Research direction

Quantum optics and nonlinear optics are important frontier fields of modern optics, focusing on the precise manipulation of quantum states and the physical mechanism of efficient interaction between light and matter. In recent years, the breakthrough of quantum optics, especially the success of quantum entanglement experiment, has won the 2022 Nobel Prize in physics, highlighting the important position of quantum optics in basic physics and frontier technology applications. At the same time, nonlinear optics has also made major breakthroughs in the fields of ultrafast laser, nonlinear optical response of two-dimensional materials and strong field physics, laying a theoretical and experimental foundation for the fields of ultrafast information processing, frequency comb light source and advanced optical imaging. As quantum information science and integrated photonics have gradually become national R&D strategic priorities worldwide, China, the United States and the European Union have included them in key support plans to continuously promote the industrial application of scientific research achievements. These trends clearly show that quantum optics and nonlinear optics are becoming important engines to promote the deep integration of basic optical research and advanced technology applications.

The "quantum optics and nonlinear optics" direction of the liquid crystal and photonic technology research center of Nanjing University closely follows this international academic frontier and national strategic needs, focusing on several core scientific issues in quantum optics and nonlinear optics, including chiral quantum optics theory and experiment, quantum non-destructive measurement and non reciprocal device development, micro nano structured light field regulation and its on-chip integration, as well as new ultrafast spectroscopy technologies and their applications in optoelectronic materials. In the research of ultrafast spectroscopy and photoelectric conversion mechanism, the team independently developed advanced characterization methods such as two-dimensional electron spectroscopy and transient magneto-optical spectroscopy, which systematically revealed the new mechanism of energy conversion and charge separation in new organic photovoltaic and perovskite materials, effectively breaking through the theoretical bottleneck of traditional interface state energy loss. In the cross direction of quantum optics and chiral optics, the team constructed the theoretical system of all-optical isolator and circulator without magnetic field, and realized the efficient generation and regulation of complex vector light field in micro nano photonic chips, continuously promoting the development of relevant experimental methods and application technologies. At the same time, the team continued to innovate in the field of ultrafast optics and nonlinear micro nano photonics, and carried out in-depth research on ultrafast dynamics of laser, nonlinear light field control of microstructure, spatio-temporal structured light field and other directions. These studies provide a solid foundation for the development of new quantum information devices, the improvement of photoelectric energy conversion efficiency and the exploration of photophysical laws under extreme conditions.

Relying on the long-term accumulation of theoretical methods, experimental platforms and talent team advantages, the liquid crystal and photonic technology research center of Nanjing University has formed a significant international influence in the cross fields of quantum optics, nonlinear optics, ultrafast spectroscopy, micro nano Photonics and so on. The research team has several professors and full-time researchers, including two national high-level talents. The team has been deeply involved in relevant frontier fields for a long time, and has undertaken a number of important scientific research projects such as the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the overseas high-level youth talent program. The research results are widely published in Science、Nature、Nat. Photonics、Nat. Chem.、Nat. Energy、Phys. Rev. Lett.、Nat. Commun.、J. Am. Chem. Soc. And other international top journals, which have been continuously recognized by international peers, and have been selected into the list of "top ten developments in optics in China" and "global highly cited scholars" for many times. Facing the future, the team will continue to focus on the international academic frontier, aim at the national strategic needs, promote the deep integration of basic research and industrial applications of quantum optics and nonlinear optics, and help Chinas continuous leading and innovative development in the field of Optics and Quantum Science and technology.