GRK 2101:  Guided light, tightly packed: novel concepts, components and applications

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259607349

The International Research Training Group "Guided light, tightly packed: novel concepts, components and applications" provides excellent academic training for talented young scientists in a high impact research program driven by a transatlantic network of four strongly interconnected partners, each of them renowned for its complementary research profile. Reflecting the extremely fast rate of innovation in optical science and its impact on modern societies as well as global economy, the IRTG is ultimately research oriented. It targets science cases which were selected for their superior academic challenge as well as for high impact on fundamental science and applications addressing major challenges of our society in the sectors of health, communication, energy, and security. The research program of the IRTG focusses on optical waveguides and related technologies to confine and control light in ultra-compact devices, which will allow generating, manipulating, and sensing light with unmatched precision and efficiency. Forefront basic research is focused on novel fiber structures, precision laser structuring, and photonic materials with tailored properties. Based on the developed fundamental concepts and technologies for the dense integration of photonic elements with comprehensive functionality the IRTG investigates their exploitation for the realization of novel telecommunication devices, biomedical sensors, integrated quantum systems, and laser sources, as well as production technologies, and green technologies. The heart of the IRTG is the training of the most talented young researchers. The training program emphasizes their independent research spirit by giving them a large degree of freedom to reach their individual scientific goals by supporting them with a comprehensive course program to fully establish their scientific, personal, and cultural basis. Intellectual responsibility is strengthened in favor of strict rules. Individual mentoring and quality assessment is given priority against formalism. The foundation of the IRTG is formed by four excellent academic partner institutions having established a vital collaboration already. Each of them offers unique research infrastructures and profile. The engaged PIs have been selected to highest academic standards to form a research team of trust which takes responsibility of the most precious part of our science community, the talented early stage researchers who will be responsible for science in the future.

• DFG Programme: International Research Training Groups
• International Connection: Canada
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• IRTG-Partner Institution: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS); University of Toronto; Université Laval
• Participating Institution: Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF); Leibniz-Institut für Photonische Technologien e.V. (IPHT)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Andreas Tünnermann
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Steward Aitchison, Ph.D.; Professor François Légaré, Ph.D.; Professor Younès Messaddeq, Ph.D.; Professor Roberto Morandotti, Ph.D.; Professor Michel Piché, Ph.D.; Professorin Joyce Poon, Ph.D.; Professorin Li Qian, Ph.D.; Professor Luca Razzari, Ph.D.; Professor Réal Vallée, Ph.D.
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Benjamin Dietzek-Ivansic; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Gräfe; Professor Dr. Jens Limpert; Professor Dr. Stefan Nolte; Professor Dr. Thomas Pertsch; Professor Dr. Ulf Peschel; Professor Dr. Markus A. Schmidt; Professor Dr. Christian Spielmann
• IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Herman