Optics and Photonics
The research of the Optics and Photonics group covers a range of topics of modern optics and photonics, encompassing various aspects of light-matter interaction, optical coherence and polarization, development of methods to manipulate light with nano- and micro-structures, design and construction of novel light sources, optical metamaterials and optical imaging.
The work includes both theoretical and experimental studies and is carried out in close collaboration with local, national and international research partners. It is funded mostly by the Academy of Finland, private foundations, and direct contracts from industry. The group’s premises are in Micronova, the national micro- and nano-technology center of Finland.
Group leader 2022 -
Dr. Andriy Shevchenko
Group leader 1999 - 2021
Prof. Matti Kaivola
Research
Highlights of recent research
Open Positions in Optics and Photonics
Open positions in Optics and Photonics
Laboratory Facilities
Inverted microscope Nikon Eclipse TE2000-U
- Brightfield, phase contrast and fluorescence capabilities
- HAMAMATSU ORCA-ER CCD camera
- Piezo transducer for the stage with 1 nm step
Polarizing microscope MT9930, MEIJI TECHNO CO.
- Rotatable stage, full polarization analysis
- Color video camera INFINITY 2, Lumenera Co.
SpectraPro-2500i monochromator/spectrograph, Princeton Instruments/Acton
- Operating range 185 nm – 1400 nm
- Resolution ~0.1 nm
- Includes PIXIS 400 camera (thermoelectric + liquid cooling), 350 nm – 1050 nm
Spectrometer Jobin Yvon (U1000) Raman, HORIBA
- Operation range UV-NIR
- Resolution ~0.01 nm
Ocean Optics spectrometers, fiber-coupled
- HR4000, operation range 200 nm -1100 nm
- USB2000+, operation range 200 nm -1100 nm
- Fiber-coupled light source DH-2000-BAL, 200 nm -1500 nm
CW laser Millenia Xs, Spectra-Physics
- Wavelength 532 nm
- TEM00 transverse mode
- Output power 10 W
CW laser Verdi, Coherent
- Wavelength 532 nm
- Single longitudinal mode (linewidth < 5 MHz)
- Output power 18 W
Mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser Tsunami, Spectra-Physics
- Wavelength 790 nm
- Pumped with Millenia or Verdi
- Pulse duration ~100 fs
- Average power ~1 W
- Peak power ~50 kW
Amplified fs-pulsed laser system
- Coherent Astrella Ti:sapphire oscillator and regenerative amplifier
- Central wavelength 800 nm
- Pulse duration < 35 fs
- Gaussian beam, M2 < 1.3
- Pulse energy > 6 mJ at 1 kHz repetition rate
- TOPAS-Prime Optical Parametric Amplifier, Light Conversion
- Tunable across 290 nm – 1150 nm
- Pulse duration < 50 fs
- Pulse energies: ~ 100 mJ at 480 nm – 1150 nm; > 15 mJ at 290 nm – 480 nm.
CW solid-state laser, 403 nm, CrystaLaser
- Wavelength 403 nm
- Single longitudinal mode (~0.01 nm width, ~1 cm coherence length)
- Output power 40 mW
CW He-Ne lasers, Melles Griot
- Wavelength 633 nm
- TEM00 transverse mode
- Output power ~1 mW
Optical interferometers for characterizing surface movements and vibrations
- Lateral resolution < 1 mm
- Minimum detectable vibration amplitude < 1 pm
- Frequency range from static surfaces up to 6 GHz
Latest publications
Huayu Bai, Andriy Shevchenko, Radoslaw Kolkowski
2025
JPhys Photonics
Huayu Bai, Andriy Shevchenko, Radoslaw Kolkowski
2025
Nanophotonics
Marta Gordel-Wójcik, Radoslaw Kolkowski, Marcin Nyk, Marek Samoć
2025
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
H. Bai, A. Shevchenko, R. Kolkowski
2024
2024 Photonics and Electromagnetics Research Symposium, PIERS 2024 - Proceedings
Nelson de Gaay Fortman, Radoslaw Kolkowski, Debapriya Pal, Said R.K. Rodriguez, Peter Schall, A. Femius Koenderink
2024
Science Advances
Marta Gordel-Wójcik, Michał Pietrzak, Radosław Kołkowski, Eugeniusz Zych
2024
Journal of Luminescence
Panu Hildén, Andriy Shevchenko
2024
Physical Review Applied
Panu Hildén
2024
Radoslaw Kolkowski, Huayu Bai, Matti Kaivola, Andriy Shevchenko
2024
Proceedings - 2024 24th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks, ICTON 2024
Radoslaw Kolkowski, Annemarie Berkhout, Sylvianne D.C. Roscam Abbing, Debapriya Pal, Christian D. Dieleman, Jaco J. Geuchies, Arjan J. Houtepen, Bruno Ehrler, A. Femius Koenderink
2024
ACS Photonics
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
Research group members
