FOM initiates Center for Nanophotonics in Amsterdam

The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) has established a Center for Nanophotonics at the FOM Institute AMOLF in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In this Center, over 40 researchers will collaborate in a large-scale research program on nanophotonics. One of the Center’s research groups is stationed at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven to enable efficient knowledge transfer.

Nanophotonics is the research field that studies the generation, manipulation, storage, and amplification of light at length scales that are typically smaller than the wavelength of light. Within the nanosciences, nanophotonics is a research field that is still in its infancy. Yet, it is expected that within 10 years nanophotonic technology can have the same impact on our society as micro-electronics has today. By establishing the center, The Netherlands can play a leading international role in establishing the nanophotonics research field.

Applications of nanophotonics include communications technology, lasers, solid-state lighting, data storage, lithography, (bio-)sensors, optical computers, solar cells, light-activated medical therapies, displays, smart materials. Because of the importance of these applications there is large interest from industry in fundamental research and innovations in the area of nanophotonics.

The Center’s scientific group leaders are: Prof Albert Polman (head), Dr Jaime Gómez Rivas, Prof Kobus Kuipers, Prof Ad Lagendijk, Dr Jan Verhoeven, and Prof Willem Vos.

The Center’s official opening took place on April 7, 2005

Source: High Tech Campus Eindhoven - News