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From 21 – 25 June 2021 the bi annual Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC) took place online at the World of Photonics Congress 2021 The CLEO/Europe-EQEC brings together universities, industry scientists and researchers to discuss basic research in laser physics, nonlinear optics and quantum optics. Thomas Deckert, our MUSIQ ESR11, represented the project by presenting his results on Ultrafast Coherent Spectroscopy with Field Resolution at Mid-Infrared and THz Frequencies.
From June to September 2020 the ESRs organised a virtual Journal Club as part of the continuous training. Part of the regular Journal Club was to discuss relevant papers that they thought may potentially be used as references to develope and write a MUSIQ Roadmap. This is one of our dissemination activities, to produce a technology Roadmap about the challenges and future directions of optical microscopy exploiting quantum coherent nonlinear phenomena. Groups of ESRs presented papers during the Journal Club which were then discussed. The MUSIQ Roadmap has been published in the Journal of Optics which is openly accessible to all.
In the quest to decipher the chain of life from molecules to cells, the biological and biophysical questions being asked increasingly demand techniques that are capable of identifying specific biomolecules in their native environment, and can measure biomolecular interactions quantitatively, at the smallest possible scale in space and time, without perturbing the system under observation. The interaction of light with biomolecules offers a wealth of phenomena and tools that can be exploited to drive this progress. This Roadmap is written collectively by prominent researchers and encompasses selected aspects of bio-nano-photonics, spanning from the development of optical micro/nano-spectroscopy technologies for quantitative bioimaging and biosensing to the fundamental understanding of light–matter interaction phenomena with biomolecules at the nanoscale. It will be of interest to a wide cross-disciplinary audience in the physical sciences and life sciences.
The continuous progress in laser technology along with technical advances and conceptual breakthroughs, expand the application potential of Ultrafast Spectroscopy. Read more
This section focuses on: 1. eliminating heat-induced signals by controlling pulse spectra through pulse shaping, 2. compressive sensing to shorten the data acquisition time, and 3. simultaneous frequency and time resolution using time-frequency transforms. Read more
From the 13th to the 15th of January the ESRs and the MUSIQ partners came together once again to discuss their progress on the development of next-generation optical microscopy.
The conference was hosted virtually from GSK in Stevenage – hence we dubbed it COVID can’t stop the MUSIQ – and brought together scientists from 9 countries spanning across 9 time zones. All ESRs had a chance to share and discuss their science with some of the greatest scientific minds in non-linear optics, plasmonics, spectroscopy or mass spectrometry from the safety of their homes.
The main focus of this conference were the ESRs and their talks on their scientific progress they achieved prior to this meeting, covering the fields of ultrafast spectroscopy and optical microscopy exploiting quantum coherent nonlinear phenomena. The management and organisation of the event was in the hands of Jan Majer and Nicole Slesiona, puppeteered by Steve Hood (GSK) and Paola Borri (Cardiff University). ESRs were responsible for the chairing and the management of the individual sessions to prepare each and every one for their future in the scientific community.
Apart from peer-to-peer scientific discussions among the students and discussions with the PIs, professors Ian Gilmore, Michel Orrit, Enrico Gratton and Christoph Lienau, members of our advisory board, accepted the invitation to deliver talks as Keynote speakers. They shared their expertise and their innovative approaches to further everyone’s insights into the possibilities that lay in front to bring the scientific community closer to broaden everyone’s knowledge about ultrafast quantum processes:
Metabolic imaging with subcellular resolution using mass spectrometry, held by Prof. Ian Gilmore
Optical Microspectroscopy of Single Molecules and Nanoparticles, held by Prof. Michel Orrit
Single cell physiological characterization in living tissue, held by Prof. Enrico Gratton
Coherent ultrafast charge and energy transfer processes in nanostructures, held by Prof. Christoph Lienau
The laser source is arguably the core component in any CRS experiment. In this brief article we explain what the most common laser sources for CRS microscopy are and try to give guidelines for their selection. Read more
This section informs about the latest laser sources and their requirements for biophotonics applications. Specifically, the field of multiphoton microscopy (MPM) was subject to vast developments in recent years, pushed by the development of pulsed laser sources. This article will provide an overview of specific requirements of MPM experiments, and therein requirements for the laser sources themselves. Read more
The 2nd MUSIQ week was originally planned to be a face-to-face event in June 2020. Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the school was organised online and held earlier to keep the ESRs engaged during the period where access to the various research labs was restricted. The 2nd School “Nano-Plasmonics and applications” organised by our MUSIQ partner, ICFO, from 28th April – 7th May 2020 in six half day sessions and lecture topics related to the subject.
Diffraction limited fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution approaches – Maria Garcia-Parajo (ICFO)
Introduction to nanoplasmonics – Niek van Hulst (ICFO)
Nanofabrication and integration approaches towards Neuroplasmonics – Francesco de Angelis (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)
Nanoplasmonics & single molecules using DNA origamis – Guillermo Acuña (Université de Fribourg)
Nanoplasmonics for ultra-sensitive detection & living cell applications – Maria Garcia-Parajo (ICFO)
The virtual training session was open to externals and attracted 50-60 additional participants from outside of the MUSIQ Network. We would like to thank Prof. Maria Garcia-Parajo from ICFO for organising this event and for the active participation from everyone who joined.
The COVID-19 has restricted the movement of people which has affected many including our Early Stage Researchers who would be required to travel for their research and training, a key aspect in European Training Networks (ETNs).
To find a way for the the MUSIQ ESRs to work together in these difficult times and to manage their “mobility” The MUSIQ network is organising online e-school training modules to offer the MUSIQ Early Stage Researchers and other students from our partner organisations the opportunity to receive virtual training on ultrafast optics and spectroscopy related topics from our experts within our network.
From the 16.- 23. April 2020 the MUSIQ PIs set up 6 virtual training sessions on topics related to Ultrafast optics and spectroscopy. The presenters consisted of experts in the field within and outside of the MUSIQ network. Details on the sessions can be found below:
16. April – Introduction to Ultrafast Optics and Spectroscopy Giulio Cerullo
17. April – Second- and Third-order Non-Linear Optics Cristian Manzoni
20. April –Multi-dimensional Spectroscopy Margherita Maiuri
21. April – Exercises of Non-linear Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy Rocio Borrego-Varillas
22. April – Coherent Optical Spectroscopy of Nanostructures Wolfgang Langbein
23. April – Ultrafast Plasmonics Daniele Brida
We would like to thank the MUSIQ network for their quick thinking and adaption to the current situtation and for bringing together such a interesting E-School and the ESRs for their active contributions.
The MUSIQ project has set up an Instagram account where our ESRs post regular photos and updates on themselves and their work within the project. Follow us online for an insight into the life as a MUSIQ ESR and updates on training and research.
The 1st Week School took place in Marseille, France from 9-14 December 2019 and brought together the MUSIQ partners and the ESRs for the first time to discuss developing the next-generation optical microscopy exploiting quantum coherent nonlinear phenomena. The program consisted of different networking and training elements starting off with a two day symposium where all PIs presented their research and activities within the MUSIQ project. The ESRs also each had the opportunity to present themselves and their individual ESR projects and had organised posters related to their research which helped all participants to receive a detailed overview of how each person will be contributing to the project.
The second element of the 1st MUSIQ week was dedicated to the training of the ESRs. Over the next four days the ESRs received the first sessions of the multi-disciplinary training programme that specifically addresses the scientific, technical and career development challenges associated with MUSIQ’s vision of developing the next-generation optical microscopy exploiting quantum coherent nonlinear phenomena. These topics included the 1st School on Molecular nonlinear optics held by CNRS and two transferable skills trainings on time project management for scientists and on gender equality held by Hertz.
The full MUSIQ training programme is structured around 6 weeks of network-wide face-to-face events that will equip the ESRs with the combination of research-related and transferable competences needed to succeed in the European science, technology and innovation sector.
On
the 2nd of April, the MUSIQ project officially kicked-off with the
first face-to-face meeting with the whole consortium. All MUSIQ Beneficiaries
had the chance to meet at the coordinating Cardiff University, School of
Biosciences. The project Coordinator, Prof Paola Borri gave everyone a warm
welcome and started the meeting by introducing and updating all participants on
the objectives of the four year project. The meeting offered an engaging
platform to discuss the research that will take place as well as the recruiting
strategy for the 15
open positions.
The
atmosphere was full of energy and the 11 represented partners from 8 countries
are excited to dive into the project. We will look forward to the collaborations
and results that are going to follow within the next 48 months.
