Nanophotonics in the focus of an electron microscope

Efficient light manipulation is crucial in the design of next-generation photonic devices. Driven by the societal need for higher integration, lower energy consumption, and enlarged functionality, future information and communications technology (ICT) depends on ever smaller photonic components. Electron spectroscopy is a prime tool to probe photonic structures at the nanoscale, achieving spatial resolution well beyond the capabilities of traditional optics. In the proposed project, I will employ this method to explore metamaterials with chiral, time-varying, or topological properties. Such materials have shown great potential for light modulation in space and/or time as components in photonic circuits, waveguides, nanoantennas, and biosensors. By developing the analytical and numerical tools to model these exotic structures, I aim to design novel platforms for energy-efficient light steering and sensing of minimal size and material resources for biomedical and ICT applications.