Optics & Photonics

Optics and Photonics research at the University concentrates on four research fields:
ultra optics, strong field physics, biophotonics, and quantum technology.

The research field ultra optics combines the fields of nanooptics, laser physics, photonic materials, and optical systems which opens new possibilities for generating and controlling light in virtually all its properties. In this way, a bridge is built between fundamental research and industrial applications.

Researchers in strong field physics deal with the generation of light involving extreme properties and extraordinarily high intensities as well as its interaction with matter up to the relativistic domain. Main research topics are ultrahigh peak power lasers, nonlinear and relativistic laser physics and X-ray optics.

The biophotonics research within LIGHT focusses on light-based technologies and their applications for the life sciences and the medical sector. Research on novel spectroscopic techniques, multimodal biomedical imaging & microspectroscopy and chip-based analytics and diagnostics aims to develop broadband applicable optical instruments in order to gain a deeper insight into complex, various-sized biological organ samples which include tissue sections, cells, viruses and DNA/RNA.

In the research field of quantum technology, LIGHT targets the three main application areas quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum imaging & sensing. In all three areas, optical technologies play an important role, either because photons are carriers of quantum information or because photons are used to study quantum systems when performing a specific task. Therefore, the development and advancement of optical quantum technologies is critical to realizing the potential inherent in quantum technologies.