Experiment for proton acceleration at the POLARIS high-energy laser system.

Projects

Strategic ACP funding focuses on large scale, interdisciplinary and sustainable collaborative research projects.
Experiment for proton acceleration at the POLARIS high-energy laser system.
Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)

Strategic ACP funding focuses on large scale, interdisciplinary and sustainable collaborative research projects. The following list is a selection of strategic research projects which have been acquired by ACP's principal scientists through competitive funding programs:

German Research Foundation (DFG)

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Logo
Image: DFG
  • EXC 2051 "Balance of the Microverse"

    1st funding period 2019-2024

    Microorganisms rule the world through space and time. Microbial consortia and their interactions control the environment and health. Their disturbance by (a)biotic factors has drastic consequences. A balanced interaction between all partners is critical for the maintenance of:

    • Functioning of all ecosystems
    • Stable climate
    • Growth and well-being of plants and animals
    • Human health and sustainable natural resources

    The mission of the Microverse Cluster is to provide the scientific basis for understanding microbial balance from the molecular to the ecosystem level. We ultimately aim to develop technologies allowing for targeted interventions to maintain or restore microbial balance.

    www.microverse-cluster.deExternal link 

  • SFB/CRC 1375 "NOA - Nonlinear Optics down to Atomic scales"

    1st funding period 2019-2023, 2nd funding period 2023-2027

    Most interaction between light and matter relevant to our daily life scales linearly with the incident intensity. However, nonlinear optical processes already begin to occur for light at moderate intensities, becoming more pronounced at higher field strengths. As a consequence, properties of light are modified, manifesting themselves in amplitude, phase, polarization or frequency changes. General examples of nonlinear optical processes are lasing and the generation of coherent light. Important specific examples are frequency conversion, supercontinuum and atto-second pulse generation.The investigation of these processes is the focus of our Collaborative Research Center (SFB/CRC) 1375 "Nonlinear Optics down to Atomic scales (NOA)" which started in July 2019.

    NOA focuses on exploring fundamental nonlinear processes of light matter interaction in low-dimen­sional nanostructures, such as atomically thin layers, nanoparticles and -wires, nanostructured surfaces and molecular assemblies. We will explore quantum phenomena as light-induced tunneling of electrons through metallic nanogaps and field-driven carrier acceleration in plasmonic nanostructures, atomic lattices and 2D-materials. This includes the investigation of the resulting back-action on the electromagnetic field, causing the generation of higher harmonics carrying valuable information about the electronic wavefunctions involved in the interaction.

    www.noa.uni-jena.de 

  • SFB/CRC 1278 "PolyTarget - Polymer-based nanoparticle libraries for targeted anti-inflammatory strategies"

    1st funding period: 2017-2021, 2nd funding period 2021-2025

    In the Collaborative Research Center PolyTarget, polymer-based nanoparticulate carrier materials for targeted application of pharmaceutical agents are being developed. The focus is on systems that are suitable for the therapy of diseases and syndromes characterized by an inflammatory reaction that significantly contributes to their morbidity.

    www.polytarget.uni-jena.de de 

  • TRR 234 Catalight - Light-driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials

    1st funding period 2018-2022, 2nd funding period: 2022-2026

    CataLight is a transregional collaborative research center, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), hosted by the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Ulm University. CataLight's project partners are at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Mainz, the University of Vienna, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (IPHT), the Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau, the Argonne National Lab Chicago, and the Ohio State University. CataLight explores the controlled linkage of molecular light-driven catalytic units with hierarchically structured soft matter matrices to convert solar radiation into chemical reactivity.

    www.catalight.uni-jena.de 

  • IGRK/IRTG 2675 "META-ACTIVE - Tailored metasurfaces: generating, programming and detecting light"

    1st funding period 2022-2027

    Metasurfaces are two-dimensional arrangements of designed nanoscale building blocks that offer exquisite control over the properties of light fields and allow for the realization of ultra-compact, highly functional photonic devices. Within META-ACTIVE, the spatial light control provided by optical metasurfaces will be combined with the capability of their resonant building blocks to enhance light-matter interactions and/or facilitate a tunable optical response. Pertinent research questions encompass various projects in the areas of light-emitting metasurfaces, programmable metasurfaces and metasurface-enhanced detection.

    In the framework of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) 2675 "META-ACTIVE", we will create and investigate active meta­surfaces, which emit, detect and dynamically manipulate light, making use of the capability of their resonant meta-atoms to enhance the interaction of light with nanoscale matter. By combining the nanoantenna effect of the individual meta-atoms with the additional degrees of freedom offered by the arrangement, metasurfaces provide opportunities for tailoring light-matter interactions far exceeding the respective capabilities of individual nanoantennas. This scientific vision will lay the foundations for new types of high-performance (quantum) light sources, programmable optical systems, and enhanced detectors based on the metasurface concept.

    www.asp.uni-jena.de/irtg2675 

  • FOR/RU 2783 "Probing the Quantum Vacuum at the High-Intensity Frontier"

    1st funding period: 2019-2023

    The quantum vacuum represents the ground state of nature as it is described by quantum field theory, being the basic theory concept for all known matter and its particle-physics interactions.

    The interaction of light with the quantum vacuum gives rise to some of the most fundamental and exotic processes in modern physics, which remain largely untested in the laboratory to date. Tests of these iconic predictions of quantum electrodynamics (QED), the field theory of light and matter, are becoming possible just now. Seizing this opportunity is the goal of this DFG Research Unit. The advent of ultra-intense lasers with up to 10 petawatt (PW) peak power now provides a golden opportunity to advance our knowledge at the high-intensity frontier.

    Together with the current development of theoretical methods to describe fluctuation-induced quantum processes, the nonlinear regime of the QED vacuum is becoming accessible both experimentally and theoretically. The ambitious program of the Research Unit will provide theoretically firm predictions for quantum vacuum processes and experimentally investigate them combining the most advanced ultra-intense laser technology with novel high-purity detection schemes.

    www.quantumvacuum.orgExternal link 

European Union and European Research Council (ERC)

EFRE & ESF
Image: EFRE & ESF
  • Attosecond Chemistry - COST Action (CA18222)
  • BioQantSense - Twinning for Excellence of the Serbian Research Center for Quantum Biophotonics (EU TWINNING 101079355)
  • EMIMEP - European Master for Industry in Microwave Electronics and Photonics (MSCA-EMJMD)

    Funding period 2024-2029

    ASP is a full member of the Erasmus Mundus Master (EMM) consortium EMIMEP. In the context of increasing demand for research and industrial applications, EMIMEP is a thoroughly integrated program with a jointly developed curriculum. Areas covered range from the fundamentals of microwave electronics and photonics to their implementations with new technologies in wired and wireless communications, moving from components to system architectures for communication systems and networks. EMIMEP will offer full-scale scholarships for a 2-year Master's degree from at least two European Universities. 

    The EMIMEO consortium comprises the University of Limoges (France), the University of Brescia (Italy), the University of the Basque Country (Spain) and the University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania). For students, the program offers the opportunity of a Joint/Multiple Master's degree with these partners.

    A website is currently built up.

  • FastGhost - Fast quantum ghost microscopy in the mid-infrared (EU-FET-OPEN 899580)
  • FunGlass - Centre for functional and surface-functionalized glass (EU H2020 Teaming 739566)
  • LISA - Laser Ionization and Spectroscopy of Actinide elements (MSCA-ITN 861198)
  • METAFAST - Metasurfaces for Ultrafast Light Structuring (EU-FET-OPEN 899673)
  • SURQUID - Super-resolving Quantum Imaging and Detection (EU FET-OPEN 899824)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

BMBF
Image: BMBF
  • InfectoGnostics - Federal Research Campus
  • Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research, funded in the framework of the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap
  • Lichtwerkstatt Pro - Open Photonics Innovation initiative, funded by the BMBF
  • Max Planck School of Photonics - Photonics education of excellence
  • QOMPLEX - BMBF joint project on Complexity Scaling of Quantum Photonic Systems
  • qp-tech.edu - Joint project on Quantum Photonics Technology Education
  • UKPinho - Joint project of the RUBIN consortium researching on ultrashort laser pulse technology

Thuringia (with support of the European Union)

TAB &TMWWDG
Image: TAB und TMWWDG
  • Digital Innovation Hub Photonics - Facilitating entrepreurship and a start-up culture
  • InQuoSens - Thuringian Innovation Center for Quantum Optics and Sensing Technology
  • Quantum Hub Thuringia

Foundations and others

Foundations
Image: At the foundations
  • Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung Breakthroughs Intelligent substrates: switchable interfaces based on multiresponsive hybrid materials - Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
  • Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung The Jena Alliance of Graduate Schools
  • Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung Center for Quantum Photonics (CZS QPhoton)
  • Helmholtz Society: Accelerator Technology Helmholtz Infrastructure (Athena)