Novel optical trapping geometries based on complex light fields

Nowadays scientists go deeper and deeper trying to find out how the world around us functions and which forces play role on the basic interaction between atoms and molecules. Since objects of study became smaller researchers need an instrument to control and manipulate them. It is possible to trap tiny particles without touching them using light. It is also possible to investigate various properties of a small particles or even atoms and cooperation effects between them by observing their interaction with complex light fields.

After the interaction between light and particles they could self-order in a spatial patterns. If light propagates again through this self-organized pattern than light already changes its properties. Such a non-linear self-organised phenomena is very interesting to observe. Besides that after the approbation complex beam geometries on a macroscopic systems (with typical particle size of 3-5 µm) it could be scaled to the experiment with atoms, in particular with cold atoms.

This research is a collaboration between academic and technology groups. It’s impossible to create the tailored light, which is one of the main ideas of this research, without such a device as Spatial Light Modulator, which is produced by HoloEye Company in Berlin. Part of the project that deals with cold atoms is developed jointly with the group of physicists from the University of Glasgow. As their field of expertise is a manipulation with cold atoms and we work with trapping geometries, we expect useful results from our cooperative experimental research.

Such an experimental results help for deeper understanding of the nature of light-matter interaction. One of applications that could be mentioned is a quantum memory, the development of which is of great technical and scientific interest nowadays.

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Biography

I finished my bachelor and master studies in Bauman Moscow State Technical University. My research was focused on optical frequency standards and mid-IR solid state lasers. That time I spent a lot of time working in the lab and designing laser systems by myself. Also I had some experience with teaching as I was the president of OSA Student Chapter in our University. Now as part of the ColOpt project I work also in the lab, but moreover I become an expert in the field of collective effects, trapping schemes and cold atoms.