The new Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light will officially open in Erlangen, Germany on January 1, 2009. The institute will focus on leading edge optical applications from macro to nano, photonics, nanophotonics and plasmonics as well as the theory of light. Apart from innovative research, the application goals include improved data transport in glass fiber networks, converting light wavelengths in fibers, medical sensors made from hollow-core fibers, microscopes with higher resolutions and an “optical magic hood”. ((Teaser finish))

On June 20, 2008 within the framework of this year's AGM the Senate of the Max Planck Society decided to form a new Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light on January 1, 2009. The institute will be based on the Max Planck Research Group for Optics, Information, and Photonics at Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), which has performed outstanding research into optics since 2004. The two founding directors of the institute, Prof. Gerd Leuchs and Prof. Philip St. John Russell, also come from the research group. An appraisal committee established by the President of the Max Planck Society and the rector of the FAU rated the results of the group as excellent.

After a development phase of four years the institute will have four departments. The “Optics and Information” department will be run by Prof. Gerd Leuchs as director. This will deal with modern methods of traditional optics, from macro to nano scales as well as optical quantum information theory and processing. For example, lasers can be focused three times better than was previously possible - a contribution to build more compact optical data storage systems or to create finer lithographic structures. This is done with a special polarizer which filters the electromagnetic light field vertically to the laser beam according to its oscillation direction so that only one light ring remains, similar to a wheel, where the light oscillates along the spokes. If the light ring of the laser beam is concentrated, this creates a very small focus (Figure). This department will also work on suppressing the photon noise caused by quantum mechanical blurring. Among other things, the scientists in Erlangen want to use the techniques that provide the so-called squeezed light to simplify data transport in glass fiber networks.

The Photonics and New Materials department, which will be run by Prof. Philip Russell, will deal with the key topic of “light in hollow photonic crystal fibers”. Hollow fibers are fibers with a diameter the thickness of a human hair with many special hollow fibers inside them - a complicated technique. However, compared to conventional optical glass fibers these innovative fibers are better to manipulate and they enable the development of many new applications. For instance, they conduct light in a bundled manner without loss and are thus very suitable for transmitting laser beams in the high-performance range. In future medical sensors will be developed from hollow core PCFs. With a solid core PCFs are especially good for converting light in one wavelength into other colors.

Research work into the interaction of light and plasmons will be carried out in the new “Nanophotonics and Plasmonics” department. Plasmons are oscillations of electron gas density in metals. When their interaction with light is better understood this effect could help in the construction of high-resolution microscopes that scan surfaces with electrons and light simultaneously.

The work of the fourth new department, “Theory of Lights” will investigate non-linear and relativistic effects in optics; for example, to calculate new models for the processes in nano-structured materials. The scientists' work will also focus on describing non-linear phenomena which may be suitable for developing a type of optical magic hood. This department will also investigate relativistic effects in optics, which have recently become very significant due to highly accurate navigation systems. The institute has scheduled 111 positions, including around 44 positions for scientific staff. The institute will continue to work closely with Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. It fits well into the existing network of Max Planck Institutes and will supplement and complement their fields of research.

Focus on the laser wheel: Polarizers guide laser light so that, metaphorically speaking, it oscillates only along the spokes of a wheel and can be concentrated especially sharply.
Source Peter Banzer