Miguel V. Andrés of Department of Applied Physics and Electromagnetism, Faculty of Physics, University of Valencia.

Forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (FSBS) in optical fibers can be exploited to develop point sensors and fiber characterization techniques. Our work is focused on investigating different FSBS probing methods based on optical resonances, in order to achieve strong light-sound interaction and better FSBS detection than using conventional interferometric techniques. We have investigated the use of narrow bandwidth long-period fiber gratings, fiber Bragg gratings, high Q factor whispering-gallery mode resonances, and fiber ring resonators.

Regarding point sensor applications, we have demonstrated discriminative and simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain, as well as pressure measurement and hydrogen (or deuterium) diffusion in optical fibers. We have also been able to demonstrate an all-optical mass-microbalance with a detection limit in the picogram range, showing its potential for biosensing applications. Regarding the fiber characterization techniques, FSBS has shown to be a unique tool for the measurement of Poisson's ratio of an optical fiber with record accuracy, its temperature coefficient, and its nonlinearity with strain. Likewise, optical fiber diameter variations can be measured with a resolution of few nanometers.

Biography:

Miguel V. Andrés was born in Valencia (Spain) in 1957 and, at present, he is Professor at the Department of Applied Physics of the University of Valencia, Spain, being responsible for the leadership and management of the Laboratory of Fiber Optics (www.uv.es/lfo). He received the B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Valencia, Spain, in 1979 and 1985, respectively. After a postdoctoral stay (1984-1987) at the Department of Physics, University of Surrey, U.K., he founded the Laboratory of Fiber Optics at the University of Valencia. His current research interests include photonic crystal fibers, in-fiber acousto-optics and opto-mechanics, fiber lasers and other fiber-based light sources, fiber sensors, optical microcavities, microwave photonics, and waveguide theory. His research activity includes an increasing number of collaborations with Latin America universities and research institutes of Mexico, Argentina and Brazil among others.

Dr. Sadasivan Shaji of Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Autonomous University of Nuevo León.

We present ultrasensitive, chemically stable SERS sensors made via pulsed laser ablation in liquid to generate Ag, Au, and Ag:Au nanoparticles. Single-step deposition and surface modification on Ag-coated Si wafers create multi-generation hotspots, yielding femtomolar limits, uniform signals (low RSD at pM), and analytical enhancement factors ~10^8–10^10 at 532/780 nm. The sensors remain stable >1 month, show linear response vs. concentration, and enable broad-band detection of dyes, water contaminants, and weakly Raman-active compounds. The workflow is rapid and scalable to manufacturing.

Biography:

Professor Shaji Sadasivan is a researcher and faculty member at the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico. He is the leader of the Nanomaterials and Thin Films Group, specializing in synthesis through laser ablation in liquids and in the development of nanostructured films for applications in photocatalysis, optical sensors, solar cells, and optoelectronic devices. He has served as an accredited evaluator for CONACYT. He is a member of the National System of Researchers (Level III), and has an extensive scientific research record with numerous recent publications in high-impact journals (168 articles, h-index: 31, over 3,050 citations). Professor Sadasivan obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from Cochin University of Science and Technology (India) in 2003. He has conducted postdoctoral stays at institutions such as Academia Sinica (Taiwan, 2003–2004) and the University of Missouri–St. Louis (USA, 2004–2008).

Dr. Naser Qureshi of Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

We describe recent advances in the use of microwave and terahertz radiation in imaging applications that were traditionally limited to optics and infrared. In particular we describe examples of radar imaging in the near and far field, as well as scanning probe microscopy.

Biography:

Naser Qureshi received his A.B. degree in physics from Princeton University and his PhD in physics from University of California, Santa Barbara where he worked on terahertz photonics and a free electron laser studying semiconductor heterostructures. He completed  postdoctoral work at the University of California, Santa Cruz in magneto-optics. His current interests include microfabrication, spin waves, terahertz imaging and microwave imaging, mostly applied to environmental problems.

Dr. Mónica Ortiz Martínez of Center for Research in Optics (CIO), Mexico

The terahertz spectrum, located between microwaves and the infrared, offers unique opportunities in fields such as security, medicine, and industry. However, the advancement of this technology largely depends on the availability of specialized optical components. 3D printing has emerged as a powerful tool for designing and manufacturing these components in a rapid, cost-effective, and flexible way. This talk will explore how additive manufacturing enables innovation in terahertz optics and expands its applications.

Biography:

Mónica is a researcher at the Center for Research in Optics (CIO) in Mexico. She holds a Ph.D. in Optical Sciences, where she specialized in spectroscopy and imaging in the terahertz band. Her research focuses on terahertz spectroscopy applications, including the design and fabrication of terahertz optical components through 3D printing, as well as the development of innovative methodologies and applications based on this technology in fields such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and materials characterization. Her work integrates optics, photonics, and emerging technologies to address real-world challenges, fostering innovation and the generation of applied knowledge.

Dr. Romeo de Jesús Selvas Aguilar of Facultad de Ciencias Físico-Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.

An overview of recent advances in optics with a focus on optical fibers for light analysis and manipulation. We highlight opportunity areas identified through industry collaboration, showing how multidisciplinary research and technology transfer translate into fiber-based prototypes with real industrial and social impact.

Biography:

Dr. Selvas obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Electronics from ITTG and his Master’s degree in Optics from INAOE in 1995 and 1998, respectively. In his master’s thesis, he investigated an erbium-doped fiber laser. He pursued his PhD at the ORC of the University of Southampton, England, where his research focused on high-power fiber lasers doped with ytterbium and neodymium. His career has resulted in more than 65 publications in indexed scientific journals (JCR) and six patents. In collaboration with colleagues at the ORC, he achieved pioneering results and first-ever demonstrations of various photonic sources. His current research interests include fiber lasers, tunability, and fiber-optic sensors, with applications in telecommunications, sustainable energy, smart cities, and industry. He is a member of AMC, SNI (Level 3, awarded), AMO, and SMF. He also served as director of the FCFM Research Center CICFIM and as deputy director of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Augusto García Valenzuela of Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología (ICAT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

In this talk, I will review the theory of light propagation in particle suspensions and then present our group’s ongoing work on new methodologies to characterize nano- and microparticles and to measure their refractive index without prior knowledge of their shape or size

Biography:

Augusto García-Valenzuela earned a B.Sc. in Physics from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana–Iztapalapa (Mexico City) in 1990, and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) in 1992 and 1996, respectively. Since 1996 he has worked at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he is currently a senior researcher in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering. His main research area is electromagnetic optics and its applications to sensor development and optical diagnostics. In 2006 he received UNAM’s National University Distinction for Young Academics in the area of Technology, and in 2015 the Fernando Alba Medal in Experimental Physics from UNAM’s Institute of Physics. He is the author of more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and has supervised over 25 graduate students. He regularly teaches graduate courses in optics and electrodynamics at UNAM.