Press Releases

Since its launch, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia space mission has provided detailed images of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. After more than a decade, its fuel tank is almost empty, and the mission is coming to an end. Jena technology also played a role: Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF developed a key component for one of the spectrometers on board that was able to withstand even extreme conditions in space.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF is presenting a new photon source at SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco (January 28 to 30, 2025) that has been specially developed for the "Prepare-and-Measure" protocol of quantum communication. The components of the source are optimized for use in space.

In order for future laser fusion power plants to work efficiently and reliably, current laser technologies must be adapted to the extreme requirements of high power and continuous operation. In the new "nanoAR" research project, nine project partners from industry and research are working on methods for structural antireflection solutions and reducing sub-surface damage of the optical components used. Their approaches could also be transferred to other fields of application for high-power optics.

Researchers from Jena have developed a cost-effective yet powerful infrared camera particularly suited for use in autonomous vehicles. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF is presenting the innovative infrared camera at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg.

ESA's CO2M space mission aims to find out exactly how many CO₂ -greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere is caused by human activity. Researchers from Jena have developed and manufactured what is probably the most important optical assembly for the spectrometers on board the satellites: the disperser. It allows high-precision measurements of greenhouse gases and their concentration. The first airworthy assembly has now been fully delivered.

From improved diagnostics for tissue samples and new manufacturing processes for the electronics industry to the high-precision synchronization of clocks using tiny quanta - the Applied Photonics Award 2024 once again honored young researchers for their pioneering theses in the field of applied photonics. The prize was awarded on September 26 as part of the Photonics Days Jena.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF has been developing systems for the high-speed capture of 3D data for many years. With goCRASH3D, the Jena team is now presenting a new system that records 3D data during crash tests inside the test vehicle. It shows the deformation and movement of vehicle components during a collision in a way that was previously not possible or only possible to a limited extent. goCRASH3D will be exhibited at the VISION and IZB trade fairs.

At the Startup Germany Summit 2024 in Berlin today, the innovation and digital location Jena was named the new de:hub of the Digital Hub Initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

With its new, digital webinar series Photonics4Future, Fraunhofer IOF offers exclusive insights into pioneering research and technologies in the field of optics and photonics. Once a month, researchers from the institute will present their solutions for current and future challenges in industry and society live. The series starts on September 12, 2024 at 2 p.m.. Participation is free of charge and possible online without pre-registration.

Secure gas control systems, power lines or communication networks are essential and therefore count as critical infrastructure. In view of the threat of cyberattacks, a new research project led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena aims to protect these networks from hacker attacks using modern quantum technology. The MANTIS project is specifically researching the advantages of so-called MDI-QKD over conventional QKD methods. The five-million-euro project was now officially launched with a kick-off event.