Abstract

The emergence of new materials, advanced nanofabrication techniques and light sources allow for unprecedented manipulation of atoms and electrons for controlling the light-matter interaction and the flow of light in materials.

The school will examine the key aspects of nanoscale light-matter interactions: nanofabrication techniques, the fundamental physics of the interaction of light with materials, and new experimental and theoretical tools. Research areas to be examined include topological photonics, optical metamaterials and metasurfaces, subdiffraction-limited optics (super-resolution optical microscopy) of nanoparticles, biosensing with optical resonators and plasmonic systems, nanostructures for light management in solar cells and light-emitting devices, single photon sources and sensing, and integrated photonic systems.

The Institute will introduce the students to the field and provide a comprehensive overview on experiments and theory, basic physics and applications as well as on nanofabrication and optical characterization. It will bring together physicists, chemists, and engineers; it will be in the best tradition of our past Institutes, because it will start from the consideration of fundamental principles, and will reach the frontiers of research in a systematic and didactic fashion.

Participants learn from top professors in the field immersed in the atmosphere of a beautiful medieval town. Networking is fostered by social events, and participants also have the opportunity to present their research work in the form of short seminars or posters.