The Laboratory of Nano-Optic working group

Quantum Nano-Optics

The quantum nature of light has gained much interest for its technological prospects in quantum information, communication, sensing and metrology. We combine quantum optics with nano-optics to advance our understanding of light-matter interaction in such context and to push the development of these emerging technologies. We are particularly interested in coupling novel quantum emitters to nanoscale resonators and in investigating such hybrid systems using ultrafast techniques that may allow us to explore quantum phenomena in the presence of strong decoherence.

Nano Spectroscopy

Ultrafast spectroscopy is a powerful tool to investigate new materials and to track physical or chemical processes with a very high time resolution. Using concepts such as nanofocusing, we aim at implementing advanced spectroscopic techniques like pump-probe and multidimensional approaches in nano-optics to push their spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit and to improve their ability to address individual systems, such as single molecules.

Nano Sensing

A major advantage of optical probes is their ability to detect low quantities of target molecules without direct contact to the sample. Although fluorescence-based approaches are available and sufficiently sensitive, they often lack the necessary flexibility for being integrated into lab-on-a-chip systems. We focus on nanophotonics-based sensing as it promises to build on the advantages of optical sensing, while overcoming its limitations by providing a high sensitivity, specificity, dynamic range, as well as the possibility for easy integration into simple and affordable devices. Furthermore, we aim at advancing single-molecule techniques with emphasis on biosensing applications.