New Product Launches and Technologies to See at Photonics West 2025

Photonics & Imaging Technology INSIDER

The SPIE Photonics West 2025 technical conference and exhibition returns to San Francisco's Moscone Center, January 25 to 30, providing attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in lasers, photonics, optics, optoelectronics, biophotonics, biomedical optics, 3D printing and more.

SPIE Photonics West is divided into four different conference and exhibitions, including BIOS, LAZE, OPTO and Quantum West.

BiOS highlights new research in biophotonics, biomedical optics, and imaging for diagnostics and therapeutics; LASE focuses on the laser industry and its diverse applications; OPTO covers optoelectronics, photonic materials, and optical devices; and Quantum West features quantum 2.0 technologies from quantum sensing and information systems to quantum-enabled materials, devices, and biology.

The four exhibitions during Photonics West feature more than 1,200 companies, with industry-focused presentations, product launches, live demonstrations, and cutting-edge technologies representing the diverse and healthy photonics industry.

Ahead of the start of Photonics West 2025, check out some of the new products, technologies and in-booth demonstrations that some of the exhibitors announced ahead of the event this year.

Luminit's Windshield HUD and Advanced Micro-Optic Technologies

Luminit (Booth 1957), the Torrance, California-based provider of advanced optical technologies, will feature enabling technology for windshield head-up displays (HUDs), along with a new generation of spatially variable micro-optics and silicone-based diffusers that could be used in future automotive, aerospace, industrial and display technologies, according to a Jan. 21 press release.

"At Luminit, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of optical innovation. We’re thrilled to present our next-generation solutions at Photonics West and demonstrate how our technologies will revolutionize head-up displays (HUDs) and near-to-eye displays," said Dr. Jonathan Waldern, CEO/CTO of Luminit Inc. "This event provides a unique platform to connect with industry leaders, customers, and innovators, enabling us to share our vision of the future of micro-optics in transforming industries such as automotive, aerospace, and augmented reality."

Instrument Systems AR/VR Devices

Instrument Systems (Booth 6302) will be presenting its high-end measuring instruments for optical quality assurance of AR/VR/MR devices along the entire production chain.

This year, the company will demonstrate their new LumiTop 5300 AR/VR camera. This 2D luminance and color measurement camera with 24 MP resolution and straight lens is described by the company as being “particularly well-suited for testing AR/VR/MR display modules before installation in the headset. It complements the proven LumiTop 4000 AR/VR with a periscope lens.”

Additionally, the company will be presenting its new “TOP 300 AR/VR,” an optical probe for quality testing of headset modules for luminance and color in production and development. It imitates the human eye and is connected directly to a CAS series spectroradiometer, according to an announcement published by Instrument Systems ahead of the event.

Hamamatsu Photonics Quantum Computers Presentation

Hamamatsu Photonics (Booth 1127) will unite its subsidiaries — Energetiq, Fairchild Imaging, Hamamatsu Corporation, and NKT Photonics — under a new "One Hamamatsu" theme that the company announced ahead of Photonics West 2025. The company notes that its experts will "showcase the latest innovations in medical imaging, spectroscopy, and life sciences, highlighting how Hamamatsu’s solutions are driving advancements in diagnostics, research, and treatment" within the BIOS exhibition.

One of the in-booth presentations Hamamatsu has planned for the event includes an exploration of the "past, present and future of qubit state detection," in a presentation titled "Trapped Ion and Neutral Atom Quantum Computers: Illuminating the Path for Innovation."

Photonis' New Image Intensifier and Photon Detection Module

Exosens subsidiary Photonis will launch their new "Cricket™ Pro" camera and "PhotonPix™" modules.

According to a Jan. 23 Photonis press release, Cricket Pro is a plug-and-play image intensifier adapter that is compatible with most professional and scientific F-mount cameras. Some of the key features of Cricket Pro include its expanded 25 mm active detection area, high-speed gating as fast as 3 nanoseconds, and a 3 MHz Burst or 30kHz repetition rate.

PhotonPix is a "high-count rate MCP-PMT-based plug-and-play module engineered for ultra-high timing precision single-photon detection," according to Photonis. Some of the key features of PhotonPix include an 8 mm sensitive area, a dark count rate as low as 20 cps, and a timing resolution below 15 ps.

"Our participation at Photonics West and the launch of Cricket™ Pro and PhotonPix™ demonstrate our commitment to setting new standards in single photon detection and imaging. These innovative technologies provide unprecedented performance, giving researchers and professionals the tools to drive advancements in various fields, from biomedical imaging to quantum applications," said Ulrich Laupper, President of the Exosens Ultimate Detection Business Unit.

Synopsys ImSym

Synopsys (Booth 543) will be featuring its new end-to-end simulation platform for virtual prototyping of imaging systems that the company describes as an "industry-first platform," called "ImSym" (Imaging System Simulator). The company first introduced ImSym in a Sept. 30 press release posted to their website.

ImSym is designed to simplify the complexity of designing an optical imaging system that allows users to build a physically accurate virtual prototype of their imaging system.

"About ten years ago, we started getting requests from mobile camera makers wanting to know how they could design the lens and sensor together. Our engineers recognized the need and opportunity to design the lens to accommodate the performance the sensor and ISP could provide," said Blake Crowther, ImSym Technical Product Management, Senior Director, Synopsys. "This allowed us to avoid over-engineering the lens and end up with a more expensive lens when the sensor and ISP could do the job. As we explored more, we realized there was a bigger opportunity for system-level tools. That's one example that led to our development of ImSym. We wanted to help optical system design teams evaluate image quality early on and provide a platform that opens up a whole new market."

Excelitas Solid State LiDAR Demonstration

Excelitas (Booth 641) will be showcasing their custom 16-channel pulsed laser module with a monolithic 4-channel cap. The company will demonstrate how their chip on ASIC integrated driver has the capabilities of their high-power lasers (150 W/channel at 50 A) as well as CMOS Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) array for use in LiDAR system applications.

MKS Instruments Ophir High Power Meter

One of the new technologies to be exhibited by MKS Instruments (Booth 927) this year will be their Ophir® 150K-W Very High Power Laser Sensor for measuring very high power levels up to 150kW with exceptional accuracy and dependable performance.

The company first introduced the new water-cooled, calorimetric sensor in December, noting that it measures powers from 10kW to 150kW over the spectral range of 900 - 1100nm. Extremely low back reflection of <0.5 percent ensures operational safety. Incorporating a beam dump and measurement unit, the 150K-W Sensor is designed to address the growing need for higher power in applications, such as high-power fiber laser development and testing, directed energy systems, and cutting and drilling in industrial production.

“Directed energy and industrial applications, such as cutting, are driving demand for higher-power lasers, yet to-date there has been no dependable solution for power levels above 120kW,” said Reuven Silverman, General Manager, Ophir Photonics Products. “The Ophir 150K-W Very High Power Laser Sensor takes high power measurements to the next level. It provides R&D and production teams at high power laser manufacturers and directed energy weapons developers with accurate and dependable results. Whether integrated into third-party systems or used with user-friendly Ophir software, the sensor is a powerful tool for very high power laser measurements, delivering reliability and operational efficiency.”

Fraunhofer's Compact Light Source for Quantum Encryption

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF (Booth 4205-32) is presenting a new photon source that has been specially developed for the "Prepare-and-Measure" protocol of quantum communication. The components of the source are optimized for use in space.

The concept of using strongly attenuated, randomly polarized light pulses for secure quantum communication has been around since the mid-1980s. Most commercial light sources for quantum communication are still based on this idea today. The biggest challenge here is to generate indistinguishable and randomly polarized photons at a high rate in a source that is as compact and energy-efficient as possible.

Fraunhofer IOF in Jena has now developed a photon source based on a linear array of eight vertically emitting semiconductor lasers (VCSELs). It has a ultra-compact design, high spectral and temporal precision and good polarization quality. The system has been specially developed for secure connections from satellites to the ground station.

PI's New Photonics Alignment System

Physik Instrumente (PI) (Booth 3517) will be exhibiting its new F-141 photonics alignment system this year, designed to provide motion in 4 and 6 degrees of freedom for industrial test and assembly of photonics integrated circuits (PIC). According to an announcement about the new alignment system from PI, the system fits inside a space of "~5x7x4 inches (WxLxH) while providing 40mm of XYZ travel and 12 degrees of rotation around the optical axis, ideal for array alignment."

In addition to the 2, 3 and 4-axis versions, an optional pitch/yaw module allows for full adjustment in all six degrees of freedom.

To download the complete SPIE Photonics West 2025 program or for more information about the event, go here .