The unit focuses on the interaction between light and matter and conducts research on various systems. These systems range from cold atomic systems and whispering-gallery-mode microresonator systems to biological systems. The unit not only aims to deepen the understanding of the physical processes in each system but also develops techniques to manipulate and capture particles ranging from microns to nanometers using light. Additionally, nano-optical fibers are used as interfaces between light and matter systems.
The Light-Matter Interaction for Quantum Technologies (LMI-QT) unit, led by Professor Síle Nic Chormaic, is active in the fields of atomic physics and optics. The unit consists of three subgroups: neutral atoms for quantum technologies, nanobiooptics, and optical resonators and sensing. For more details on our research themes, please visit our research page and publication page. If you are fascinated by the beauty of light and its significant role in our world, this is the place for you!
The unit explores light as a tool in classical physics. For example, investigating how light is used to push or pull individual particles (think about where comet tails come from!), exploring the dynamics of colloidal particles (such as cells, bacteria, or test spheres), and investigating the ability of light to sense very few particles.
Of course, there is a world beyond the classical realm, where the role of light is considered in quantum physics. Processes like laser cooling, which uses photons to slow down neutral atoms, and magnetic optical traps, which combine magnetic fields to trap and cool atoms spatially, can achieve temperatures of around 100 microkelvin in the laboratory routinely. These technologies are crucial for the development of future quantum-based technologies dependent on neutral ground states or Rydberg atoms.
The unit studies the interaction between light and matter in various fields such as cold atomic systems, whispering-gallery-mode microresonators, and biologically relevant samples. The goal is to better understand the processes involved and manipulate or capture particles at the micron and nanoscale using light fields. A common technology in our research is the use of optical nanofibers as interface tools between light sources and samples. Researchers in our unit require a wide range of skills, including optics, atomic physics, simulation, photonics, electronics, vacuum, cryogenics, nanotechnology, interfaces, programming, and may also have opportunities to acquire skills in interdisciplinary topics such as biophysics, sensing, and imaging. While much of our research has fundamental properties, we employ highly relevant skills in nanofabrication, optics, automation, system modeling, and control.
Our facilities include three magnetic optical traps for Rb (one for Rydberg atom generation), four optical nanofiber pulling rigs, several microscopes, numerous tunable lasers from visible to near-infrared, optical spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, wavelength meters, optical tweezers, two Ti:Sapphire lasers, femtosecond lasers, a cryostat, an open-access cleanroom, SEM, FIB (dual-beam), spatial light modulators, and single-photon detectors.