Division Overview

This division encompasses the study of the basic sciences of the interaction of light with matter as well as those source/detection technologies specifically designed to study these interactions. Emphasis is on the acquisition of basic knowledge and includes fundamental studies of materials and new phenomena involving the interactions between light and matter. The work of this Division represents the forefront of scientific optical research. Illustrative examples may involve ultrafast phenomena in materials, the physics of high field matter interactions, attosecond science photonic crystal and quantum effects, fundamental new areas such as quantum computing and encryption, the development and creation of novel materials systems (e.g. meta-materials ) and the demonstration and explanation of these new properties and optical manipulation research technologies (e.g. optical cooling and trapping).

Andrius Baltuska, Vienna University of Technology, Austria, Chair
 
Division Technical Groups