Nano-Optics and HYBRID LIGHT-MATTER SYSTEMS

Nano-Optics and HYBRID LIGHT-MATTER SYSTEMS

Delivery institution

PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMIE
Institute of Physics

Instructor(s):

Bert Hecht, Thorsten Feichtner

Start date

15 April 2027

End date

15 July 2027

Study field

CHARM priority field

Study level

Study load, ECTS

8

Short description

The course covers principles of nano-optics, i.e. how to control light on scales below its wavelength, addressing theoretical and experimental challenges. A special emphasis is put on light-matter interaction, e.g strong light-matter coupling.

Full description

Introduction (overview, motivation, history)
Focusing of light I (basics, spectrum of flat waves)
Focusing of light II (full vector theory of focus, gauss rays)
Confocal microscopy, point spread function, focal engineering, far field,
Super-resolution: stimulated emission depletion, structured illumination, nonlinear structured Illumination
Optical Near Field Microscopy
Fundamentals of Single Emitter Detection I (Fundamentals, Quantum Emitters)
Fundamentals of single emitter detection II (measurement methods, photon statistics, Indistinguible photons)
Plasmons I (bulk-, surface plasmons)
Plasmons II (surface plasmons, excitation and 2D optics)
Plasmons III (wire-, and particle plasmons)
Antennas for light I (motivation, rf antennas, basics of antennas for light)
Light emission in nano environments I (spontanous emission in inhomogeneous Environments, density of states, Green’s function)
Light emission in nano environments II (super-emitter, reciprocity, Greffet Formalism)
Photonic crystals, metamaterials, metasurfaces I
Photonic crystals, metamaterials, metasurfaces II
Coupled-mode theory I (mechanical model, strong coupling)
Coupled-mode theory II (Jaynes-Cummings model, Tavis-Cummings model)
Coupled-mode theory III (non-hermitian dynamics & exceptional points)
Optical forces I (Maxwell stress tensor, light pressure, optical tweezers)
Optical forces II (Plasmonic nanomotors, Microdrones)
Special topics I
Special topics II

Learning outcomes

The students will be ready to enter at the forefront of research in nano-optics and they will be able to read, understand and evaluate newly published literature in the field.

Course requirements

Electrodynamics, basic quantum theory

Places available

10

Course literature (compulsory or recommended):

Principles of Nano-Optics, 3rd edition. Cambridge University Press, 2025

Planned educational activities and teaching methods:

lectures and take-home exercise sheets to be discussed and presented by students during exercise lessons.

Course code

09221020, 09221030

Language

Assessment method

quality of exercise presentation

Final certification

Transcript of records

Assessment date

22 July 2027

Modality

Learning management System in use

WueCampus

Contact hours per week for the student:

6

Specific regular weekly teaching day/time

Monday 12-14, Thursday 14-18

Time zone