What is Photonic Forge?
Photonic Forge is a scientific workshop that brings together researchers, students, and science communicators in the field of photonics. It was created with the mission of becoming a meeting point for the dynamic Valencian ecosystem of photonics and nanophotonics research, integrating both the public and private sectors, while fostering connections with other national experts.
In its second edition, this event is organized by the Optica Student Chapter “PoliPhotonics” of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), with the support and sponsorship of various entities committed to scientific and technological development.
Program
Photonic Forge II will take place on February 20, 2026, at the Nexus Building (6G) of the UPV. Below, you can find the detailed event schedule.

Why attend Photonic Forge?
If you are interested in photonics or would like to learn more about the research carried out at UPV and in the Valencian Community, Photonic Forge 2026 is a great opportunity to do so in a close and accessible environment.
Who is it aimed for?
It is aimed at PhD, Master’s, and final-year undergraduate students with an interest in the field of photonics within the Valencian Community.
What can you expect?
- Talks from invited speakers.
- Poster session.
- Coffee break.
- Certificates of attendance and participation.
- Academic credit recognition for PhD programs and undergraduate degrees at the UPV.
- Opportunities for Bachelor’s (TFG) and Master’s (TFM) projects, PhD positions, and more.
Prof. Javier Aizpurua – Donostia International Physics Center, Ikerbasque, EHU
“Addressing Light-Matter Interaction at the Nanoscale”
ABSTRACT: A metallic nanogap is a superb configuration to explore the interplay between light and matter. Light scattered off, or emitted from a nanogap carries the information of the surrounding electromagnetic environment with it. This situation becomes even more appealing when a single molecule is located in such a plasmonic cavity or in its proximity, with the molecule playing an active role either in the electromagnetic coupling with the nanocavity, or even participating in processes of charge injection and transfer, as revealed through cutting-edge field-enhanced molecular spectroscopy. The process of interaction between a molecular emitter and a nanocavity will be addressed by means of different theoretical frameworks which involve aspects of condensed matter physics [1], quantum chemistry [2], and cavity-quantum electrodynamics [3]. A battery of methodologies to address the dynamics of electrons photo-emitted in nanogaps, ultra-resolution in atomic-scale photoluminescence, or non-linear regimes in molecular optomechanics will be described, and many of the theoretical insights obtained will be interpreted in the context of state-of-the-art experimental results in nanocavity-enhanced molecular spectroscopy.
[1] W. Zhu, R. Esteban, A. G. Borisov, J. J. Baumberg, P. Nordlander, H. J. Lezec, J. Aizpurua, and K. B. Crozier, Nature Comm. 7, 11495 (2016) .
[2] A. Roslawska, T. Neuman, B. Doppagne, A. G. Borisov, M. Romeo, F. Scheurer, J. Aizpurua, and G. Schull, Phys. Rev. X 12, 011012 (2022).
[3] R. Esteban, J. J. Baumberg, and J. Aizpurua, Acc. Chem. Res. 55, 1889-1899 (2022).
Prof.ª Martina Delgado Pinar – Universitat de València (UV)
“When light met sound : a review on Forward Brillouin Scattering optomechanics in optical fibers”
ABSTRACT: Electromagnetic (light) and mechanic (sound) waves interact and perturb each other when coexisting in a waveguide. Optical fibers can propagate both of them, thus they are an excellent platform to study the results of optomechanic interactions. Forward Brillouin Scattering (FBS) in fibers is a type of such phenomena, which have led to a variety of applications with outstanding features. We will present the fundamentals, and the techniques developed at the Laboratory of Fiber Optics (UV) for the all-optical control of FBS.
Raúl López March – iTEAM, UPV
“Analog Programmable-Photonic Computing: A Wave-Based Approach to the Future of Information”
Raúl López March1, Pablo Martínez-Carrasco Romero1, Daniel Bermejo Asensio1, Jose Roberto Rausell Campo1, Andrés Macho Ortiz1, José Capmany Francoy1
1Photonics Research Lab, iTEAM
ABSTRACT: As digital electronics approach their fundamental physical limits, there is an urgent need for new computational frameworks. This talk introduces Analog Programmable-Photonic Computation (APC), a paradigm designed to harness the continuous nature of light waves rather than traditional binary logic. By leveraging Programmable Integrated Photonics (PIP), we present a wave-based approach that redefines information processing, offering a scalable and energy-efficient alternative for the future of computing. We will explore the fundamental principles of this technology and its potential to overcome the bottlenecks of current digital and quantum architectures.
Prof. Isaac Suárez – Universitat de València (UV)
“Optoelectronic devices based on semiconductor perovskites: current development and future prospects”
ABSTRACT: Over recent years, the family of semiconductors known as perovskites, or semiconductor perovskites (SPs), has been a hot topic in thousands of publications dedicating substantial efforts to study its basic properties and to implement a wide range of optoelectronic devices. Unlike more traditional semiconductors, such as Si or III-V, SPs are easily synthesized at low processing temperatures, making them potentially very desirable because of their fabrication under cheap equipment and low environmental impact. Moreover, SPs can be deposited as thin films by solution processing techniques (spin coating, doctor blading, inkjet printing, …), giving rise to layers with excellent optoelectronic properties: absorption coefficients above 1 cm-1, room temperature emission efficiencies close to 100 %, high electronic mobilities… Furthermore, their impressive optoelectronic properties are complemented by an enormous compositional range, so that the bandgap energy can b! e tuned from near infrared (NIR, up to almost 1 µm) to ultraviolet (UV, 350-400 nm), and the synthesis in different morphologies (polycrystalline thin films, nano-sheets, nano/microcrystals…) and/or dimensionalities (2D and quasi-2D semiconductors and quantum dots). This presentation will introduce the state of the art of SPs in the semiconductor technology by reviewing their physical properties and their dependence on composition/morphology. It will also describe the synthesis and fabrication methodologies, and highlight the progress in implementing optoelectronic comprising, including solar cells, photodetectors and optical sources. Particular emphasis will be placed on photonic devices, considering the presenter’s group’s demonstrated expertise in this domain. The talk will end with an examination of the inherent limitations in stability and processing associated with these materials, together with prospects for their advancement.
Dr. Bruno López-Rodríguez – DAS Photonics
“High-performance integrated photonics with amorphous silicon carbide”
ABSTRACT: Over the past decades, integrated photonic circuits have revolutionized the field of optics by enabling on-chip generation, manipulation, and detection of light with unprecedented scalability and precision. By leveraging advances in material platforms and nanofabrication tools and techniques, integrated photonics supports an ever-expanding range of applications, from high-speed optical communications and on-chip sensing to photonic quantum computing and signal. I will also address critical challenges—such as integrating active components, managing losses and achieving high thermal tunability and discuss future directions for ultra-compact, energy-efficient, and multifunctional integrated photonic devices.
Dr. Iago Díez – NTC, UPV
“Chiral Light-Matter Interaction on Photonic Chips for Separating Enantiomers“
ABSTRACT: This presentation introduces two synergistic projects united by a common goal: the optical separation of enantiomers on a chip—a critical challenge in the production of safe pharmaceutical drugs and agrochemicals. CHIRALFORCE explores the fundamental interaction between polarized light and chiral matter, demonstrating how optical forces can be exploited to sort chiral molecules and nanoparticles on a photonic integrated circuit platform. Complementing this, PiES-on-chip pushes the boundaries of efficiency by applying inverse design algorithms to the photonic circuit geometry, discovering unconventional designs that optimize the separation process. Together, these initiatives illustrate the future of compact, light-based chiral technologies for safer pharmaceutical drugs and agrochemical production.
Dr. Ana Díaz-Rubio – NTC, UPV
“Flat Photonic Metastructures for Precise Far and Near-Field Control of Electromagnetic Waves“
ABSTRACT: Photonic metastructures present a new paradigm in wave control and manipulation. The engineering of periodic artificial atoms has enabled optical responses not found in nature as well as precise manipulation in both the near and far-field regimes. Moreover, these platforms offer versatility in many applications, from photonic sensors and beam vortex generation to anomalous reflectors and nonreciprocal devices. In this presentation, a general overview of the capabilities of metastructures in photonics will be discussed with an emphasis on applications and the fabrication possibilities at the Nanophotonics Technology Center.
Integrated Photonics and Devices
- Íñigo López Mulet (NTC-UPV): Sb2Se3-Based Reconfigurable 4×4 Benes Switch Matrix.
- Jorge Caso Prieto (NTC-UPV): Hydrogen-Doped Indium Oxide Thermo-Optic Phase Shifter for the Silicon-Nitride Platform.
- Daniela Satián Guamán (NTC-UPV): Experimental Optical Switching Across Resonant Wavelengths in a Gallium Phosphide Cavity.
- Òscar Fontelles López (NTC-UPV): Meta-coupler for Emission Reconfiguration in Laser Integration (MERLIN).
- María de la Paz García Gallego (NTC-UPV): Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) for the Growth of III-V Materials.
Optomechanics and Acousto-Optics
- Dr. Raúl Ortiz Fernández (DAS Photonics): Experimental All-optical Up- and Down-conversion of 5G NR Signals using an Optomechanical Frequency Comb.
- Alberto Grau Martínez (NTC-UPV): Non-Suspended Silicon Optomechanical Cavity as a Mass Sensor for Nanoparticles Detection.
- Ana I. Garrigues Navarro (UV): Radial Acoustic Mode Detection Technique with an All-Fiber Ring Resonator.
- Xinyan Yang (NTC-UPV): Comparative Analysis of Optomechanical Crystal Mechanical Oscillators with Fiber Loop and Integrated Waveguide Coupling.
- Javier Martínez Lozano (NTC-UPV): Optomechanical Cavity Response Modulation by Spin-Crossover Nanoparticles.
Nonlinear Photonics
- Miguel A. Bosch García and Marc Pérez Safont (UV): Stepping Stones to Engineer Pulse Propagation Through Multifrequency Nonlinearities.
- José Juan Cobo Galiana (NTC-UPV): Pathway to Soliton Microcombs in Silicon Nitride Microrings: Nonlinear and Chaotic Kerr Comb Dynamics.
- Pol Molina I Grífols (NTC-UPV): Soliton Families in Micro-Ring Resonators with Third Order Dispersion.
Light-Matter Interaction and Optical Characterization
- Josep Martinez Romeu (NTC-UPV): Chiral Optical Forces in a Slot Waveguide for the Separation of Molecules in Gas.
- Jaime Gimeno Balaguer (ETS-UPV): From Theory to Fabrication: Circular Bragg Gratings as Optical Antennas for Single-Photon Sources.
- Víctor Camús Hernández (ICMUV): TERS Characterization of an NPoM System.
- José Luis Rodrigo Ramón (UV): Optical Probing of Matter at High Pressure.
- Paula Mouriño Miñambres (NTC-UPV): Backscattered Electron and Cathodoluminescence Microscopy for the Characterization of GaInP/InP Tandem Solar Cell Nanowires: Challenges and Opportunities.
- Ricardo Aguado Collado (NTC-UPV): Zero-loss Energy harvesting Using nanowire solar cells in Space (ZEUS): Front Contact Deposition and Characterization and Nanowire Growth Previous Steps.
- Marcos Altarriba Roig (NTC-UPV): Design and Experimental Implementation of an Optical Vacuum Setup for the Characterization of Photonic Crystal Cavities.
- Lucas Mascaró Burguera (NTC-UPV): Spin-Crossover Compounds for Reconfigurable Photonic Integration
Photonics for Communications and Outreach
- Jorge Giménez Tenés, Ferran Esteve Barrera, Pablo Nicolau Monzó and Guillem Pla Borja (UV): Lluminària: An Outreach Magazine Crafted by Students for Students.
- Jaime Romero Huedo (iTeam-UPV): Towards 6G: Unified RoF Fronthaul for Heterogeneous Wireless Networks.
- Vicente Fito Estevan (NTC-UPV): 5G Fronthaul over Fiber with Optical Conversion to Different RF Bands
