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May 2013:

Upcoming Seminar Tue. 14th May at 14h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)

«Charge Carrier Dynamics in Solar Cell Materials Probed by Time Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy» Carlito S. Ponseca Jr., Ph.D. Department of Chemical Physics Lund University, Sweden

April 2013:

Upcoming Seminar Thu. 25th April at 14h15 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)

«Science and Industry – Is there a Path and a Future?» Frans Nauwelaers, PhD Director, scientific affairs at Becton Dickinson Abstract link

March 2013:

Upcoming Seminar Wed. 28th at 11h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Aerosol formation, transformation, elimination, and impact: Elucidation of relevant processes» Dr. Urs Baltensperger Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Wed. 26th at 15h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Exploiting Polarization in Time-Resolved IR Spectroscopy – Dynamic Information, Signal Enhancement and Chirality» Dr. Jan Helbing Physikalisch-chemisches Institut Universität Zürich Abstract link

February 2013:

Dr. Mary Matthews awarded a Marie Heim Vögtlin Grant

Marie Heim Vögtlin, (1845-1916), was the first female doctor in Switzerland, and the MHV grant is for female scientists who have had a career break for family reasons. It is available to all science disciplines and the SNSF awards ~35 fellowships a year based on the research proposals of eligible candidates. Dr Matthews successfully submitted a proposal, working at the GAP Bio-photonics Laboratory, to investigate the use of laser filamentation to probe atmospheric processes. Dr Matthews returns to physics research after a career break to look after her two young children, having begun her research career at Imperial College London. She is delighted to accept the grant, which will start in February 2013. Marie Heim-Vögtlin (MHV) grants link

January 2013:

New project involving the Swiss solar-powered vessel that completed the first round-the-world trip in 2012

«PLANET SOLAR DEEPWATER PROJECT» This project is designed to use Planet Solar, the Swiss solar-powered boat that completed a round-the-world trip in 2012, to undertake high-tech measurements of water mass transistions along the Gulf Stream and in the vicinity of regions of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation, a crucial element of the oceanic thermohaline circulation - and a major regulator of global climate Project link Poster link

December 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Wed. 19th at 11h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)

«Nonlinear Optics in Semiconductor and Oxide Nanoparticles for Far-Field Imaging Applications» Dr. Rachel Grange Institute of Applied Physics Friedrich Schiller University, Jena Germany Abstract link

November 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Fri. 30th at 14h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Quantitative studies of filament interaction with matter for spectroscopic applications» Dr. Matthieu Baudelet Townes Laser Institute University of Central Florida (USA) Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Wed. 14th at 14h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Tumour mouse models for probe evaluation in NAMDIATREAM» Dr. Julia Eva Mathejczyk Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine Göttingen, Germany Abstract link

October 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Tue. October 23th at 16h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)

«ELECTRONIC AND VIBRATIONAL RELAXATION DYNAMICS IN MOLECULAR SYSTEMS INVESTIGATED WITH FEMTOSECOND UV SPECTROSCOPIES» Prof. Andrea Cannizzo Institut für Angewandte Physik (IAP) Universität Bern Abstract link

Inside front cover of small vol 8 issue 17

«High-Speed Tracking of Murine Cardiac Stem Cells by Harmonic Nanodoublers» Abstract Potassium niobate nonlinear nanoparticles are used for the fi rst time to monitor the evolution of embryonic stem cells (ESC) by second harmonic microscopy. These particles feature the complete absence of photo-bleaching and unlimited excitation wavelength fl exibility. The potential of this approach is made evident for tissueregeneration studies and applications, by capturing a high-speed movie of ESCderived cardiomyocytes autonomously beating within a cluster. Time-resolved data are analyzed to retrieve 3D information of the contraction pattern at the cellular level. small, 8 (17), 2752-2756 (2012) [DOI: 10.1002/smll.201200366]

September 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Tue. September 25th at 16h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«High-order harmonic generation for molecular imaging» Dr. Caterina Vozzi Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Milano (Italy) Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Tue. September 18th at 15h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Femtosecond UV multidimensional spectroscopy: Applications, Techniques and Challenges» Dr. Gerald Auböck Laboratory of Ultrafast Spectroscopy LSU EPFL (Switzerland)

August 2012:

Front Cover of Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics vol 45

«Laser-assisted water condensation in the atmosphere: a step towards modulating precipitation?» Abstract We review the recent results about laser-induced condensation based on self-guided filaments generated by ultrashort laser pulses. After recalling the physico-chemistry of cloud particle formation in the atmosphere and the physics of laser filamentation, we discuss experimental results on laser-induced condensation and its relevance for modulating precipitation. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 45 (29) (2012) [DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/45/29/293001]

July 2012:

	Interview of Prof. Jean-Pierre Wolf in Le Journal du matin July 30, 2012 La vie dans 100 ans 1/10: contrôler le temps qu’il fait download MP3 (4.7 Mb)
Nuit de la Science 2012 Le 7 juillet 2012, tout semblait normal autour du Musée d’Histoire des Sciences de Genève … …enfin, tout semblait normal jusqu’à ce qu’une horde d’irréductibles scientifiques en tout genre débarque au parc de la Perle-du-Lac afin de mettre en contact le grand public et la science lors des “Nuits de la Science”. Le groupe GAP Biophotonics de l’Université de Genève était bien entendu de la partie pour ce curieux week-end ayant lieu tous les deux ans! Dans la joie et la bonne humeur les membres du groupe sont venus présenter quelques expériences sur le thème “cherchez l’erreur” et expliquer les centres d'intérêt actuels des chercheurs. Au menu du week-end, chambre à nuage pour illustrer la condensation par filamentation, laser à air, pollens et une toute nouvelle expérience sur le contrôle cohérent des molécules! Les “Nuits de la Science” ont attiré plus de 30 000 visiteurs qui ont ainsi pu débattre et partager avec environ 400 scientifiques, prouvant l’intérêt du public pour la science. Gallerie photo link http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/nuit/	Science Night 2012 On Saturday 7th July 2012, everything seemed normal around the Geneva’s Museum of History of Science… …until a indomitable horde of scientists of all kinds turned up to host hands-on science activities at the Perle-du-Lac Park during the “Science Nights”. Of course, the GAP Biophotonics group of the University of Geneva was there for this bi-annual popular event during the week end. With joy and good mood, the group members showed some experiments on the theme “what’s wrong with this picture?” and explained the researchers’ present interests. The week end’s menu consisted of a cloud chamber to illustrate water condensation by filamentation, an “air-laser”, pollens, and a brand new experiment on coherent control of molecules! The “Science Nights” attracted more than 30 000 visitors to discuss with roughly 400 scientists, showing the great interest of people in science. Picture gallery link http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/nuit/
Upcoming Seminar Thu. July 17th at 14h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Using shaped ultrafast laser pulses to detect enzyme binding» Dr. Brett J. Pearson Department of Physics and Astronomy Dickinson College (USA) Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Thu. July 12th at 14h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Surprising findings in the physics of filament formation» Dr. Günter Steinmeyer Max-Born Institute, Berlin

June 2012:

Front Cover in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics vol 14

«Ultrafast laser spectroscopy and control of atmospheric aerosols» Abstract We review applications of ultrafast laser pulses for aerosol analysis via linear and non-linear spectroscopy, including the most advanced techniques like coherent control of molecular excited states. We also discuss the capability of such pulses to influence the nucleation of atmospheric aerosols by assisting condensation of water in air. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 14, 9291-9300 (2012) [DOI: 10.1039/C2CP23576E]

May 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Wed. May 30th at 15h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Applications of ultrafast, tuneable, mid-IR spectroscopy: solid state quantum optics and cell imaging for cancer diagnosis» Dr. Mary Matthews Blackett Laboratory Imperial College London
Upcoming Seminar Thu. May 24th at 14h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Spatio-temporal controlling of utlra-short pulses through a multiply scattering medium via spectral pulse shaping» Dr. Ayhan Tajalli Laboratoire CAR (CNRS) Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse
Upcoming Seminar Wed. May 23th at 14h00 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Structural and optical probing of gas phase biomolecular ions» Dr. Philippe Dugourd Laboratoire de Spectrometrie Ionique et Moleculaire C.N.R.S. et Universite Lyon I
Upcoming Seminar Thu. May 10th at 14h30 Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Extreme events in nature, rogue wave in optics» Prof. John Dudley University of Franche-Comté and Institut Universitaire de France Abstract link

February 2012:

Upcoming Seminar Thu. February 9th at 11h Room 03 Maison de Pinchat (Chemin de Pinchat, 22 - Carouge GE)	«Detection and Spectroscopy of Airborne Nanoparticules by LIBS» Dr. Emeric FREJAFON INERIS France
	«ERC Advanced Grant » Abstract Jean-Pierre Wolf was awarded a prestigious ERC (European Research Council) Advanced Grant for his works on high field-matter interactions and in particular laser filamentation article link European Resarch Council link

December 2011:

Article in Migros Magazine n°47	«Un laser pour faire tomber la pluie» Abstract Dans le cadre d’un projet international, des chercheurs genevois ont réussi à créer des gouttes à partir d’un appareil surpuissant. article link Migros Magazine 47 link
Upcoming event Thu. December 8 from 10.30 AM to 17.00 PM Salle MANEP, Physics Department 24, quai Ernest-Ansermet 1205 Genève	NCCR MUST Education Day The aim of the day is for the PI's to work with the MUST Directors and Education Delegate to initiate the Education and Outreach part of NCCR MUST, prioritize the future activities, then set events in motion. The program involves presentations on Photonics Outreach days Bern, successful educational methods, portable teaching tools, and contributions from the organizers of PhysiScope and Chimiscope, Uni Geneva. Program link
Building view	The GAP has moved !!! NEW Address since November 7th Please note that the zip code used for Visitors and delivery is different than for Mailing and small shipping. Université de Genève GAP Biophotonics Chemin de Pinchat 22 Visitors and delivery: CH - 1227 Carouge Mailing and small shipping: CH - 1211 Genève 4 Suisse /Switzerland New general Phone: GAP secretariat Tel. +41 22 379 05 00 Fax. +41 22 379 05 59 Please note that all phone numbers have changed updated list here

October 2011:

Upcoming Seminar Fri. October 28th at 14h30 Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Conformational Dynamics and Diversity of Single G Protein-Coupled Receptors» Dr. Alexandre Fuerstenberg Department of Structural Biology and Bioinformatics University of Geneva Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Tue. October 13th at 11h15 am Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Two Types of Photoluminescence Blinking Revealed by Single Quantum Dot Spectroelectrochemistry» Dr Christophe Galland Los Alamos National Labs Abstract link
	Interview of Jérôme Kasparian in "Le Journal de l'Unige" about the research conducted at GAP-Biophotonics on laser-assisted water condensation (See Nature Communications article: «Field measurements suggest the mechanism of laser-assisted water condensation» [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1462] Article link
Upcoming Seminar Tue. October 4th at 2 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Optical Imaging from Tissue to Molecule » Prof. Theo Lasser Laboratoire d'Optique biomedicale - EPFL, Lausanne (Switzerland) Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Tue. October 4th at 2 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Triplet Imaging of Oxygen Consumption during the Contraction of a Single Smooth Muscle Cell (A7r5)» Dr. Matthias Geissbühler Laboratoire d'Optique biomedicale - EPFL, Lausanne (Switzerland) Abstract link
	Interview of Prof. Jean-Pierre Wolf in Les Temps Modernes, 04 October 2011 download MP3 (8.8 Mb)

September 2011:

Article in "La Tribune" link 125 Kb	Interview of Stefano Henin in "La Tribune" about his research after publication in Nature Communications of the new article: «Field measurements suggest the mechanism of laser-assisted water condensation» [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1462]
From left to right: P. Griot (Responsable Assurance Qualité), M. Pohl (Président de la section de physique), Pierre Béjot, S. Haefeli (Directeur Manufacture), J.-D. Vassalli (Recteur de l’Université de Genève), S. Knop (Directeur Communication), picture by A. Morvan	Dr. Pierre Béjot wins the Vacheron-Constantin Science award 2011 For his PHD thesis « Theoretical and experimental investigations of ultrashort laser filamentation in gases » PhD thesis 18 Mb Article in "L'Hebdo" 125 Kb Vacheron-Constantin web site
Article in "Le Temps" about Nature Communications   Article in "Le Temps" link 210 Kb	New article in Nature Communications «Field measurements suggest the mechanism of laser-assisted water condensation» Abstract Because of the potential impact on agriculture and other key human activities, efforts have been dedicated to the local control of precipitation. The most common approach consists of dispersing small particles of dry ice, silver iodide, or other salts in the atmosphere. Here we show, using field experiments conducted under various atmospheric conditions, that laser filaments can induce water condensation and fast droplet growth up to several µm in diameter in the atmosphere as soon as the relative humidity exceeds 70%. We propose that this effect relies mainly on photochemical formation of p.p.m.-range concentrations of hygroscopic HNO3, allowing efficient binary HNO3–H2O condensation in the laser filaments. Thermodynamic, as well as kinetic, numerical modelling based on this scenario semiquantitatively reproduces the experimental results, suggesting that particle stabilization by HNO3 has a substantial role in the laser-induced condensation. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1462]

August 2011:

Upcoming Seminar Frid. August 19th at 10 am Auditoire Stuckelberg Ecole de Physique (Quai Ernest Ansermet, 24 - Geneva)

«Why is chemical synthesis and property optimization easier than expected?» Prof. Herschel Rabitz Princeton University Abstract link

May 2011:

Réalisée sur le nouveau système A1R-MP, cette image de cellule tumorale du sein, dont les membranes sont marquées en rouge par une molécule fluorescente montre en bleu le contraste obtenu avec les nouveaux marqueurs proposés par le GAP-Biophotonics. Ces derniers ne souffrent pas de photo-bleaching, contrairement aux marqueurs fluorescents. © Gap-Biophotonics/Nikon (Unpublished).	Etroite collaboration entre Nikon Instruments et le GAP-Biophotonics sur la microscopie non-linéaire Les techniques d’imagerie optique sont en constante évolution et permettent de nos jours la compréhension de phénomènes toujours plus complexes dans des domaines aussi divers que la biologie, la médecine ou la physique. Parmi ces techniques, la microscopie dite non-linéaire revêt un intérêt particulier car comparé aux techniques standard elle permet d’imager des tissus vivants, sans altérer les cellules, sur des profondeurs de l’ordre du millimètre. Dans le cadre du nouveau projet européen, FP7 Framework, le groupe GAP-Biophotonics du Prof. Jean-Pierre Wolf a scellé un partenariat avec la Division Instruments de la société Nikon. Le dernier né des systèmes de microscopie non-linéaire Nikon, le confocal multiphoton A1R-MP, a été installé dernièrement dans les locaux du GAP dans l’Ancienne Ecole de Médecine. Disposant d’un nouveau scanner hybride à haute vitesse, ce système permettra de démontrer les potentialités de nouveaux marqueurs pour la détection précoce de tumeurs. Cette approche, proposée par les chercheurs du GAP-Biophotonics, est basée sur les propriétés optiques non-linéaires d’une nouvelle famille de nanoparticules et doit permettre à terme de pouvoir dépasser les limites des nano-sondes actuelles. Grâce à l’utilisation de la dernière génération d’objectifs Nikon λS qui permet de travailler dans l’infrarouge, région spectrale moins sensible à la diffusion de la lumière, la profondeur d’imagerie de tissus sera largement améliorée. Contact pour tout intérêt (visite ou collaboration) Prof. Jean-Pierre Wolf : ; +41 22 379 65 94 Dr. Luigi Bonacina : ; +41 22 379 65 96
Upcoming Seminar Wed. May 25th at 2 pm Auditoire Stuckelberg Ecole de Physique (Quai Ernest Ansermet, 24 - Geneva)	« Spectroscopy of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene » Prof. Tony Heinz Columbia University, NY
Upcoming Seminar Thur. May 5th at 2 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Time-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy: femtosecond and attosecond dynamics in molecules» Prof. Dr. Hans Jakob Wörner Laboraotrium für physikalische Chemie, ETH Zürich
Upcoming Seminar Frid. May 6th at 2.30 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	«Acceleration of Electrons and Ions by Intense Laser Pulses» Prof. Joshi Chandrasekhar University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Abstract link

April 2011:

Upcoming Seminar Wed. April 13th at 2 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	« Nano-reporters and nano-bullets: how nanotechnology advances enable to probe and target human cellular structures? » Yuri Volkov, PhD, MD Trinity College and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Dublin, Ireland Abstract link
Upcoming Seminar Wed. April 13th at 3.15 pm Room 135 Ancienne Ecole de Medecine (Rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 20 - Geneva)	« High Aspect Ratio Nanoparticles used in Nanomedicine » Adriele Prina-Mello, PhD, MSc Trinity College Dublin, School of Medicine Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) Dublin, Ireland Abstract link

April 2011:

Lundi 4 avril 2011, 17h00 Ecole de Physique, Auditoire Stueckelberg

« Elements of a photonic quantum network » Prof. Ian Walmsley Hooke Professor of Experimental Physics Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research University of Oxford Abstract link

January 2011:

New CRC Press book "Fundamentals and Applications in Aerosol Spectroscopy" [DOI: 10.1201/b10417] Edited by Ruth Signorell and Jonathan P . Reid Chapter 13 "Femtosecond Spectroscopy and Detection of Bioaerosols" written by L. Bonacina and J.-P. Wolf

October 2010:

Launching of the NCCR-MUST website The NCCR-MUST is an interdisciplinary research program launched by the Swiss National Science Foundation in 2010. It brings together 15 Swiss research groups working in Ultrafast Science across the fields of physics and chemistry. The focus in MUST (Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology) is to create new experimental and theoretical tools and to apply them to unravel the fastest processes in the physics and chemistry of natural and manmade matter. Experimental tools rely on ever-shorter sources of electromagnetic radiation, be it ultraviolet, visible, infrared or even bursts of X-rays. Currently, we are witnessing further huge steps forward in these technologies. New sources of femtosecond X-ray pulses, such as the slicing scheme at synchrotrons, or the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL), are built or planned - one of them at the PSI (SwissFEL). Electron diffraction reaches ultrafast time scales, techniques similar to NMR are extended into the IR and UV/VIS spectrum, attosecond pulses of light bring us to the time scales of electron motion, and intense THz pulses allow for direct excitation of structural modes. Improved, and even novel, theoretical tools emerge from constantly growing computational capabilities, which in turn enable us to tackle previously unsolved problems. Read more under : Link: http://www.nccr-must.ch

July 2010:

10-11 Juillet 2010 : Nuit de la Science a Geneve Pour fêter les 50 ans de l'invention du laser le GAP-Biophotonics a participé en force à la Nuit de la Science 2010: démonstration d'un laser fonctionnant a l'air, pincettes laser pour piéger et attraper des bactéries et des pollens, et enfin LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, voir photo) permettant de détecter les particules polluantes et les nuages jusqu'a 15 km d'altitude. Lien: http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/nuit/

May 2010:

New publication in nature Photonics Laser-induced water condensation in air GAP Biophotonics researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Lyon and Free University of Berlin, managed for the first time to initiate water vapor condensation using ultrashort laser pulses. They generated water microdroplets in both laboratory conditions and in the free atmosphere. Although the generated droplets are still much smaller than raindrops this achievement demonstrates that lasers could be used to modulate weather. DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2010.115 Abstract link

April 2010:

Abstract link DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.103903

New light on light filaments Ultrashort, high laser pulses (with powers from the GW to the TW, comparable to the production of 1 or 1000 power plants and durations shorter than 100 fs, a time during which light propagates over a distance as short as the diameter of an hair) launched in a transparent media generate self-guided "filaments of light". These filaments are at the root of spectacular potential applications like lightning control, remote sensing of atmospheric pollution, remote material ablation or analysis, or the generation of THz radiation. Up to now, they were believed to originate from the ionization of the medium, which tends to balance the self-focusing (Kerr effect) induced by the high intensity of the laser beam. Rather, we show that ionization is a by-product of filamentation, which is governed by the newly measured defocusing higher-orders of non-linearity which balance the Kerr effect and allow self-guiding. This better understanding of the physics of filamentation allows a better and easier modeling of the process in view of its optimization for each of the specific envisioned applications.

short version (674 Kb) link full version (1.9 Mb) link

Revue Campus 98 Dossier Laser, 50 ans d'illumination Inventé en 1960 par Théodore Maiman, le laser était à l’origine «une solution cherchant un problème». Il est rapidement devenu un rayon à tout faire, qu’il s’agisse de lire de la musique ou de faire tomber la foudre Bien avant l’invention du laser, on a prêté à la lumière de terrifiants pouvoirs destructeurs. Entre science et fiction, retour sur l’histoire du «rayon de la mort» Les lasers d’aujourd’hui sont capables de produire des impulsions d’une brièveté inégalée et d’une puissance spectaculaire. Petit voyage dans les mondes des superlatifs

March 2010:

"WEATHER MAKERS": The german TV Channel ZDF (link) reports on our activities about meteorological modulation using Terawatt lasers in its famous science-discoveries emission called "Abenteuer Wissen" Look at it on-line: link

February 2010:

GAP building view across the Arve river during construction of the new Wilsdorf bridge
November 2009	February 2010

December 2009:

The Biophotonics Group wish you a pleasant Christmas and a Happy New Year

July 2009:

Picture by M. Moret

TERAMOBILE arrives in Geneva The TERAMOBILE (link) is now in Geneva. It can be seen in front of the Physics building (link). The Teramobile system is the first mobile laser yielding 5 terawatts (TW) and 100 fs (10-13 s) pulses, with 350 mJ pulse energy at 10 Hz repetition rate. It concentrates the state-of-the-art laser technology in a 20’ standard freight container, allowing field measurement campaigns.

June 2009:

Illustration: Alan Stonebraker

Quantum Control of Tightly Competitive Product Channels Fundamental selectivity limits of quantum control are pushed by introducing laser driven optimal dynamic discrimination to create distinguishing excitations on two nearly identical flavin molecules. Even with modest spectral resources, significant specificity is achieved with optimal pulse shapes, which amplify small molecular differences to create distinct, identifying signals. Rather than being a hindrance, system complexity appears to aid the control process and augments control field capability, which bodes well for implementation of quantum control in a variety of demanding applications. M. Roth, L. Guyon, J. Roslund, V. Boutou, F. Courvoisier, J.-P. Wolf, and H. Rabitz Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 253001 (2009) [DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.253001] Selected as Viewpoint in in Physics.aps.org Distinguishing between molecules that look the same, T. Weinacht Physics 2, 51 (2009) [DOI: 10.1103/Physics.2.51]

Mai 2009:

PERSPECTIVES IN SCIENCE : CURVED LASER BEAMS By using Airy shaped beam profiles, it was recently shown that curved laser induced plasma channels can be generated. This "rifle shooting in a corner"-like behavior is due to the fact that an Airy beam consists in a main intensity peak on one side of the propagation axis, and a broad tail on the other side, so that the beam's center of gravity still propagates on a straight line. However, if the laser intensity is high enough, non-linear effects like the ionization of the air molecules, take place only where intensity is maximum, namely on the curved trajectory of the main intensity peak. We discuss the properties and applications of these new curved high intensity laser beams in the April 10 issue of Science magazine. J. Kasparian, J.P. Wolf, Science 324, 194 (2009) [DOI: 10.1126/science.1172244] P. Polynkin, M.Kolesik, J.V. Moloney et al, Science 324, 229 (2009)

March 2009:

215 Kb [DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2009.9]

Dr Jérôme Kasparian interview in Nature Photonics "Lightning control by lasers"

October 2008:

740 Kb

Palais de la découverte "Un chercheur une manipe" October 7 - December 14, 2008 - Paris

July 2008:

24 Minutes Chrono, 01 July 2008 download as MP3 (28.2 Mb) and 04 july 2008 download as Mp3 (27 Mb).

Mai 2008:

La Science de Pain, 23 May 2008 download as MP3 (1.6 Mb).

April 2008:

	Télévision Suisse Romande Evening news (Téléjournal, 19:30), 24 April. dowload as RealMedia (5.7 Mb)
	Communiqué de presse de l'Université de Genève "Coup de foudre à l'UNIGE" (120 kb)
	Revue Campus 80 "Chasseur d'éclairs en quête de coup de foudre" (154 kb)
(950 kb free download)	NEW PAPER IN OPTICS EXPRESS: Electric events synchronized with laser filaments in thunderclouds, Jerome Kasparian, Roland Ackermann, Yves-Bernard André, Grégoire Méchain, Guillaume Méjean, Bernard Prade, Philipp Rohwetter, Estelle Salmon, Kamil Stelmaszczyk, Jin Yu, André Mysyrowicz, Roland Sauerbrey, Ludger Woeste, and Jean-Pierre Wolf, Optics Express, 16(8), 5757-5763 (2008) [DOI: 10.1364/OE.16.005757]

January 2008:

(1.3 Mb free download)	REVIEW PAPER IN OPTICS EXPRESS ON NONLINEAR OPTICS IN THE ATMOSPHERE: Physics and applications of atmospheric nonlinear optics and filamentation, J. Kasparian, J.-P. Wolf, Optics Express, 16(1), 466-493 (2008)
(180kb)	A cycle of public conferences organized by "CULTURE et RENCONTRE" (link) and University of Geneva will be held at Collège de Saussure (Petit-Lancy, Geneva) during January and begining of February on Metorology, Climate, and Pollution. Prof J.-P. WOLF and Prof. M. BENISTON from GAP will give a talk (January, 16th and February, 6th resp.).

July 2007:

A3 file 1,1 Mb

Quantum Information, Quantum Control and Quantum Optics Poster Prize awarded to Ariana Rondi at the Femtochemistry and Femtobiology 8 Conference in Oxford, 22-27 July 2007. See related publication: L. Bonacina, J. Extermann, A. Rondi, V. Boutou, J.-P. Wolf, Multiobjective genetic approach for optimal control of photoinduced processes, Physical Review A 76, 023408 (2007) Link ( 550 Kb)

 

May 2007:

Range-Resolved Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Series: Springer Series in Optical Sciences, Vol. 102

April 2007:

Cover of APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS Vol.90 Num.15 32 TW atmospheric white-light laser P. Béjot et al. App. Phys. Lett. 90, 151106 (2007) link ( 250 kb)

May 2006:

	Palais de la découverte "Un chercheur une manipe" may 23 - july 3, 2006 - Paris
	Prof. J.P. Wolf's radio interview broadcasted on May 19 2006 during the program called "Mordicus" entitled "De quelle etoffe sont faits les arcs-en-ciel?"
	The GAP Biophotonics at "La journée de l'Europe" in Paris on may 9, 2006

April  2006:

Prof. J.P. Wolf's interview on TV about "What is the purpose of fundamental research" Link (5 min streaming)

Prof. Jean-Pierre Wolf and the TERAMOBILE team won "LE PRIX LA RECHERCHE" 2005. Photo ( 180 Kb)

Links: La Recherche, l'actualité des sciences (Home page), Le Prix la Recherche (Home page)

November  2005:

Uni Kids 2005

L'Université à accueilli, du 7 au 12 novembre, des enfants de 10 à 12 ans afin de leur faire découvrir la science en la vivant et en la partageant avec celles et ceux qui la font.
Intitulée Kids University ou Université Européenne pour les enfants, cette initiative à été menée simultanément pendant une semaine au sein de dix universités européennes
partenaires de la League of European Research Universities (LERU).

A l’UNIGE, cette première édition s’est articulée autour de la physique et de Jules Verne. Cours donné dans le cadre de Uni Kids sur le thême:

"De la terre à la lune" de Jules Verne download (3.5 Mb)

(public cible: jeunes de 10 à 12 ans)