Experimental Physics of Light-Matter Interaction Group at University of Potsdam

Coupled nanosystems and plasmonics

The group's research foci are metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and their plasmon and excitation excitation. The nanoparticles arranged in different combinations and the resulting collective properties are investigated by pump-probe spectroscopy. Based on strong light-matter coupling within the systems,we aim at developing materials that allow controlling light-matter interactions.

Nanoparticle self-assembly

Ordered arrays of nanoparticles, supercrystals, have a huge potential for strong light-matter interaction on macroscopic scales. The group develops protocols for the functionalization and assembly of nanoparticles into supercrystals. We demonstrated a high level of control regarding nanoparticle type, size and interparticle distances in supercrystals of record periodicity and size.

Carrier dynamics in coupled nanostructures

We perform pump-probe experiments on a range of metalic nanostructures. We can assess the carrier dynamics on femtosecond timescales and monitor the (coupled) electron dynamics following plasmon excitation. This way, we investigate how light is absorbed, transformed and guided into adsorbed molecules.