Photonic and Quantum Systems

The systematic generation, detection, and manipulation of light opened a rapidly growing field of research now commonly known as photonics. This interdisciplinary field is closely related to classical optics as well as modern fields of quantum optics and quantum optomechanics. While the latter can be attributed to be predominantly inclinded towards basic research, photonics has been an applied branch of research from the beginning by virtue of its programmatic name: let light perform actions prior done by electronics. As a result, many of its developments – starting with the invention of the laser – are now among the essential tools and building blocks of scientific advances not only in optical sciences and physics but also in biology (e.g., optical tweezers) or chemistry (e.g., laser spectroscopy and cooling, STED microscopy beyond the diffraction limit). The availability and readiness of these tools laid the foundation for sophisticated quantum experiments that seemed unimaginable only a few decades ago. Today, at the brink of what many call the second quantum revolution, we are seeing a transition from quantum science to quantum technology. The research group Photonic and Quantum Systems is dedicated to improve and expand the capabilities of photonic systems on one hand and contribute towards future quantum technologies on the other hand by utilizing methods from mathematical modelling, system analysis, optimization, and control theory.

Selected projects