Vision & Goals

NOA's vision is to develop a fundamental understanding of nonlinear optical processes down to the atomic scale, be them spatial, temporal or down to the single-photon level. 

To be able to understand the underlying physics, not only new experimental setups will be implemented but also new theoretical developments need to be pushed, enabling a cross-scale description of quantum effects occurring on ultrafast time- and spatial scales up to a macroscopic observable optical signal. This grand vision truly necessitates a concerted effort, which we will continue to adress within NOA. Thus, we will explore light-matter interactions with sub-nanometer resolution, advance current simulation schemes to enable a synergetic modeling of electromagnetic fields and quantum dynamics, and synthesize new sub-wavelength scale materials with high- and tailored nonlinearity. This will not only contribute to an improved fundamental understanding of nonlinear optics, but will also lay the foundation for new applications in frequency conversion and spectroscopy.

The goals of the second funding period are...

• exploring the potential of optically induced tunneling for enhancing optical nonlinearities; 
• designing and realizing artificial nonlinear optical materials with tailored nonlinearities via nanostructuring or stacking of atomically thin films; 
• advancing background-free sensing via frequency conversion and selective nonlinear enhancement of the optical signal of investigated specimen; 
• monitoring ultrafast dynamics of electrons in matter with ultimate, i.e., single-atom spatial resolution, and
• investigating and modeling the dynamics of confined system in intense light fields. 

Long-term goals are...

• achieving full spatio-temporal control of electron and field dynamics on the sub-cycle optical scale;
• enhancing and tailoring higher harmonic generation in solids by controlling the pump and nanostructuring the sample;
• synergetic modeling of quantum many-body dynamics and electromagnetic field evolution in mesoscopic system;
• developing atomically resolved design concepts for artificial materials with customized nonlinear response;
• pushing the limits of nonlinear optical detection down to single-molecule sensitivity with ultra-high chemical resolution and specificity;
• developing deterministic quantum light sources with desired properties, and
• developing all-optical lab-on-a-chip devices utilizing nonlinear optics.

To achieve these goals, NOA is devided into the three project areas A, B, C, the service project Z and the public relation project Ö.