FASLIGHT aims to create a Spanish network of structured light, joining scientific groups with diverse expertise in fundamental and applied physics, but with common grounds in the use of structured light. This network is unique in its diversity, as it includes both consolidated and emerging research groups with own funding, working in different fields such as Quantum Optics, Nonlinear Optics, Imaging, Metrology, Ultrafast Optics, or Vision.
The groups that comprise FASLIGHT present common interests in structured light to the point that some of them have already carried out bilateral collaborations, which is an excellent example of how this field could be further exploited in Spain, now as a multi-lateral network.
The scientific organization will be transverse, though, for administrative simplicity, the nodes are sub-organized according to their specific field. The connection between all the nodes will be maximized to promote interdisciplinarity by the next sub-fields:
- Fundamentals: Generation & Characterization, Ultrafast & Nonlinear Optics, Linear Optics, and Quantum Optics.
- Applications: Nonlinear Microscopy, Optical Tweezers, Ultrafast Phenomena, Quantum Nanophotonics, Communications and Sensing – Optical fibers.
The network is composed by 15 nodes, organized as a transverse network. The nodes are geographically distributed over the country, belonging to 8 different Regional Administrations. The network is coordinated by USAL node, represented by Prof. Luis Plaja.
Nodes of the proposed network, including previous bi-lateral connections
Distribution of the network nodes according to their expertise in diverse sub-fields of structured light
The network combines well-established and emergent groups of young researchers with active research in the field of structured light, composed by:
ALF – USAL group has been active in the theoretical and experimental research of ultrashort laser pulses, counting with 13 senior researchers, 13 predoctoral fellows and a project manager.
The active research lines related to this network are: (1) Fabrication of integrated optical devices, (2) Spatio-temporal characterization of ultrashort laser pulses, (3) Spatio-temporal effects in the non-linear propagation of ultrashort pulses, (4) Simulations of the interaction of structured ultrashort laser pulses with matter and (5) Frequency up-conversion of structured light (theory, experiments). During the last decade, the group has published near 200 scientific papers in Q1, some of them in top-ranked journals (Science, Nature Photonics, Sci. Adv. etc).
Luis Plaja Rustein is the representative of the ALF – USAL group in the FASLIGHT network, as well as the network coordinator.
The group develops its activity in the field of the mathematical modeling and numerical simulation in applied problems in Optics and Photonics. The group is led by Prof. A. Ferrando, who is also the representative of the group on the FASLIGHT network, and has a strategic collaboration with members of the “Institut Universitari de Matemàtica Pura i Aplicada” (IUMPA) of the “Universitat Politècnica de València” (UPV) (Prof. P. Fernández de Córdoba, Dr. M.A. García-March and Dr. C. Milian). The two research lines related to this network are: linear and nonlinear properties of phase singularities in optics and quantum systems (in collaboration with IUMPA), and topological photonics (in collaboration with ICFO).
The research topics of the group include quantum and nonlinear optics, photonic crystals, or the generation of terahertz radiation with optical sources. The permanent members of the group that will contribute to the network activities are Humberto Michinel, Jose R. Salgueiro and Angel Paredes, who is also the representative of the group on the FASLIGHT network, who have provable experience in the relevant topics, having led six competitive related projects in the last ten years.
The Attosecond and Ultrafast X-ray Optics (AUXO) group at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) is currently working in the research areas of Attosecond science and X-ray free-electron laser physics. Their main expertise resides in the theoretical modelling of ultrafast experiments to investigate the optical response of molecular systems and quantum materials. In this network, AUXO will provide theoretical support in order to investigate structured light applications in modern quantum materials, such as photovoltaic, valleytronics, and topological materials.
The group is composed by Antonio Picón, who is also the representative of the group on the FASLIGHT network, two postdoc researchers, two PhD student, one technician and one student.
The Applied Photonics Group (APG) of the UPV/EHU is leading research in the field of polymeric optical fibres and sensors applied to the aeronautical, industrial and biomedical sectors. It has published above 150 publications in journals of high repute (including Science, Nature Photonics, etc.) and has attracted ~3.5 M€ in competitive research funding. It has also produced 6 patents and launched a spin-off company (AOTECH).
With respect to the network, the APG studies the generation and guidance of structured light and its applications in advanced sensing. The group is composed of 19 members, 9 of which will be directly involved in the network.
David Novoa is the representative of the Applied Photonics Groups in the FASLIGHT network.
GROC·UJI is integrated by 6 permanent professors, 2 researchers Ramón y Cajal, 1 research technician, and 8 doctoral students. The research activities are focused in: advanced imaging techniques, complex beam shaping and adaptive optics, synthesis of nanomaterials with ultrashort lasers and applications, optical frequency combs for optical metrology, and control of vibrational energy localized in thin elastic plates.
Enrique Tajahuerce is the representative of GROC-UJI in the FASLIGHT network.
Most of this research is based on the use of SLM for digital control of light beams and, in particular, for the generation and control of structured light. Since its foundation in 1991, GROC has received funding through >30 research projects by local, national, and EU programs.
This node is made up of two Research Groups at Univ. de Zaragoza (UZ). On one hand, members of the Laser Optical Technology Group (TOL), whose research lines are simulation, recording and characterization of holographic optical elements for spatio-temporal beam shaping; manufacturing and marking of optical elements by means of laser ablation and wavefront characterization; and characterization of polarization optical components for laser polarimetric applications. On the other hand, it is the Photonic Technologies Group (GTF), whose research line is the generation of optical vortices and high-order Gaussian beams, their propagation through dispersive/nondispersive media, and their characterization using a shearing interferometer.
Francisco Javier Salgado Remacha is the representative of this node in the FASLIGHT network.
The Quantum Nanophotonics Laboratory group at the Materials Physics Center is led by Ikerbasque Research Professor Gabriel Molina-Terriza, who is also the representative of this node in FASLIGHT network, one of the pioneers in Spain of using vortex beams, structured light and angular momentum modes for different applications, ranging from classical to quantum optics. In his post-doctoral stay with the recently awarded Nobel laureate Prof. Zeilinger, he developed techniques to control the angular momentum of photons. His team works at the interface between Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics, with particular emphasis in the control of the spatial properties of classical and quantum light. They control the scattering of small particles with classical and quantum light, by using OAM modes and polarization structured light modes. They also work in creating novel optical traps both in water and vacuum. All these techniques allow for developing applications in quantum sensing and quantum communications.
The TecnOPTO laboratory was pioneer in the use of liquid-crystal (LC) SLMs, and they have a large experience in their application in areas like optical processing, diffractive optics, and polarimetry. They also design and characterize LC patterned retarders to generate and detect vector beams. The group maintains a stable collaboration with UAB, and with other international groups experts in liquid-crystal technology. In 2019 they organized in Elche a workshop on ‘Structured Light, Polarimetry and Applications’.
Ignacio Moreno is the representative of this node in the FASLIGHT network.
The UCM research group (at Faculty of Physics) is specialized on the design/characterization of structured laser beams (continuous wave and ultrashort laser pulses) and their applications for: Polarimetry, self-focusing, optical encryption, laser free-space optical communications, optical imaging, optical trapping and manipulation of micro/nano-particles. This group was one of pioneers in the field of structured light since 1993, EUREKA EU-2359 European Project. In the last 10 years this UCM research group has published >100 articles indexed in JCR journals.
Jose A. Rodrigo Martín-Romo is the representative of this node in the FASLIGHT network.
The LOUM group at Universidad de Murcia (UMU) is a world leader research team working in visual, adaptive optics and biophotonics. It is a multidisciplinary team, and one of the pioneer groups worldwide in applying adaptive optics and multiphoton microscopy with special applications to the study biological tissues. It has obtained an important number of fundamental results on these topics. Research ranges from state-of-the-art photonic technologies to visualization and analysis of tissue morphology to real applications providing solutions to visual problems. New generations of imaging instruments are being developed, as well visual simulators for adaptive optics and new versions of the multi-photon microscope. The group has been granted with at least 11 international research projects and 30 national projects; LOUM has published 275 JCR scientific articles and has more than 10 different patents licensed. Juan Manuel Bueno, the IP of the node, is also the representative of LOUM in FASLIGHT network.
Among their research lines of Photonics4Life group are the manufacture of INdice Gradient elements (GRIN) for beam shaping and waveguides in various materials for different applications; amplitude and phase diffraction gratings; microlens arrays with excellent optical properties; microchannels with different structures; the development of thin layer deposition techniques by Pulse Laser Deposition. In recent years, thanks to the L2A2 research laboratory at USC, they opened new research lines based on ultraintense and ultrashort lasers, such as the study of non-linear effects, the generation of polarization gates and the generation of harmonics, the study and development of nanostructured targets. The role of structured light beams on the use of the absorption of the energy of the laser pulses is being studied.
María Teresa Flores Arias is the representative of this node in FASLIGHT network.
TQT develops its activity in the Department of Applied Mathematics from UPV and the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics IUMPA. It has key collaborations with UV and ICMUV and ICFO. The current lines are: 1) Few ultracold atom systems and their application in quantum simulations; 2) Quantum randomness and optimization; 3) Applications of open quantum systems to quantum Thermometry, phononics, quantum engines, and thermalization; 4) Mathematics and condensed matter concepts for quantum computation and machine learning; 5) Photonic analogs of condensed matter; 6) Linear and nonlinear properties of phase singularities in optics and quantum systems; 7) Perovskite nonlinear photonics and orbital angular momentum.
The GSC is a multidisciplinary group of 20 researchers belonging to different engineering schools of the Technical University of Madrid, with extensive research in Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, and various branches of Engineering. The research lines of the GSC include the different branches of Complex Systems such as nonlinear dynamics of different physicochemical systems, complex networks, classical and quantum chaos, big data and, in relation to the present application, linear and nonlinear structured and complex light. Its members publish ~30 articles in international journals per year, and are permanently funded by competitive public projects. Their coordinator in the network, Miguel Ángel Porras, collaborates in structured light with USAL, La Sapienza, TelAviv, Brussels Universities, and others
One of the research lines of QAOS group (theory) is focused on the control of light propagation in systems of coupled optical waveguides. They explore the capability of light with OAM to induce phases in some coupling amplitudes, which are equivalent to a net π flux through the plaquettes and, give rise to a topologically non-trivial band structure, topologically protected states and Aharanov-Bohm caging. They also employ discrete Supersymmetry to design a partner system with a modified geometry but sharing the same spectrum of eigenvalues except one, that it is eliminated. This technique allows to perform high efficient topological pumping and topological state engineering. Verónica Ahufinger is the representative of this node in the FASLIGHT network.