photonischen

Photonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling, and detecting photons. It covers a broad range of phenomena and devices that manipulate light from ultraviolet to infrared. The field intersects physics, electrical engineering, and materials science and underpins technologies for communication, imaging, and sensing. In German-language use, the field is called Photonik, and the adjective photonisch describes light-based devices or phenomena.

Core technologies include lasers and light sources, optical fibers and waveguides, modulators and detectors, photonic integrated circuits, and nanophotonic structures. Subfields include integrated photonics, quantum photonics, biophotonics, nonlinear optics, plasmonics, and nano-optics.

Applications are widespread, notably fiber-optic communications, medical imaging and diagnostics, environmental and industrial sensing, data storage and display, LIDAR and other sensors in automotive and aerospace, consumer photonics, and defense.

Historically, photonics advanced with the invention of the laser and the development of fiber optics in the late 20th century. Today, photonics enables fast data transfer, compact sensing, and new computing paradigms such as photonic integrated circuits and quantum photonics. Challenges include integration, losses, packaging, and cost.