Photonics
Photonics research focuses on new material systems and devices primarily for lighting, photovoltaic sensing and telecommunications applications (LB) and on the physics of photonic structures such as microcavity structures for single quantum dot emission; CdTe nanocrystals and nanowires as novel single photon emitters. Quantum dot reaction centre and quantum-dot bacteriorhodops in interactions are investigated (JD).
Tunable diode lasers based on slotted Fabry-Perot structures are applied (JD) and pulsed laser ablation and PLD of thin solid and nanoparticle films is conducted (JL). High-resolution novel optical imaging and surface plasmon enhancement techniques using metal nanoparticles/nanostructures are used for detection of biomolecules, photonic approaches for materials characterization (EMcC).
Theoretically the Photonics theme is supported by evaluating the behaviour of interacting photons and electrons in nanostructures, including semiconductor microcavities, quantum wells, quantum dots, and low-dimensional electron gases, as well as in related phenomena in quantum and classical optics (PE).
The Photonics Research Laboratory is located in CRANN and is a unique ultrafast fs laser laboratory that is used to investigate dynamic processes in materials, and the interactions between lasers and materials, principally in nanoscale materials such as quantum dots. Ultrafast laser systems are useful tools in the understanding of fast photodynamic processes in physics, chemistry and biology. Many techniques, such as time-resolved absorption spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy, have been developed for these types of investigation. The lab combines unique femtosecond laser systems with different repetition rates and tunability from UV to mid-IR, with a Raman spectroscope, a scanning near-field optical microscope and a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope. The lab facilitates research related to nonlinear dynamics, nonlinear optics, ultrafast optics, near-field optics and surface plasmon resonance. Femtosecond pump-probe techniques provide information on ultrafast
Academics
Academics who work in this area are:
Research Group
Our Photonics research group is below: