Advanced Coherent Sources focuses on the development of ultrashort pulsed fiber-based sources in low and high power implementations for emerging applications such as advanced bioimaging and green manufacturing. The research activities cover the investigation of intra-cavity pulse dynamics and nonlinear pulse shaping as well as novel mode-locked regimes and techniques for power scaling.
Applied Optics research group studies advanced optical spectroscopy techniques (that is techniques utilizing the interaction between light and matter) for monitoring mainly gas-phase atomic and molecular concentrations. Their core know-how areas are combustion process diagnostics, remote sensing of alpha radiation, light radars for weather and air quality research, pathogen detection in water, laser writing of fluorescent nanostructures and trace-gas detection using supercontinuum lasers.
Experimental Quantum Optics group is investigating light and its interaction with matter on the single quantum level.
“Our goal is to make photons obey our whims. We develop methods for shaping their spatio-temporal structure, interfere them with other bosons, and have them interact with novel structures and materials. However, we do not limit ourselves to single photons, and sometimes venture out to the world of classical states of light.”
Hybrid Solar Cells mission is to explore novel materials and device architectures for efficient, stable, and nontoxic photovoltaics to accelerate the widespread adoption of clean and sustainable energy.
Metaplasmonics Metamaterial and Plasmonic Devices Group focuses on engineering the fundamental interaction between light and matter and applying this understanding to light trapping, energy collection and extraction, communication, and sensor applications.
Nanophotonics explores the interaction of photons with nanostructures. By assembling nano-sized bits of matter in new ways, nanomaterials with uncommon optical properties can be created. The research group conducts experimental research on photonic nanostructures and develops unconventional nanofabrication methods.
Nonlinear Optics main goal is to advance the fundamental understanding of nonlinear optical phenomena occurring at different spatial scales, starting from the molecular level and reaching all the way to macroscopic systems. In particular, the Group investigates the intrinsic nonlinearities of various kinds of materials and utilizes this information to understand optical responses occurring at higher structural levels such as single nanostructures, their microscopic arrangements and complex systems (e.g. metasurfaces and biological systems).
Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is focussed on molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of new III-V semiconductor materials, advanced laser sources, high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells as well as on applications for our findings and developments
Photonic Compounds and Nanomaterials focuses its research on properties and functionality of novel compounds and hybrid nanomaterials designed for the solar energy and nanophotonics applications.
Photonics Glasses is interested in the design of novel glass media for photonic applications, mainly lasers. They perform full cycle research from the glass synthesis and fundamental characterization to practical applications of new materials. By investigating and understanding the composition-structure-property relationships in these materials, their goal is to develop new glass compositions with tailored properties to suit specific application needs.
Precision Nanomaterials focuses on efficient control of the structure, function, and interactions with the highest possible precision to develop multifunctional and biocompatible nanomaterials. Their research works involve biopolymers and hydrogels for developing short-distance optical fibers, microlasers, and scaffolds for cancer tissue culture.
Smart Photonics Materials is a research group working at the interface between chemistry, physics, and materials science. They are interested in developing functional and stimuli-responsive materials based on polymers and liquid crystals, with particular focus on light-controllable systems and their use in soft robotics, photonics and biomaterials science.
Surface Science conducts research on the phenomena at surfaces and interfaces of nanostructured metal and semiconductor materials. The main objectives are to gain insights into the physicochemical properties of the solid–solid, solid–liquid and solid–gas interfaces at molecular level and to develop novel materials by functionalizing surfaces on the nanometer scale.
Theoretical Optics and Photonics group aims at understanding the basic properties of light, its interaction with matter at the classical, as well as the quantum scale, with the ultimate goal of searching for new forms of light beam, to control the linear and nonlinear optical properties of photonics structures
Ultrafast Photonics group carries out theoretical, numerical, and experimental research on ultrafast photonics and applications including the development of light sources with tailored properties and supercontinuum generation, the study of nonlinear instabilities and ultrafast laser dynamics. They also develop real-time characterization techniques and combine artificial intelligence with fibre-optics technology to design smart laser sources and for improved ultrafast light diagnostics.
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