Determining the authenticity of historical objects is a key element for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Ancient materials are often fragile and require non-destructive analysis that allow the material to be investigated in a safe way. Scientific Reports Nature published the results of a first-line analysis for stained glass panels based on absorption spectroscopy, developed at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

The time that well-established manufacturing techniques for precision optics were restricted to rotationally symmetric surfaces are history. Important advances in manufacturing allow increasingly precise fabrication of lenses and mirrors with almost any shape, hence the name “freeform” optics. The use of freeform components in optical systems can provide enhanced performance. In areas that require compact and lightweight packaging, such as virtual- and augmented reality head-up displays, the freeform revolution is on the rise.

"Freeform optical design for a non-scanning corneal imaging system with a convexly curved image", published in OSA's Applied Optics journal, has recently been nominated as Editor's Pick. The work is the result of a research stay of B-PHOT PhD researcher Yunfeng Nie in the expert team of Prof. Herbert Gross at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena in the framework of a collaboration with B-PHOT's freeform optics specialist Prof. Fabian Duerr, facilitated and financially supported by the EC Marie-Curie ITN project ADOPSYS.

One of the most rewarding activities we proud ourselves on at B-PHOT, is reaching out to young potentials to inspire them about photonics.  Once young minds get engaged with science, they no longer perceive technology and engineering as 'things for uber nerds' and are eager to start experimenting themselves.  Last week, Ioanna from the European Business School, finished her internship with us. During two weeks, she was on a mission to discover more about the world of fundamental and applied research in photonics.