DIPC Community Seminars: Light matter interactions at the nanoscale
DIPC Seminars
- Speaker
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Aitzol Garcia Etxarri, DIPC
- When
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2022/06/23
14:00 - Place
- Hybrid Seminar, Donostia International Physics Center
- Add to calendar
-
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**DIPC Community Seminars**
In this talk I will summarize the main research lines our research group is
following at the DIPC. Generally, our research is focused on the study of the
behavior of light in the presence of nanostructured matter, both in the form
of nanoparticles and photonic crystals.
Our group is developing a wide range of novel applications based on the novel
aspects of nanoscale light matter interactions. To mention a few, in this talk
we will see how single dielectric nanostructures supporting combinations of
electric and magnetic resonances [1] can augment the interaction of circularly
polarized light with chiral molecules [2]. Specifically, we will show how
Silicon nanoparticle arrays can greatly enhance the sensitivity of chiral
spectroscopic techniques such as circular dichroism spectroscopy. [3-4]
Moreover, we will explain how this augmented chiral interaction can also be
used for the separation of chiral molecular enantiomers by optical means with
high efficiencies [5].
On the other hand, we will analyze how all-dielectric photonic crystals can
mimic many topological effects happening in solid-state electronic systems
[6-8]. Our aim is to exploit the exotic properties of topological photonic
materials to unveil novel ways of manipulating the propagation of light which
could facilitate innovative light- matter interactions at the nanoscale.
Last but not least, in our group we also explore how plasmonic nanoparticles
can also be used directly to activate neurons exploiting new mechanisms such
as local heat generation. Due to their small size, their excitation can
generate high temperatures, localized in space and time, and, by activating
thermosensitive channels or changing membrane capacitance, trigger action
potentials [9].
References:
[1] Garcia-Etxarri, A. et.al., Optics express, 19(6), 4815- 4826 (2011); [2]
Garcia-Etxarri, A. et.al., Physical Review B 87(23), 235409 (2013); [3] Lasa-
Alonso, et. al., ACS Photonics, 7(11), 2978-2986 (2020); [4] Solomon, M. L.,
et. al., ACS Photonics, 6(1), 43-49; [5] Ho, C. S. et. al., ACS Photonics,
4(2), 197-203 (2017) [6] Barry Bradlyn et. al., Nature 547 (7663), 298 (2017);
[7] M. Blanco de Paz et. al. PRR 1(3), 032005 (2019); [8] Devescovi, C., et.
al. Nature communications, 12(1), 1- 12 (2021), [9] Garcia-Etxarri, A., &
Yuste, R. Nature Methods, 18(11), 1287-1293 (2021)
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