Photonics & Quantum Electronics

Andersen, Boggess, Flatté, Prineas, Smirl, Wohlgenannt
Molecular-beam epitaxy lab

Photonics and Quantum Electronics is about lasers and how laser light is used. Research in the department covers a diverse range of topics. In our labs we grow semiconductor and organic photonic materials, and we study them using spectroscopy, in many cases with ultrafast lasers. Topics include: spin and exciton dynamics, nano-scale structures, optoelectronic devices, and nonlinear optical pulse propagation. Specialized courses are offered bi-annually, including Quantum Electronics, Laser Principles, Nonlinear Optics, Semiconductor Physics, Solid State Physics, and Optics. Students attend a weekly seminar and travel to national and international meetings.

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Our department has expanded in recent years with an emphasis on this rapidly-growing field, with new faculty members and new labs. Our students use state-of-the-art equipment, and can choose from a wide range of experimental thesis projects. Our theory group works closely with our experimenters. We publish in the leading journals for physics and applied physics. More than ten labs are dedicated to this research area in the beautiful Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL) building, which was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. There is a wide job market for students trained in this area, with opportunities in industry, government labs, and academia.

David Andersen
  David Andersen, Theoretical and experimental nonlinear
  optics


  • Parametric solitons, nonlinear optical crossbar switch, passive and adaptive nonlinear optical equalizer, 4-pi confocal nonlinear optical microscopy
  • Applications include long-haul telecommunications systems, embedded wireless communications
  • Professor with appointments in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and in Physics and Astronomy
  • Facilities include 1100 sq ft lab, with a 100 femtosec Ti:Sapphire laser system and other sources for nonlinear optics
  • Students also interact with theoretical wireless group from Electrical Engineering, medical group from Optical Science and Technology Center
Thomas Boggess

  Thomas Boggess, Experimental optoelectronic device physics


  • Optical techniques used to measure semiconductor properties relevant to lasers, detectors, and photovoltaic devices
  • Measurements are conducted in collaboration with device physicists at a variety of government, industrial and university laboratories
  • Major equipment includes high-speed lasers with nonlinear optical frequency conversion to the mid-wave, long-wave, and very long-wave infrared, diode laser and light-emitting diode test station, and both continuous-wave and time-resolved photoluminescence facilities, all located in 2000 sq. ft. of laboratory space
Michael Flatte

  Michael Flatté, Theory of semiconductors


  • Theory of manipulation of electron spin in semiconductors with strong laser fields
  • Applications of research include quantum computing
  • Students also interact with other group members, including postdocs and other students, and with experimenters in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Chemistry
  • Students develop skills including analytical and numerical techniques and programming C++
  • Placement opportunities for graduate students include industry participants in our research
John Prineas

  John Prineas, Experimental photonics


  • Interdisciplinary effort in developing optoelectronic sensors for medical applications
  • Slow light and optical switching in semiconductor quantum wells and superlattices; antimonide materials growth for near- and mid-infrared optoelectronic devices
  • Two labs, including an ultrafast spectroscopy lab, and a cleanroom with two molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) machines equipped for III-V semiconductor growth
Arthur Smirl

  Arthur Smirl, Experimental quantum optics


  • Nonlinear optical techniques with femtosecond time resolution used to measure quantum mechanical phenomena and coherence in semiconductors
  • Optical methods used to control the direction and spin of carrier populations and currents and to investigate the transport of carriers through quantum wells and potential barriers
  • Five laboratories (5,000 sq. ft.) including femtosecond lasers
  • MS and PhD graduates employed in industry, government labs or academia including professors
Markus Wohlgenannt
  Markus Wohlgenannt, Experimental spectroscopy of organic
  semiconductors


  • Light absorption, reflection and emission, continuous wave photo-induced (nonlinear) absorption
  • Organic dyes in unusual optical cavities, such as photonic crystals (crystal lattice constant is equal to light wavelength) and Bragg-reflectors, "random lasing"
  • Facilities include a spectroscopy facility using a cw laser; fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes, resonators and opals
  • Students participate in worldwide collaborations with semiconducting organics, chemistry and electrical engineering departments
  • Placement opportunities gained from learning include semiconductor or fiber optics industry, government labs, and academia