Light-Matter
Revealing the inner working of the interaction of light with matter is fundamental to almost all the science and technology developed at ICFO. We explore light-matter interactions in very different scenarios, from single photons interacting with single atoms, to ultrashort, ultra-intense pulses of light probing the dynamics of chemical transformations of molecules.
We explore techniques for seeing novel phenomena, such as the transfer of energy from light to single molecules in photosynthetic complexes, or the joint excitation of light and electrons on the nanoscale in 2D materials. In the end we want to control these interactions to harness new quantum effects and novel nonlinear phenomena.
Activities
Experimental and theoretical research at ICFO is advancing techniques to visualize light matter interactions that lead to understanding of the complexities of the physical world.
Controlling radiative properties of materials
Theoretical and experiment study of light control at subwavelength scales and tailoring of flow of radiative heat, with applications in thermal management, renewable energy, optoelectronics, light emission, and detection, using the infrared properties of natural materials as well as nanostructures and emerging materials. Investigate of means of actively tuning thermal emission and designs for approaching the thermodynamic limits in heat-to-electricity energy conversion.
Sensing and imaging with new states of light
Design and demonstration of imaging and sensing schemes to estimate relevant characteristics of objects, such as nanostructures or molecules with a biological function. In most scenarios one needs to unveil tiny changes of parameters characterizing light beams, resorting to smart schemes to detect them. We use quantum and classical schemes, engineer the shape of the illumination beam and/or project the reflected/transmitted light from the object onto smart modes.
Theoretical approaches to light-matter interactions
Study of optical response of nanostructured materials and their interaction with free electrons. Develop theory for physical phenomena associated with interaction of light and electrons with the optical excitations, including plasmons and optical polaritons in 3D nanostructures and 2D materials, and their coupling to atoms and molecules. Develop first-principles theory to interpret and extend electron-microscope-based spectroscopy to understand ultrafast light+electron+matter interactions.
Ultratunable lasers and applications
Develop novel coherent light sources across all temporal domains (from cw to fs pulses) with tailorable properties in wavelength regions inaccessible to conventional lasers using optical frequency conversion techniques in novel nonlinear materials and innovative optical parametric oscillator designs. Exploit the interaction of laser light with matter in different regions of the optical spectrum for applications in spectroscopy, environmental sensing, infrared imaging, communications, nanotechnology, biophotonics, laser surgery, and biomedicine.
Nonlinear optical phenomena
We exploit the interaction of light with matter to elucidate new strategies for the manipulation, control, shaping, and processing of light beams and signals, focusing on nonlinear optical processes, and applications to all-optical photonic devices, imaging, and quantum optics.
Quantum optics in complex quantum media
In classical optics, we know that multiple scattering of light in granular media can give rise to rich phenomena, from photonic crystals to Anderson localization of light. We pioneer research into the study of interactions between light and complex quantum and granular media, with potential implications from exponentially better performance of quantum optical devices, to understanding the limits of how large the refractive index of a material can be.
Groups
Our group works in a highly interdisciplinary field which fuses ultrafast laser physics, extreme nonlinear optics, atomic and molecular physics, SXR spectroscopy, X-ray optics, UHV technology, and electron-ion coincidence imaging techniques.
We explore the fascinating and interdisciplinary world of quantum interactions between matter and light confined to the nanoscale, to uncover rich new phenomena and powerful applications.
We develop and study novel coherent light sources based on nonlinear frequency conversion techniques and OPO´s, from the UV to the mid-IR spectrum, and from the steady-state cw to femtosecond time-scales.
We leverage the optical response of nanostructured materials to explore new physical phenomena including the manipulation of free electrons and their application in achieving sending and spectromicroscopy with unprecedented spatial, temporal, and energy resolution
We study nonlinear optical processes where light acts on itself inside suitable materials. Applications include all-optical photonic devices and advanced imaging and sensing.
We generate photons with novel features for exploring quantum theory and implementing applications that require specific forms of light.