The industry’s most innovative people 2024 Romaldas Antanavičius
Organisation: EKSPLA Role: Senior laser engineer Based in: Vilnius, Lithuania Education: PhD in Physics
What are you currently working on? What will the impact be? I have just finished developing the PT277- XIR laser, a picosecond widely wavelength- tunable system suitable for spectroscopic studies and material detection in the mid-IR wavelength range. It received positive feedback, both from the critics – by winning a bronze Innovators’ Award and being nominated for the Prism Awards – and from the clients. Currently our team is modernising it, adapting it to the individual needs of our clients. For example, we are tuning it for near-field scanning microscopy: nanometre-sized objects with their spectral information can be registered. Before developing the PT277-XIR, we
already knew the market was in need of it, so we set the image of our future client. The final result outgrew our expectations and that really just makes us happy. The
“By delivering output into multiple channels, it [the laser] ensures homogeneous and efficient illumination of the breast, enabling the detection of breast cancer at an early stage”
uniqueness of this source is a set of good parameters obtained within a single device – compactness and stability, wide tuning range covering the mid-IR range relevant to the characteristic absorption bands of organic compounds, narrow linewidth in the whole tuning range, fast wavelength tuning and high repetition rate, as well as easy control of parameters via remote interfaces. This set of features is highly suitable for near-field scanning microscopy.
What was the most surprising thing you found in the course of your latest research? With the PT277, I am happy about the range of wavelengths and the high efficiency it can achieve. I also took part in a successful
international project, PAMMOTH. Record pulse energies of tunable-wavelength nanosecond pulses were obtained from Ekspla’s laser, while the success of the PAMMOTH project as a whole is reflected in the creation of a medical equipment
prototype that is currently undergoing clinical trials. This project led to the development of PhotoSonus, a laser designed for advanced photoacoustic imaging systems to irradiate tissues and other materials. By delivering output into multiple channels, it ensures homogeneous and efficient illumination of the breast, enabling the detection of breast cancer at an early stage by identifying typical vascularity of tumours.
What’s your biggest research priority in the coming year? In a nutshell, focusing on and defining the demands of the future researchers’ needs. Our specialisation lies in enabling the lasers to operate across the entire range of wavelengths. In the future, as device generations change, the necessity to update parametric generators is an exciting opportunity. It keeps us updated with the advancements in our field and it inspires us to actively pioneer in it.
What are the biggest challenges or threats to the industry in the next 12 months? How can these be overcome? The supply chain was heavily affected by Covid-19 and the global geopolitical events. Naturally, the laser and the component
demand outgrew its supply. On one hand, the growth is positive news for the commerce, a significant input into the drive for innovations. On the other hand, it brings uncertainty and interferes with the feedback between the customer and the developer, needed for the progress that keeps photonics going.
Which photonics sector do you see as having the greatest opportunity for growth in the next 12 months? Currently, there are relevant trends. First, the development of lasers with unique parameters: of high energy or of ultra-short pulses – those intended for fundamental or scientific research. The other trend is lasers adapted for specialised applications. For example, PhotoSonus is used for the study of living organisms, which is directly applicable in medicine. The PT277 system is particularly suitable for spectroscopy. There are quite a few examples where advanced technologies are used for specialised practical applications, even for industry-specific needs. For instance, sapphire processing or metal welding. However, I cannot say what type of laser will stand out – whether a powerful fibre optic laser or a laser specifically designed for micro or nanostructures.
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