Research

Our Laser systems activity is devoted to the analysis, the optimization and the conception of laser technology for improved imaging, ranging and telecom applications.

Permanent staff: Dr. Guillaume Huyet (DR CNRS), Pr. Massimo Giudici (Professor UCA), Dr. Mathias Marconi (Associate professor UCA)
Non-permanent staff: Alexis Verschelde (PhD student), Adrian Bartolo (PhD student), Alexei Borodkin (PhD student, co-tutelle with Pr. Evgeny Viktorov from ITMO University).

We study the physical properties of thick liquid crystal layers in order to develop and exploit femtosecond pulses shaping capabilities and as a medium for ultrafast nonlinear optics. Besides, thick nematic liquid crystals enables compact and robust hyperspectral microscopy currently applied to biomimicry.

Permanent staff: Dr. Aurélie Jullien (DR CNRS), Dr. Gilles Chériaux (IR CNRS).
Non-permanent staff: Elisaveta Neradovskaia (Post-doc), Loïc Ramousse (PhD student), Benjamin Maingot (PhD student).

The focus of this activity is a knowledge transfer from physics to applications useful for the life sciences. Two topics are currently developed: 1. amplification of weak fluorescence signals and 2. non-invasive, rapid measurement of cellular deformation for biomechanics.

Permanent staff: Pr. Gian-Luca Lippi (Professor UCA), Dr. Stéphane Barland (DR CNRS).
Non-permanent staff: Juliàn Mejia (PhD student).

Collective phenomena are ubiquitous in nature wherever many agents or degrees of freedom interact. We use photonic systems as platforms for the analysis of phase transitions and of the emergent dynamics of networks of neuromorphic nodes. The goal of this research is first to develop new knowledge about photonic phase transitions and second to build hardware models of neurons towards photonic AI.

Permanent staff: Dr. Stéphane Barland (DR CNRS), Pr. Gian-Luca Lippi (Professor UCA)

The advent of ever smaller lasers, initiated with the conception of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), has challenged our fundamental understanding of laser physics and of the interaction between a small number of active emitters and a limited number of photons.  One of the issues, recognized very early on, concerned the definition and identification of threshold, the hallmark of lasing.

In addition to fundamental concepts, we are interested in understanding the properties of the nanodevices in light of potential applications, based on technological advances, as well as fundamental dynamical properties.

Permanent staff: Pr. Gian-Luca Lippi (Professor UCA).

Our research activity is focused on the exploration of light-matter interaction in III-V semiconductor/Silicon hybrid structures and its exploitation for the achievement of smaller, smarter, faster optoelectronic components which will revolutionise our world, governed by information and communication technology.

Permanent staff: Pr. Fabrice Raineri.
Non-permanent staff: Léa Constans, Francesco Manegatti, Gabriel Marty.

Our research is focused on the physical design of complex cholesteric, chiral liquid crystal structures with a pitch gradient, double helicity, and spatially-variable helicoidal axis orientation. We focus on synthetic materials, biological materials, and biomimetic materials inspired by insect carapaces. By combining complementary microscopies, we intend to establish a relationship between the intricate details of the design scheme and the optical characteristics connected to the multiscale structure, from nanoscale to mesoscopic scale. Prototype materials were developed for use in switchable smart reflecting windows, wavelength-sensitive chiral microlenses and micro-mirrors, data encryption, and optical communication in general.

Permanent staff: Michel Mitov (CNRS research director)