in standard mode.

Vexlum has been characterising VECSELs using Yokogawa instruments since its earliest days as a research unit of Tampere University. Today, the 30-employee company is ramping up its production operations to volume. At the core of this growth is Jussi-Pekka Penttinen, Vexlum’s CEO, CTO and co-founder. He knows all about the benefits of deploying the optimal OSA in the company’s research, development and manufacturing operations.

“Put simply, we’re not able to verify the performance of VESCELs without the Yokogawa AQ6370E OSA – it’s essential for precise characterisation throughout our R&D and production,” he says. “It’s not only the performance and wavelength range of the OSA that meet our requirements, we also really like its usability. Moreover, the scope it provides to automate test operations enables us to maximise productivity in our laboratory and factory.”

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• The full Vexlum case study is available online..

@Yokogawa, @Yokogawa_EU, @Yokogawa_Europe @NapierPR #Vexlum #TandM #Laser

Hermetical sealing for transportable applications.

Ultra-stable against temperatures and acoustics with digital control DLC pro.

The new DL pro BFY from TOPTICA Photonics is especially suitable for applications where a care-free operation of the lasers is required. The hermetically sealed butterfly package and the compact design of the resonator allow for the best passive mode stability and robustness within the DL pro family. It can even run as an outdoor system, equipped with temperature stabilisation, to withstand massive winds and pressure fluctuations.

The DL pro is a reliable ECDL laser for almost all wavelengths between 369 nm and 1770 nm. With power up to 400 mW and free running linewidth down to 0.6 kHz, the DL pro is a proven solution for most QT applications. Its digital controller allows a stable performance, the GUI making remote access easy, which is very convenient when the DL pro rack version is requested. It is fully compatible with  TOPTICA's portfolio of tunable diode lasers, driving electronics, software and accessories.

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Laser for semiconductor metrology and interferometry.

Mode-hop free tuning at 633 nm Single-frequency laser based on a DFB diode.

TOPTICA has introduced the DFB pro 633, the newest member of our family of mode-hop-free tunable lasers for metrology. "Our DFB pro 633 provides a mode-hop-free tuning range of 200 GHz. Driven by the DLC pro controller, it is ready to be integrated into OEM customers' tools," explained Stéphane Junique, product manager for the DFB pro laser platform at TOPTICA.

The DFB pro, a single-frequency laser based on a distributed-feedback (DFB) diode, covers wavelengths from 633 nm and 760 nm up to 3500 nm and offers a mode-hop-free tuning range of up to 1400 GHz. It is well-suited for a variety of applications, including semiconductor metrology and spectroscopy.

Distributed feedback (DFB) lasers unite wide tunability and high output power. The frequency-selective element – a Bragg grating – is integrated into the active section of the semiconductor and ensures continuous single-frequency operation. Due to the absence of alignment-sensitive components, DFB lasers exhibit an exceptional stability and reliability. The lasers work under the most adverse environmental conditions – even in the Arctic or in airborne experiments.

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Photonics innovation nominated.

Two technologies reflect TOPTICA’s dedication to developing high-performance, application-driven laser systems. With practical benefits for end users, from experimental physicists to biomedical researchers, these innovations align with global demands for greater efficiency, compact integration, and user-friendly operation. Winners of the Innovation Award will be announced during LASER World of PHOTONICS held in Munich (D) during June 2025. They are nominated under two catagories.

1. Quantum Technologies: - CTL 780: Mode-hop-free tuning around 780 nm.
Explore wide mode-hop-free tuning from 750 to 790 nm! Perfect for pumping and probing (micro) cavities and Rb or K atoms, or for characterizing photonic devices across a broad wavelength range.
CTL lasers are the perfect choice when an application demands large mode-hop-free tuning ranges – from resonant excitation of tiny structures like quantum dots and micro-cavities, to molecular spectroscopy and advanced component testing.

2. Category: Biophotonics and Medical Engineering - FemtoFiber ultra FD 780/920/1050 nm.
Completely replacing the free-space paths between a watt-level femtosecond laser and a two-photon microscope is a game-changer for modern microscopy, simplifying multi-photon microscopy. By delivering femtosecond pulses directly from the laser source to the microscope via an optical fibre, users can enable entirely new microscope designs while significantly improving laser safety and usability. With the FemtoFiber ultra FD there's no need for mirror alignment or for power meters - automated fibre coupling makes setup fast and easy.

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox #TandM