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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Sound-Light Manipulation in the Terahertz

Objective

The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the mechanical vibrations of solids affects and determines many different physical phenomena. At the microscopic level, scattering of light with phonon excitations is a well known process exploited in semiconductor devices like Raman amplifiers and acousto-optic modulators. At the macroscopic scale, the interaction is mediated by the radiation pressure and is raising considerable interest as a way to excite and control mechanical oscillators, allowing, for instance, the refrigeration of a macroscopic object near the quantum limit.
This rich physics has been mostly developed in the visible or near-infrared spectral ranges. The progress of quantum cascade technologies now offers a new device platform where to explore concepts for the reciprocal manipulation of light and vibrations with unprecedented possibilities. The accessible THz spectrum is in fact particularly intriguing. The wavevector of the electromagnetic field can be tuned to that of the vibration, be it a phonon or the oscillating mode of a macroscopic object, enhancing selectivity and strength of the interaction. The low radiation frequency then makes it technically feasible to optically couple mechanical elements at distances much smaller than the wavelength, allowing, for instance, to exploit optical forces between surface plasmon modes atop metallic membranes. Lastly, it is foreseeable to include mechanical oscillators within the laser cavities, thereby creating new laser dynamics driven by the radiation pressure, and developing opto-mechanical effects in an active device where they can be studied, and eventually controlled, through the laser emission.
SouL Man aims at establishing the field of THz opto-mechanics, relying on quantum cascade lasers for investigating phenomena and concepts available in this spectral range and in optically active systems, as wells as at using this knowledge to implement innovative device functionalities and applications.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

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ERC-2012-ADG_20120216
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSITA DI PISA
EU contribution
€ 288 594,00
Address
LUNGARNO PACINOTTI 43/44
56126 PISA
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Toscana Pisa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Beneficiaries (3)

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