Project description
Novel microscopy approach harnesses molecular optomechanical frequency conversion
Frequency upconversion is a nonlinear process in which photons at low frequencies are annihilated while another photon at a higher frequency is created. Upconversion of terahertz and mid-infrared (IR) signals into visible light could pave the way to innovation in spectroscopy, imaging and sensing, but remains a challenge for conventional nonlinear optics. Molecular optomechanical upconversion in which the mid-IR excited molecular vibrations in a nanocavity are converted to visible light might offer a solution. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TERRaMoOn project will develop a novel, hybrid near-field microscope harnessing this frequency conversion process. The spatial resolution of the instrument will enable the study of IR modes in the few-molecules regime and will potentially allow for the first unambiguous visible-light signatures of vibrational strong coupling.
Objective
Optical control of mechanical oscillators of widely different dimensions are all described by the same cavity optomechanics interaction between phonons and photons inside a cavity. In the previous decades, various research groups leveraged on this interaction to cool the mechanical oscillators to its ground-state and to produce and detect quantum states of light.The applicant wants to take advantage of mechanical modes that are deeply in their ground state at room temperature, namely vibrational modes of molecules with resonance frequencies in the IR to THz frequency range (between 1-100 THz) to explore the novel molecular optomechanical frequency conversion process (m-OMC). The key idea of the process consists in upconverting a weak IR signal into the visible domain via molecules (with modes both Raman and IR active) placed onto metallic nanoantennas, opening the whole toolbox of visible field manipulation and detection to electromagnetic fields in the IR range.
The goal of TERRaMoOn is to study the m-OMC process with a hybrid near-field microscope, where the near-field probe (metallic atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip) takes over the role of one of the antennas. In the near-field microscopy approach, the tip-antenna configuration can be tuned in-situ offering unprecedented versatility to the m-OMC process and enabling to access fundamental insights that would be inaccessible to typically studied on-chip devices. m-OMC could also lead to a new modality of near-field microscopy, where IR modes could be imaged with nanoscale spatial resolution and with exceptional sensitivity by making use of the frequency conversion process. The molecular layers studied during the project will finally enable the first unambiguous measurements of vibrational strong coupling via a Raman experiment. As such, TERRaMoOn promises to open novel enticing fundamental and technological research directions and to have a long-standing impact in the field.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics electromagnetism
- natural sciences physical sciences optics cavity optomechanics
- natural sciences physical sciences atomic physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
Funding Scheme
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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20018 San Sebastian
Spain
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