Well known and awarded speakers were chosen as plenary speakers.

Plenary Talk
Molecual Imaging: From Mouse to Man
Dr. Bremer, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität of Münster, Germany

The first plenary talk was held by Dr. Bremer. He intruduced into newest advances in Molecular Biology concerning new imaging targets. Different approaches including MRI, optical imaging and scientigraphic techniques are currently explored to detect theses markers of disease in vivo. A brief overview of currently available imaging and tracer technology was given. Moreover, examples for translational appraches of Molecular imaging techniques will be presented in order to highlight the potential clinical applications of these technologies.

Plenary Talk
Fiber lasers and amplifiers - status and perspective
Prof. A. Tünnermann, Fraunhofer Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik

Prof. Tünnermann reviewed recent developements of fibre systems and amplifiers. He pointed out, that additional sufficient pulse stretching in the time domain using the chirped pulse amplification techniques enables to reduce nonlinear pulse distortions in the fiber and to extract energies in the order of the saturation fluence limit of rare earth. Following, Prof. Tünnermann gave an overview on fundamentals of fiber lasers and amplifiers, including a historical review of the developements. The current status and perspectives of cw and short pulse fiber lasers have been discussed.

Plenary Talk
Robscan technology as an alternative to resistance spot welding in car body production
Dr. J. Haepp, DaimlerChrysler AG

Dr. Haepp explained, that by the usage of modern robot systems and newest beam sources high working distances for welding applications can be realized. This leads to new cinematic strategies for the process implementation. Like this, the laser focus can be remote controlled by scanner systems on the basis on micro mirrors. Dr. Haepp introduced the basics on laser welding applications with roboter guided scanner systems. The potentials of the technolgy were illustrated in comparision to conventional welding technologies.

Plenary Discussion
Fiber and Disc Laser
Moderation: David Belforte, Belforte Associates, USA
Podium: Peter Wirth (Rofin Sinar, Germany), Peter Leibinger (Trumpf, Germany), Dr. Gaponsev (IPG, Germany), Prof. A. Tünnermann (Fraunhofer IOF, Germany)
Ackknowldged representive from laser source manufacturers and leading scientists did discuss about the two competing laser systems "disc" and "fiber".

Fig. p1: P. Leibinger and Dr. Gaponsev at the panel discussion

In a passioned discussion the representives took a stand for the different laser sources and pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the systems. Recent developements did bring out a new level of output power and beam quality, which makes the system appropriate for applications with high working distances and processing speeds.
The main difference of the systems is the strategy of providing the peripherical systems for the automated process. This strongly influences the integration into the production enviroment.

Fig. p2: Podium of the penal discussion

Plenary Talk
From Einstein fo Quantum Information
Prof. A. Zeilinger, University of Vienna, Austria

The very popular physicist, Prof. A. Zeilinger, gave a comprehensive lecture about the potential of transporting digital information by the help of newest quantum technologies. For that matter he started his speech by introducing fundementals of producing laser light, based on the perceptions that had been in a theoretical manner made by Albert Einstein. Already in one of his early papers Einstein proposed the idea of quanta of lieght. Prof. Zeilinger explained the conflict of Einstein theoretical point of view and the philisophical implications of quantum mechanics. Since the times of Einstein's criticism, many experiments have been performed which were initially motivated by pholosophical considerations, which became possible particular due to the invention of the laser. Today, quantum mechanics is confirmed experimentally to extremely high degree. Most remarkably, these experiments became crucial in new ideas of a novel information technology, including such concepts as cryptography, quantum teleportation and quantum computation. Even more remarable is the fact that the issues criticized by Albert Einstein, randomness, complementarity and entanglement, play essential roles in these new quantum information concepts.

Fig. p3: Prof. Zeilinger giving his plenary talk

Plenary Talk
Dedicated near-field microscopies for electronic materials and devices
Prof. L. J. Balk, University of Wuppertal, Germany

The last plenary talk was given by Prof. Balk from the university of Wuppertal. He started by mentioning the need of optical inspection systems with a resolution clearly below 50 nm due to the ongoing reduction of structures sizes within any kind of electronic device. When using waves as probes for this purpose, near-field techniques are quite often the only means for overcoming the limitation in spatial resolution as due to Rayleigh' criterion, independently of the specific nature of the wave type used. In this manner acoustical and thermal waves can be applied for very high resolution testing as well as the known scanning near-field optical microscope. The necessary instrumentation was described for experiments with emphasis on scanning near-field optical microscopie. Examples for the application fo near field microscopies have been given for silicon technology as well as for compound semiconductors and functional ferroelectric ceramics. Usual electronic componentes like solar cells or light emitting devices will be treated as well as micro electro mechanical systems.