State Research Center for Optics and Material Sciences
The State Research Center for Optics and Material Sciences connects two areas of research for which the University of Kaiserslautern has a national and international reputation, founded upon relevant contributions to the development of laser physics, photonics and plasmonics. Researchers in Kaiserslautern have also been prominent in the development of magnetic, electronic and molecular materials, as well as thin films, nanostructures and ultracold quantum gases. In order to continue building on this research foundation, OPTIMAS has been established at TU Kaiserslautern within the framework of the research initiative of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Research at OPTIMAS
OPTIMAS combines natural and engineering sciences in the research areas of optics and material sciences. The participating researchers bring together their expertise in the areas of
Their multifaceted projects include both fundamental and technologically oriented research, and fall under the general theme of "Light – Spin – Matter". Several OPTIMAS research objectives are thematically extremely broad and can only be pursued through the combination of multiple model-based and experimental approaches. The "Light – Spin – Matter" core unites diverse cutting-edge research areas such as
A typical example of the wide range of OPTIMAS research objectives is Spin Engineering. This research area includes
spin chains,
artificial materials such as ultra-cold gases,
chemical systems such as poly-nuclear transition metal complexes,
organic and inorganic semiconductors and
ferromagnetic nanostructures.
Spin engineering also leads to applications, for example in the development of new materials for computer memory and novel sensors.
Members
Research groups from four different departments at TU Kaiserslautern – , , , as well as – are members of OPTIMAS. Several additional research centers and institutions are also members:
the Nano Structuring Center TU Kaiserslautern,
the Institut für Oberflächen- und Schichtanalytik
the Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe,
the Department "Materials Characterization and Testing" of the Fraunhofer Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik.
The balance between theoretical, experimental, and applied research groups is characteristic for the Research Center. Since OPTIMAS is a dynamic research association whose primary research themes are on a path of continuous development, its membership composition is likewise continuously adapting. Most of the scientists of OPTIMAS are in their international scientific community well known due to their publication activity in internationally journals. The current manager of operations at OPTIMAS is, Professor Martin Aeschlimann.
SFB/TRR 49 „Condensed Matter Systems with Variable Many-Body Interactions”, since 07/2007, together with University of Frankfurt and University of Mainz, as well as , and
SFB/TRR 88 3MET „Cooperative Effects in Homo- and Heterometallic Complexes“, since 01/2011, together with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
SFB 926 „Microscale Morphology of Component Surfaces “, since 07/2011;
SFB/TRR 173 Spin+X „Spin in its collective environment”, since 01/2016, together with University of Mainz;
SFB/TRR 185 OSCAR „Open System Control of Atomic and Photonic Matter“, since 07/2016, together with University of Bonn.
The strategic aim of OPTIMAS is to further advance research and education in the interdisciplinary areas of photonics, spintronics, molecular and magnetic functional materials, and nanostructures. OPTIMAS is furthermore actively involved in the appointment of highly acclaimed scientists as well as in the recruitment of young scientists. OPTIMAS supports the funding acquisition of its associated research groups by strengthening their research infrastructure, such as by maintaining and upgrading research equipment, and by interdisciplinary networking.
