Photonics research
PREIN develops light-based technologies for applications in life science, energy-saving, ICT, and environmental monitoring. Its different partners have complementary expertise and skills, ranging from the design and fabrication of nanomaterials and optical components to the development of advanced light sources with tailored properties, and up to system integration and instrumentation development. Our research focuses on four subjects.
Light field control
Many advances in photonics have arisen from novel fundamental concepts for generating light fields and manipulating their properties. PREIN develops novel approaches for controlling key properties of optical fields including polarization, coherence, temporal and spectral profile spectrum, as well as spatial localization.
Nanomaterials and structures
The development of new materials and structures is crucial for the emergence or improvement of photonics technologies. PREIN studies properties of new materials and structures, and their integrated architectures. These include the development of optoelectronic alloys, emerging 2D materials, light-sensitive materials, plasmonic nanostructures and metamaterials for the near and mid-infrared, epsilon-near-zero nanostructures and nanomaterials with spatially extended modes, as well as their integration into photonics-compatible platforms.
Advanced light sources
Lasers are central to photonic technologies ranging from medical treatments and biological imaging to communications and remote sensing. PREIN develops lasers with unique properties and lasers tailored for specific applications ranging from mid-infrared superluminescent diodes and supercontinuum sources to visible and near-infrared high-power semiconductor lasers.
Applied research
Examples of the technologies we develop include portable and disposable sensors for early diagnostics, smart photovoltaic modules for eco-efficient energy production, or LIDAR technologies for environmental and industrial monitoring. Our research also explores novel concepts and components for ICT, augmented and virtual realities, or quantum technologies.
