Photonics
A Future-Oriented Technology Serving Innovation
Photonics is a scientific discipline that explores the interaction between light and matter. It encompasses a range of advanced technologies that enable highly precise control of light, from its emission and detection to its collection, transmission, amplification, and analysis.
Although still relatively unknown to the general public, photonics plays a key role in many areas, from everyday life to the most complex industrial and scientific technologies (telecommunications, medical imaging and diagnostics, autonomous vehicles (LIDAR), 3D scanning, and more).
Industrial Applications and Technological Advancements
Innovations in photonics have led to cutting-edge technologies, such as:
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Precision polishing: up to λ / 20 for various materials (silica, sapphire, silicon, etc.), with dimensions up to 1000 mm.
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Glass manufacturing: advanced treatments such as thermal and chemical tempering, screen printing, and laser marking.
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Optical thin films: anti-reflective, metallic, and dielectric coatings for optimized performance in the visible, UV, and infrared ranges.
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Surface functionalization: superhydrophobic, anti-soiling treatments, and transparent conductive films.
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Precision cutting: laser and waterjet technologies for various materials with micrometer-level tolerances.
The New Frontiers of Photonics: Innovative Uses of Light
Photonics is also at the forefront of new interactive technologies, particularly for connected objects and smart systems. Interaction with these devices is increasingly carried out through touch screens, optoelectronic devices, or eye-tracking systems. HEF Photonics is leading these developments, with applications ranging from augmented and virtual reality to touch interfaces in Rafale fighter jets, and even projects related to autonomous and connected vehicles.
Light as a Vector of Knowledge and Innovation
Light is essential for understanding the world around us. Our expertise in photonics allows us to design safe and efficient devices to manipulate light, notably through the use of femtosecond lasers, which alter surfaces in interaction with light for high-precision applications.
Femtosecond lasers: a technology for precise surface modification.
Optics and Photonics: Expertise and Innovation with IREIS
IREIS masters vacuum deposition processes to design precision optical films. Its innovations span the fields of infrared, ultraviolet, and emissivity control, with applications in security, solar energy, and thermal energy production.
Solar Efficiency and Industrial Applications
IREIS technologies enable the capture of solar energy with an efficiency of over 60%, used in concentrated solar power plants. The company also develops absorbing coatings to reduce stray radiation in infrared optical applications.
In collaboration with global industry leaders, HEF Photonics offers innovative solutions to meet the technical challenges of the most demanding industries, with a strong focus on performance and precision.