Table Of ContentNano-Optics for Enhancing Light-Matter
Interactions on a Molecular Scale
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Nano-Optics for Enhancing
Light-Matter Interactions
on a Molecular Scale
Plasmonics, Photonic Materials
and Sub-Wavelength Resolution
editedby
Baldassare Di Bartolo
BostonCollege,ChestnutHill,MA,USA
John Collins
WheatonCollege,Norton,MA,USA
and
Luciano Silvestri
AssistantEditor
BostonCollege,ChestnutHill,MA,USA
123
PublishedinCooperationwithNATOEmergingSecurityChallengesDivision
ProceedingsoftheNATOAdvancedStudyInstituteonNano-Optics
forEnhancingLight-MatterInteractionsonaMolecularScale:Plasmonics,
PhotonicCrystals,MetamaterialsandSub-WavelengthResolution
Erice,Sicily,Italy
3–18July2011
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2012944748
ISBN978-94-007-5318-1(PB)
ISBN978-94-007-5312-9(HB)
ISBN978-94-007-5313-6(e-book)
DOI10.1007/978-94-007-5313-6
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Preface
This book presents an accountof the NATO Advanced Study Institute on “Nano-
OpticsforEnhancingLight-MatterInteractionsonaMolecularScale:Plasmonics,
PhotonicCrystals, Metamaterialsand Sub-WavelengthResolution,” held in Erice,
Sicily,Italy,from3to18July2011.ThismeetingwasorganizedbytheInternational
SchoolofAtomicandMolecularSpectroscopyofthe“EttoreMajorana”Centerfor
ScientificCulture.
Quotingoneofourlecturers(L.Novotny):“Nano-opticsisthestudyofoptical
phenomena and techniques on the nanometer scale, that is, near or beyond the
diffraction limit of light. It is an emerging field of study, motivated by the rapid
advance of nanoscience and nanotechnology which require adequate tools and
strategiesforfabrication,manipulationandcharacterizationatthisscale.”
TheInstituteprovidedacomprehensiveoverviewoftherapidlyexpandingfield
ofnano-optics,andoutlinedthecurrentstate oftheartbothintermsofthetheory
and applications to various technologies. The topics presented covered a broad
rangeofsubjectswithinthefieldofnano-optics,andincludedboththefundamental
and advanced treatments of the following topics: plasmonics, photonic crystals,
metamaterials,imagingwith sub-wavelengthresolution,ultrafastspectroscopyfor
coherent control of biomolecules, fluorescence resonant energy transfer, photo-
voltaics, photonic structures for information delivery and processing, non-linear
phenomena,luminescenceofnanostructures,waveguidearraysofnanostructrures,
andterahertzspectroscopyforimagingatthenanoscale.Theapplicationsofnano-
opticspresentedincluded:bio-imagingwithsubwavelengthresolution,plasmonics
for cell manipulation and materials processing at the nanoscale, transfection and
nano-surgical techniques using ultrafast lasers, the enhancement of fluorescence
forbioimaging,sensorsbasedonplasmonicsandvariousnano-structuredmaterials,
photovoltaicsusingnano-materials,photoniccrystalsforfibercommunication,and
ultrasensitivetechniques(opticalmicrocavitiesandwaveguidearrays)fordetection
ofchemicalandbiologicalmoleculesandexplosivesinthefield.
Each lecturer started at a fundamentallevel, ultimately reachingthe frontierof
knowledgeinasystematicanddidacticfashion.Theparticipantswereencouraged
to ask questions both during and after the lectures, which often led to lively
vii
viii Preface
interactions. The formal lectures were complemented by additional seminars and
discussions. The Institute gave the participants an opportunity to present their
researchworkintheformofshortseminarsorposterpresentations.Inall,10short
seminarsand42posterswerepresented.
The participants came from 21 different countries: United States, England,
Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark,
Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan,
Belarus, Estonia,Croatia,and Egypt.Overthe 2 weeksof thecourse,participants
were given numerous opportunities to interact with one another, at both formal
(postersessions,seminars)andinformal(e.g.dinners,excursions)events.Thegoal
was to allow the participantsto learn fromoneanotherabouttheirscientific work
andtoexposethemtoothersresearchersfromvariouscultures.
Tworoundtablediscussionswereconductedduringthecourse.Thefirstdiscus-
sion, conductedearly in the course, allowed for the organizersand lectures to get
immediate feedback from the participants regarding the organizationalaspects of
the course. The second roundtable meeting, held on the last day of the course,
assessed the overall effectiveness of the course from the view of the participants.
All participants filled out an evaluation form for the course and were given the
opportunitytoexpresstheirviewsatthemeeting.Thediscussionandtheevaluation
forms indicated that the participants overwhelmingly felt that the course was a
success.Theyappreciatedthe didacticnatureofthecourseandfoundsomeofthe
lecturers very inspiring. They felt that the scientific level of the course was very
high,andthatboththebreadthandbalanceofthesubjectscoveredwereappropriate.
Theybelievedtheatmosphereofthecoursehelpedtopromoteinteractionbetween
allparticipants,especiallybetweenstudentsandlecturers,andthattheseinteractions
oftenledtocreativediscussions.Theyalsoappreciatedthatthelecturesweremade
availabletoalltheparticipantsonline.
The evaluations provided many helpful suggestions that we will implement
in the next course. Several participants suggested that additional information
be made available online regarding some practical aspects of coming to Erice
(accommodations, food, climate, etc.). They indicated a desire to have an online
formonthewebsitetosubmitabstractsforpostersandshortseminars.Generally,
theybelievedthatagreateronlinepresencewouldhelpindisseminatinginformation
about the course. Many participants also expressed a desire for additional events
withanon-scientificfocus,suchasthespecialsessiongivenbyonelectureronhis
recentclimbofMt.Kilimanjaro.
Overall, it seemed that all the students enjoyed meeting and discussing their
work not only with the lecturers, but also with one another. They appreciated the
opportunity to meet with fellow graduate students and post-doctoral researchers
from other countries who are working in the same field, or in related fields that
could enhance their own work. They generated friendships and contacts that will
very likely lead to new collaborations and opportunities for the enhancement of
theirresearchwork.
The evaluations allowed us to gather new ideas on how to further improve the
course, and revealed a consensus that the course will benefit their research work.
Preface ix
Thefollowingquotesfromtheevaluationformsgiveinsightsintohowthestudents
viewedtheirexperienceattheInstitute.
“Very usefuland interesting.The atmosphereis very specialand verycreative.
Thelineupofthespeakersisfantastic:::.Agreatservicetothecommunity.”
“ThemostvaluablethingIgotoutoftheconferencewasmeetingtheotherpeople
who are involved in my field:::. This was especially true for those of us from a
smallgroup,whomaybedon’thaveasmanypeopletobounceideasoffof.”
“Veryniceatmosphereamongparticipants.Professorsavailableforquestionsand
willingtoanswerwashighlyimportant.”
Summariesofthelectures,seminars,andpostersarepresentedinthisreport.
I wish to acknowledge the sponsorship of the meeting by the NATO Organi-
zation, the Karlsruhe School of Optics, Boston College, the Italian Ministry of
ScientificResearchandTechnology,andtheSicilianRegionalGovernment.
IamlookingforwardtoouractivitiesattheEttoreMajoranaCenterinyearsto
come,includingthe next2013meetingof the InternationalSchoolof Atomic and
MolecularSpectroscopy.
Baldassare(Rino)DiBartolo
DirectoroftheInternationalSchool
OfAtomicandMolecularSpectroscopy
Ofthe“EttoreMajoranaCenter”
x Preface
Nano-OpticsSummerSchool
Erice,July3–18,2011
TheCo-Directors
