January issues of Photonics Spectra offer more; in addition to more material, it is our hope that the content that features in our annual “Trends” edition encourages readers to ponder what they’ve read even after finishing an article. More content, to empower our readership to be more actively informed on major themes in and for our industry, is the ultimate reward for members of our staff who have made this issue possible.
This idea of more — and of more information — is especially topical right now. Here in the U.S., the vast and considerable changes that each new year promises feel particularly close as we greet 2025. Undoubtedly, the line that separates politics and society has been blurred in the recent past. But if the developments of this past December are any indication — with appointments to governmental positions that rattle the status quo — this demarcation between our government and our day-by-day is apt to undergo a profound transformation in the immediate future.
Change is, of course, never without context. Developments of the past often catalyze the forces that trigger change and spark the trends that define the present. The information that we have acquired in the past doesn’t go away. Rather, it expands. More information and more context open opportunities to make valuable connections that shape our ability to perceive and make more sense of the world.
This is true in our governments and our societies. It is just as true in this year’s “Trends” issue. Many of the trends that this issue explores — such as a photonic integrated circuits supply chain, alternative optical materials, and qualifying micro-optics for specialty applications — are best understood by placing them in a context that looks back, even with the promise of new opportunities that loom ahead.
In the pages that follow, industry contributions from Intel, Corning Incorporated, PhotonDelta, and MKS Newport explore topics in silicon and integrated photonics, materials science, and positioning equipment. Contributing editor Andreas Thoss offers a firsthand report on Lithuania’s dynamic laser ecosystem. And Michael Eisenstein’s survey of the current drone-based remote sensing landscape reveals how engineering, integration, and application challenges are commanding the attention of firms in and on the periphery of photonics.
One hundred thirty-two pages allows us only to begin to identify some of the industry trends worth exploring. So, consider this an open invitation to peel back the layers on the topics spotlighted in this magazine. They are likely to open the door to trends that are not yet established but no doubt forthcoming. And if they do, remember that more information is likely already accessible.
