Conference Agenda

Optical manipulation of asymmetric microstructures enables controlled orientation, rotation, and transport of microscopic objects using structured light fields. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of asymmetric optomechanical probes assembled using DNA origami and manipulated by holographic optical tweezers. The probes consist of polystyrene and paramagnetic microparticles connected by 24HB DNA origami linkers, providing controlled shape and material asymmetry. Experiments demonstrate a strong dependence of probe motion on the polarization state of the trapping beam. In linearly polarized Gaussian beams, heterodimers and trimers align along the polarization direction and remain rotationally stable due to optical gradient forces. In contrast, circularly polarized beams transfer spin angular momentum to the asymmetric probes, inducing sustained rotation with a direction determined by the handedness of polarization. Optical vortex beams further enable controlled orbital motion governed by the topological charge of the beam. These results demonstrate the potential of DNA-origami-based probes for advanced optomechanical manipulation and microrobotic applications.

We investigate a novel design of a gas optical sensor based on a photonic integrated circuit. The proposed monolithic platform integrates a glass waveguide for light propagation, a dielectric multilayer supporting a Bloch surface wave for gas sensing, and two grating couplers for surface wave excitation and signal extraction. As a first proof of concept, the outcoupling from a guided mode to a radiative mode has been designed and numerically investigated using a high-index subwavelength grating operating at a wavelength of 1.55 µm. An initial experimental characterization was carried out in the visible range using a photoresist-based grating , demonstrating efficient coupling behavior.

This work presents a compact, fiber-optic, tip-based, electrically passive structure for dual-axis acceleration sensing, with potential for deployment in harsh industrial environments. Experimental results demonstrate a promising approach based on a mass–spring–damper structure fabricated at the tip of a multicore optical fiber, enabling accurate measurement of acceleration along two axes. The proposed sensor is easily configurable, robust, and compact, while remaining electrically passive and of small dimensions.

Laser-induced surface engineering enables control of surface morphology and chemistry for tailoring tribological properties without chemical treatments. Different laser-based methods can be used to form micro- and nanoscale patterns, such as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), direct laser interference patterning, and laser direct writing. In this work, nanosecond LIPSS were fabricated on stainless steel and their tribological behaviour was evaluated at sub-zero temperatures, a largely unexplored regime. The structured surfaces showed a reduction in the coefficient of friction by up to ~75% at low sliding velocity (0.05 m/s), with weak dependence on velocity (0.05–0.38 m/s) and applied load (20–80 N). These results indicate a transition toward a stable, low-friction regime governed by modified interfacial interactions and reduced adhesion. The findings highlight the potential of laser-induced surface structuring as a scalable and environmentally sustainable approach for engineering functional surfaces in extreme conditions.

We demonstrate that a high-speed linear array of optical phase modulators — a grating light valve (GLV) — can be used to control the phase profile across a 2D array of optical modes at the output of a three-dimensional optical waveguide reformatter. This approach opens a route to high-efficiency 2D phase control at frame rates of hundreds of kHz, for applications including LiDAR and optical communications.