Deep dive into quantum-, nano-, and nonlinear optics
The European Quantum Electronics Conference—EQEC 2025 will provide deep insight into phenomena at shortest on time scales and smallest dimensions. In our interview, the EQEC chairs Aleksandra Foltynowicz and Piotr Maslowski highlight the latest technological trends and some outstanding events of this year’s conference.
Aleksandra Foltynowicz, Professor and Head of the Optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy Group, at the Department of Physics Umeå University, Sweden
Piotr Maslowski, Director of the Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy & Informatics at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
Where does EQEC 2025 focus its content?
Foltynowicz: I see three focal points: Attosecond physics, quantum technologies and nanophotonics. The first focus arises from the fact that our plenary speakers Anne L'Huillier and Ferenc Krausz will report on their Nobel Prize awarded attosecond research. Ferenc Krausz will present applications in medical and biological research. Anne L'Huillier will talk about how attosecond laser pulses can be used to study the dynamics of electrons.
Maslowski: In an overall view of the EQEC lectures, I see a focus on fundamental questions about phenomena at shortest on time scales and smallest dimensions—and also insights into applications that are made possible by the answers to these questions. The two plenary lectures are a good example. They build bridges from basic research to applications and concrete social benefits. Much of what is presented at EQEC is the result of government-funded research. Our conference shows that and to what extent this research is worthwhile for society. It not only expands our theoretical knowledge but also provides the basis for technical progress. This can be seen in quantum technologies, which are coming ever closer to market-ready applications in sensor technology, simulation and in computing. We are seeing more and more start-ups and applications that are taking the step from optical tables in laboratories to products. There is an increasing flow of private venture capital, which also points to advancing technological maturity. Now it’s time to miniaturize the solutions, also to chip level wherever possible, improve their reliability and robustness against environmental influences and their energy efficiency. Engineering tasks are taking up space because the basic research of recent decades has been able to clarify many open questions.
Foltynowicz: But EQEC will look at quantum technology and nanophotonics from a basic research perspective and present research progress. We are closely associated with CLEO© /Europe, which is traditionally closer to applications. However, not to the same extent as the other conferences of the World of Photonics Congress or the application panels next door at the LASER, the World of Quantum or the automatica. We are the two conferences with the strongest roots in basic research. But we have a keynote speech by Phillipe Bouyer from Amsterdam entitled 'Quantum Sensor with Matter-Waves: From Lab to Field'—so it's exactly about the step that Piotr just talked about. In keeping with the UN Year of Quantum Science and Technology, basically all six keynotes cover topics from quantum research to nonlinear optics and nanophotonics. I hope I will not miss any of them, for each one of our keynote speakers Maria Chekhova, Ralph Ernstorfer, Natalia Litchinitser, Miriam Vitiello, Jun Ye and Phillipe Bouyer will provide exciting insights, which in their entirety provide a fantastic overview of the current state of the art in their fields of research.
What technological trends do you see?
Maslowski: If I had to name one trend that links the three EQEC focal points mentioned, it would be that our community is constantly pushing boundaries. Attosecond physics can now visualize the electronic structure of matter at the atomic and molecular level with temporal resolution on the attosecond scale and spatial resolution on the picometer scale. Quantum sensor technology has reached a level of sensitivity that allows us to detect and characterize phenomena that were so far considered immeasurable – such as tiny variations in magnetic or gravitational fields, or the presence of individual atoms and molecules—which is enabling breakthroughs in fields from fundamental physics to diagnostics. Nanophotonics comes in play and makes them usable for biomedical research and other industries, that were hidden from mankind until a few years ago. This expands the toolbox for new technologies and applications, as well as our research toolbox. On this basis, solutions and products will emerge, some of which are not even known today. Think of frequency metrology including atomic clocks and increasingly precise frequency combs. Not only have they enabled precise positioning of satellites and today's navigation systems, but their ongoing development and constant increase in frequency precision and accuracy is actually taking us orders of magnitude further both in fundamental research and in measurement technology. Here I would like to invite everyone to the keynote speech by Jun Ye, who will provide deep insights into these scientific breakthroughs including the latest developments on the nuclear clock. It is to be expected that exciting innovations for the growing number of industry sectors can be derived from this. Precisely because innovative cycles are becoming shorter and shorter—also driven by the rapidly increasing use of artificial intelligence - it is so important that our conferences create direct links from basic research to application-oriented research and development. This transfer is essential for innovation in the photonics industry.
Are there any highlights at your conference that you would like to point out to the LASER and World of QUANTUM community?
Foltynowicz: Speaking of artificial intelligence, we have the joint symposium "PHOTONICS FOR AI" in our program. We assume that this topic will take up more and more space at our conferences in the coming years because AI provides us with fantastic, highly productive tools. Of course, the plenary lectures by the two Nobel Prize winners are also among the highlights. Here, we have something very special to offer PhD candidates. Anne L'Huillier has agreed to talk about her career and answer questions at a Career Event following her plenary lecture. If you are interested, you should register quickly. A maximum of 90 people can attend. In any case, there are events for young researchers, including lunches at which we bring experienced scientists together with young people who are at the beginning of their careers. There are many other highlights. It's worth looking at our program. The range of lectures and events is so broad that you should definitely plan your visit to CLEO®/Europe-EQEC in advance.
The program and important information on CLEO®/Europe-EQEC 2025 can be found here.