Multi-Harmonics Nanoparticles

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C15.0041

Key words (English)

nanotechnology; nonlinear optics; multiphoton microscopy; metal oxyde nanoparticles

Research programs (English)

COST-Action MP1302 - NanoSpectroscopy

Short description (English)

The combination of nonlinear optics and nanotechnology is an extremely rich scientific domain yet widely unexplored. Oxide nanoparticles with noncentrosymmetric crystal structure (harmonic nanoparticles, HNPs) have recently emerged because of their high second harmonic response. HNPs feature a series of properties which distinguish them from other photonics nanoprobes like quantum dots, up-conversion nanoparticles, and noble metal particles. HNPs emission is inherently nonlinear and based on harmonic generation as opposed to fluorescence or surface plasmon scattering. In addition, their fully coherent signal together with their polarization sensitive response and tunable excitation make them appealing for applications ranging from multi-photon microscopy, to cell tracking and sensing. Thanks also to the advent of new microscopy platforms with infrared excitation (>1200 nm), we realized that it is extremely easy to generate and detect HNPs harmonics beyond the second order. In this project, we plan to explore and quantitatively assess HNPs higher order harmonic response and provide valuable conversion efficiency estimates for the translation of the multi-harmonic approach to the field of bio-imaging and localized photo-interaction. The study will be also extended to harmonic generation > 10th order, for evaluating the potential of HNPs as source of extreme UV radiation for atomic and molecular spectroscopy.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; BE; BA; BG; HR; CZ; DK; EE; FI; FR; DE; EL; HU; IE; IL; IT; LV; LT; MT; NL; PL; PT; RO; RS; SI; ES; SE; TR; UK; LU; UA; AM; TN

Abstract (English)

The combination of nonlinear optics and nanotechnology is an extremely rich scientific domain yet widely unexplored. Oxide nanoparticles with noncentrosymmetric crystal structure (harmonic nanoparticles, HNPs) have recently emerged because of their high second harmonic response. HNPs feature a series of properties which distinguish them from other photonics nanoprobes like quantum dots, up-conversion nanoparticles, and noble metal particles. HNPs emission is inherently nonlinear and based on harmonic generation as opposed to fluorescence or surface plasmon scattering. In addition, their fully coherent signal together with their polarization sensitive response and tunable excitation make them appealing for applications ranging from multi-photon microscopy, to cell tracking and sensing. Thanks also to the advent of new microscopy platforms with infrared excitation (>1200 nm), we realized that it is extremely easy to generate and detect HNPs harmonics beyond the second order. In this project, we plan to explore and quantitatively assess HNPs higher order harmonic response and provide valuable conversion efficiency estimates for the translation of the multi-harmonic approach to the field of bio-imaging and localized photo-interaction. The study will be also extended to harmonic generation > 10th order, for evaluating the potential of HNPs as source of extreme UV radiation for atomic and molecular spectroscopy.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C15.0041