London Roadshow Highlights Photonics

Tomography, superresolution microscopy, and light-based diagnostics and treatment dominated the topics of discussion April 9 at the 2013 Photonex London Roadshow, held at University College London.

The event, organized by Xmark Media and sponsored by the UCL-Cambridge Centre for Doctoral Training, attracted more than 200 delegates to an intensive day of scientific presentations, industry-led tutorials and a benchtop equipment exhibition. The show provided visitors networking opportunities to discuss the latest developments in photonics and to learn about new tools and techniques being offered by UK suppliers. The London Roadshow has established a model for future meetings to be held across the UK in years to come, its organizers say.

Attendees of the one-day Photonex London Roadshow take time out at the exhibition. Courtesy of Photonex.

Besides technical presentations, tutorials were offered on a host of topics; one described how light’s ability to bend around corners could speed up signals to improve PCB bandwidth, while other sessions described the latest photonic techniques in applications ranging from lasers to cameras.

The meeting concluded with a presentation by co-organizer Dr. Cyril Renaud of UCL’s Ultrafast Photonics Laboratory, which took a look into the future of photonics. Photonics could provide many future communication requirements, Renaud said, but that without government backing, the cost of putting together the necessary infrastructure would be prohibitive to private industry. Japan and Korea are currently the only countries putting in the investment needed, he added.

“The meeting provided a useful snapshot of UK biophotonics activity, and the exhibition had many of the companies whose products are key components to our research,” said professor Paul French of Imperial College London.

The 2013 Photonex Conference & Exhibition, the UK's showcase event dedicated to photonics, applied optical equipment, biophotonics, fiber optics, lasers, vision and light, will be held Oct. 16 and 17 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

For more information, visit: www.photonex.org