Optics & quantum mechanics (OPTICS)

optics

This research pole deals with the engineering of optical devices whose numerical modelling is computationally expensive. We develop for this purpose bio-inspired optimisation techniques (genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, etc), which account for the specificities of optical systems and eventually provide globally optimal solutions. Among those devices are photonic crystals and metasurfaces for light capture and wavefront manipulation.

We also explore foundational issues in quantum mechanics and quantum optics, both theoretically and experimentally, in particular using the concept of weak measurements (for example: quantum paradoxes, geometric phases in weak values, photon trajectories, particle antiparticle pair creations, etc). We also develop advanced spectroscopies based on weak measurements, or that exploit the quantum nature of light and the special properties of entangled photons.

Keywords: Optical Engineering, Genetic Algorithms, Nonlinear Optics, Quantum Optics, Weak Measurements, Quantum information, Relavistic Quantum Physics

Contact: Alexandre Mayer and Yves Caudano

Relevant references:

  • A. Mayer, H. Bi, S. Griesse-Nascimento, B. Hackens, J. Loicq, E. Mazur, O. Deparis and M. Lobet, Genetic-algorithm-aided ultra-broadband perfect absorbers using plasmonic metamaterials, Optics Express 30, 1167 (2022) DOI:10.1364/OE.442405
  • N. Roy, Ch. Beauthier and A. Mayer, Hyperparameter control using fuzzy logic : evolving policies for an Adaptive Fuzzy Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, Evolutionary Computation, 1-30 (2024) DOI:10.1162/evco_a_00353
  • N. Roy, L. Konig, O. Absil, Ch. Beauthier, A. Mayer and M. Lobet, Photonic structures optimization using highly data-efficient deep learning: application to nanofins and annular groove phase masks, Physical Review A 109, 013514 (2024) DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.109.013514
  • L. Ballesteros Ferraz, J. Martin and Y. Caudano, On the relevance of weak measurements in dissipative quantum systems, Quantum Sci. Technol. 9, 035029 (2024) DOI:10.1088/2058-9565/ad420b
  • L. Ballesteros Ferraz, D. L. Lambert and Y. Caudano, Geometrical interpretation of the argument of weak values of general observables in N-level quantum systems, , Quantum Sci. Technol. 7, 045028 (2022) DOI:10.1088/2058-9565/ac8bf1
  • B. Bokić, Y. de Coene, M. A. Ferrara, T. Verbiest, Y. Caudano and B. Kolaric, Structured light from classical to quantum perspectives, Symmetry 16, 1053 (2024) DOI:10.3390/sym16081053