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Sessions

Please click on the buttons below for more information about the different session topics of Photonics North.
Biophotonics, Novel Sensing, and Advanced Imaging
Session chair: Parsin H. Reza, University of Waterloo (Canada)
 
Session co-chairs: 
Albert Stolow, University of Ottawa (Canada)
Sangeeta Murugkar, Carleton University (Canada)
Kamran Avanaki, University of Illinois Chicago (USA)
 
This session provides a forum to present and discuss theory, design, fabrication, instrumentation, and applications in the areas of biophotonics, novel sensing, and advanced imaging. Topics in biophotonics include but are not limited to biomedical optical sensing/imaging technologies, image-guided drug delivery, brain imaging, clinical systems and applications, image-guided surgery, bio-inspired optics, and novel optical technologies for diagnosis and treatment. Novel sensing encompasses a range of rapidly advancing technologies that include but are not limited to fiber-optic and optical waveguide techniques, micromechanical oscillators, microcavity resonators, laser-based sensors, novel molecular probe design, nanoparticles and fluorescent markers, optofluidics, lab-on-a-chip, and small-footprint devices. This session also encourages submissions relating to all types of optical imaging technologies for diverse applications. Topics include but are not limited to 3D imaging, AR/VR, wearable display, image processing, computational imaging/spectroscopy, tomographic imaging, holography, high-dimensional imaging, multi-modal imaging, and advanced microscopy.
 
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Green Photonics, Energy, and Related Technologies
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Efficient utilization of light, both natural and artificial, is an essential goal of photonics technology. This session investigates photovoltaics and photonics applications in energy efficiency and manufacturing. Paper with novel results in the following topics will be considered: Materials, Characterization techniques, Numerical modeling, Advanced light management and spectral shaping, Devices including photovoltaics, LEDs, power converters, low power sensors, fuels generation, System architectures, Solar resource, and economics models, Converged bidirectional power and data and Agricultural adaptations.
 
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High Power Laser Technology, Ultrafast Optics, and Applications
Session chair: Arkady Major, University of Manitoba (Canada)
 
Session co-chairs: 
Shawn Sederberg, Simon Fraser University (Canada)
Bernd Witzel, Laval University (Canada)
Ksenia Dolgaleva, University of Ottawa (Canada)
 
This session will provide a forum to present and explore recent developments in the areas of high power laser technology, ultrafast optics, and applications. Topics include, but are not limited to, the foll owing areas: advances in laser sources; ultrafast solid-state, fiber, waveguide, and semiconductor laser sources; nonlinear frequency conversion; high peak power lasers and amplification technologies; high-intensity laser-matter interactions; laser-based XUV and X-ray sources; applications of novel short wavelength sources; laser-based particle acceleration; attosecond science; high harmonic generation; relativistic nonlinear phenomena; intense pulse propagation; sources of THz radiation; THz spectroscopy, sensing, and imaging; new THz measurement techniques; THz nonlinear optics; ultrafast devices, systems, and measurement techniques; applications of ultrafast technology.
 
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Nonlinear Optics, Nanophotonics, and Plasmonics

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This session aims at giving an overview on recent trends and achievements in nonlinear optics, nanophotonics, and plasmonics, with a particular emphasis on fundamental nonlinear radiation-matter interactions, practical applications of nonlinear spectroscopy, integrated nonlinear optical devices, deep-subwavelength investigations, nanostructures, and nanomaterials for photonics, nanoplasmonic systems, metasurfaces, and metamaterials. We encourage the submission of abstracts that are related to one or more of the above topics.
 
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Semiconductor Photonics
Session chair: Winnie Ye, Carleton University (Canada)
 
Session co-chair: Jens Schmid, NRC (Canada)
 
The goal of this session is to provide an overview of recent achievements and trends on optical communications, involving theoretical and experimental advances from the component and device level to the system application level. Both short and long-haul communication platforms will be considered. The central interest of the session is on envisioned technologies and strategies aimed at increasing the performance capabilities of available broadband communication platforms. Topics of interest in optical communications include innovative optical multiplexing strategies, such as space-domain multiplexing combined with time-domain or/and frequency-domain multiplexing techniques, advanced optical modulation formats, coherent communication strategies, digital-signal processing methods for pre- and post-compensation of linear and nonlinear impairments,  and linear and nonlinear photonic technologies for communication applications, such as integrated-waveguide (e.g., silicon photonic) technologies.
 
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  1. Kei May Lau, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
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  1. Mirwais Aktary, Applied Nanotools Inc.
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  2. Shamsul Arafin, Ohio State University (USA)
    Abstract title: Recent Progress on Green Light Generation and Manipulation through Non-Linear Waveguide Technology
  3. Paul Barclay, University of Calgary (Canada)
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  4. Wim Bogaerts, Ghent University 
    Abstract title: Programmable Photonic Chips for Optical Signal Processing
  5. Camille-Sophie Bres, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 
    Abstract title: Aluminum nitride integrated photonics
  6. Lado Filipovic, TU Wien (Austria Vienna)
    Abstract title: Theoretical Insights into Next-Generation Hot Carrier Solar Cells
  7. Di Liang, University of Michigan (USA)
    Abstract title: Building Blocks and Heterogeneous Photonic Integration Platforms for AI-ML Age
  8. Goran Mashanovich, University of Southampton
    Abstract title: Silicon and germanium photonics for mid-IR applications
  9. Daniele Melati, University of Paris Saclay (France)
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  10. Zindine Mokeddem, University of Paris Saclay (France)
    Abstract title: Design of polarization beam splitters and splitter-rotators on silicon nitride platforms for 950 nm and 1300 nm wavelengths
  11. Roberto Morandotti, INRS
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  12. Andrew Poon, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
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  13. Alejandro Sanchez Postigo, University of Malaga (Spain)
    Abstract title: High-performance surface grating couplers on silicon and silicon nitride platforms
  14. Laurent Vivien, University of Paris Saclay (France) 
    Abstract title: Emerging Photonic Platforms: Surpassing the Limitations of Silicon
  15. John Yeow, University of Waterloo
    Abstract title: 2D Material Composites for Infrared Photodetectors
Photonic Materials

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Innovative photonic solutions often heavily rely on material properties of components used. The traditional approach was to choose those materials at relatively late stages of the design. However, many solutions may benefit from the “smart” design of optical materials keeping in mind their specific use. Multi-functional optical materials are the focus of our attention in this symposium. We would like to invite contributions describing innovative photonic devices with particularly emphasized role of photonic materials used as well as innovative multifunctional photonic materials that may enable new photonic devices. The symposium is also open for contributions describing natural photonic materials and structures (since we have so much to learn from nature) as well as materials with potential use in biophotonics and biomedicine.

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Photonics and AI

Session chair: Antonio Calà Lesina, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany)

Session co-chairs: 
Stefanie Czischek, University of Ottawa (Canada)           
Sean Molesky, Polytechnique Montréal (Canada)
Ksenia Yadav, Enablence Technologies Inc. (Canada)
 
This session aims at giving an overview of how artificial intelligence (AI) intersects with photonics from two different perspectives:
(1) Using AI for photonics: application of artificial neural networks, deep learning, machine learning, genetic algorithms, automated reasoning, Bayesian approaches, big data, advanced optimization techniques for inverse design, and other AI paradigms to integrated optics, nanophotonics, remote sensing, spectroscopy, microscopy, quantum optics, computational imaging, quantum communication protocols, augmented and virtual reality, and other areas of photonics.
(2) Using photonics for AI: application of photonics technology for AI computing, such as analogic optical computing for AI, reservoir computing, photonic quantum machine learning, photonic hardware accelerators, neuromorphic computing, and photonics neural networks.
 
Keynote Speakers: 
  1. Aydogan Ozcan, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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  1. Costantino De Angelis, University of Brescia, Italy
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  2. Goery Genty, Tampere University, Finland
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  3. Antonio Hurtado, University of Strathclyde, UK
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  4. Alina Karabchevsky, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
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  5. Michael Kues, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
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  6. Giuseppe Leo, Université Paris Cité, France
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  7. Zin Lin, Virginia Tech, USA
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  8. Alexander Lvovsky, University of Oxford, UK
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  9. Daniele Melati, Université Paris Saclay, France
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  10. Tatsuhiro Onodera, Cornell University, USA
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  11. Nir Rotenberg, Queen's University, Canada
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  12. Carsten Schuck, University of Münster, Germany
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  13. Grigorii Slinkov (Birgit Stiller’s group), Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
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  14. Peter Wiecha, LAAS-CNRS Toulouse, France
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  15. Kiyoul Yang, Harvard University, USA
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Photonic Theory, Design, and Simulations
Session chair: Pavel Cheben, National Research Council (Canada)
 
Session co-chair: Jonathan Bradley, McMaster University (Canada)
 
This session focuses on the physics, design, and simulations of optical and photonic structures, devices, and systems. It is intended to provide a forum for the interchange of ideas on optics, photonics and, optoelectronics theory, design, simulation and, verification techniques at different levels, including material properties, components, devices, systems, fabrication, and applications. The session covers a wide range of topics in photonic theory, simulation, and design, including: waveguide photonic bandgap engineering, microcavities, passive and active photonic devices, sensors, diffractive and subwavelength structures, integrated optical circuits for datacom, WDM, and coherent communication systems, light sources, photodetectors, modulators, amplifiers, wavelength converters, switches, couplers, resonators, filters, free-space optics, optical interconnects, optics for aerospace and defense, photonic design automation, manufacturing and verification tools, and novel algorithms and photonic CAD software for photonics and integration with electronics.
 
Keynote Speakers: 
  1. Michael Berry, University of Bristol, UK 
    Abstract title: The singularities of light:  intensity, phase and polarization
  2. Yasuhiko Arakawa, University of Tokyo, Japan 
    Abstract title: Quantum-dot single photon sources
     
Invited Speakers: 
  1. David Moss, Swinburne University, Australia
    Abstract title: Ultra-high bandwidth applications of optical microcombs
  2. Gualtiero Nunzi Conti, CNR, Italy
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  3. Carlos A. Ramos, Universite Paris Saclay, France
    Abstract title: Harnessing nonlinearities in silicon nanostructures
  4. Crina Maria Cojocaru, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain
    Abstract title: Tailoring plasmonic metasurfaces for efficient harmonic generation
  5. Muthukumar Packrisamy, Concordia University, Canada
    Abstract title: Photonics and Plasmonics Integrated Microsystems and Applications
  6. Periklis Petropoulos, University of Southampton
    Abstract title: Applications of optical nonlinear systems in communications and computing
  7. Alexandre Pohl, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brazil 
    Abstract title: Design and fabrication of photonic components using the additive manufacturing
  8. Zhenguo Lu, NRC Canada
    Abstract title: Quantum dot coherent comb laser-based photonics integrated chips
  9. Jose Manuel Luque Gonzales, University of Malaga, Spain
    Abstract title: Expanding the Boundaries of Inverse Design: High-Performance Silicon Photonics with Anisotropic SWG Metamaterials
  10. Antonio Hurtado, University of Strathclyde, UK
    Abstract title: Photonic-Electronic Spiking Neurons for High-speed and Efficient Neuromorphic Technologies
  11. Radovan Korcek, National Research Council, Canada
    Abstract title: Recent advances in nanophotonic couplers
  12. Newton Cesario Frateschi, Campinas University, Brazil
    Abstract title: Hybrid integration of 2D dichalcogenides for low power saturable absorption in photonic integrated circuits
  13. Gabriele Bolognini, CNR, Italy 
    Abstract title: Distributed acoustic sensing: fading noise and impact of optical pre-amplification
  14. Mario Dagenais, University of Maryland, USA
    Abstract title: Photonics Integration for Quantum Information Applications
  15. Hao Sun, INRS, Canada
    Abstract title: Advancing Waveguide Bragg Gratings with Subwavelength Gratings and Phase Filters
Quantum Light-Matter Interactions: Sensing, Communications, and Information Processing
Session chair: Benjamin Sussman, NRC (Canada)
 
Session co-chairs: 
Dr. Bienvenu Irenge Ndagano
Dr. Andrew Proppe
 
Considerable efforts are underway globally to employ fundamental aspects of quantum physics to develop quantum technologies. This session will bring together leading theoretical and experimental physicists to discuss the latest developments in various implementations of quantum applications using atoms, molecules, and photons. Concerning quantum communications, though the emphasis is on quantum key distribution, we welcome a diverse range of topics: from components (sources, detectors, memories, repeaters, integrated devices) to systems (fiber-based and free-space), from novel protocols to quantum hacking schemes to quantum measurements.
 
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