International Laboratory for Hybrid Photonic Nanomaterials

Scientific results:

1. The Laboratory has conducted a research of the efficiency of resonance energy transfer and characteristics distances in hybrid systems that are in the strong coupling mode in a microresonator.
2. We have studied the conditions of the increase of the characteristic distances at which resonance energy transfer occurs via the effect of strong coupling (this result became one of the most significant achievements of Russian researchers during the Year of Science and Technology).
3. Our researchers have prepared active media that contain model analytes for producing giant Raman scattering (GRS) spectra in the operational cavity of an adjustable microresonator.
4. We have conducted a research of the effect of the strong coupling mode on the appearance of the spectrum of GRS of model analytes in the operational cavity of an adjustable microresonator.
5. Our researchers have analyzed the possibility of analytically describing experimental results achieved in GRS systems from the standpoint of the formation of a strong coupling between localized plasmonic modes and the exciton.
6. We have researched the effect of the degree of overlapping of the plasmonic spectra with the spectra of semiconductor nanocrystals on the efficiency of biexciton photoluminescence and determined the permissible range of intensities of the exciting radiation and the effective cross-section of absorption.
7. We have conducted a research of the impact of plasmon-exciton interaction on the degree of entanglement of generated photon couples.
8. The Laboratory has developed new approaches to sensing and diagnostics that rely on couples of entangled photons and theoretically modeled a potential diagnostic platform. 

Implemented results of research:

• The Laboratory has created a unique tunable microresonator system for creating hybrid «light-matter» states and controlling chemical and biological properties of molecules by light.
• The device is a microresonator consisting of a flat and a convex mirror that ensure plane-parallelism at least at one point on the surface of the latter, minimizing the volume of the mode. The capability to tune the length of the microresonator with nanometer precision is provided by a high-precision positioning piezodevice.
• The use of this device opens up new possibilities for the study of the influence of the effects of strong and weak coupling on Raman scattering, the rate of chemical reactions, the electrical conductivity, laser generation, non-radiative energy transfer and other physical, chemical and biological functions. 

• Over the whole period of the implementation of the project the leading scientist Yuriy P. Rakovich has organized in-person internships for young scientists and students at the Materials Physics Center of the Spanish National Research Council, San Sebastian, where they conducted joint experiments in the field of nanoplasmonics and biosensing as well as academic discussions of the results and prepared joint publications. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the leading scientist related to the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and corresponding isolation measures, in-person internships of postgraduate and undergraduate students in the organization where the leading scientist works on a permanent basis were not conducted. However, to improve the skills of undergraduate and postgraduate students and members of the team, the leading scientist has organized and conducted online internships.
• In 2021, one of the employees of the Laboratory defended a Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics dissertation.

Organizational and structural changes:

• With the participation of the International Laboratory of Hybrid Photonic Nanomaterials and the Laboratory of Nanobioengineering of National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, we have created a cluster of excellence (cutting-edge experience) of two mega-laboratories specializing on plasmonic and excitonic nanostructures and their applications in optoelectronics and biomedicine.
• The created unique cluster allowed researchers and students working for these laboratories as well as employees of other divisions of MEPhI and other scientific organizations to use unique equipment and technologies created in the cluster.
• Since 14 June 2022, the cluster of two mega-laboratories was incorporated into the Research Center of Nanoengineering of Photonic Materials for Biomedicine and Optoelectronics of the Institute for Physics and Engineering in Biomedicine.

• University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian (Spain): joint research.

• ITMO University (Russia): conducting joint research projects. Exchange of scientific and technological information and results of research. Publication of results of joint scientific research in these domains under conditions agreed upon by the universities. Conducting joint seminars, conferences, symposiums and exchange of students and research working on the aforementioned topics.

• University of Reims Champagne–Ardenne (France): conducting joint research projects. Exchange of scientific and technological information and results of scientific research.  Publication of the results of joint research in these domains under conditions agreed upon by the universities. Conducting joint seminars, conferences, symposiums and exchange of students and researchers working on the above-mentioned topics.