Modern Optics
Optics or photonics is an old but venerable subject involving the generation, propagation, manipulation, and detection of light. With the development of new optical instruments, devices, materials and concepts, new disciplines have emerged. From fiber optics, telecommunications to medical imaging and cancer research, optics and photonics are advancing modern technologies in every aspect of our day-to-day life. Several laboratories in our department focus on different directions of photonics research.
Researchers
Laser Spectroscopy
The Happek group uses optical techniques to study the properties of condensed matter systems. In the spectral range from sub-mm waves to the vacuum violet Recent studies are directed towards improving the efficiency of solid state lighting and unravelling the fundamental processes in photorefractive systems.
The Ullrich group uses a combination of gas- and condensed-phase time-resolved spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of ultrafast processes in a variety of samples ranging from molecules of biological and medical relevance to nanomaterials.
Metamaterials and Devices
The Dennis group uses a variety of computer simulation techniques to investigate the interaction of electromagnetic radiation on materials (including nanomaterials and metamaterials), as well as optical components and systems. With Dr. Steven P. Lewis the group uses density functional theory to gain insight on the properties of photorefractive materials. With Dr. Yiping Zhao we have recently initiated a new effort to simulate the deposition of nanostructured materials.
The Nguyen group focuses on optical characterizations of organic films and devices using various techniques such as photoluminescence spectroscopy, photo-induced absorptions and charge-induced absorption. In addition, a photo-elastic modulator is used to characterize the magnetic properties of films and nano structures. Finally, the group also works on plasmonic lattices with periodicity ranged from nano to sub-millimeter scales.
The Pan group focuses on persistent luminescent materials emitting in the near-infrared and ultraviolet spectral regions, development of new spectral characterization techniques for persistent luminescence, development of new techniques to achieve up-converted persistent luminescence, and the applications of persistent luminescent materials in biomedical imaging and night-vision surveillance. The Pan group also works on rare-earth ions-activated luminescent materials for solid-state lighting and nanophotonics.
Non-linear Optics
The Dennis group uses a variety of computer simulation techniques to investigate the interaction of electromagnetic radiation on materials (including nanomaterials and metamaterials), as well as optical components and systems. With Dr. Steven P. Lewis the group uses density functional theory to gain insight on the properties of photorefractive materials. With Dr. Yiping Zhao we have recently initiated a new effort to simulate the deposition of nanostructured materials.
The Happek group uses optical techniques to study the properties of condensed matter systems. In the spectral range from sub-mm waves to the vacuum violet Recent studies are directed towards improving the efficiency of solid state lighting and unravelling the fundamental processes in photorefractive systems.
Optical Materials
The Dennis group uses a variety of computer simulation techniques to investigate the interaction of electromagnetic radiation on materials (including nanomaterials and metamaterials), as well as optical components and systems. With Dr. Steven P. Lewis the group uses density functional theory to gain insight on the properties of photorefractive materials. With Dr. Yiping Zhao we have recently initiated a new effort to simulate the deposition of nanostructured materials.
Yiping Zhao’s group works extensively on novel optical structure fabrication using unique glancing angle deposition; explores plasmonics and metamaterials; and develop chemical and biological sensors based on optical principles.
The Pan group focuses on persistent luminescent materials emitting in the near-infrared and ultraviolet spectral regions, development of new spectral characterization techniques for persistent luminescence, development of new techniques to achieve up-converted persistent luminescence, and the applications of persistent luminescent materials in biomedical imaging and night-vision surveillance. The Pan group also works on rare-earth ions-activated luminescent materials for solid-state lighting and nanophotonics.
Photonics
The Pan group focuses on persistent luminescent materials emitting in the near-infrared and ultraviolet spectral regions, development of new spectral characterization techniques for persistent luminescence, development of new techniques to achieve up-converted persistent luminescence, and the applications of persistent luminescent materials in biomedical imaging and night-vision surveillance. The Pan group also works on rare-earth ions-activated luminescent materials for solid-state lighting and nanophotonics.
Plasmonics and Sensors
The Abate Nano-Optics Lab lab is interested in exploration of fundamental nanoscale physical phenomena and interactions using terahertz, infrared, and optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques with diffraction unlimited spatial resolution.
The Nguyen group focuses on optical characterizations of organic films and devices using various techniques such as photoluminescence spectroscopy, photo-induced absorptions and charge-induced absorption. In addition, a photo-elastic modulator is used to characterize the magnetic properties of films and nano structures. Finally, the group also works on plasmonic lattices with periodicity ranged from nano to sub-millimeter scales.
The Yiping Zhao’s group works extensively on novel optical structure fabrication using unique glancing angle deposition; explores plasmonics and metamaterials; and develop chemical and biological sensors based on optical principles.
THz Nanospectroscopic Imaging
Terahertz (THz) radiation opens transformational fundamental science possibilities in physics, chemistry, biology, and neuroscience, as well as various novel applications in communication, defense, remote probing, and non-invasive imaging. The THz spectral region (~0.1 THz to ~20 THz) spans the energy scales of many fundamental excitations in solids that include lattice vibrations, superconductivity, electronic spin excitations, and plasmon polaritons to name a few. Our research focuses on real-space nano-imaging at THz frequencies and investigation of spin plasmon waves in topological insulators and nanospectroscopic investigation of semiconductor dislocations, interfaces, defects, and carrier density variations as function of depth in semiconductors.
Recent Publications
Smartphone determining the focal length of a lens
Yoong Sheng Phang and Yiping Zhao, “Determining the Focal Length of Converging and Diverging Lenses Using a Smartphone,” The Physics Teacher 60, 703 (2022).
Multiple virus detection
Yanjun Yang, Beibei Xu, Jackelyn Murray, James Haverstick, Xianyan Chen, Ralph A. Tripp, and Yiping Zhao, “Rapid and quantitative detection of respiratory viruses using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and machine learning,” Biosensors and Bioelectronics 217, 114721 (2022).
Plasmonic coupling
Wang Yanfeng, Shen Ao, Fei Yang, Zhengjun Zhang, Zhengjun, and Yiping Zhao, “Coupling between Surface Plasmon Modes of Single-Layer Complex Silver Nanohole Array and Enhancing Index Sensing,” ACS Applied Nano Materials 5, 9761 - 9770 (2022).
Born-Kuhn model
Nima Karimitari, Bin Ai, and Yiping Zhao, “A Comparison Study of the Born-Kuhn Model and the Finite-Difference-Time-Domain Calculations on Stacked Plasmonic Nanorods,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 55, 325104 (2022).