In this experimental research activity ultrafast time-resolved optical spectroscopy is employed to study the ultrafast processes that occur in condensed phase materials following intense optical excitation by ultrashort laser pulses. By utilizing the general pump-probe methodology the ultrafast electronic, lattice and magnetic interactions taking place in solids in the picosecond and the femtosecond temporal regime are investigated. Novel bulk and nanostructured photonic materials have high priority in our research with potential in modern applications such as nanocircuits, ultrafast nonlinear optical switches, high efficiency devices, energy, nanocatalysts, spintronics etc. The physics of semiconductors metals and dielectrics in confined geometries and nanostructures that exhibit novel combined optoelectronic and magnetic properties, hybrid and nanosructured materials with applications in environmental-friendly photonic devices are investigated. Strongly correlated metal oxide systems with electron correlations and combined optic and magnetic properties are in the front line of the research interest.

Education

• Batchelor’s degree in Physics, Un. Crete, Greece, 1996
• Master’s degree in Physics, Un. Of Crete, Greece, 1998
• PhD degree in Physics, Un. Crete, Greece, 2002

Career

• Marie Curie individual fellowship and postdoctoral research, Freie Un. Berlin, 2002-2007
• Greek Military Service 2007
• 2007-2008 postdoctoral research, FORTH-IESL
• 2008, Junior Researcher, FORTH-IESL
• 2011, Assistant Researcher, FORTH-IESL
• 2014, Principal Researcher, FORTH-IESL

Interests

• Ultrafast dynamics in solid state systems and condensed phase materials
• Electronic correlations in strongly correlated systems
• Nanocrystals, nanoparticles, nanostructures
• Plasmonic materials
• Reduced dimensionality systems
• Temporal Pulse Shaping applications and coherent control of ultrafast processes
• Ultrafast processes during light-surface interaction and ablation
• Lasers for Clean Energy Applications

Other

Laboratory Description

The FLASS (Femtosecond Laser Spectroscopy in Solid State) laboratory is a unique laboratory for the Greek research community based on an amplified laser source which delivers pulses of laser light at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, central wavelength at 785 nm, with maximum energy per pulse 0.8 mJ and minimum pulse duration of 25 fs. Secondary optical sources include non-collinear optical parametric amplifiers which can provide a broad range of selectable wavelengths spanning the region from the near UV to the near IR (~250nm-1500nm). Additionally a Spatial Light Modulator in a 4f optical configuration is used to modulate the temporal shape of the laser pulses in a temporal window extending to 14 ps. Together with a pump-probe workstation and the proper analysis instruments (spectrometer, monochromator, CCD imaging camera, lock-in amplifier etc.) we can perform state-of the art pump-probe time-resolved all-optical spectroscopy at a variety of condensed matter systems such as metals, (wide band gap-) semiconductors, quantum wells, thin films nanocrystals and reduced dimensionality systems. Also, the laboratory employs an additional dual-purpose workstation consisting of: 1) direct laser-surface writing for microstructure and nanostructure formation on metal, semiconductor and dielectric surfaces and 2) LIFT (Laser-Induced Forward Transfer) workstation for micro-confined deposition of thin films onto selected surfaces and substrates.

Education

• 1994 Ph. D. in Physics, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble
• 1989 Master of Physics (DEA Matière et Rayonnement), University J. Fourier, Grenoble
• 1988 “Ingénieur” Degree of the National Polytechnic Insitut of Grenoble (INPG), Material Physics

Career

• Researcher (C) at the polymer group IESL-FORTH, Heraklion, (from Jan 02)
• Research Assistant Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield. Biopolymer mixtures
• Post-Doc. At the Polymer Group / IESL-FORTH Heraklion, Greece (November 95 to September 99), in charge of the X-Ray generator and spectrometer
• Ph. D. work at the Depart. Recherche Fondamemtale Matiere Condensee/SESAM CEA-Grenoble
• Royal Institut of Technology (Stockholm), Material Physics Laboratory, 16 months (in the frame of national service)(1991-1992), Research Student
• 4 months at Cryo-Physics Laboratory, CEA-Grenoble, (1988) Measurements of Thermal Conductivities at Low Temperatures

Interests

• Structure and dynamics of soft matter: polymer and soft colloids; studied systems include polymer / colloid solutions, star polymers, biopolymers, liquid crystalline polymers, ionomers/ polyelectrolytes, surfactants, polymer brushes, hydrogels
• Structure and Dynamic close to a solid surface, confinement effect

Alexandros Lappas received a B.Sc. in Physics (1988) from the University of Crete and a D.Phil. in Chemical Physics (1993) from the School of Chemistry & Molecular Sciences at the Univ. of Sussex, UK. During 1993-95, as a Research Fellow in the Inorganic & Solid State Chemistry division of Sussex University, he became interested in the field of fullerene-based magnets & superconductors. After his compulsory military service (1996-97) in Greece, he moved back to Sussex as a Temporary Lecturer (Inorganic & Physical Chemistry curriculum). He was elected to a tenure-track Researcher (1999) in Materials Science at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser in FORTH, where he is presently a Director of Research (equivalent to a University Professor position). In parallel, Dr Lappas has taught materials physics courses, as an Adjunct Professor in the Univ. of Crete. As a Visiting Researcher and principal investigator, he has been working at world renowned large-scale synchrotron X-ray (Brookhaven National Lab), neutron (Rutherford Appleton Lab) and muon (Paul Scherrer Institute) science facilities in USA and Europe for the last 25 years.

His team works in the field of experimental condensed matter physics and materials science, studying electronic phenomena and phase transitions in correlated electron systems and other quantum materials that tackle society’s challenges in energy. He leads the Quantum Materials & Magnetism lab at FORTH. Dr Lappas has initiated and successfuly led a number of international research projects. In addition, he served in posts such as, in conference program committees and a panel member of R&D actions supervised by GSRT. Moreover, he has been the advisor of young scientists that have completed their PhD (5) or MSc (10) research in materials physics/ chemistry, and was honored to be a “Fulbright Fellow – Greece” (2016-17) for lecturing and conducting research in the United States. He has published more than 100 refereed journal articles and disseminated his research through invited lectures (25) and numerous contributed talks (47) at international conferences (h-index= 26; ResearcherID: F-6771-2011).

Education

• 1993, D.Phil., Chemical Physics; School of Chemistry & Molecular Sciences, University of Sussex , UK
• 1988, B.Sc., Physics (upper 2nd class honors); Dept. of Physics, University of Crete, Greece

Career

• 2012– present Research Director (Grade A; open-end); IESL - FORTH, Greece
• 2002 – 2012 Principal Researcher (Grade B; tenure); IESL - FORTH, Greece
• 2005 – 2008 Adjunct Professor; Department of Physics, University of Crete, Greece
• 2001 – 2005 Adjunct Professor; Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Greece
• 1998 – 2002 Associated Researcher (Grade C; tenure-track); IESL - FORTH, Greece
• 1997 – 1998 Temporary Lecturer; School of Chemistry, University of Sussex, UK
• 1993 – 1995 Postdoctoral Fellow; School of Chemistry, University of Sussex, UK

Interests

• workings of quantum materials at variable length and time scales by photon & neutron science (structural & spectroscopic) probes
• collective electronic phenomena & symmetry breaking phase transitions (physical crystallography)
• frustration-driven instabilities (order by disorder) in transition metal layered oxides
• intertwined charge carriers & magnetic moments in iron-chalcogenides
• smart energy-materials’ solutions for grid technologies (cf. superconductors & battery materials)
• colloidal nanocrystals with size-, shape-, assembly- enhanced functionality (cf. theranostics)

Awards/Prizes/Distinctions

• 2018: Presented with the “Gold Medal of the City” of Xanthi, as a City ambassador in sciences and environment; Municipality of Xanthi, Greece
• 2016: Recipient of a “Fulbright Visiting Scholars Award”, Fulbright Foundation, Athens, Greece
• 2015: Recipient of a “Chaire TOTAL - Pôle Chimie Balard”, Fondation Balard, Montpellier, France
• 2003: Visiting Fellowship at Kyoto University; YAMADA Science Foundation, Osaka, Japan
• 2000: Award for Scientific Research at IESL-FORTH; EBEIRIKIO Foundation, Athens, Greece
• 1990 – 1993: Research Bursary, BRITE-EURAM Programme on Advanced Materials; Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium
• 1989 – 1992: Research Studentship (Quota Award); Science and Engineering Research Council, UK
• 1983 – 1984: Prize for excellence in Physics, University of Crete; State Scholarships Foundation – IKY, Greece

RETIRED

Michalis Andrianakis is an Electrical Engineer, graduated of the Hellenic Mediterranean University of Crete (HelMedU), holding an MSc degree in “Advanced automation system and robotics”. Since 2010, he has been working at IESL-FORTH. His main tasks include the development of electronic and optical systems, imaging, and systems control software. He has conducted numerous measurement campaigns in Greece and around Europe employing a mobile Digital Holographic Interferometry instrument for in-situ, non-destructive survey of museum objects and monuments in the context of several mobile access investigations supported through the IPERION-CH and POLITEIA-I projects or provided on a service basis.

He has actively participated in major national and EU projects at IESL-FORTH including IPERION-HS, HELLAS-CH, POLITEIA-I and II, IPERION-CH, Climate for Culture, CHARISMA, SYDARTA.

Education

• 2015,Msc in Advanced Production Systems, Automation and Robotics, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece
• 2010, Electrical Engineer, Technological Educational Institute of Crete,Greece

Career

• 2010, Technical staff in Photonics group ,FORTH – IESL, Greece
• 2009, Training Scholarship, FORTH – IESL, Greece

Interests

• Computer and machine vision
• Image processing and analysis
• Applications with Scientific and commercial cameras
• Computer software applications
• Systems development
• Use of spectroscopic and interferometric techniques for analysis on Works of Art, Archeological objects and materials
• Acquisition (DAQ) devices control
• Motors speed and position control
• Robotics
• Automations
• Electrical and electronic circuits

Other

I have participate in many training courses within the country and abroad, teaching the use of an interferometric technic

Conducting experiments in 7 countries through a European program, for in-situ non-destructive measurements on artworks and archeological objects (IPERION-CH Molab)

Technical and experimental support to facility users, Post Doc, PhDs, students, conducting experiments in the metrology laboratory at Iesl – Forth, on materials and works of art

S. H. Anastasiadis is a Professor of Polymer Science & Engineering at the Dept. of Chemistry of the Univ. of Crete and the former Director of the Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) of the Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas (FORTH). He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University in 1988. He has been a Visiting Scientist at the IBM Almaden Research Center in 1988-1989. He was awarded the John H. Dillon Medal of the American Physical Society (APS) in 1998 and was elected Fellow of APS in 2000. He has been an Editor of the Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics (5/2006-7/2010). He served as a Consulting Editor of AIChE J. and as a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Macromolecules.  He is a Member of the Quality Assurance Committee (01/2009–now) whereas he has served as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Research Integrity and Ethics (07/2018–12/2021) and the Vice Chair of the Technical Council (02/2011–10/2016) of the University of Crete. He has served as the elected President of the European Polymer Federation (EPF) for the years 2018 and 2019 whereas he serves as President of the Hellenic Polymer Society (12/2012-now).  He was elected a Mary Shepard B. Upson Visiting Professor at Cornell University for the Academic year 2018-2019. He is a Member of the Supreme Council of the Hellenic Authority of Higher Education (8/2023-now) whereas he has served as a Member of the Evaluation and Accreditation Council of the Hellenic Authority of Higher Education (5/2020-5/2023) and the Vice-Chair of the Sectoral Scientific Council on Engineering Sciences of the National Council of Research, Technology and Innovation (11/2020-now).  He was elected Director of IESL-FORTH in 05/2013 and was re-elected in 11/2018; his tenure ended in 02/2023.

Education

• 1988 ​Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, U. S. A.
• 1984, Master of Arts, Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, U. S. A.
• 1983, Diploma, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Career

• 10/2008 – Today, Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Univ. of Crete, Heraklion Crete, Greece
• 05/2013 – 02/2023, Director, Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 09/1991 – Today, Affiliated Faculty Member, Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 09/2005 – 10/2008, Professor, Dept. of Chem. Eng., Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
• 05/2004 – 09/2005, Professor, Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 10/1997 – 05/2004, Associate Professor, Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 05/1993 – 10/1997, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 04/1988 – 12/1989, Visiting Scientist, IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.

Interests

• Polymer Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films
• Polymer Blends, Homopolymer / Copolymer Blends
• Block Copolymers - Order/Disorder Transitions
• Dynamics & Diffusion in Multiconstituent Systems
• Organic/Inorganic Nanohybrid Materials
• Responsive Polymer Systems
• Polymer Materials for Energy Applications

Awards/Prizes/Distinctions

• 1998, American Physical Society John H. Dillon Medal: “For pioneering studies of the structure and dynamics of polymer solutions, melts, interfaces, and thin films”
• 2000, American Physical Society Fellow: “For important contributions to the dynamics of block copolymers in the melt and in solution and on the structure and dynamics of polymer interfaces and thin films” Editor,
• 2018 & 2019, President of the European Polymer Federation (EPF)
• 2018-2019, Mary Shepard B. Upson Visiting Professor, Cornell University
• 8/2023 - Today, Member of the Supreme Council, Hellenic Authority of Higher Education
• 5/2020-5/2023, Member of the Evaluation & Accreditation Council, Hellenic Authority of Higher Education
• 11/2020-Today, Vice-Chair of the Sectoral Scientific Council on Engineering Sciences of the National Council of Research, Technology and Innovation
• 3/2021-Today, Chairman of the Regional Committee of Model and Experimental Schools of the Region of Crete
• 5/2006 - 7/2010, Editor, Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
• 7/2010-12/2021, Consulting Editor, Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
• 8/2012-12/2016, Consulting Editor, AIChE Journal
• 1/2015-12/2017, Member of the Editorial Board, Macromolecules
• 1/2020-Today, Member of the Editorial Board, Polymers
• 02/2003-05/2006, Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
• 1987, Graduate Student Award, Materials Research Society
• 1985, Best Paper Award, Society of Plastics Engineers - Plastics Analysis Division (ANTEC)
• 1979, 1980, 1983, Hellenic Engineering Society Award - Fellowship
• 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, Greek National Scholarship Foundation Fellowship
• 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, "A. Tiftixi" Foundation Award - Fellowship

Education

• 2016, M.Sc in Micro / Optoelectronics, Physics Dpt, University of Crete, Greece
• 2013, B.Sc in Physics, Physics Dpt, University of Crete, Greece

Education

• 2009, Ph.D., Physics department, University of Crete, Greece
• 2004, M.Sc., Physics department, University of Crete, Greece
• 2001, B.Sc., Physics department, University of Crete, Greece

Career

• 12/2016 - today, Post Doctoral Researcher, Microelectronics Research Group (MRG), FORTH - IESL, Greece
• 10/2015 - 11/2016, Research associate, Physics Dpt, University of Crete, Greece
• 02/2010-09/2015, Research associate, Microelectronics Research Group (MRG), FORTH - IESL, Greece

Interests

• III-Nitride wide band gap semiconductors
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy growth of III-Nitrides
• III-nitride based Heterostructures and Nanostructures for Electronic and Optoelectronic applications