Optics and Photonics
The research of the Optics and Photonics group covers a range of topics of modern optics and photonics, encompassing various aspects of light-matter interaction, optical coherence and polarization, development of methods to manipulate light with nano- and micro-structures, design and construction of novel light sources, optical metamaterials and optical imaging.

The work includes both theoretical and experimental studies and is carried out in close collaboration with local, national and international research partners. It is funded mostly by the Academy of Finland, private foundations, and direct contracts from industry. The group’s premises are in Micronova, the national micro- and nano-technology center of Finland.

Group leader
Professor Matti Kaivola
Open Positions in Optics and Photonics
Open positions in Optics and Photonics
Laboratory Facilities
Inverted microscope Nikon Eclipse TE2000-U
- Brightfield, phase contrast and fluorescence capabilities
- HAMAMATSU ORCA-ER CCD camera
- Piezo transducer for the stage with 1 nm step
Polarizing microscope MT9930, MEIJI TECHNO CO.
- Rotatable stage, full polarization analysis
- Color video camera INFINITY 2, Lumenera Co.
SpectraPro-2500i monochromator/spectrograph, Princeton Instruments/Acton
- Operating range 185 nm – 1400 nm
- Resolution ~0.1 nm
- Includes PIXIS 400 camera (thermoelectric + liquid cooling), 350 nm – 1050 nm
Spectrometer Jobin Yvon (U1000) Raman, HORIBA
- Operation range UV-NIR
- Resolution ~0.01 nm
Ocean Optics spectrometers, fiber-coupled
- HR4000, operation range 200 nm -1100 nm
- USB2000+, operation range 200 nm -1100 nm
- Fiber-coupled light source DH-2000-BAL, 200 nm -1500 nm
CW laser Millenia Xs, Spectra-Physics
- Wavelength 532 nm
- TEM00 transverse mode
- Output power 10 W
CW laser Verdi, Coherent
- Wavelength 532 nm
- Single longitudinal mode (linewidth < 5 MHz)
- Output power 18 W
Mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser Tsunami, Spectra-Physics
- Wavelength 790 nm
- Pumped with Millenia or Verdi
- Pulse duration ~100 fs
- Average power ~1 W
- Peak power ~50 kW
Amplified fs-pulsed laser system
- Coherent Astrella Ti:sapphire oscillator and regenerative amplifier
- Central wavelength 800 nm
- Pulse duration < 35 fs
- Gaussian beam, M2 < 1.3
- Pulse energy > 6 mJ at 1 kHz repetition rate
- TOPAS-Prime Optical Parametric Amplifier, Light Conversion
- Tunable across 290 nm – 1150 nm
- Pulse duration < 50 fs
- Pulse energies: ~ 100 mJ at 480 nm – 1150 nm; > 15 mJ at 290 nm – 480 nm.
CW solid-state laser, 403 nm, CrystaLaser
- Wavelength 403 nm
- Single longitudinal mode (~0.01 nm width, ~1 cm coherence length)
- Output power 40 mW
CW He-Ne lasers, Melles Griot
- Wavelength 633 nm
- TEM00 transverse mode
- Output power ~1 mW
Optical interferometers for characterizing surface movements and vibrations
- Lateral resolution < 1 mm
- Minimum detectable vibration amplitude < 1 pm
- Frequency range from static surfaces up to 6 GHz
Latest publications
Monitoring the gold nanoshell growth mechanism: stabilizing and destabilizing effects of PEG-SH molecules
Marta Gordel-Wójcik, Katarzyna Piela, Radosław Kołkowski
2022
Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Multifrequency Bessel beams with adjustable group velocity and longitudinal acceleration in free space
P. Hildén, E. Ilina, M. Kaivola, A. Shevchenko
2022
New Journal of Physics
Real-time HCl gas detection at parts-per-billion level concentrations utilising a diode laser and a bismuth-doped fibre amplifier
Hildén Panu, Rajamaki Timo, Fordell Thomas, Jarkko Makkonen, Sergei Alyshev, Alexandr Kharakhordin, Sergei Firstov
2021
Measurement Science and Technology
Temporal phase-contrast ghost imaging
Antti Hannonen, Andriy Shevchenko, Ari Friberg, Tero Setälä
2020
Physical Review A
Interferometric imaging of reflective micro-objects in the presence of strong aberrations
Elena Ilina, Markus Nyman, Tanmay Mondal, Matti Kaivola, Tero Setälä, Andriy Shevchenko
2020
Optics Express
Near-field spatial coherence of structured incoherent optical sources
Somendu Maurya, Markus Nyman, Matti Kaivola, Andriy Shevchenko
2020
Physical Review A
All-optical modulation and detection using a gain medium in a pulse shaper
Andriy Shevchenko, Markus Nyman, Matti Kaivola
2020
Optics Express
Electromagnetic anapoles of a Cartesian expansion of localized electric currents
Andriy Shevchenko, Vishal Vashistha, Matti Kaivola, Markus Nyman
2020
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
Measurement of intensity and polarization beatings in the interference of independent optical fields
Andriy Shevchenko, Tero Setälä
2020
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
Research group members

