What is photonics in simple terms?

Photonics is the science and technology of light. It explores how light can be generated, controlled, and used – for example, for imaging, data transmission, or measurements.

What is the difference between photonics and optics?

Photonics focuses on the generation, manipulation, transmission, and detection of light as a stream of photons (e.g., laser sources, fiber-optic communication, detectors, quantum photonics). Optics is the broader study of light and looks at the behavior, propagation, and imaging of light as well as its interaction with materials (geometrical optics and wave optics). In practice, optics often refers to the fundamentals and design of lenses, mirrors, and coatings, while photonics covers the entire value chain from the source to the application, such as in sensors, communications, or photonic chips.

Where do we come across photonics in everyday life?

Photonics is found in much of the technology that we use every day: in smartphones, internet connections, medical diagnostics, eyeglasses, automotive sensors, and industrial production processes.

Innovation

Shaping the future with light

What photonics makes possible at ZEISS

10 June 2026 11 min read

For Dr. Ulrike Böhm, it all began with a fascination with light: reflections, colors, optical phenomena, and the question of how the world reveals itself and can be better understood with the aid of technology. Today, she works at ZEISS Corporate Research & Technology, where she focuses on photonic technologies that further push the limits of what is possible in science, medicine, and industry. Light is far more than a physical phenomenon. It underpins numerous innovations, from modern medical technology and intelligent sensor systems to digital and AI-supported applications. The deeper the physicist dives into the possibilities of photonics, the more she appreciates how important technological innovation will be in driving progress and improving the lives of people around the world.

It is often the unremarkable moments that determine whether an idea holds water. No applause, no audience. Completely alone in the lab, concentrating on a system whose behavior is not fully predictable. For Dr. Ulrike Böhm, it was exactly this kind of moment during her research that she remembers as if it were yesterday.

Dr. Ulrike Böhm is looking into the eyepiece of a white ZEISS microscope. She is wearing glasses and a green sweater in a laboratory.

After many weeks of preparation, adjustment, and ruling things out, she finally stood in front of a microscope which could prove her ambitious theory. As she pressed start, the desired image gradually appeared on the screen in front of her. Structures stood out – details appeared which were previously invisible. Details that confirmed the results she had hoped for. "Suddenly, I was looking at the very thing I had predicted. And at that moment, I knew: My experiment had worked."

For the Ph.D. candidate, this was a significant moment in her career. It was also one of those rare moments where physics becomes tangible and the power of light is revealed. Ulrike Böhm believes this medium is often underestimated. And yet it's one that often offers children their first significant introduction to the natural sciences.

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Photonics in figures

A key technology for the future.

90%

of global internet data traffic travels through fiber optics.¹
19%

of global economic output depends on photonics.²
80%

of all microchips are created with ZEISS optics.³
15%

of ZEISS' revenue is invested in research.⁴

From curiosity to leading light

A rainbow. A sunset. Reflections on water. Light is ubiquitous and unique.

Dr. Ulrike Böhm R&D Scientist at ZEISS

Dr. Ulrike Böhm is reaching toward a bright source of light in a dark environment, demonstrating the interplay of light and shadow in photonics research

Ulrike's fascination for light began at an early age – and never left her

Even young children pause when sunlight streams through a window, and they marvel at the vibrant, shimmering play of light. Ulrike Böhm was also fascinated by light at an early age, and this is something that has never left her. "Light was never self-evident to me. It was always an invitation to look closer and see what lies beneath the surface," she recalls.

Dr. Ulrike Böhm is looking at a large screen with dynamic light patterns and data streams, which represent photonics and digital innovation.

Her fascination grew into a scientific career, which was driven by childlike curiosity. "Curiosity is one of the most important drivers of progress. It is a mindset that is essential for innovation," she explains.

Her fascination with physics and light led her to several of the most renowned research institutes in the world. And ultimately, with a Ph.D. in physics, to ZEISS Corporate Research & Technology in 2022 – right at the intersection between optics, photonics, and the technology of the future. Today, she works as an R&D Scientist and Project Manager at Corporate Research & Technology at ZEISS in Oberkochen.

Photonics as a key technology

Dr. Ulrike Böhm is working with an optical precision microscope at the ZEISS Museum in Oberkochen.

Photonics – the science and application of light – is far more than just her specialty. It lays the foundation for numerous technologies that shape our lives. Often without us being aware of it. As Ulrike Böhm puts it, "Photonics permeates almost every area of our lives. When you work in this field, you contribute to an incredible range of different topics."

In medical diagnostics, for example, it facilitates insights into the human body that would have been inconceivable just a few decades ago and makes it possible to detect illnesses at an early stage. In industry, it ensures precision and quality in production processes and enables autonomous systems and intelligent sensors.

Dr. Ulrike Böhm inspects a wafer under DUV lithography equipment at the ZEISS Museum of Optics in Oberkochen.

And in the digital world, it makes it possible to process data in ever greater quantities and at ever faster speeds. Photonics is driving data transfer and digital communication, while laying the groundwork for the next generation of technology – from AI to quantum computing.

This development is becoming increasingly important with artificial intelligence. As powerful as modern algorithms are, they reach physical limits in terms of energy consumption and data processing. Here, photonics opens up new possibilities.

"If we use light effectively, we can make things happen that are currently beyond our imagination," says Ulrike Böhm, looking to the future. Not only can light-based systems transfer information faster, they can also process it more efficiently. They help to make technological developments both more powerful and more sustainable.

Without photonics, most of the modern world would simply not work. At the same time, a new dynamic is emerging, where AI helps develop photonics. This interplay is accelerating innovation: "As a technology, photonics is an enabler. It makes things possible that were previously out of reach."

Dr. Ulrike Böhm is examining a ZEISS Point Tap microscope next to historic optical instruments.

Why light can do more than any other technology

What makes the work so exciting for Ulrike Böhm is bringing together basic research with a specific application. Innovation is not an end in itself for her, but something that emerges at the intersection between insight and impact. It is not just the major breakthroughs that matter, but also the many small steps that help to improve systems, refine ideas, and open up new possibilities.

This mindset shapes her work at ZEISS. After all, ZEISS has been working with light since 1846 – not just as a physical phenomenon, but as a tool for progress: "At ZEISS, we have a deep understanding of light, and we can build on this – and use this knowledge to solve current challenges."

A hand illuminated by a red light against a dark background, demonstrating light transmission and principles of photonics

When you get down to it, light is unique. It behaves like both a particle and a wave simultaneously and moves at an astounding speed. These properties open up possibilities that other technologies simply do not offer. Speed, precision, and efficiency are decisive factors in a world shaped by data, energy requirements, and technological complexity – and light plays a key role.

For Ulrike Böhm, this means thinking beyond what is immediately visible. Not settling for what is already possible, but always asking herself, what else can we achieve? It is a mindset that is also reflected in her work with light. Light doesn't just reveal what is there. It opens up new perspectives about what could be.

Photonics has immense potential and offers an opportunity to solve key societal problems in a way that is sustainable.

Dr. Ulrike Böhm R&D Scientist at ZEISS

Photonics in practice Areas of application at ZEISS

Dr. Ulrike Böhm with advanced optical research equipment, which represents the potential of photonics technology.

Whether in early, non-invasive diagnostics, in comprehensive quality control in industry, even during production, in autonomous systems that can accurately map out their surroundings, or in new forms of energy generation – we cannot even begin to imagine all the possible applications.

Perhaps this is what makes photonics so special: It broadens our view of the world, shining a light on what was previously invisible. It also gives us the tools to actively shape the world. Or, as Ulrike Böhm would say, if you understand the physics of light, you begin to grasp how much is still possible.

It is a technology that enables us to see further. And one that will shape the future.

Photonics connects almost all areas at ZEISS An overview of the different applications.

Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology

ZEISS develops photonic technologies that chip manufacturers use to produce state-of-the-art microchips. These lay the foundation for digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Research Microscopy Solutions

Photonics reveals what the human eye cannot see. ZEISS helps to analyze medical and materials science interrelationships in a data-based way – including with AI.
Industrial Quality Solutions

ZEISS uses photonics to ensure precision and quality in industry. Optical measurement technology enables components to be inspected quickly, reliably, and increasingly directly in the production line.
Medical Technology

Photonics improves diagnostics and therapies. From imaging techniques to minimally invasive procedures, light is used in an array of medical applications.
Vision Care

Photonics makes innovation part of everyday life. Modern eyeglass lenses are based on highly advanced optics and make it possible to protect and improve visual performance and lifelong eye health.
Extended Reality

ZEISS combines light manipulation with modern optical technology to create immersive augmented reality experiences with high image quality, precision, and unparalleled clarity.
Planetariums

Photonics creates immersive experiences and captures one-of-a-kind moments: Modern star projectors produce millions of tiny points of light to create realistic depictions of the universe.
Photography

ZEISS develops high-precision photo lenses and imaging technologies with exceptional sharpness, natural color reproduction, and high image quality for professional and mobile photography.
Cinematography

For movies shown in the theater and streaming at home: ZEISS supports professional film production around the world by developing lenses and technologies that seamlessly combine real shots with digital content.

R&D Scientist at ZEISS Corporate Research & Technology since 2022: Dr. Ulrike Böhm Her scientific career is impressive. It began with a degree in physics from the Technical University of Munich. While writing her thesis at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, she discovered her passion for imaging technology and worked on the development of correlative cryo-fluorescence and electron microscopy. She then went on to complete a Ph.D. at Heidelberg University in Nobel laureate Stefan Hell's working group at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences. There, she specialized in the development of high-resolution optical microscopy techniques, such as STED, RESOLFT, and 4Pi microscopy. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Böhm conducted her research internationally for several years: She was a postdoc at the National Institutes of Health in the US, where she worked on imaging techniques for cancer research. At the HHMI Janelia Research Campus, she then worked as a research specialist on the development and application of ultra-modern light microscopes – including the pioneering technologies lattice light sheet microscopy and iPALM. At the same time, she supported researchers around the world with challenging imaging experiments. With her outstanding credentials, international experience, and practical expertise in microscopy development, Dr. Ulrike Böhm is a valuable addition to Team ZEISS.

Frequently asked questions about photonics

Photonics is the science and technology of light. It explores how light can be generated, controlled, and used – for example, in imaging, data transmission, or measurements.
Photonics focuses on the generation, manipulation, transmission, and detection of light as a stream of photons (e.g., laser sources, fiber optic communication, detectors, quantum photonics). Optics is the broader study of light and looks at the behavior, propagation, and imaging of light as well as its interaction with materials (geometrical optics and wave optics). In practice, optics often refers to the fundamentals and design of lenses, mirrors, and coatings, while photonics covers the entire value chain from the source to the application, such as in sensors, communications, or photonic chips.
Photonics is found in much of the technology that we use every day: in smartphones, internet connections, medical diagnostics, eyeglasses, automotive sensors, and industrial production processes.