Related papers: A light-driven three-dimensional plasmonic nanosys…
By first principles calculations, we demonstrate that when decorated with photochromic molecules, it is possible to use light to reversibly control the magnetic properties of a nanoscale magnetic system. The combination of a graphene-based…
Biological motors are marvels of nature that inspire creation of their synthetic counterparts with comparable nanoscale dimensions, high efficiency and diverse functions. Molecular motors have been synthesized, but obtaining nanomotors…
By converting energy into mechanical work, engines play a central role in most biological and technological processes. In particular, within the current trend towards the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, microscopic engines…
Light-matter interactions generally involve momentum exchange between incident photons and the target object giving rise to optical forces and torques. While typically weak, they become significant at the nanoscale, driving intense research…
We introduce an approach to determining the required waveforms to coherently control the optical energy localization in plasmonic nanosystems. This approach is based on the impulsive localized excitation of the nanosystem and time reversal…
Self-assembled functionalized nano particles are at the focus of a number of potential applications, in particular for molecular scale electronics devices. Here we perform experiments of self-assembly of 10 nm Au nano particles (NPs),…
We apply a first-principles computational approach to study a light-sensitive molecular switch. The molecule that comprises the switch can convert between a trans and a cis configuration upon photo-excitation. We find that the conductance…
Optofluidics is dedicated to achieving integrated control of particle and fluid motion, particularly on the micrometer scale, by utilizing light to direct fluid flow and particle motion. The field has seen significant growth recently,…
In nano-optics, a formidable challenge remains in precise transport of a single optical nano-object along a programmed and routed path toward a predefined destination. Molecular motors in living cells that can walk directionally along…
Self-assembly processes allow us to design and create complex nanostructures using molecules as building blocks and surfaces as scaffolds. This autonomous driven construction is possible due to a complex thermodynamic balance of…
The research area of plasmonics promises devices with ultrasmall footprint operating at ultrafast speeds and with lower energy consumption compared to conventional electronics. These devices will operate with light and bridge the gap…
Nanophotonic devices take advantage of geometry-dependent optical properties to confine and enhance the interaction of light with matter on small scales. By carefully patterning nanoscale geometries, coupling of responses across distinct…
From the demonstration of saturable absorption by Vavilow and Levshin in 1926, and with invention of the laser, unavailability of strongly nonlinear materials was a key obstacle for developing optical signal processing, in particular in…
One of the major goals of nanobionics and bottom-up synthetic biology is the development of artificial cell organelles for the creation of cell-like structures operating similar to biological systems with a minimalistic set of building…
Light-matter interactions are often considered governed by the electric optical field only, leaving aside the magnetic component of light. However, the magnetic part plays a determining role in many optical processes from light and…
The next frontier in photonics will rely on the synergistic combination of disparate material systems. One unique organic molecule is azobenzene. This molecule can reversibly change conformations when optically excited in the blue…
Controlling the activity of proteins with azobenzene photoswitches is a potent tool for manipulating their biological function. With the help of light, one can change e.g. binding affinities, control allostery or temper with complex…
Plasmonic nanoantennas is a hot and rapidly expanding research field. Here we overview basic operating principles and applications of novel magneto-plasmonic nanoantennas, which are made of ferromagnetic metals and driven not only by light,…
Nanoplasmonics has been used to enhance molecular spectroscopic signals, with exquisite spatial resolution down to the sub-molecular scale. By means of a rigorous, state-of-the-art multiscale model based on a quantum chemical description,…
Nonlinear optical processes in low dimensional materials are often weak or symmetry forbidden, limiting their use in nanoscale light sources and on chip frequency conversion. Here, we show that combining two weakly nonlinear systems,…