PHONONIC AND PHOTONIC NANOSTRUCTURES

The P2N group investigates the interactions between phonons, photons and electrons in nano-scale condensed matter with a long-term view to develop new information technology concepts where information processing is achieved with novel or multiple state variables. Experimental research is carried out on nanophononics including nano-scale thermal transport and opto-mechanical crystals at the cross roads between nanotechnology and dispersion relation engineering. The research in nanophotonics is focused on methods to control the exciton-plasmon coupling targeting enhanced light extraction in light sources, and on the optimization of the optical gain of printed polymer-based photonic structures. The key to progress in the above strands depends on the ability to design and fabricate samples for the experimental work. To this effect our research is anchored in novel methods to produce 2- and 3-D nanostructures by nanoimprint lithography and self-assembly.