Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025: Workshop on Cultural Heritage
2025-05-13 10:30 - 18:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
The Expert Group “Lasers for cultural heritage” will meet in the frame of the Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025 on 13 May 2025 at the CLF.
Please contact Sara Mosca to receive further information.

International Workshop on Lasers for Green Energy
2025-05-13 10:30 - 18:30 | Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
The International Workshop on Lasers for Green Energy, taking place on 13th May 2025 in Rutherford, UK, is a focused scientific event dedicated to exploring the transformative role of laser technologies in the field of sustainable energy. This workshop is organised under the umbrella of the Laserlab-Europe association by the Clean Energy Expert Group.
Bringing together leading academic researchers and technology developers, the workshop serves as a platform to exchange cutting-edge knowledge and foster collaborations in areas such as:

Ultrafast laser spectroscopy of energy-related materials
Laser-assisted material processing for energy systems and devices

A key highlight of the workshop is the opportunity to connect across disciplines — uniting experts in laser science, materials research, and clean energy to spark new ideas, share methodologies, and initiate future collaborations.The program also features a Round Table Discussion on funding opportunities under Horizon Europe and other international programmes, ideal for participants interested in developing joint projects.
Participation is possible both in person and remotely, ensuring broader access to the scientific community and facilitating global engagement. The workshop takes place in the frame of the Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025.

Agenda

International Workshop on Targets for Laser Fusion
2025-05-13 10:30 - 18:30 | Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
The International Workshop on Targets for Laser Fusion, taking place on 13th May 2025 in Rutherford, UK, is a one-day event dedicated to the latest trends in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) target design, fabrication and experimentation, with a focus on tailored solutions for highly demanding requirements.
The workshop will explore cutting-edge developments in foam and nanostructured materials, with insights from both modelling and experimental studies. The potential of advanced 3D printing techniques for producing complex, high-precision targets will be highlighted, along with updates on plastic and diamond shells used in major laser facilities.
Further sessions will address cryogenic target technologies, approaches to scalable target mass production, and R&D efforts toward industrial-level fabrication for high-repetition-rate fusion experiments. A round table discussion will provide space for collaborative dialogue on how to push the field forward.
We invite researchers, engineers, and stakeholders in the fusion energy community to join us for a day of knowledge-sharing and forward-looking dialogue.
Participation is possible both in person and remotely, ensuring broader access to the scientific community and facilitating global engagement. The workshop takes place in the frame of the Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025.

Agenda

Lasers4EU Training Event: Women in Photonics
2025-06-01 - 2025-06-06 | Jena, Jena, Germany
The international workshop “Women in Photonics “ will be held from 1 to 5 June 2025 in Jena, Germany. This event is organised by the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, a member of the Laserlab-Europe AISBL.
This year’s edition is organised with the support of Lasers4EU and 360Carla, a project with which we closely collaborate.
Workshop focus:

Optical health technologies – diagnosis, monitoring, therapy
Biomedical microscopy, bio-analytical methods, medical chip systems
Biophotonics such as vibrational spectroscopy, fluorescence, OCT, PAT, etc.
Laser based technology
Photonic data science (AI, deep learning, machine learning)
Optical engineering
Fiber optics/fiber technology

Targeted audience:
The workshop addresses female postdocs and PhD students working in these research areas, who want to present their own work and build up new networks. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange with experienced scientists from academia and industry and jointly develop strategies for a successful professional career.
Registration Details:
Deadline: April 4, 2025 – specific deadline for members of Laserlab-Europe AISBL, Lasers4EU and 360Carla.
Eligible participants: Female scientists affiliated with Laserlab-Europe AISBL members and partners of the Horizon Europe Projects 360Carla and Lasers4EU.

Register here

More information

OPOSSUM Online Workshop
2025-06-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
The first online workshop on OPOSSUM – the Open Source Optics Simulation System and Unified Modeler – will take place on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, from 2-4 pm CEST via Zoom. The event will provide a first look at OPOSSUM, developed within the European THRILL project.
While OPOSSUM is still in its early development and design phase, this online workshop will provide an introduction to its core concept, a demonstration of initial capabilities, and a discussion of potential features. More importantly, we want to hear from you-our future users. Your insights and needs will directly shape OPOSSUM’s roadmap by guiding feature prioritization and development.
The following topics will be covered:

Introduction to OPOSSUM and its vision
Demonstration of current capabilities
Discussion on feature development and roadmap
Community-driven contributions and plugin system concepts

Whether you are a researcher, engineer, or developer in optics and photonics, your input will be invaluable in shaping the future of open-source optical simulation. We envision a collaborative ecosystem where community contributions integrate seamlessly into OPOSSUM’s framework.

Register

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Glass drilling with femtosecond laser in GHz-burst mode
2025-06-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speaker: Inka Manek-Hönninger (University of Bordeaux, CNRS-CELIA)

Watch the Talk

Femtosecond laser materials processing in the GHz-burst mode has attracted much attention in the last few years [1,2], especially for top-down percussion drilling in dielectrics thanks to the outstanding machining quality of the holes [3]. In this contribution, I will first give an introduction to femtosecond laser GHz-burst processing. Then, I will show some results on glass drilling including pump-probe shadowgraphy with a temporally shaped femtosecond laser beam operating in the GHz-burst regime [4]. The pump laser source is a 100-W average power industrial femtosecond laser system emitting at a wavelength of 1030 nm that can be operated in the single pulse, in MHz-burst and in GHz-burst regime. Pump-probe imaging in the burst regime in far from being trivial. Indeed, a second laser is needed operating in single pulse regime for the probe beam. In order to perfectly synchronize the probe beam with the pump beam, a portion of the pump oscillator was injected into a Yuja-based amplifier from Amplitude. Thanks to this setup, we were able to measure the luminescence time of the plume in both burst regimes and to compare it to the regime of standard repetitive single pulses. Moreover, we monitored the plume behavior during the drilling process of through holes revealing interesting information about the drilling process dynamics, its limits and solutions to overcome them.
References

C. Kerse, H. Kalaycoglu, P. Elahi, B. Cetin, D. Kesim, et al., Ablation-cooled material removal with ultrafast bursts of pulses, Nature 537, 84–88 (2016); https://doi.org/10.1038/nature18619
P. Elahi, O. Akçaalan, C. Ertek, K. Eken, F.O. Ilday, et al., High power Yb-based all-fiber laser delivering 300 fs pulses for high speed ablation cooled material removal, Opt. Lett. 43, 535-538 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.43.000535
P. Balage, J. Lopez, G. Bonamis, C. Hönninger, I. Manek-Hönninger, Crack-free high-aspect ratio holes in glasses by top-down percussion drilling with infrared femtosecond laser GHz-bursts, Int. J. Extrem. Manuf. 5, 015002 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/acaa14
P. Balage, T. Guilberteau, M. Lafargue, G. Bonamis, C. Hönninger, J. Lopez, I. Manek‐Hönninger, „Pump-Probe Imaging of Ultrafast Percussion Drilling of Glass in Single Pulse, MHz- and GHz-Burst Regimes”, Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 2400853 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400853

Laser Spectroscopy and Photonic Technologies for Circular Economy: Advancing Sustainable Innovations in Material Research and Diagnostics
2025-06-19 - 2025-06-21 | Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
The workshop “Laser Spectroscopy and Photonic Technologies for Circular Economy: Advancing Sustainable Innovations in Material Research and Diagnostics”, is a dynamic event dedicated to exploring the transformative role of photonic technologies in fostering sustainability and innovation.
This workshop will primarily focus on laser spectroscopy, imaging, and sensing technologies, exploring their critical role in material research, diagnostics, and sustainable innovation. Participants will gain insights into how these advanced photonic techniques enable precise material characterization, real-time monitoring, and efficient resource management—key drivers for circular economy solutions. Through expert talks, hands-on sessions, and interactive discussions, the workshop will highlight the versatility and impact of these technologies across research and industry.
The program will also feature a poster session, providing a platform for researchers and students to present their work, exchange ideas, and foster new collaborations.
Two hands-on sessions will offer participants practical experience in:

Hyperspectral Imaging – exploring its powerful capabilities in material analysis and diagnostics.
Laser Spectroscopy – delving into its versatile applications in environmental monitoring, quality control, and material characterization.

Apply until 16 May 2025

Who should attend

This workshop is designed for a diverse audience of researchers, professionals, and students who are interested in the intersection of photonic technologies and sustainable innovation. It will be particularly valuable for:

Researchers and Academics working in material science, photonics, environmental science, chemistry, and related fields who want to explore advanced diagnostic tools and sustainable applications.
Industry Professionals from sectors such as recycling, manufacturing, environmental monitoring, and quality control seeking innovative solutions for material analysis and circular economy practices.
Graduate and PhD Students aiming to expand their knowledge and hands-on experience in hyperspectral imaging and laser spectroscopy.

Whether you are driven by scientific curiosity, industrial innovation, or sustainability goals, this workshop offers valuable insights, networking opportunities, and practical skills tailored to your interests.

Hands-on sessions

Hyperspectral Imaging
Unlike traditional RGB imaging, which captures only three spectral bands, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) collects the entire spectrum from every point in the field of view, producing the “spectral cube”: a stack of images taken at a large number of wavelengths. HSI synergistically combines the spatial correlations typical of imaging with the chemometric information provided by spectra, thus enabling the identification of materials in an inhomogeneous sample. This technology has been widely used since the 1970s in several fields such as remote sensing, medical imaging, astronomy, agriculture, and conservation science, and can now become a key technology for sorting materials in the circular economy.
Laser Spectroscopy
This hands-on experimental demonstration will provide participants with a practical understanding of how to use laser spectroscopy techniques for the analysis and characterization of surfaces and materials. The following techniques will be demonstrated:

LIBS: Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy enables the determination of the elemental composition of materials on the basis of the characteristic atomic emission from a micro-plasma produced by focusing a high-power laser on, a solid surface. It is widely used in various analytical applications for qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative material analysis. LIBS is a rapid, micro-destructive technique that can be performed both at close range and remotely (from distances of up to hundreds of meters). It can be used for bulk analysis, depth profiling (elemental distribution with depth), and 2D and 3D chemical mapping.
Raman: Raman spectroscopy is a well-established analytical technique that probes vibrational and other low-frequency modes in molecules and materials. As a result, it provides an accurate look into chemical bonding, thereby enabling identification of various types of materials, both inorganic and organic. Raman spectroscopy features high sensitivity and specificity, it is rapid, non-destructive, and can be performed in situ. When performed using a Raman microscope, it offers superb spatial resolution and minimal analysis time.

Following a brief introduction to the fundamental principles and instrumentation of both techniques, participants will have the opportunity to use a Raman microscope and a micro-LIBS instrument (developed at IESL-FORTH) to analyse various materials. Participants are encouraged to contact us in advance if they wish to bring their own samples for potential analysis during the demonstration.

The workshop is organised within the frame of project ReMade@ARI (REcyclable MAterials DEvelopement at Analytical Research Infrastructures) co-funded by the European Union as part of Horizon Europe (GA No 10105841).
The event is endorsed by Laserlab-Europe through EU’s Horizon Europe co-funded project Lasers4EU (GA No 101131771).

Lasers4EU General Assembly 2025
2025-09-04 10:00 - 16:30 | Online
The Lasers4EU General Assembly 2025 has two main goals: to reflect on the achievements of the project’s first year and to coordinate the next steps in its implementation. The meeting is an important milestone in the consortium’s ongoing efforts—not only to fulfill the objectives agreed with the European Commission, but also to deliver meaningful services to the Laserlab-Europe scientific community and to foster innovation and progress.
The meeting will be held online, with the detailed agenda made available on the project’s website.

RIANA Training School on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
2025-09-08 - 2025-09-12 | Jülich, Jülich, Germany
Would you like to learn about nanoscience and nanotechnology including material nano-structuring and characterization techniques? Join the 1st RIANA Training School and gain exclusive insights into the cutting-edge world of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This program offers PhD students and young postdoctoral researchers a unique opportunity to explore key technologies, including:

Laser Structuring
Focused Ion Beams
Electron Microscopy
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Neutron Scattering
High-Power Computing
Clean Room Techniques (not sure in the program yet)

What RIANA provides
Admission is free of charge but subject to abstract approval. The program includes:

Accommodation (single room with breakfast) in the B&B Hotel Düren
Shuttle bus between FZJ and B&B
Coffee breaks & lunches
Poster Session offering the chance to present your work and engage with experts from various sectors (including best poster award)
Presentations led by renowned scientific experts and top researchers
Site visits of FZJ institutes, including Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C), Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS), Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI), Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC)

Travel to / from the hotel has to be organized and paid at your own expenses.

Dates and deadlines

Abstract submission deadline: 15 April 2025
Notification of acceptance: 12-16 May 2025
Registration opening: 19 May 2025
Registration deadline: 13 June 2025
RIANA Training School: 8-11 September 2025

More information

Meeting of the expert group 'Laser science for health'
2025-09-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Members of the expert group have received the meeting link by email.
If you are interested in joining this expert group meeting, please contact Antonio Pifferi (POLIMI).

Meeting of the expert group 'Lasers for clean energy'
2025-09-17 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-24 11:30 - 13:00 | Online
Members of the expert group have received the meeting link by email.
If you are interested in joining this expert group meeting, please contact Giulio Cerullo (POLIMI) and Panagiotis Loukakos (ULF-FORTH).

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Laser ablation propulsion: high power pulsed laser irradiation and advanced experimental investigation
2025-09-17 16:00 - 17:00
Speaker: Séverine Boyer (MINES-Paris/PSL)
Orbital debris removal in low Earth orbit (LEO) opens the way to a new paradigm in space propulsion. The use of high-power pulsed laser interaction (HP PLI) offers a perspective in this field. This concept is based on laser ablation. The high-power HiLASE beamline facility (Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic), with Perla-B and BIVOJ, is used as a laser facility enabling high-energy, short-pulse, repetitive irradiation. First, the performance of laser ablation propulsion (LAP) will be presented by measuring the coupling coefficient (Cm) using a specially designed ballistic pendulum coupled with a Photonic Doppler Velocimetry system and an angle measurement using laser deflection. Second, to illustrate such an application, a “V-track” system will be introduced with the quantification of the laser/matter interaction-induced velocity of ablated targets. Model materials are used (metal and polymers). The laser conditions are suitable for the prospect of laser propulsion with limited creation of additional debris.

Watch the Laserlab-Europe Talk

This webinar is an activity of Lasers4EU in co-organisation with 360Carla.
Lasers4EU offers international researchers from academia and industry access to state-of-the-art laser technology at 27 facilities across Europe. This project is co-funded by the European Commission (HE-GA 101131771).

Lasers4EU Webinar: Open science and the societal impact of scientific research
2025-09-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Title: Open Science and the Societal Impact of Scientific ResearchSpeaker: Susana Jarmelo (University of Coimbra)Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 16:00 CEST
The presentation explores the principles and practices of Open Science, highlighting how increased transparency, accessibility and collaboration in research can enhance its societal relevance and impact. Will be also examined the key pillars of Open Science – including open access, open data, and citizen science – and how these contribute to democratizing knowledge, fostering innovation, and improving public trust in science. Furthermore, the session will address the ways in which scientific research can drive evidence-based policymaking, address societal challenges, and contribute to sustainable development. How adopting open practices can strengthen the relationship between science and society.

Registration

360Carla Quantum Technologies: Entrepreneurship Experience @ Ferdinand-Braun-Institut
2025-09-25 | Berlin, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 4, Berlin, 12489, Germany
Are you a Master’s student in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Microsystems Technology, Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering? Curious about how your skills translate into real-world innovation or a future startup?Take part in a unique Entrepreneurship Experience Day at Ferdinand-Braun-Institute and gain first-hand insights into tech-driven innovation and careers beyond academia.
Number of participants accepted: 6
Application deadline: 15 August 2025

Programme
09:00 – 09:30 – Welcome and introduction09:30 – 10:00 – Presentation of the institute10:00 – 11:00 – Laboratory and company tour11:00 – 12:00 – Discussion: required qualifications in the industry12:00 – 13:00 – Networking lunch13:00 – 15:00 – Job Shadowing15:00 – 16:00 – Exchange with experts and open Q&A session

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Electromagnetic pulse generation by sub-nanosecond kilojoule laser pulses
2025-10-08 16:00 - 17:00
Speaker: Jakub Cikhardt (Czech Technical University)

The interaction of a focused high-power laser with matter results in the generation of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). In the case of terawatt and petawatt lasers, the intensity of the EMP is strong enough to interfere with diagnostic signals and may cause malfunction or distortion of electronic devices. Moreover, the laser-driven EMP could cause problems in experimental basic research, inertial nuclear fusion, laser-plasma biomedicine and other high-power laser technologies. On the other hand, the mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood, making it an interesting topic for the fundamental physics of laser-matter interaction. Therefore, the laser-driven EMP is intensively studied at the PALS laser facility – a joint research infrastructure of the Institute of Plasma Physics and the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in cooperation with other world-leading institutions such as the Univ. of Bordeaux, CLF Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, CLPU Salamanca, ENEA C.R. Frascati, and others.
In recent years we have achieved some interesting results, such as

the observation of unprecedentedly broad EMP bandwidths;
the dependence of the EMP spectrum shape and upper cut-off frequency on the laser beam energy/power, target material and target ground impedance;
the relation between EMP emission and the escaped electron energy spectrum;
the influence of the wave plate on the emission of charged particles and EMP; and
the characterization of the EMP caused by laser interaction with various gas targets.

As part of this research, a number of EMP diagnostics have been developed, such as inductive target current probes, high-voltage target probes and B-dot arrays, and electro-optical probes have been tested. We believe that this research will contribute to EMP mitigation, will enrich fundamental physics knowledge, and will also lead to numerous high-tech applications, such as electromagnetic compatibility hardening, biology and defense.

Watch the LLE Talk

Meeting of the Expert Group 'Data analysis in imaging and spectroscopy'
2025-10-14 11:00 - 12:30
Members of the expert group have received the meeting link by email.
If you are interested in joining this expert group meeting, please contact Dusan Chorvat (ILC SCSTI).

Lasers4EU & 360Carla Training: High‐Power Lasers for Industrial Applications
2025-10-16 - 2025-10-17 | Dolní Břežany, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
Lasers4EU and 360Carla training “High‐Power Lasers for Industrial Application“ will be held on 16 and 17 October 2025 in Dolní Břežany, Czechia. This event is organised by HiLASE Centre / Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, a member of the Laserlab-Europe AISBL.
The training is funded by the Horizon Europe projects Lasers4EU and 360Carla, and aims to provide participants with practical experience and technical know-how on the use of high-power lasers in industrial settings.
Participation in the training is free of charge!
Please note that participants are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation and covering any related expenses.

Topics covered during the training

Introduction to high‐average-power diode-pumped solid-state laser systems (e.g., thin-disk lasers, multi-slab lasers)
Fundamentals of selected laser-based techniques and applications:
Laser Shock Peening (LSP)
Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT)
Laser Micromachining (LMM)
Overview of advanced characterisation devices
Hands-on training at HiLASE facilities
Design of experiment
Laser treatment
Evaluation of results
Laser safety principles

Target audience

University students and early-stage researchers
Researchers and scientists aiming to develop expertise in laser-based technologies
Engineers and professionals working in manufacturing and industrial applications
Non-specialist users from various scientific fields seeking to integrate laser technologies into their work
Industry representatives and new users interested in leveraging high-power laser facilities for research and development

Deadline for applications: July 31, 2025

Apply here

Find out more

Laserlab-Europe & RADIATE User Meeting in Nanoscience
2025-10-19 - 2025-10-21 | Seville, Seville, Spain
The Laserlab-Europe & RADIATE Users’ meeting in Nanoscience will be held in Seville, Spain at Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) from October 19th (Sunday) to October 21st (Tuesday) 2025. This user meeting is an initiative of the RIANA project which offers transnational access to European research infrastructures in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
The Laserlab-Europe & RADIATE Users’ meeting in Nanoscience aims to share knowledge, explore new frontiers in nanoscience, and strengthen collaborations within our scientific community. The event will bring together experts, researchers, and professionals from both networks to exchange ideas, present ongoing projects, and explore future research opportunities.
During the meeting, participants will engage in discussions on cutting-edge advancements, share insights into their respective fields, and identify potential areas for synergy. Keynote presentations and interactive sessions will allow for a dynamic exchange of knowledge, reinforcing the commitment of both groups to scientific excellence.
Additionally, you will find many opportunities for networking and socializing with colleagues in the interesting social program that includes a welcome reception, CNA tour and gala dinner for all the attendees.
Should you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us (radlas.iaba@uam.es).

Important dates
Abstract submission opens end of May 2025Abstract submission deadline: 10 July 2025Acceptance letters by 31 July 2025

Event website

RIANA project

Meeting of the expert group 'Laser science for cultural heritage'
2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Members of the expert group have received the meeting link by email.
If you are interested in joining this expert group meeting, please contact Sara Mosca (CLF).

Lasers4EU Training: Hands-on Course on MINDLAB: Manipulating and Investigating Neural Dynamics for Learning and Ageing in the Brain
2025-11-04 - 2025-11-07 | Castelldefels, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
In collaboration with the EC (co-)funded projects Lasers4EU, 360 CARLA and fastMOT
The core faculty of the ICFO-MINDLAB, a think tank working jointly towards a transdisciplinary understanding of the brain, offers a school to introduce cutting edge technologies to study neuroscience at the molecular, cellular and systems level to students in a combination of lectures and hands-on experience leading to group projects.
What is MINDLAB?
MINDLAB stands for “Manipulating and Investigating Neural Dynamics for Learning and Ageing in the Brain” and is an interdisciplinary creative playground rooted squarely in academic rigor, comprising of research groups from ICFO and beyond. We focus on advancing fundamental knowledge on how the mind emerges from the behavior of individual molecules, neurons and brain networks but also creating and commercializing transformational future technologies with outstanding potential to impact our society for good.
Hence, this course will expose participants to the state-of-the-art of photonics-based technologies tailored to monitor a hierarchy of scales in the study of the brain: i.e. from single molecules up to the whole organism.
The MINDLAB faculty includes world leading experts in their fields. The expertise of the core faculty is complemented by a diverse set of affiliated adjunct faculty from various research centres in Barcelona but also through clinical and corporate partners.
This year’s school will open with the Annual Meeting of the Barcelona Medical Photonics Network (BMPN). BMPN is a platform to promote the research and development activities in photonics being carried out in the Barcelona region through long-standing collaborations between ICFO and its biomedical and clinical partners. Always centered around a targeted clinical area, this forth edition of the BMPN annual meeting is perfectly aligned with the scope of MINDLAB. By addressing real-world healthcare challenges, BMPN will set the stage for the training program, providing essential context and inspiration for participants. The speakers and audience will include clinicians as well as technology developers and innovation managers, from the Network but also professionals and collaborators from outside the region.
Hands-on sessions
Participants will engage in lab sessions focused on the latest photonics technologies. Each lab session will provide participants with an opportunity to work directly with advanced equipment and gain valuable practical skills.
The sessions will take place in the following labs:

Super resolution Light microscopy and Nanoscopy
Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology
Medical Optics
Photon Harvesting in Plants and Biomolecules
Single Molecules Biophotonics

Eligibility
We welcome applications from motivated students and early-stage researchers across a range of disciplines: physics, optics, engineering, electronics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and related fields.
Priority will be given to master’s-level and advanced undergraduate students, though PhD candidates and young postgraduates are also encouraged to apply.
How To Apply
There is NO fee for students to attend the school.
Applicants must submit:

A Curriculum Vitae, including contact details.
A statement of purpose outlining their motivation for attending the school.

Applications must be submitted online, and all required application material must be complete in order to be considered.
The deadline for applications is September 30, 2025.Successful applicants will be notified during the week of October 6 August, 2025.
For any questions, please contact us at frontiers@icfo.eu

More information

HZDR Data Management Days 2025 – Shaping Research Data Practices with Lasers4EU
2025-11-11 13:00 - 17:00
This year’s HZDR Data Management Days will take place from Tuesday, 11 November (1 p.m.) to Wednesday, 12 November (3 p.m.), featuring a mix of lectures and interactive workshops.The programme on 12 November is only for internal participants.
In the context of advancing digitalisation and an ever-increasing need for reproducibility, this year’s event will focus on the data and software management landscape in general and at HZDR in particular.
HZDR colleagues will share insights into typical challenges in data and software management and present practical solutions developed in their daily work.
On 11 November, the lectures will be held in a hybrid format and are open to external participants. Lasers4EU partners are warmly invited to join the online sessions.
A session of particular relevance for the Lasers4EU community will address data management planning using RDMO (Research Data Management Organiser). As funding agencies increasingly require Data Management Plans (DMPs) defining how data and metadata are handled during and after projects, the HZDR instance of RDMO, accessible via Helmholtz ID, supports collaborative preparation of DMPs, even with external partners.
Within this context, the Lasers4EU project serves as a potential use case for tailoring generic DMP questionnaires to specific needs, distinguishing between questions for proposing scientists, access-providing facilities, and repository providers. The session will therefore be of direct interest to Lasers4EU partners involved in data management, access coordination, and research infrastructure development.
For more information and the full programme, please visit HZDR Data Management Days 2025

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Nonlinear optical diode effect in a magnetic Weyl semimetal
2025-11-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speaker: Christian Tzschaschel (University of Zurich)
Weyl semimetals have emerged as a promising quantum material system to discover novel electrical and optical phenomena, due to their combination of nontrivial quantum geometry and strong symmetry breaking. Here, I will present the observation of the nonlinear optical diode effect (NODE) in the magnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlSi, where the magnetic state of CeAlSi introduces a pronounced directionality in the nonlinear optical second-harmonic generation (SHG). By physically reversing the beam path, we show that the measured SHG intensity can change by at least a factor of six between forward and backward propagation over a wide bandwidth exceeding 250 meV. Supported by density-functional theory calculations, we establish the linearly dispersive bands emerging from Weyl nodes as the origin of the extreme bandwidth. By utilizing the electronically conductive semimetallic nature of CeAlSi, we demonstrate current-induced magnetization switching and thus electrical control of the NODE in a mesoscopic spintronic device structure. Our results advance ongoing research to identify novel nonlinear optical/transport phenomena in magnetic topological materials. The NODE further opens new pathways for the unidirectional manipulation of light such as electrically controlled optical isolators [1].
[1] CT et al., Nature Communications 15, 3017 (2024)

Watch the Talk

Meeting of the Laserlab-Europe expert group on laser-generated EMP
2025-11-27 - 2025-11-28
The Laserlab-Europe Expert Group on laser-generated electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) will be holding their regular workshop at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory this year. It will be a two day event, featuring oral and poster presentations and ending with a round table discussion.
In experiments involving high power lasers, a significant portion of the incoming laser energy is converted into transient electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), composed of radiation at radio, microwave and THz frequencies. These EMP fields scale with laser energy and intensity and can easily exceed the MV/m magnitude – strong enough to disrupt or imperil electronic devices placed near the experimental vacuum chamber.
The physics of EMP production is closely related to many topics of active research within the laser-plasma community. At previous meetings of the Laserlab expert group we have had talks on a range of fascinating subjects, including: the physics of target charging and fast currents, generating strong magnetic fields with lasers, ion acceleration and beam transport, radiobiological studies, terahertz radiation from solid targets, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and techniques for reducing EMP emission.
The workshop will take place on 27 and 28 November 2025 in the Visitor Centre of the Rutherford Appleton laboratory.
The link to register for the conference is here: https://forms.office.com/e/BPpJ6Xs7Pr
Registration deadline: Friday, 26 September 2025
If you would prefer to submit your abstract after you have registered, then send the abstract to philip.bradford@stfc.ac.uk before close of day on Friday 3rd October. Please indicate in your email whether you would like to be considered for an oral or poster presentation.
Those attending in person will have to arrange their own accommodation. Travel from Abingdon to the conference venue will be arranged by the organisers. More details about suggested hotels can be found on the registration form.

Register here

NEILS annual meeting
2025-12-08 - 2025-12-09 | Palaiseau, France
The Annual Meeting of the Laserlab-Europe Expert Group NEILS will take place at LULI, Palaiseau, on December 8–9, 2025.
For further information please contact the expert group chair Zsuzsanna Major (GSI).

Expert Group 'Network on extreme intensity laser systems (NEILS)'

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Non-invasive photoacoustic imaging for in-depth cultural heritage diagnostics
2025-12-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speakers: Eleanna Pirgianaki (IESL-FORTH)
In recent years, photoacoustic (PA) techniques have gained significant role in the field of cultural heritage (CH) diagnostics, proving to be powerful tools for the detailed investigation of complex and fragile objects such as paintings, documents and murals. These techniques are based on the PA effect, which involves the generation of acoustic waves as a result of the absorption of intensity-variable optical radiation. The excitation and detection of PA signals through spectroscopic or imaging modalities is non-invasive and non-destructive and provides high optical absorption sensitivity at substantial depths within opaque media, surpassing the performance of several purely optical diagnostic methods.
In this context, we present a novel reflection-mode PA system integrating near-infrared pulsed excitation light and a spherically focused air-coupled ultrasonic transducer for the detection of the generated PA waves. The system is specifically developed to detect in-depth ageing effects in painted mock-ups and to reveal hidden underdrawings, such as pencil sketches, beneath non-transparent paint layers. To assess the performance of the system in detecting degradation phenomena, PA responses were recorded from different pigmented layers that had undergone controlled thermal or photo-ageing treatments. The measurements revealed a progressive increase in the PA amplitude over time, with distinct deterioration rates observed for various types of paint.
Additionally, by employing a second-harmonic excitation wavelength at 532 nm and comparing the PA signal ratios obtained from the two excitation lines, we aimed to enhance the method’s detection sensitivity while also expanding its applicability. Beyond the investigation of ageing effects in painted mock-ups, the developed dual-wavelength PA approach enabled the identification of corrosion levels in various metals and alloys, differentiation among inks of similar visual appearance, and detection of degradation effects in artificially aged papers. Overall, these results highlight the strong potential of PA detection as a complementary diagnostic technique to traditional methods, offering highly sensitive and non-destructive insights into degradation mechanisms and subsurface features across a broad range of CH artifacts.

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RIANA Webinar: Additive-Subtractive Synergy in Ultrafast Digital Manufacturing
2025-12-17 15:00 - 16:30
Title: Additive-Subtractive Synergy in Ultrafast Digital Manufacturing: Tunable Femtosecond-to-Picosecond Laser Processing for Highly Selective Ablation and Printing in Thin-Film Electronics and Photovoltaic Applications.
Speaker: Catalin Constantinescu, CNRS-LP3 (Laserlab-Europe)
Date: 17 Dec 2025, 15:00-16:30 Central European Time
The convergence of additive and subtractive digital manufacturing is essential for producing multifunctional micro-/ and nano-structured devices with high spatial precision. This talk presents a unified fabrication platform based on a tunable femtosecond-to-picosecond ultrafast laser system, enabling both highly-selective ablation, and printing, to be performed on a single optical setup, without significant reconfiguration. By tuning the pulse duration from fs to ps, we access a controlled transition from non-thermal, electronically driven ablation to thermally assisted material transfer, providing a powerful degree of freedom in processing hybrid organic/inorganic thin films, functional multilayers, and metal nanoparticle inks. This tuneability allows one to engineer selective ablation thresholds, tailor jet dynamics in printing, and optimize feature resolution and material integration. Furthermore, a discussion on how laser-matter selectivity emerges from contrasts in absorption, bonding energy, thermal diffusion length, and layer architecture, is presented. Time-resolved microscopy and post-process characterization reveal how these parameters govern interface response and deterministic control of etching and printing. Such additive-subtractive synergy opens streamlined pathways for fabricating photonic components, flexible electronics, surface sensors, and lab-on-chip devices, as well as next-generation photovoltaic architectures, including organic/inorganic hybrid thin films. These results demonstrate how tunable fs-ps laser processing redefines precision digital manufacturing for scalable functional device integration.

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Laserlab-Europe Talk: Laser produced plasmas (LPP) and LPP SXR/EUV sources for laboratory astrochemistry
2026-01-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speaker: Andrzej Bartnik (MUT-IOE)
Many experiments relevant to various processes in Space were devoted to support interpretation of astronomic observations. The experiments concern formation of astrophysical jets, photoionized plasmas in accretion disks around compact stars, supernovae explosions, matter formed inside giant planets, formation of interstellar dust, molecular processes in interstellar ices, formation of tholins etc. It is so called laboratory astrophysics or astrochemistry.
Some of these experiments require using of high power discharge or laser systems, for some experiments, especially concerning laboratory astrochemistry, synchrotrons, VUV lamps or small scale discharge plasma systems were employed. Some experiments can be, however, performed using laser produced plasma (LPP) soft X-ray (SXR) or extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources. Some attempts were performed using sources developed in Institute of Optoelectronics, MUT.
The sources utilize gas puff targets and nanosecond, Nd:YAG laser systems. The most intense emission in the SXR or EUV range can be obtained from Xe plasmas, however, in some cases other gases or aerosols are employed. The sources are equipped with the corresponding EUV/SXR optical systems. Some experiments are performed in an ambient gas, under low pressure. Both kind of systems, with and without optics, can be employed for investigation of molecular processes relevant to SXR/EUV induced processes in interstellar clouds, atmospheres of planets or comets. Initial experiments were performed, a series of further experiments is planned.

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Laserlab-Europe Talk: Laser processing of functional micro/nanostructures for photonics, optoelectronics, and smart surfaces
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speaker: Maria Kandyla (National Hellenic Research Foundation)
The need for advanced materials and systems with new functionalities has motivated the development of micro/nanostructures on solid surfaces, which are necessary for the fabrication of functional devices for novel applications. In this talk, we will discuss the development of functional micro/nanostructures, based on laser-processed surfaces.
Coating micro/nanostructures with thin metallic films results in plasmonic substrates with enhanced electromagnetic response across the entire visible range, which are used for plasmonic optical trapping [1]. Combining silicon micro/nanostructures with thin semiconducting films results in electronic heterojunctions with increased surface area for improved optoelectronic performance [2]. Furthermore, isotype heterojunctions result in wavelength-selective, high-speed photodetectors with self-powered operation, which can be further engineered by careful selection of the electronic properties of the constituting materials [3,4]. “Smart” surfaces of controllable extreme wetting states are obtained by combining photoresponsive metal oxides with laser-processed micro/nanostructured substrates, which can reach complete water repellence without chemical modification [5]. Also, surfaces with controlled topography, either at the micro- or at the nano-scale, for targeted cell cultures for biomedical applications [6]. We will present recent advances in these fields and discuss future applications.
References

D.G. Kotsifaki, M. Kandyla, and P.G. Lagoudakis, Plasmon enhanced optical tweezers with gold-coated black silicon, Scientific Reports 6, 26275 (2016).
G. Chatzigiannakis, A. Jaros, R. Leturcq, J. Jungclaus, T. Voss, S. Gardelis, and M. Kandyla, Laser-microstructured ZnO/p-Si photodetector with enhanced and broadband responsivity across the ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared range, ACS Applied Electronic Materials 2, 2819 (2020).
G. Chatzigiannakis, A. Jaros, R. Leturcq, J. Jungclaus, T. Voss, S. Gardelis, and M. Kandyla, Broadband wavelength-selective isotype heterojunction n+-ZnO/n-Si photodetector with variable polarity, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 903, 163836 (2022).
M.D. Tsanakas, A. Jaros, Y. Fleming, M. Efthimiadou, T. Voss, R. Leturcq, S. Gardelis, and M. Kandyla, Wavelength-selective, high-speed, self-powered isotype heterojunction n+-ZnO/n-Si photodetector with engineered and tunable spectral response, Advanced Materials Technologies 10, 2401740 (2025).
M. Kanidi, A. Bardakas, A. Kerasidou, A. Anastasopoulos, C. Tsamis, and M. Kandyla, Hierarchical ‘rose-petal’ ZnO/Si surfaces with reversible wettability reaching complete water repellence without chemical modification, Applied Physics A 129, 320 (2023).
M. Kanidi, A. Papadimitropoulou, C. Charalampous, Z. Chakim, G. Tsekenis, A. Sinani, C. Riziotis, and M. Kandyla, Regulating MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell adhesion on laser-patterned surfaces with micro- and nanotopography, Biointerphases 17, 021002 (2022).

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RIANA webinar "Small-Angle Scattering Applied to Bio and Nanomaterials"
2026-03-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Online
Speaker: Debasish Saha, Juelich centre for Neutron Science (JCNS), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
Small-Angle Scattering (SAS) is a powerful technique that provides information about the structural organization of matter and intra- and or intermolecular interactions in the system at different external conditions. The length scales obtained from the analysis of SAS data are within the limit of a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. Among different SAS techniques, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) provides excellent resolution and shorter measurement time, enable us to study different in situ formation of nanomaterials.
However, such benefits are mostly limited to high atomic number (Z) materials, whereas provides poor contrast for low-Z materials, especially for biological systems. On the other hand, the isotope labelling and solvent-contrast variation in Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) gives an excellent opportunity to extract unique information of individual components in multi-component heterogenous complexes. In addition, the magnetic moment of neutrons allows to study magnetism and magnetic materials at the nanoscale using the magnetic-SANS technique. In this talk, the basics of small-angle scattering and its applications in bio and nanomaterials will be discussed.
Learn more about the RIANA project: https://riana-project.eu/
