News

Location: Moscone Center, California, United States

Exhibition dates: January 27 – February 1. 2024

BiOS booth #: 8567

SPIE PW booth #: 3567

Once again, it’s time for Photonics West in San Francisco (USA). We are excited to join  the world’s largest photonics technologies event of 2024 and we hope to meet you there too!

If you are curious to learn the most cutting-edge research in biomedical optics, biophotonics, industrial lasers, optoelectronics, microfabrications, quantum technologies, and so much more, this is the right gathering for you!

Our experts and lasers engineers will welcome you at booths #3567 (BiOS) and #8567 (SPIE Photonics West) from Saturday 27th January to Thursday 1st February. They are eager to share their knowledge with you and enveil our brand new products (see below!)

Do you have some detailed questions or inquiries that might need a bit more time or privacy?

Take the opportunity to book a meeting with our knowledgeable staff who will be present during Photonics West and BIOS.
It can be the perfect time to get a closer look at our specifications, and get advice regarding laser integrations and custom projects.

Invited talk

This year we are excited to share the findings of a research project developed in collaboration with Prof. Digonnet’s research group at Stanford University. Dr. Enkeleda Balliu’s presentation sheds light on the latest breakthroughs in second-generation radiation-balanced fiber laser and amplifier.

This talk offers insights into the potential of achieving substantial gain and energy storage in a small-core Yb-doped fiber, leveraging the innovative anti-Stokes pumping technique for effective cooling.

Don’t miss this opportunity to glimpse into the future of fiber laser technology!

February 1, 2024. Invited talk • 10:50 AM – 11:20 AM PST | Moscone Center, Room 204 (Level 2 South)

Single-mode radiation-balanced Yb-Doped silica fiber laser and amplifier

Read the abstract

We report a new radiation-balanced Yb-doped single-mode fiber laser cooled by anti-Stokes pumping with an optical efficiency five times larger than the previous generation. The gain fiber is a single-mode aluminosilicate fiber heavily doped with Yb3+ ions encapsulated in CaF2 nanoparticles.

The laser emits 187 mW at 1064 nm for 435 mW of 1040-nm pump power launched in the fundamental mode. This result demonstrates the ability of anti-Stokes pumping to operate a single-mode fiber laser at room temperature despite the limited number of Yb3+ ions available in the small core for cooling. The performance of a radiation-balanced single-mode fiber amplifier is also reported.

Here are our new releases!

New – VALO Tidal Femtosecond Fiber Lasers
Passively cooled compact system delivering unique peak powers – now with 2 W  

HÜBNER Photonics proudly announces the next generation of the VALO femtosecond lasers. The new Tidal delivers pulse durations of typically 40 fs at 2 W of output power. Due to the exceptional peak power and the integrated dispersion pre-compensation unit it is an ideal tool for nonlinear applications like high harmonic imaging, broadband Terahertz generation, and nonlinear wafer inspection.

New harmonized electrical interface – new wavelength and power on the Cobolt 06-01 Series

New on the Cobolt 06-01 Series is a harmonized electrical interface across the platform irrespective of laser technology.

In addition a new wavelength in the orange will be shown. The Cobolt 06-DPL 594 nm laser, which provides a CW power output of up to 100 mW in a compact footprint with direct modulation capabilities is easy to integrate into laser combiners such as the C-FLEX or simply for stand-alone use in the laboratory, specifically suitable for excitation of AF594, mCherry, mKate2 and other red fluorescent proteins.

Along with these new announcements is higher power at on the Cobolt 06-MLD 488nm, now with 300 mW!

New – Cobolt Disco^TM 785 nm diode pumped laser

The new Cobolt Disco™ 785 nm single-frequency laser delivers up to 500 mW in a perfect TEM00 beam. This new wavelength is an extension of the Cobolt 05-01 Series platform, and with an innovative design delivers excellent wavelength stability, a linewidth of less than 100 kHz, and spectral purity better than 70 dB, providing the performance needed for high-resolution Raman spectroscopy measurements.

Coming soon – sneak peak!

Compact tunable lasers & fiber amplifiers

HÜBNER Photonics will showcase a range of lasers for applications in quantum technology. The Cobolt Qu-T™ Series is a family of impressively compact, single frequency, tunable lasers operating at wavelengths of 707 nm, 780 nm and 813 nm. The coarse tunability of >4 nm, narrow mode-hop free tuning of >5 GHz, linewidth of <100 kHz and powers of 500 mW, means the Cobolt Qu-T™ Series is perfect for quantum experiments based on atomic transitions and generation of entangled photon pairs through spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

Meanwhile the new Ampheia™ Series of high-power fiber amplifiers, boasts ultra-low noise and single-frequency capability while delivering 20 W, 40 W, and 50 W at 1064 nm in a perfect beam. A laser set to challenge experiments in atom trapping.

BiOS and Photonics West present the perfect opportunities for us to reconnect with our photonics community and follow the progress of this dynamic and inspiring industry. We look forward to meeting you all at booths #3567 (BiOS) and #8567 (SPIE Photonics West) from Saturday 27th January to Thursday 1st February!

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page for some behind-the-scenes from the exhibitions, and an exclusive sneak-peak of our booth design for this year!

In a significant stride towards the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), META Reality Labs, in collaboration with Seoul National University, have unveiled a groundbreaking compact holographic near-eye display concept using our Cobolt Samba 532 nm laser. This prototype addresses critical challenges faced by current technologies, promising immersive and comfortable visual experiences for users.

As the researchers discuss in the journal Nature Communications, the concept aims to overcome obstacles such as achieving a compact form factor, resolving vergence-accommodation conflicts, and attaining high resolution with a large eyebox. Traditionally, these challenges have been stumbling blocks in the quest for creating true 3D holographic augmented reality glasses.

The key to this advancement lies in a meticulous approach to modeling coherent light interactions and propagation through a waveguide combiner. The researchers showcase their ability to control the output wavefront by utilizing a spatial light modulator located at the input coupler side. This method facilitates 3D holographic displays through exit-pupil expanding waveguide combiners, providing a generously sized, software-steerable eyebox.

Moreover, the proposed method brings added benefits, including resolution enhancement capabilities achieved by suppressing phase discontinuities resulting from the pupil replication process. The combination of these features positions the holographic near-eye display concept as a promising candidate for the next generation of computing platforms and its potential to impact the future of AR and VR technologies.

As technology continues to advance, the prospect of true 3D holographic augmented reality glasses draws closer to reality.

In a groundbreaking development for quantum computing, researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Sweden-based manufacturing company QTECH Group, have unveiled a promising strategy for multi-qubit quantum registers with our Cobolt 06 MLD 515 nm laser.

By utilizing optically addressable spins to manipulate numerous dark electron-spin defects within the environment, significant progress has been made in controlling these elusive quantum entities. Recent experiments have showcased coherent interactions with dark spins, marking a crucial milestone.

These groundbreaking results not only signify a significant step forward in quantum computing but also lay the foundation for utilizing dark electron-nuclear spin defects as qubits for diverse applications, including quantum sensing, computation, and networking.

This heralds a new era in quantum technology, offering promising prospects for revolutionizing information processing capabilities.

We are excited to share our latest featured article in Spectroscopy co-authored by our HÜBNER Photonics product manager Elena Vasileva.

LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) imaging is revolutionizing our ability to analyze elemental and mineralogical distribution within samples. Traditionally, we’ve relied on excitation sources like lasers with a repetition rate of 10-100 Hz for LIBS analysis. But what if we could enhance our capabilities for high-resolution imaging without enduring lengthy acquisition times?

The research shows how the development of a µ-LIBS imaging microscope can provide an astonishing 10 µm resolution in under 20 minutes per cm². For the first time, we can capture high-resolution images, revealing intricate elemental distribution within the analyzed samples.

The world of LIBS imaging is evolving, and we’re at the forefront of this exciting journey! This opens up endless possibilities across various research fields, from biomedical and geological material analysis to industrial applications like mining!

Read more in the magazine on page 34!

At HÜBNER Photonics we are always thrilled to be part of groundbreaking research that pushes the boundaries of physics!

Just last month, the prestigious 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics recognized the remarkable work of Dr. Anne L’Huillier from Lund University, Sweden, for her pioneering research in attosecond physics.

We are absolutely delighted and immensely proud to announce that one of our lasers contributes to cutting-edge attosecond experiments at the same institution – The Lund Attosecond Science Centre (LASC)!

Dr. Cord Arnold and his team at LASC are laser technology experts with a specific focus on efficient and versatile attosecond pulse sources. Their mission? To unravel the mysteries of fundamental light-matter interactions that occur on ultrafast timescales.

Attosecond science consists in generating attosecond pulses and in using them to study ultrafast dynamics. The application demands specific ultrafast laser technology as well as attosecond engineering in order to produce the needed attosecond source. We are very delighted to know that our state-of-the-art laser technology helps in these scientific endevours.

Academic institutions, such as these, play a pivotal role in creating new knowledge that can, in turn, translate into real-life applications. We can already attest that attosecond research, despite it being a novel area within scientific explorations, is beginning to find its footing in other fields beyond physics.

 As Dr. Arnold explains:

 “We hope to see other research fields pick up on the tools that the attosecond community has created. This specifically concerns chemists, biologists, and medical doctors. From an industrial perspective, we already meet large interest for semiconductor metrology in connection with the latest lithography technology using 13.5nm radiation.”

At HÜBNER Photonics we continue to support research institutions with the clear goal that these collaborations can help shape a more connected, efficient, and sustainable society.

Join us in celebrating this incredible partnership that contributes to advancing our understanding of the universe!

Congratulations to HÜBNER Photonic’s Principal R&D Engineer, Magnus Rådmark, for being shortlisted in the 100 Photonics Most Innovative People. 

The people behind the development of our lasers work passionately to bring the best products to our customers. It always makes us extremely proud when we learn that their passion is recognised in the industry.

Magnus is actively working to develop new compact laser modules and system for life science applications.

Learn more about his projects and their impact in the photonics community.

In the realm of live-cell microscopy, fluorescence techniques have long dominated, yet challenges persist due to bleaching and motion blur caused by extended integration times. However, a breakthrough has emerged with Rotating Coherent Scattering (ROCS) microscopy, enabling high-contrast, label-free imaging of live cells with unprecedented speed and resolution.

Researchers at Freiburg University, Germany, have harnessed the power of our Cobolt 06-01 and Cobolt 05-01 laser series to study cell samples in minute details. ROCS microscopy capitalizes on intensity speckle patterns from all azimuthal illumination directions, aggregating thousands of acquisitions within a mere 10 milliseconds at a remarkable resolution of 160 nm and a rapid capture rate of 100 Hz.

Through sophisticated analysis methods, this research not only reveals how motion blur obscures cellular structures but also elucidates how slow structural motions can mask critical fast motions, offering profound insights into the dynamic processes within living cells.

The study heralds a new era in live-cell microscopy, promising unparalleled discoveries in cellular dynamics.

In a recent investigation, researchers at The Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich in Germany use our C-WAVE Tunable laser to delve into the nuanced contrasts observed in the electrical and optical readout of NV centers in diamond, shedding light on their dependence on optical excitation wavelength and various excitation schemes.

the study shows that while optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) showcases efficient performance within the 480 to 580 nm range, electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) exhibits a pronounced reliance on excitation dynamics. Remarkably, the study uncovers that the most substantial electrically detected contrast, reaching -23%, is attained by resonantly exciting the zero-phonon line of the neutral charge state of NV at 575 nm. Additionally, EDMR exhibits enhancements at 521 nm, potentially attributed to a further excited state of NV-.

These findings offer crucial insights into the intricacies of NV center behavior, paving the way for refined techniques in both optical and electrical readout methodologies.

Researchers in Japan have uncovered a pivotal aspect of optical parametric generators: the phenomenon of bunching caused by ultrafast intensity fluctuations. This mechanism, previously recognized for enhancing nonlinear interactions between light and matter, has now been investigated in the context of sufficiently intense light pulses crucial for biological nonlinear imaging.

By harnessing the power of our Cobolt Tor™ Series, the scientists showcase the enhanced two-photon excited fluorescence enabled by ultrafast fluctuations within intense pulses.

Armed with this calibrated optical parametric generator, the study achieved a breakthrough in two-photon imaging of green fluorescent protein within brain tissue, all within a mere timescale of seconds. These experimental triumphs underscore the immense potential of intense pulses and the bunching effect induced by ultrafast fluctuations, offering a promising avenue for advancing nonlinear imaging in the realms of biology and medicine.

This discovery promises to revolutionize our understanding and application of nonlinear imaging techniques, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.

Photodamage is considered one of the main limiting factors when it comes to live cell imaging, since constant exposure to high average laser power considerably accelerates phototoxicity.

One practical solution to address this issue is the use of ultrafast laser technologies that can deliver very short femtosecond pulses. The true benefit for multiphoton imaging is even greater with the use of sub 50 fs pulse durations which can deliver exceptional peak powers, produce very bright high contrast multiphoton images while keeping the average laser power low, and thereby prolong cell viability and allow longer imaging times.

In this webinar we present the results of high-resolution label-free imaging through a combination of second- and third-order non-linear imaging and two- and three-photon fluorescence microscopy using a single compact sub-50 fs laser.  This innovative approach opens doors to precision tissue examinations, particularly for use in instant pathology.

Join Dr. Oliver Prochnow and Dr. Marloes Groot from Vrije University in Amsterdam as they showcase the remarkable potential of sub-50 fs pulses for enhanced multiphoton microscopy.