Relaxed atmosphere and lots of programme

The joint alumni meeting of our two institutes IAP and Fraunhofer IOF was moved to the autumn this year, on a day with many programme items: One of these was the W3+ trade fair in Jena, which exhibited the latest solutions from the fields of photonics, optics, electronics and mechanics in the Sparkassenarena.
The Abbe Center of Photonics (ACP) hosted a varied programme of lectures, idea pitches and award ceremonies during the Photonic Days. The highlight was the keynote lecture by Prof Anne L'Huillier, who, together with two other colleagues, was awarded the Nobel Prize 2023 for ‘experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter’.
Our alumni were informed about the development of the two institutes over the past year and were able to learn from Dr Falk Eilenberger to what extent today's micro- and nanotechnology is based on the findings of the past decades - that of our alumni!
There was also a guided tour of the clean room. Finally, there was the opportunity to take part in the optics discussions. After so much input, personal and business discussions were held over culinary delicacies.
We are delighted that long-standing guests and new old acquaintances always accept our invitation. Even though a slightly different programme awaited our participants this year (unfortunately also due to illness and other organisational hurdles), we hope that everybody found plenty to do
Many thanks to the many helpers and the excellent organisation by the Fraunhofer IOF.