Spectroscopy group–Department of Physics–Boston College

Erice Schools                         INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY Director: Prof. Baldassare Di Bartolo The purpose of the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy is two-fold: To bring the workers in spectroscopy and related disciplines up to date on the new experimental and theoretical developments in this field of research, and To create an opportunity for the researchers in the various subfields of spectroscopy to discuss their problems in an interdisciplinary framework. Spectroscopic investigations are concerned with phenomena observed when the radiation from a source, separated into its various wavelengths, is made to interact with the constituents of a physical system. Through the examination of particular spectra, the identification of known molecular species can be carried out; by means of spectroscopy it has been possible, for example, to identify the presence of chemical elements in distant stars. More basic applications of the science of spectroscopy have produced a better understanding of atomic and molecular structures and of such phenomena as luminescence. Rotational, vibrational and electronic states of molecules continue to be subjects of investigation; also the important field of energy transfer between the different degrees of freedom in molecules is an object of study. In solids, spectroscopic investigations are directed to uncover the interrelation of absorption and emission properties with the location of the constituents and the crystalline symmetry. Studies of impurity spectra have shown the usefulness of spectral data in providing information about the spectra of such collective excitations of solids as phonons and magnons. Also, on the basis of purely spectroscopic data it is possible to predict the feasibility and efficiency of solid state systems as possible laser materials. The technique of flash photolysis has extended the usage of spectroscopy to the excited states of gases, liquids and solids with the measurement of transitions not allowed from the ground state. When used to check the evolution of a reaction, this technique has uncovered the presence of transient species, often not seen before, and existing only under particular experimental conditions. ETTORE MAJORANA FOUNDATION AND CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC CULTURE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY NANO–OPTICS: PRINCIPLES ENABLING BASIC RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS A NATO ADVANCED STUDY INSTITUTE Erice, Sicily, Italy; July 4-19, 2015 Sponsored by the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific-Technological Research, the Sicilian Regional Government, and Boston College Purpose of the Meeting: Throughout the last decade, the field of optics and photonics has not only tremendously benefited from progress in nano-science and -fabrication but has in turn also become an important driver and toolbox of nano-science and -fabrication. Important sub-fields such as three-dimensional optical lithography and microscopy beyond the Abbe diffraction limit, optical diagnostics and bio-sensing, optical data- and telecommunications, energy-efficient lighting, and efficient solar energy conversion truly make optics and photonics an important key enabling technology of the 21st century. The rapidly increasing possibilities of nanoscience enable a completely new level of molding the flow of light and controlling light-matter interaction, nearly on the atomic scale. This has for instance led to metallic nano-antennas for light that can modify spontaneous emission of nearby molecules via local-field enhancement effects or that can act as high-figure-of-merit bio-sensors. Other interesting areas are artificial optical materials (“metamaterials”) assembled from these antennas and nano-plasmonic structures. Here, applications include but are not limited to ultra-compact and ultra-fast optical telecommunication devices, efficient sustainable solar energy conversion, and bio-photonics. Transformation optics and “flat optics” expand the concepts of metamaterials and metasurfaces, respectively, towards intentionally spatially inhomogeneous structures, e.g., for invisibility cloaking and flat lenses or flat polarization optics. Conversely, optics and photonics also fuel nanotechnology, e.g., by novel super-resolution approaches in optical microscopy and lithography. The Institute will introduce the students to the field and provide a comprehensive overview on experiments and theory, basic physics and applications as well as on nanofabrication and optical characterization. It will bring together physicists, chemists, biologists and engineers; it will be in the best tradition of our past Institutes, because it will start from the consideration of fundamental principles, and will reach the frontiers of research in a systematic and didactic fashion. The participants will have the opportunity to present their research work in the form of short seminars or posters. source : www.bc.edu