RESEARCH
The areas of Cold Matter Physics, Plasmonics and Biophotonics are linked by a common theme, which is the interaction of light with matter.
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Bose-Einstein Condensates
Condensados de Bose-Einstein No topo da lista entre os temas mais importantes da física moderna, os fluidos quânticos estimulam avanços em muitos ramos da ciência. É geralmente aceito que, devido à importância do tema, é essencial na formação de novos talentos científicos. Um dos tópicos principais em investigação nos nossos laboratórios trata de Turbulência Quântica e a Investigação de Vórtices [...]
Metrologia Científica de Tempo e Frequência
Scientific Metrology of Time and Frequency is among the main activities currently underway in our laboratories. The area is not only scientifically important, but strategic for a country like Brazil. The development of our experiments has a support structure for comparison and dissemination of frequency references. We are also building a system to provide a scale of [...]
Condensados de mistura atômica
Átomos de sódio aprisionados em uma armadilha magneto-óptica (MOT). Veja também: Publicações Equipe NaK Neste experimento estamos interessados em estudar as propriedades estáticas e dinâmicas de condensados de Bose-Einstein de mistura atômica com interação variável. Para isso, utilizamos a combinação de sódio (23Na) e potássio (39K ou 41K) que apresenta excelentes condições para variar a interação [...]
Cooperative Spreading & Optical Networks
The main interest of this research is to better understand the collective scattering of light by clouds of ultracold atoms, ordered or disordered. For this purpose we developed an experimental setup to cool strontium atomic clouds to ultra-low temperatures, where they enter a state of quantum degeneration, and eventually transfer them to an optical network. Light propagates very differently in media [...]
Dipolar Quantum Gases
The study of quantum gases with dipolar interactions has grown in recent years within the field of quantum fluids. We are implementing this new line of research within CePOF using ultracold gases from Dysprosium, the most magnetic atom on the Periodic Table. We are currently building the experimental system but in the long term our goals are to study the Thermodynamics of Quantum Gases [...]
Quantum Technologies
O Laboratório de Matéria Quântica desenvolve pesquisas que envolvem o estudo das propriedades quânticas da matéria, visando aplicações de tecnologias quânticas. Essa é uma das mais nova linhas de pesquisa do CePOF, que é feita utilizando técnicas experimentais de Física Atômica e Óptica. Um de nossos experimentos usa gases ultrafrios (próximos do Zero Absoluto), que são aprisionados e resfriados [...]
Quantum Sensors & Matter Wave Interferometry
This line of research is dedicated to new concepts of inertial sensing and gravity with matter waves. Ultracold Bose-Einstein condensed atoms are charged in a standing wave of vertical light, where they perform Bloch oscillations whose periodicity is strictly proportional to the gravitational acceleration. Simultaneously, the atoms interact with the two counterpropagating modes of an annular optical cavity. This interaction [...]
Plasmonic
Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
The research topics most recently addressed by our group are: electromagnetic modelling, finite differences in time and frequency domains, integrated optics, integrated and infiber optical sensors, non-linear optics, photonic crystal fibers, design and modeling of structures based on metamaterials, surface plasmon modeling, and optical network modeling.
Plasmonic Metamaterials
The term "metamaterial" was coined to denote a wide range of complex composite materials that exhibit electromagnetic properties not observed in their individual constituents and also not found in natural materials. Many metamaterials are designed to have heterogeneities on a scale less than the characteristic lengths of the excitation field (eg wavelength, depth of penetration, length of [...]
Biophotonics
Ultraviolet Disinfection
Electromagnetic radiation has a dual character, and in some phenomena its nature is revealed as a particle and in others as a wave. The photon is the name of the electromagnetic radiation particle, and can be understood as a small package of energy that has both particle and wave properties. All waves have a length of [...]
Sonophotodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy is a technique that has been adopted in several countries and has become a reality in Brazil for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. This development has been possible due to the scientific work carried out by several Brazilian researchers, including the members of the Optics and Photonics Research Center funded by the Foundation for [...]
Optical Diagnosis
Light interacts with biological tissues in different ways depending on tissue characteristics and light parameters. One of the tissue responses after this interaction is light emission, which contains information on its biochemical and structural composition. Optical techniques are attractive tools that allow non-invasive analysis for tissue discrimination and treatment response. [...]
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is based on the use of a photosensitive substance (photosensitizer) that when within the cells, as it receives light at the appropriate wavelength, it is activated and triggers a series of reactions with the molecular oxygen, which can generate cytotoxic species, resulting in cell death. Thus, the simultaneous presence of light, photosensitizer and oxygen is essential for the [...]
Microbiological Control
Our group has stood out in several clinical protocols for microbiological control using Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) as an alternative to conventional treatments. In vitro and in vivo studies compare different photosensitizers (FS), light parameters and lighting and devices, as well as understanding the mechanisms involved in the inactivation of bacteria and fungi. The main projects are: Photodynamic Inactivation (IFD) in bacterial biofilms and [...]
Photobiomodulation
The use of light as a therapeutic agent is due to the fact that under special conditions, light is able to modulate metabolic responses in cells and tissues, stimulating or inhibiting processes. The main researches developed are: Clinical studies on the synergistic effect of laser therapy and ultrasound for the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis; Clinical studies on the effect [...]
Organic Synthesis
Almost all photosensitizers used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) have some limitations considering the ideally desired properties. Thus, investing in the planning and synthesis of strategically designed molecules is an activity of great importance for obtaining more specific and efficient photosensitizers. Synthetic plans certainly help to obtain molecules that bring together a greater number [...]
Applied Optics to Agriculture and the Environment
Agribusiness is an extremely important activity for the Brazilian economy. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of agribusiness in 2014 represented 23.0% of the total GDP of the Brazilian economy. This means that R$ 1.1 trillion of the wealth produced in the country came from agriculture and livestock. Despite this good performance, it is a consensus in the sector that there is still much to improve [...]
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