Research Group on Imaging and Photonics

Description

Imaging Sciences represent a renewed research field in all its aspects, while also being a development for Physics that’s currently characterised by a frenetic scientific and innovative activity. Nowadays, the term “image” doesn’t only refer to optical imaging and its multiple techniques for analysis, rebuild and visualisation, but also to artificial, computer and three-dimensional vision, medical imaging and algorithms for image processing, among many other areas. In the last two decades, Imaging Science researches achieved a lot. There are multiple new microscopy procedures allowing to go over the classic resolution limit. The computer industry is particularly interested in the astonishing results of computer imaging techniques. The progress in obtaining images through turbid media allows to achieve good resolution for images involving, for example, deep tissue layers in living beings or the cosmos through telescopes located on the earth’s surface. The new non-invasive imaging modalities for in-vivo biologic material and the tools for the transfer of said knowledge and procedures to the study, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. The entangled photons sources in quantum photonics allow to achieve high-quality images with low-level lighting. It’s also necessary to include many other areas in full development, such as adaptive optics, nuclear medicine imaging, photonic tweezers (which are offering new paths for the individual study of cells), new generations of spatial light modulators, etc.

On the other hand, the radiation associated with femtosecond laser systems present a series of singular properties: very short duration, high peak power, high spectral width and structured spectral coherence. The combination between Diffractive and Pulse Optics enabled the design of new technological applications for the micro and nanostructuring of surfaces, the in-volume processing of transparent samples such as glass or polymers, the fluorescence multiphoton stimulation in microscopy systems and the generation of other non-lineal effects in matter, such as filamentation.

Goals CT

New designs for super-resolution in ultra-high resolution microscopy.
3D Imaging: Formation, rebuild, visualisation and physical limitations.
New uses for diffractive optical elements in imaging.
Metamaterials imaging.
Waveguide design and modelling.

Research lines

Diffractive optics and pulse optics
Optical devices for manipulating pulses of tens of femtoseconds by using diffractive optical elements allowing spatial control of the wavefront of the pulsed beam, as well as the shaping of the temporal envelope of the ultra-short pulses.
3D Microscopy
In this line of research, new non-invasive microscopy techniques with high optical sectioning are developed, such as confocal microscopy, structured illumination microscopy (SIM) or digital holographic microscopy (DHM).
3D image and 3D display
Development in the implementation of 3D image capture techniques based on taking multiple images with different perspectives. This multi-perspective information allows both the reconstruction of the original 3D scene and the development of new 3D digital processing techniques.
Modelling and design of photonic devices
Modelling and design of waveguides and other photonic devices, such as photonic-crystal fibers, integrated semiconductor and dielectric guides and resonators, fibre optic lasers, or metamaterials.
Diffractive lenses
Diffractive lenses are very interesting elements because they are compact, lightweight and economical optical components. In this line of research, new designs are being developed for application in ophthalmology in the form of both intraocular (IOL) lenses and contact lenses.