The times given are all Central European Time (CEST; UTC +2:00 hours) and 24h format.
This year's Photonics Day will take place in parallel with other events organized by Fraunhofer IOF and its partners, that participants from other events will attend program items of the Photonics Day.
Title: "Photons and Prompts: Gen-AI in the Quantum Photonics Lab", Markus Leipe (Fraunhofer IOF / FSU Jena / PhD Candidate MPSP)
Abstract:
LLMs have quickly developed into extremely useful tools; not just for personal use, but also for cutting-edge research in experimental environments, such as Quantum Optics laboratories. They are currently reshaping how individual scientists work, but their idiosyncratic strengths and limitations lead to some surprising use cases and dangerous pitfalls. This talk will present examples of how generative AI changes our scientific workflows, both in the laboratory and at the desk, offer concrete usage tips towards young scientists, and discuss how researchers can adopt these tools while keeping up scientific standards.
About:
Markus Leipe is a PhD student at Fraunhofer IOF, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and the Max Planck School of Photonics. He previously studied Physics at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Technische Universiteit Delft (NL).
In his research, he investigates novel quantum protocols and technical solutions for scaling satellite-based quantum communication towards intercontinental distances.Like many others, he caught the AI bug in 2022 and has been investigating the uses of modern AI in his research field ever since, as well as leading internal training on AI skills.
In his free time, he enjoys playing the Cello, long-distance running and cooking.
AI as a Scientific Partner in Photonics and Quantum Sciences
Artificial intelligence is reshaping scientific discovery across disciplines, from protein folding and materials design to theorem proving. These advances suggest a shift in how we use AI in research, moving beyond a computational tool toward a collaborator in scientific exploration. In this workshop, we will explore how AI can help researchers think through questions in photonics and quantum science and turn them into concrete experimental ideas. After a short introduction, we will work through practical examples, learn how AI can help develop research ideas and design experiments, and discuss what it takes to use AI responsibly as a reliable research partner in scientific discovery.
About
Dr. Xuemei Gu is a Junior Research Group Leader at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, where she leads the AI Quantum Lab. Her research explores how artificial intelligence can accelerate discovery and experiment design in quantum science, and how ideas from physics can inspire new forms of machine intelligence.
Additional Information
Maximum number of participants: Around 25 Participants ideally bring their own laptops. We will send setup instructions before the event and will share any further practical details in time.
Explore Cutting-Edge Technologies in Photonics
The LabTours invite students and PhD candidates to discover emerging trends in communication, AI and quantum technology within the field of photonics. Highlights include demonstrations with the goSCOUT3D robot for AI-assisted quality control in aerospace and insights into the optical ground station for advanced data communication. Experience autonomous robotics, quantum photonics research during the guided tours and expert presentations to enrich your academic path.
Additional Information
A maximum number of 10 participants can be accommodated per lab tour group.
Depending on the number of registrations, we will divide the registrants into appropriate groups. If the number of interested participants exceeds the maximum number of groups, priority will be given based on the order of registration.
Title: "The future of AI runs on light"
Going beyond CMOS with photonic computing
Utz Bacher (Vice President of Software at Q.ANT)
Abstract: tba
About:
Utz Bacher Bacher is Vice President of Software at Q.ANT, where he is driving the development of photonic co-processing for applications in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF