PhotonLab

What PhotonLab does

PhotonLab, Inc. is a privately held S-Corporation founded in 2015 by UC Davis Professor Daniel Ferenc and headquartered in Davis, California, where it occupies 1,500 square feet of office and lab space. The company develops and commercializes the proprietary ABALONE photosensor technology for large-area radiation detection and light monitoring. The ABALONE design is characterized by simplicity — only three glass components combined with thin-film metal deposits — which the company asserts enables economical mass production with a projected tenfold cost reduction, superior performance, and greater durability compared with legacy photomultiplier tube (PMT) technology and silicon photomultiplier detectors (Si-PM).

PhotonLab targets three primary end markets: fundamental science research (nuclear, particle, and astro-particle physics experiments requiring low-cost, high-quality large-area photosensors), nuclear security (ultrasensitive modular radiation detectors for threat identification and environmental monitoring), and functional medical imaging (low-dose PET scanners and gamma cameras). The company holds patents secured exclusively to PhotonLab, with several filings jointly held with UC Davis reflecting an ongoing research and IP relationship with the founding institution.

The business model is hardware sales of ABALONE photosensors and detector modules through direct B2B engagement, with pricing determined via enterprise procurement quotations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company has operated as a 100% privately owned entity held by Professor Daniel Ferenc and Marija Segedin Ferenc, funded primarily through U.S. government grants including over $1 million cumulatively from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation SBIR Program (with two documented NSF awards of $225,000 in 2017 and $727,126 in 2019). Customer concentration among named accounts is not disclosed, and the team is small (1-10 employees), consistent with an early-stage R&D-to-commercialization company addressing a stated $2.3 billion global radiation detection market.

Name

PhotonLab

Legal name

PhotonLab, Inc.

Website

https://photonlab-abalone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PhotonLab, Inc. is a Davis, California-based deep-tech hardware company developing the proprietary ABALONE photosensor — a 3-component glass-and-thin-film large-area radiation detector that targets >10x cost reduction versus conventional PMT and Si-PM technology for fundamental science research, nuclear security, and functional medical imaging applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radiation Detection Equipment

NAICS

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK), Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

Keywords

• Radiation detection technology
• Photosensor hardware
• Large-area particle detectors
• Nuclear security detectors
• Medical imaging sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Davis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. ABALONE Photosensor Sales: Sale of ABALONE photosensor products for large-area radiation detection applications. The company sells its proprietary photosensor technology to research institutions, medical imaging companies, and homeland security agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

PhotonLab develops and sells ABALONE photosensors — a patented large-area radiation detection technology composed of only 3 glass components and thin-film metal deposits. The technology enables economical mass production and a projected >10x cost reduction versus conventional Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) and Silicon PM Detectors (Si-PM), and is offered as products serving fundamental science research, nuclear security threat detection, and functional medical imaging (PET scanners and gamma cameras).

Product overview

PhotonLab offers a unified product portfolio centered on its patented ABALONE photosensor technology, a breakthrough large-area radiation detection solution. The core product line includes ABALONE Photosensors (the foundational technology with only 3 glass components and thin-film metal deposits) serving three application domains: Fundamental Science Research (for nuclear, particle and astro-particle physics experiments), Nuclear Security (Ultrasensitive Modular Radiation Detectors), and Medical Imaging (low-dose PET scanners and gamma cameras). All products share the same underlying ABALONE platform technology, which enables a projected tenfold cost reduction compared to conventional photomultiplier tube solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABALONE: Brand name for a family of photosensor products and technology developed by PhotonLab for light detection and radiation monitoring applications including fundamental science research, medical imaging (PET scanners, gamma cameras), and nuclear security.

Products and services

• ABALONE Photosensors Large-area photosensor technology for radiation detection, comprised of only 3 glass components and thin-film metal deposits, designed for economical mass production with a projected tenfold cost reduction versus conventional photomultiplier tubes. Sold to research institutions, medical imaging companies, and homeland security agencies.
• ABALONE Photosensors for Fundamental Science Research Photosensors configured for fundamental science research projects, providing low-cost, high-quality large-area detection of rare phenomena and particles in nuclear, particle and astro-particle physics experiments.
• Ultrasensitive Modular Radiation Detectors Modular radiation detection systems built on ABALONE photosensors for nuclear security applications, including detection of nuclear security threats and health/environmental radiation monitoring.
• ABALONE Photosensors for Functional Medical Imaging ABALONE photosensors designed for functional medical imaging devices, including low-dose PET scanners and gamma cameras.

Quantifiable outcome

• >10x cost reduction compared to conventional PMT and Si-PM technology

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UC DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotonLab was founded by UC Davis Professor Daniel Ferenc, who developed the ABALONE technology. Patents are secured exclusively with PhotonLab and some jointly with UC Davis, indicating an ongoing research and IP relationship between the company and the university.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• First Sensor (TE Connectivity): Manufactures a range of optical and radiation sensors including silicon photomultipliers for medical imaging, security, and industrial applications — competing with ABALONE in the photosensor component market.
• Mirion Technologies: Major provider of radiation detection, monitoring, and nuclear security solutions for defense, homeland security, and medical markets — a broad incumbent in PhotonLab's nuclear security and medical imaging target segments.

Emerging players

• RMD (Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.): Develops advanced radiation detectors and scintillators for nuclear security, medical imaging, and physics research — a comparable niche developer of novel radiation detection technology for many of the same end-markets as PhotonLab.

Direct peers

• KETEK: Designs and manufactures silicon photomultiplier (Si-PM) sensors for radiation detection, medical imaging, and high-energy physics — the primary Si-PM incumbent whose technology ABALONE positions against on cost.
• Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Si-PM/MPPC product line): Hamamatsu's MPPC (Multi-Pixel Photon Counter) silicon photomultiplier line competes head-to-head with ABALONE in PET, gamma camera, and high-energy physics applications, representing the principal Si-PM incumbent.
• Photonis: Specialist in photodetectors, image intensifiers, and radiation detection tubes serving nuclear/particle physics, homeland security, and medical imaging — a direct alternative supplier to the customers PhotonLab is targeting.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: World-leading manufacturer of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and silicon photomultipliers used in radiation detection, particle physics experiments, PET scanners, and gamma cameras — the exact incumbent technology ABALONE aims to displace.
• Broadcom (Silicon Photomultiplier division, formerly SensL): Supplies silicon photomultiplier detectors (inheriting the SensL product line) used in PET, LiDAR, and radiation detection — directly comparable technology and overlapping customer base in medical imaging and research.
• Excelitas Technologies: Manufactures a broad portfolio of photon detection components including PMTs, silicon photomultipliers, and detector modules for nuclear security, medical imaging, and scientific research, directly competing with ABALONE in the same applications.
• CAEN SyS (CAEN Technologies): Supplies photodetectors, electronics, and complete radiation detection systems for nuclear/particle physics experiments and homeland security — comparable in end-use and customer base to ABALONE's fundamental science and security applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/photonlab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PhotonLab