Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab @ NJIT

The Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab will be at NJIT offering students a hands-on experience with photonics equipment used to measure, study, and harness the power of light. Guided by current Thorlabs employees, students are introduced to key photonics concepts, gain insight into potential careers, and engage with individuals working in the field.

Wednesday, July 8 - Intro to Photonics Experience

10:00 am to 4:00 pm; 30-minute sessions

This experience allows students to develop an understanding of photonics technologies and applications. Demonstrations include spectroscopy and how a spectrometer works, biomedical optics and imaging, optical communications, and fiber optics.

Thursday, July 9 - Quantum Optics Experience

10:00 am to 4:30 pm; 90-minute sessions

This experience allows students to develop an understanding of quantum optics and the fundamental nature of light. Working in small groups aboard the Mobile Photonics Lab, core experiments include coincidence counting to differentiate classical and quantum light, measuring the g² of attenuated lasers and single-photon sources, and aligning detectors for Hanbury Brown–Twiss (HBT) and Grangier-Roger-Aspect (GRA) setups.

Interested in participating? Email belfield@njit.edu

Our Goals

COORDINATE and enhance research activities in applied optics and photonics across a wide spectral range, addressing issues across a broad expanse of applications through the creation of a pre-eminent research center.

CREATE fruitful interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty members across colleges and departments.

AMPLIFY the impact and visibility of NJIT’s research in photonics on a global scale.

FOSTER an environment that enables effective mentoring of new faculty members and increase their retention at NJIT.

STRENGTHEN our educational programs and train students in optics and photonics through cross-disciplinary mentorship, access to state-of-the-art technologies and collaborative research opportunities to equip them with the skills needed for academia and industry.

COLLABORATE closely with NJIT’s Center for Translational Research, NJII, and the CPi Industrial Affiliates to harness innovations in our research and translate it to intellectual property through patents, STTR/SBIR awards, and commercial translation.