Quantenoptik an photonischen Kristallen

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The interaction between light and matter lies at the heart of both fundamental science and cutting-edge technology. Photonic crystals are nanofabricated material structures that allow to engineer the propagation of light with unprecented versatility. We propose to investigate the quantum optics of photonic crystals by developing theoretical methods related to near field microscopy and single-particle manipulation. The project aims at providing tools to compute the light field in nanofabricated structures, at improving the theoretical understanding of the light-matter interaction in a complex environment, and at exploring possible applications of optical microtraps for quantum information processing. The following key problems will be dealt with: (i) imaging the light field close to the crystal with sub-wavelength spatial resolution, using a scanning nearfield probe doped with a molecular emitter; (ii) the interaction of single particles with light modes localised at defect sites, as an ideal environment for cavity quantum electrodynamics; (iii) the combination of defect modes with an active medium, in order to realise integrated low-threshold microlasers. The project will be conducted in close contact with experimental and theoretical groups, in particular the group of V. Sandoghdar at ETH Zurich.