Photonics West explores the future of optical technologies

14 Jan 2026 Sponsored by Photonics West exhibitors

SPIE Photonics West sees the global optics and photonics community come together to present and discuss the latest industry trends and research breakthroughs

Photonics focus Researchers, innovators, engineers, and business leaders from around the globe are heading to San Francisco to attend the largest annual conference and exhibition in optics and photonics. (Courtesy: iStock/bluejayphoto)

The 2026 SPIE Photonics West meeting takes place in San Francisco, California, from 17 to 22 January. The premier event for photonics research and technology, Photonics West features more than 100 technical conferences covering topics such as lasers, biomedical optics, optoelectronics, quantum technologies, and more.

In addition to the conferences, Photonics West also offers 60 technical courses and a new Career Hub with a co-located job fair. There are also five world-class exhibitions featuring over 1500 companies and incorporating industry-focused presentations, product launches, and live demonstrations. The first of these is the BiOS Expo, which begins on 17 January and examines the latest breakthroughs in biomedical optics and biophotonics technologies.

Then, starting on 20 January, the main Photonics West Exhibition will host more than 1200 companies and showcase the latest innovative optics and photonics devices, components, systems, and services. Alongside, the Quantum West Expo features the best in quantum-enabling technology advances, the AR | VR | MR Expo brings together leading companies in XR hardware and systems, and – new for 2026 – the Vision Tech Expo highlights cutting-edge vision, sensing, and imaging technologies.

Here are some of the product innovations on show at this year’s event.

Enabling high-performance photonics assembly with SmarAct

As photonics applications increasingly require systems with high complexity and integration density, manufacturers face a common challenge: how to assemble, align, and test optical components with nanometre precision – quickly, reliably, and at scale. At Photonics West, SmarAct presents a comprehensive technology portfolio addressing exactly these demands, spanning optical assembly, fast photonics alignment, precision motion and advanced metrology. Rapid and reliable SmarAct’s technology portfolio enables assembly, alignment and testing of optical components with nanometre precision. (Courtesy: SmarAct)

A central highlight is SmarAct’s Optical Assembly Solution, presented together with a preview of a powerful new software platform planned for release in late-Q1 2026. This software tool is designed to provide exceptional flexibility for implementing automation routines and process workflows in user-specific control applications, laying the foundation for scalable, future-proof photonics solutions.

For high-throughput applications, SmarAct showcases its Fast Photonics Alignment capabilities. By combining high-dynamic motion systems with real-time feedback and controller-based algorithms, SmarAct enables rapid scanning and active alignment of PICs and optical components, including fibres, fibre array units, lenses, beam splitters, and more. These solutions significantly reduce alignment time while maintaining sub-micrometre accuracy, making them ideal for demanding photonics packaging and assembly tasks.

Both the Optical Assembly Solution and Fast Photonics Alignment are powered by SmarAct’s electromagnetic (EM) positioning axes, which form the dynamic backbone of these systems. The direct-drive EM axes combine high speed, high force, and exceptional long-term durability, enabling fast scanning, smooth motion, and stable positioning even under demanding duty cycles. Their vibration-free operation and robustness make them ideally suited for high-throughput optical assembly and alignment tasks in both laboratory and industrial environments.

Precision feedback is provided by SmarAct’s advanced METIRIO optical encoder family, designed to deliver high-resolution position feedback for demanding photonics and semiconductor applications. The METIRIO stands out by offering sub-nanometre position feedback in an exceptionally compact and easy-to-integrate form factor. Compatible with linear, rotary, and goniometric motion systems – and available in vacuum-compatible designs – the METIRIO is ideally suited for space-constrained photonics setups, semiconductor manufacturing, nanopositioning, and scientific instrumentation.

For applications requiring ultimate measurement performance, SmarAct presents the PICOSCALE Interferometer and Vibrometer. These systems provide picometre-level displacement and vibration measurements directly at the point of interest, enabling precise motion tracking, dynamic alignment, and detailed characterization of optical and optoelectronic components. When combined with SmarAct’s precision stages, they form a powerful closed-loop solution for high-yield photonics testing and inspection.

Together, SmarAct’s motion, metrology, and automation solutions form a unified platform for next-generation photonics assembly and alignment. Visit SmarAct at booth #3438 at Photonics West and booth #8438 at BiOS to discover how these technologies can accelerate your photonics workflows.

Avantes previews AvaSoftX software platform and new broadband light source

Photonics West 2026 will see Avantes present the first live demonstration of its completely redesigned software platform, AvaSoftX, together with a sneak peek of its new broadband light source, the AvaLight-DH-BAL. The company will also run a series of application-focused live demonstrations, highlighting recent developments in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), thin-film characterization, and biomedical spectroscopy.

AvaSoftX is developed to streamline the path from raw spectra to usable results. The new software platform offers preloaded applications tailored to specific measurement techniques and types, such as irradiance, LIBS, chemometry, and Raman. Each application presents the controls and visualizations needed for that workflow, reducing time and the risk of user error. Streamlined solution The new AvaSoftX software platform offers next-generation control and data handling. (Courtesy: Avantes)

Smart wizards guide users step-by-step through the setup of a measurement – from instrument configuration and referencing to data acquisition and evaluation. For more advanced users, AvaSoftX supports customization with scripting and user-defined libraries, enabling the creation of reusable methods and application-specific data handling. The platform also includes integrated instruction videos and online manuals to support the users directly on the platform.

The software features an accessible dark interface optimized for extended use in laboratory and production environments. Improved LIBS functionality will be highlighted through a live demonstration that combines AvaSoftX with the latest Avantes spectrometers and light sources.

Also making its public debut is the AvaLight-DH-BAL, a new and improved deuterium–halogen broadband light source designed to replace the current DH product line. The system delivers continuous broadband output from 215 to 2500 nm and combines a more powerful halogen lamp with a reworked deuterium section for improved optical performance and stability.

A switchable deuterium and halogen optical path is combined with deuterium peak suppression to improve dynamic range and spectral balance. The source is housed in a newly developed, more robust enclosure to improve mechanical and thermal stability. Updated electronics support adjustable halogen output, a built-in filter holder, and both front-panel and remote-controlled shutter operation.

The AvaLight-DH-BAL is intended for applications requiring stable, high-output broadband illumination, including UV–VIS–NIR absorbance spectroscopy, materials research, and thin-film analysis. The official launch dates for the light source and the software will be shared in the near future.

Avantes will also run a series of live application demonstrations. These include a LIBS setup for rapid elemental analysis, a thin-film measurement system for optical coating characterization, and a biomedical spectroscopy demonstration focusing on real-time measurement and analysis. Each demo will use the latest Avantes hardware and be controlled via AvaSoftX, allowing visitors to assess overall system performance and workflow integration. Avantes’ engineering team will be available throughout the event. For product previews, live demonstrations, and more, meet Avantes at booth #1157.

HydraHarp 500: high-performance time tagger redefines precision and scalability

One year after its successful market introduction, the HydraHarp 500 continues to be a standout highlight at PicoQuant’s booth at Photonics West. Designed to meet the growing demands of advanced photonics and quantum optics, the HydraHarp 500 sets benchmarks in timing performance, scalability, and flexible interfacing.

At its core, the HydraHarp 500 delivers exceptional timing precision, combined with ultrashort jitter and dead time, enabling reliable photon-timing measurements even at very high count rates. With support for up to 16 fully independent input channels plus a common sync channel, the system allows true simultaneous multichannel data acquisition without cross-channel dead time, making it ideal for complex correlation experiments and high-throughput applications. At the forefront of photon timing The high-resolution multichannel time tagger HydraHarp 500 offers picosecond timing precision. It combines versatile trigger methods with multiple interfaces, making it ideally suited for demanding applications that require many input channels and high data throughput. (Courtesy: PicoQuant)

A key strength of the HydraHarp 500 is its high flexibility in detector integration. Multiple trigger methods support a wide range of detector technologies, from single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) to superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). Versatile interfaces, including USB 3.0 and a dedicated FPGA interface, ensure seamless data transfer and easy integration into existing experimental setups. For distributed and synchronized systems, White Rabbit compatibility enables precise cross-device timing coordination.

Engineered for speed and efficiency, the HydraHarp 500 combines ultrashort per-channel dead time with industry-leading timing performance, ensuring complete datasets and excellent statistical accuracy even under demanding experimental conditions.

Looking ahead, PicoQuant is preparing to expand the HydraHarp family with the upcoming HydraHarp 500 L. This new variant will set new standards for data throughput and scalability. With outstanding timing resolution, excellent timing precision, and up to 64 flexible channels, the HydraHarp 500 L is engineered for the highest-throughput applications powered – for the first time – by USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, making it ideal for rapid, large-volume data acquisition.

With the HydraHarp 500 and the forthcoming HydraHarp 500 L, PicoQuant continues to redefine what is possible in photon timing, delivering precision, scalability, and flexibility for today’s and tomorrow’s photonics research. For more information, visit www.picoquant.com or contact us at info@picoquant.com.Meet PicoQuant at BiOS booth #8511 and Photonics West booth #3511.

Sponsored by Photonics West exhibitors

from physicsworld.com      17/1/2026