About us
The group and its research
Our group was founded in October 2005 as Division III of the Max Planck Research Group and is now a part of the newly formed Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Light. We have around 25 members (laboratory assistants, masters and doctorate students, post-doctoral researchers and visitors) coming from all over the world. There is a strongly international atmosphere, and as a result our working language is English (though many of us speak German).
Our research area is nano- and micro-structured materials and their applications in photonics and related fields. Our particular focus is photonic crystal fibre (PCF) - a new kind of optical fibre first proposed by Philip Russell in 1991. The first example of a working PCF was reported in 1996, and since that time groups all over the world have become active in developing PCF and exploiting its multifaceted applications. In the division we are carrying out a range of experiments that make use of the remarkable properties of PCF's. These include scientific uses of PCF, e.g., low threshold nonlinear gas-laser devices and phononic bandgaps; and technological applications, e.g., biomedical sensors, supercontinuum sources and laser tweezer manipulation of particles in hollow-core PCF.
How does the group function?
The group is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, ideas being generated and developed at frequent discussion meetings that focus on major research themes. These meetings provide a forum for trouble-shooting experimental and theoretical problems in the research as well as planning its future directions. Weekly group meetings function as a journal club, a seminar slot for visiting speakers and research project reports, and an opportunity for sorting out general issues.
to the top