The Optical sciences group strives to exploit the creation, manipulation and control of light and its interaction with matter to develop novel techniques and devices. In particular, we are very interested in the development of novel spectroscopic and microscopic tools and integrated photonic devices to be used for early diagnostics of diseases. Key words are: sensing, Raman, spectroscopy, microscopy, integration of active-passive material platforms, novel active materials, on-chip amplifiers, novel on-chip lasers.
Optical Sciences participates in the iPEN project, iPEN is a national project which is coordinated by Technological Educational Institute of Crete. The project envisions to train students of non Physics background in the photonic processes and tools mostly employed in a nanotechnology laboratory. Read more on the iPEN website.
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Linear and nonlinear microscopy and spectroscopy
Herman Offerhaus
We explore linear and nonlinear interactions of light and matter and exploit the (phase) characteristics to extract useful information. Applications include label-free imaging of pharmaceutics and tissue, analysis of (ground) water electrolytes, detection of pathogens. The research focused on the use of nonlinear optical interaction to detect and control small amounts of specific molecules without using fluorescent labels. This was expanded to include microscopy and integrated sensing and detection. Most recently it expanded into pharmaceutical and medical imaging.
Integrated optical sciences
Sonia García Blanco
In the fast emerging field of Integrated Optics, our research focusses on Active Nanophotonic Devices: development of novel on-chip active devices (lasers and amplifiers) based on heterogeneous integration of rare-earth doped gain materials on passive photonic platforms, Integrated Optical Sensors and novel devices based on the combination of plasmonics and integrated optic.