To: 18/02/2026 13:00
Plasmo-photonic sensing platforms offer a compelling pathway toward highly sensitive, miniaturized, and fully integrable bio-chemical detection systems. By combining the strong electromagnetic confinement of plasmonic nanostructures with the low-loss propagation and multiplexing capabilities of dielectric photonic integrated circuits, these hybrid architectures substantially enhance light–matter interaction while preserving scalability and on-chip functionality. In this seminar, I will present the theoretical framework, device design methodologies, and experimental implementation of plasmo-photonic sensors based on both interferometric and resonant configurations, including double-arm (Mach–Zehnder) interferometers, Bragg-assisted cavities, and single-arm bimodal waveguide structures. Emphasis will be placed on engineering sensitivity beyond conventional evanescent-field limitations, analyzing performance trade-offs and optimizing key performance indicators.
To: 18/02/2026 12:00
In this talk, I will present a multifunctional platform based on 2D-material tunnel junctions for nanoscale light sources, detectors, sensors and memristive devices. I will show that in graphene-based junctions, inelastic electron tunneling couples efficiently to excitons in low-dimensional materials via near-field electromagnetic interactions, without direct charge injection into the optically active layer [1,2]. This Förster-type energy-transfer process enables exciton excitation with efficiencies up to four orders of magnitude higher than photon-mediated coupling [1] and is governed by the local electromagnetic environment and photonic density of states of the junction.
I will show how this platform enables electrically driven electroluminescence from a wide range of emitters, including TMD monolayers, colloidal quantum dots, perovskite nanocrystals, and molecular dyes, through simple integration with graphene-based junctions. Moreover, tunneling-driven energy transfer enables multi-electron processes that allow sub-bandgap exciton generation and nonlinear excitation pathways enhanced by the local density of states [3] and can be extended to exciton-polariton generation in magnetic 2D materials such as CrSBr, leading to polarized electroluminescence [4]. On the detection side, energy-transfer-mediated coupling enhances photodetector performance, boosting the photoresponse of a MoSe2 junction by more than 18x using a WS2 antenna layer [5]. Finally, I will briefly discuss about how tunnel junctions coupled to optical antennas can work as self-illuminated plasmonic sensors [6] and how high electric fields in ultrathin 2D tunnel barriers enable controllable non-volatile memristive behavior through defect engineering of MoS2 [7].
[1] S. Papadopoulos et al., arXiv:2209.11641 (2022).
[2] L. Wang, S. Papadopoulos, F. Iyikanat et al., Nature Materials 22, 1094 (2023).
[3] S. Shan, J. Huang et al., Nano Letters 23, 10908 (2023).
[4] J. D. Ziegler et al., Science Advances 11, eadz6724 (2025).
[5] Y. Koyaz, S. Papadopoulos et al., ACS Photonics 12, 5390–5398 (2025).
[6] J. Lee, Y. Wu, I. Sinev et al., Nature Photonics, 19, 938–945 (2025).
[7] S. Papadopoulos et al., Physical Review Applied, 18, 014018 (2022).
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To: 09/02/2026 16:30
In my talk, after an introduction to the field of quantum optics with cold atomic gases, I will be presenting a number of experiments that demonstrate that the versatility of light-matter interactions in a cold atomic ensemble, and how this enabled us to access seemingly unrelated physical phenomena. These observations range from the creation of a non-Hermitian quantum interface between single atoms and light, to the simultaneous manipulation of the spatiotemporal wavefunctions of single photons, and finally to the induction of fictitious magnetic fields by spatially engineered light for quantum storage.
Vasileios Kitkas studied Physics at the Physics Department of the University of Crete (B.Sc., 2024) and is currently a postgraduate student in the MSc program “Photonics & Nanoelectronics” at the same department. His main research interests lie in the field of Optics, with emphasis on hyperspectral imaging and diffuse reflectance (DR) techniques.
He carried out his undergraduate thesis under the title “Diffuse reflectance for the identification of inks and pigments on manuscripts”. He is currently conducting his MSc thesis at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of FORTH in Heraklion, within the Photonics for heritage science group (PhoHS), focusing on the study of medieval inks and pigments in manuscripts and palimpsests, as well as the investigation of post-Byzantine books using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
Education
- Currentrly , MSc, Photonics and nanoelectronics, Physics Department, University of Crete, Greece
- 2024, Bachelor Physics Department, University of Crete, Greece
Interests
- Optics, with emphasis on hyperspectral imaging and diffuse reflectance techniques
- Imaging identification and study of medieval inks and pigments in palimpsest manuscripts and early printed books
Ioanna Stefanopoulou holds a Chemical Engineer diploma from the National Technical University of Athens and a MSc in Science and Technology for the Conservation of cultural heritage obtained at Sapienza University of Rome. Her studies mainly focus on spectroscopic techniques for the study of pigments and pictorial materials, often combined with chemometrics.
Education
- 2025, MSc, Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome
- 2021, BSc, Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Interests
- micro-FTIR spectroscopy
- microRaman spectroscopy
- External reflectance FTIR
- Fiber Optics Reflectance spectroscopy
- Multivariate analysis
Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Engineering with a strong mathematical and algorithmic background in signal processing, graph signal processing, and data-driven modeling. Experienced in designing and implementing cutting-edge Machine Learning and Deep Learning solutions for complex, multimodal data. Core interests include digital signal processing, graph-based representations, and multimodal data integration. Skilled in advanced statistical methodologies, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis for robust feature extraction and modeling (h-index 8).
Education
- 2022, Ph.D Diploma, University of Crete, Computer Science Department, Crete, Greece
- 2015, M.Sc, Technical University of Crete, Department of Electronic Engineering, Crete, Greece
- 2013, B.Sc, Technical University of Crete, Department of Electronic Engineering, Crete, Greece
Career
- 2021-Current, Computational BioMedicine Laboratory (CBML)-FORTH, Crete, Greece
Interests
- Signal and image processing
- Graph signal processing
- Quantitative and statistical analysis
- Machine and deep learning
Marina Polizzi is a PhD student focusing on active fiber laser cleaning of the Technology for Cultural Heritage doctoral school of the University of Turin. She is a conservator of cultural heritage, with a specialization on stone materials, mosaics, plaster and decorated surfaces of architecture. Currently she is doing a PhD in collaboration with the Centro di Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale and the El.En. Group on the use of active fiber laser for cleaning artworks, with particular emphasis on polychrome materials.
Education
- 2023-current: PhD student, Technology for Cultural Heritage, University of Turin, Italy
- 2023 - Master Degree in Conservation and Restauration of Cultural Heritage, University of Turin, Italy
Interests
- Laser cleaning of cultural heritage materials
- Active fiber lasers, study of the adjustable parameters and their interaction with the materials
- Use of chemometrics for the study of cultural heritage
- IR Spectroscopy, XRF, SEM/EDS, application of colorimetry and profilometry
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- 2021-2022 Award for the best graduated from the Department of Historical Studies
