Quantum Nano-Optics and Sensing
Dr. rer. nat. habil. Assegid M. Flatae
Well done !
Abstract
Emerging quantum technologies are driving advances in information processing, sensing,
metrology, and energy applications. Nanophotonic devices play a central role by enabling
precise control of light–matter interactions at the quantum level. Under ambient conditions,
however, photon interactions with single quantum systems remain weak, and many quantum
phenomena at nanometer and femtosecond scales are still poorly understood.
The talk will focus on nanoscale quantum optics, exploring the fundamental physics and
experimental techniques for controlling interactions between a few photons and sub-
wavelength matter. I will present nanophotonic structures and advanced spectroscopic
techniques that allow precise control of solid-state single-photon sources, including colloidal
quantum dots and diamond color centers. These approaches enhance radiative decay rates
by over three orders of magnitude, enabling ultrafast, bright single-photon generation under
ambient conditions.
In addition to serving as photostable quantum light sources, color centers in diamond act as
highly sensitive quantum sensors. I will discuss a spectroscopic approach that avoids
perturbative fields and exploits the electric dipole for vector magnetometry and nanoscale
thermometry, with potential applications in biomedical imaging and quantum materials
characterization. These platforms also allow directional photon extraction and electrical
driving, representing a major step toward scalable quantum photonic devices
