The 11th Workshop on Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Lasers brought together scientists, engineers and industry experts in Toruń, Poland, from 18–22 October 2026. Organised by the Candela Foundation and held at Hotel Bulwar, the international biennial workshop offered a forum for exchanging research findings and building connections across the semiconductor laser community.
PionEAR was represented by project partner Łódź University of Technology, with Magdalena Marciniak serving as conference chair and Tomasz Czyszanowski participating in the scientific committee. Three posters related to the project highlighted the latest research updates
The scientific programme covered edge-emitting laser diodes, VCSELs, VECSELs, PCSELs, DFB/DBR lasers, quantum cascade lasers and emerging photonic technologies. For PionEAR participants, the meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss research with colleagues and explore ideas relevant to the project.
Reflections from the PionEAR team
Mikołaj Janczak, Łódź University of Technology, reflected on the research exchange:
“Conferences are always a great opportunity to learn from others and exchange ideas. During this conference, we presented three posters related to the PionEAR project, covering simulations, epitaxial growth and measurements. The talks on VECSELs, gallium arsenide structures and metastructures also provided valuable insights relevant to our research. I believe that face-to-face discussions with experienced researchers can sometimes be even more valuable than reading scientific publications.”
Magdalena Marciniak, conference chair and researcher at Łódź University of Technology, highlighted the scientific programme and opportunities for collaboration:
“Organizing the 11th Workshop on Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Lasers was a wonderful experience. It was truly inspiring to see our photonics community growing, exchanging ideas, and building new connections. The scientific programme covered many exciting topics, including VECSELs, a platform with great potential for future photonic applications, as we know well from the PionEAR project. Our PionEAR project was well represented through three posters showcasing different aspects of our research. It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet our project colleagues in person, exchange ideas, strengthen our collaboration, and see our joint research from a broader perspective.”
Talk presenters and institutions
Presentations included:
- Magdalena Marciniak — Łódź University of Technology
Breaking Symmetry in VCSELs for New Photonic Functionalities - Justyna Kurek — VIGO Photonics SA & Warsaw University of Technology
Droplet Epitaxy MOVPE Growth of InAs/InP Quantum Dots in Production Scale Reactors for Photonics Applications - Tomasz Czyszanowski — Łódź University of Technology
DBR-assisted bound states in the continuum in arbitrary-index periodic metastructures
Poster presenters and institutions
Three posters showcased different aspects of PionEAR research:
- Mikołaj Janczak — Łódź University of Technology
Epitaxial Microlenses for Optical Confinement in Short-Cavity Electrically Pumped VECSELs - Justyna Kurek — Vigo Photonics SA & Warsaw University of Technology
MOCVD growth and characterization of 940 nm half-VCSEL structures with an external cavity - Andrzej Molenda — Łódź University of Technology
Experimental Investigation of an Optically Pumped 940 nm VECSEL
Alongside the presentations, the workshop gave PionEAR colleagues an opportunity to meet in person, exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration across their research activities.
