RIANA Webinar: Additive-Subtractive Synergy in Ultrafast Digital Manufacturing
2025-12-17 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Berlin)
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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About RIANA

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/

1st RIANA Users Meeting in nanoscience and nanotechnology
2026-03-16 - 2026-03-18 | Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Registrations for the 1st RIANA Users Meeting and the RIANA Annual Meeting is now open!
The meeting will take place at the premises of the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas (FORTH) in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
1st Users Meeting: 16–18 March 2026RIANA Annual Meeting: 18–20 March 2026
Remote participation will be available for those unable to attend in person.
The 1st RIANA Users Meeting offers a unique opportunity to present your project ideas, showcase results, and connect with fellow researchers and RIANA facility representatives. We anticipate that the Principal Investigator of each Access Project, or a delegate, will participate in person, contributing with an oral presentation, sharing their valuable insights and fostering discussions within the RIANA community. Additional participants are welcome to join remotely.
We look forward to meeting you in Heraklion and making the 1st RIANA Users Meeting a lively and productive event!
Please note: The registration deadline is 31/12/2025.

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Registration

Conference PE125 - Data Science for Photonics and Biophotonics II
2026-04-12 - 2026-04-16 | Strasbourg, France
Thomas Bocklitz, newly appointed chair of the DAIS Expert Group and chair of the “Data Science for Photonics and Biophotonics II”, a sub-conference at Photonics Europe, invites all interested scientists to submit an abstract and contribute to advancing the analysis of optical and photonic data to obtain higher-level, application-oriented information.
Important dates
Abstract submission deadline: 12 November 2025
Author notification: 19 January 2026
Manuscript due: 25 March 2026

Event website

Laserlab-Europe Talk: Materials and post-processes for multi-photon lithography
2026-04-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Title: Materials and post-processes for multi-photon lithographySpeaker: Dimitra Ladika (VULRC)Date: Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 16:00-17:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Multi-photon lithography (MPL) enables the fabrication of true 3D micro- and nanostructures without the need for masks or complex tooling, directly from computer-aided designs. Owing to these unique capabilities, MPL has emerged as a powerful manufacturing technique across a wide range of disciplines. The ongoing growth of MPL is closely linked to advances in material design and post-processing strategies.
In particular, the composition of MPL photoresists, including the presence or absence of photoinitiators, plays a critical role in defining fabrication thresholds, resolution, and the optical properties of the resulting structures. While photoinitiators can enhance polymerization efficiency, they may also introduce fluorescence and coloration, limiting their use in certain applications. In contrast, photoinitiator-free and doped systems offer alternative pathways toward improved optical performance. The interaction of these materials with femtosecond laser irradiation across multiple wavelengths provides additional flexibility for controlling polymerization and tailoring spectral response.
Additionally, post-processing approaches, such as calcination and surface coatings, further extend the capabilities of MPL by enabling the fabrication of fully inorganic and spectrally adaptable architectures. These strategies enhance the functionality and stability of the fabricated 3D structures without fundamentally altering the initial material platform.
Overall, these developments demonstrate the potential of material-driven approaches in MPL for applications in photonics and optoelectronics.

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Laserlab-Europe Talk: Elucidating the Photon Migration Effects in Incubated Chicken Eggs using Time-Domain Diffuse Optics
2026-05-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Title: Elucidating the Photon Migration Effects in Incubated Chicken Eggs using Time-Domain Diffuse Optics Speaker: Lennard van den Tweel (Wageningen University and Research) Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 16:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST)
The early and non-invasive assessment of chicken embryonic sex and viability is of great interest. This interest is driven by the ethical dilemma surrounding the culling of non-productive day-old male chicks in layer-hen production and by the need to improve hatchery efficiency. Optical techniques are widely investigated for these applications, but are challenged by the complex optical properties and heterogeneous structure of avian eggs. Here, we show that chicken eggs display unusual photon trapping behavior due to the eggshell behaving like an integrating sphere, considerably extending photon time-of-flight. Time-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (TD-DOS) on egg phantoms, supported by Monte Carlo simulations and post-dispersive filtering experiments, rule out fluorescence as the source for the long photon time-of-flight. These results point to diffuse reflections at the inner surface of the eggshell as the source of the long photon time-of-flight. Despite these boundary effects, the retrieval of internal bulk optical properties remains feasible via inversion of the diffusion approximation after selection of appropriate boundary conditions, as was demonstrated in incubated eggs. Finally, phantom experiments illustrate how the integrating sphere affects the temporal response of time-resolved Raman and fluorescence measurements, highlighting critical challenges in non-invasive optical characterization of avian embryos.

Laserlab-Europe and Lasers4EU Annual and Users Meeting 2026
2026-05-26 - 2026-05-29 | Dolní Břežany, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
The joint annual meeting of the Laserlab-Europe AISBL and the Horizon Europe project Lasers4EU offers a central forum for networking and collaboration, bringing together representatives of leading research institutes, industry representatives and early-stage researchers to discuss the latest developments in laser-based technologies and their scientific and industrial applications. The Annual Meeting, held in a hybrid format, will take place from 26 to 29 May 2026 at HiLASE Centre and ELI Beamlines in Dolní Břežany, Czechia.
We look forward to welcoming you to an engaging and insightful event!

Register to the Annual Meeting 2026

Apply for the Poster Session

Programme

Sessions and supplementary programme (open to all)

The following thematic sessions and supplementary events are open to participants from outside Laserlab-Europe and Lasers4EU.
A dedicated poster area will showcase the research results of early-stage researchers.
An exhibition area will be available for interested companies.
All participants and company representatives are invited to contribute to the discussions at the end of each session.

Thematic sessions:

Lasers in the Future Development of Space

Unlocking Stories from the Past: Laser-based Technology for Cultural Heritage
In this session we will explore how cutting-edge laser and spectroscopy techniques are transforming the study, preservation and understanding of cultural heritage. From non-invasive imaging and advanced material characterization to conservation and diagnostics of historical artefacts: presentations will highlight scientific breakthroughs from fundamental research to applications that bridge academia and industry demonstrating how laser-based methods reveal hidden histories and support sustainable preservation of our shared cultural treasures.

AI for Laser-based Systems
AI and data science are crucial to link advanced photonic research to application scenarios like in clinics or environmental monitoring. This session focuses on the methodologies allowing the use of AI in small samples size scenarios, which typically arise in photonics-oriented research. Examples would be physical inspired augmentation strategies, transfer learning, physics informed neural networks, but also includes AI based optimization of measurements, components and setups.

New high-intensity Laser Applications in Health
This session focuses on emerging biomedical applications of high-intensity laser technologies, with emphasis on laser-driven particle sources and laser-based approaches to radionuclide production. Laser-accelerated electrons, protons, and heavier ions will be discussed, highlighting their characteristic beam parameters and their potential role as complementary tools to conventional accelerator facilities. The session will cover the current state of the field as well as future prospects, including the timelines for a potential clinical translation.

Supplementary programme:

Lab Tours at HiLASE Centre and ELI Beamlines
Exhibition area
Poster area & poster session

Lasers4EU activities (internal events)

Workshop on Standardised Performance Assessment
High-end laser facilities within the Lasers4EU consortium serve a broad user community, from fundamental attosecond science to medical and industrial applications. Ensuring that these facilities provide reliable, reproducible and comparable results increasingly depends on robust, transparent and, where possible, standardised performance assessment. During the workshop, the subgroups developing protocols for standardised performance assessment adaptable to specific communities will present their work and results.

Lasers4EU General Assembly Meeting
The Lasers4EU General Assembly will bring together project partners to review the achievements of the consortium collaboration and to plan the next steps for the project.

Meeting of the Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC)
The Lasers4EU IAC meeting will bring together industry and project partners to shape the strategic direction of the project. Members will provide input on innovation needs, exploitation opportunities, and the integration of industry perspectives into project activities. Their expertise will help ensure Lasers4EU stays closely aligned with market demands.

Industry-Focused Roundtable: Needs, Trends and Consortium Response
This session, held as part of the first Lasers4EU User Meeting, is dedicated to strengthening collaboration with industrial partners. Following an introduction to the dedicated industry access route, participants will be invited to discuss priority areas, technical challenges, and emerging trends within their respective sectors. The roundtable offers a direct platform for the Consortium to demonstrate how its specialised facilities and expertise can address real-world industrial challenges.

Laserlab-Europe AISBL activities (internal events)

Laserlab-Europe AISBL General Assembly Meeting: The Laserlab-Europe AISBL General Assembly will bring together the association members to discuss strategies and coordinate upcoming collaborative initiatives.

This website will be updated regularly. Further information will follow.

Register to the Annual Meeting 2026

Apply for the Poster Session

2nd RIANA Training School on Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
2026-06-01 - 2026-06-04 | Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Would you like to learn about nanoscience and nanotechnology including material nano-structuring and characterization techniques, especially based on ion beams?
Join the 2nd 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, covering the following topics including 6 hands-on trainings.

Ion Beam Basics
Accelerators and instrumentation
Ion beam analysis
Simulation of ion beam damage
Focused ion beam instrumentation
Applications of focused ion beams
Surface patterning using low energy ion beams

OVERVIEW
Registration is free (no fees) and for the selected applicants the program includes:

Accommodation (single room with breakfast)
Coffee breaks and snacks at evening poster session and a social event (lunch is at the participant’s own expense and can be taken at the local canteen).
Presentations and hands-on trainings led by renowned scientific experts and top researchers.
Hands-on Training on the following techniques:

Rutherford Backscattering
Particle induced X-ray emission
Nuclear reaction analysis
FIB based sample preparation
FIB based defect engineering
Scanning Auger microscopy

Poster Session offering you the chance to present your work and engage with experts from various sectors (including the best poster award).
Social Events to expand your professional network.
Possibility for a limited number of people to stay for a Workshop on Low-Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS) on Friday June 5th 2026 at the same place.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
You are:

a PhD student
a young researcher/ postdoc (< 5 years after PhD defense) studying / working at a European research institute or university in the Nanoscience & Nanotechnology sector.

Maximum number of participants: 24.

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application procedure consists of submitting:

a form with your personal data
an abstract for the poster session (should be related to Nanoscience & Nanotechnology)

Please download Poster_Abstract_RIANA_Template from the lower right corner of this page. You should upload your abstract while registering.
Participation in the 2nd RIANA Training School on Nanoscience and Nanotechnolgy is subject to review by the scientific and the organizing committee.
CALENDAR
February 2, 2026: Abstract submission opening
March 13, 2026: Abstract submission deadline
March 30, 2026: Notification of acceptance
April 1, 2026: Registration opening
April 30, 2026: Registration deadline
June 1-4, 2026: 2nd RIANA Training School

THRILL Summer School 2026
2026-06-07 17:00 - 2026-06-13 09:00 | Hirschegg, Oberseitestr. 38, Hirschegg, 87568, Austria
The next THRILL Summer School will take place from 7 to 13 June 2026 at the Darmstädter Haus in Hirschegg, Austria. The focus of the school will be on Applications of High Energy / High Power Lasers. PhDs and early career scientists are invited to register through the event website before 15 March 2026.
Lectures and hands-on sessions on the following topics will be included:

Warm-dense matter research, magnetic field generation, dynamic compression of materials
Secondary sources of particles and radiation for medical applications and high-field QED
Inertial Fusion Energy
Nuclear Photonics
Laboratory Astrophysics

More information and registration
Timeline for registration:

2nd February 2026: applications open
15th March 2026: applications close
1st April 2026: participants will be informed about successful application

If your institute is not a member of the THRILL consortium, a participation fee of €500,00 applies.

Starts: 7 Jun 2026, 17:00 CEST
Ends: 13 Jun 2026, 09:00 CEST

Darmstädter Haus
Oberseitestr. 38
D- 87568 Hirschegg
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Lasers4EU Online Training on Femtosecond & Attosecond Spectroscopy
2026-06-09 - 2026-06-11 | Online
About the workshop
This online training workshop, organised as part of the Lasers4EU project, aims to equip early-stage researchers and PhD students with advanced experimental and data analysis skills in femtosecond and attosecond spectroscopy. Participants will be introduced to state-of-the-art techniques available at European laser research infrastructures and gain practical experience through guided data analysis sessions.
A main focus is placed on data analysis, often the critical bottleneck that limits the scientific value of high-quality experimental data. By strengthening these skills, the training enables participants to fully exploit world-class laser facilities offered through the Lasers4EU Transnational Access (TNA) scheme.
The programme combines live lectures, virtual laboratory tours and guided hands-on data analysis sessions. Lectures on Day 1 are open to a broader audience to maximize outreach; interactive sessions on Days 2–3 are limited to 20 participants.
Who should apply
The workshop is primarily aimed at early-career researchers and PhD students working in physics, chemistry, and related fields who are interested in ultrafast laser-based spectroscopies and are potential future users of the Lasers4EU Transnational Access scheme.

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Laserlab-Europe Talk: Medical Radionuclide Production by Laser Wakefield Acceleration
2026-06-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Title: Medical Radionuclide Production by Laser Wakefield AccelerationSpeaker: Dino Jaroszynski (University of Strathclyde)Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 16:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST)
We present a study of the production of 67Cu medical radioisotopes using bremsstrahlung radiation produced by 150 pC bunches of high energy electrons from a laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) when they interact with dense convertor material. The experiments demonstrating photonuclear production of radioisotopes have been carried out at the Scottish Centre for the Application of Plasma-based accelerators (SCAPA). 10 kBq of 67Cu was produced by irradiating enriched 68Zn over a five-hour irradiation period at approximately 1 Hz repetition rate, which provides an important experimental benchmark. This work assesses the performance of current LWFA systems and establishes the requirements of future commercial LWFA-based systems and extrapolations suggests that the next stage of development. A facility based on optically pumped CO2 laser technologies could potentially achieve clinically relevant activity levels of 67Cu. The project is part of the MedRadLaser collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, National Physical Laboratory, the University of the West of Scotland, and the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The studies will be extended and form part of the newly funded EUROPA project.
The MedRadLaser collaboration involves Giuseppe Lorusso[1], Dino A. Jaroszynski[2], David O’Donnell[3], S. Mark Wiggins[2], Baris Bingol[2], Peter Ivanov[1], Ben Russel[1], and Lanre Yusuf[1]
[1] NPL Science and Engineering Directorate, UK[2] Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK[3] School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK

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Lasers4EU Training | Hands-on Course on MINDLAB: Manipulating and Investigating Neural Dynamics for Learning and Ageing in the Brain
2026-07-13 - 2026-07-17 | Castelldefels, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
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 coincide with the arrival of ICFO’s Summer Fellows, a group of highly motivated master-level or engineering students in their final years of study, who join ICFO research groups for three-month internships (July-September)
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

More information

Registration
