The Photonic Ecosystem of Counter Unmanned Systems — With Ganesh Balakrishnan

The Photonic Ecosystem of Counter Unmanned Systems — With Ganesh Balakrishnan

From All Things Photonics by All Things Photonics

May 12, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 132

About this episode

Ganesh Balakrishnan discusses the role of photonic technology in countering unmanned systems like drones.

Unmanned aircraft, like drones, have become a weapon of choice. They are effective and cheap to produce, but the systems to stop them are not. Laser- and microwave-based systems are slowly coming online, but there are still hurdles to overcome before they become a staple defense on the front lines. Ganesh Balakrishnan, or “Gunny" as he’s known, is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Mexico. He sat down with the All Things Photonics team to discuss how molecular beam epitaxy, VCSELs, PCSELs, and other photonic tech all play a part in the wider ecosystem behind counter unmanned systems."All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays.Sponsored by:Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.comOmega Optical - www.omega-optical.com

People in this episode

Host: All Things Photonics

Guest: Ganesh Balakrishnan

Topics covered

  • unmanned systems
  • defense technology
  • photonic technology
  • laser systems
  • microwave systems

Keywords

  • drones
  • counter unmanned systems
  • laser technology
  • microwave technology
  • photonic ecosystem

Sponsors

Hamamatsu, Omega Optical

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of New Mexico, Photonics Media

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