Magnetic Emission of Light in Optical DIElectric and plasmonic nanostructures – MELODIE

The MELODIE project has the ambition to create a new paradigm in the design of nanoscale light sources by providing modeling tools and experimental methods to design and develop of new emitters capable of interacting solely with the magnetic component of light. This component is generally considered to be negligible in light-matter interactions. But, it was demonstrated theoretically that it could significantly increase spontaneous light emission from certain specific quantum emitters. We will exploit the numerous degrees of freedom offered by both plasmonic and/or dielectric nanoparticles to control this phenomenon in the visible range.
More specifically, the project aims to
1/ demonstrate numerically and validate experimentally our capability to predict the emission properties of emitters experiencing a high Purcell effect.
2/ understand how engineering single nanoresonators in which emitters are positioned in an optimized way allows a manipulation of its optical properties
3/ demonstrate experimentally how to selectively excite the magnetic or electric component of an emitter
The project, at the interface between nanophotonics, colloidal chemistry and nanofabrication, relies on the complementary skills of four partners from four different laboratories (ICMCB, CRPP, INSP and IL) offering leading experts in these fields. We believe that the project has the potential to have a strongly long-lasting impact on fields as diverse as imaging, chiral optics, nanoantennas, light emitting devices and metamaterials.