Animateur : E. Luppi

The optical spectroscopy studies the light and its interaction with matter which is of fundamental importance in order to characterise materials properties, ranging from structural information to electronic and excited state properties. The interaction of light with a material can create excitations leading to important photophysical phenomena with enormous consequences in domains such as energy and environment. Therefore, through the years, the light-based technologies become of central importance for the sustainable development as, for example, new sources of clean energy such as photovoltaics.

Theoretical spectroscopy can investigate and understand the microscopic mechanisms underlying the light interactions with a material. This makes possible to achieve remarkable technological and fundamental breakthroughs, such as new functionality for materials with impact on energy and environnement. In fact, theoretical optical spectroscopy, will help to understand, identify, and quantify the different contributions for example to energy harvesting and storage in natural light harvesting complexes and photovoltaic materials. But this progress still needs a lot of effort in finding the right complementary materials with excellent properties for energy conversion and processibility.

These theoretical investigations will necessarily include diverse linear and nonlinear spectroscopy such as optical absorption, photoemission (direct or inverse) and SHG.

Finally, this will permit to analyse and explain experimental data, supporting and guiding the experimental effort in the area. Working with experimentalists will build up a know-how and deep understanding of the optical molecular functionality for photovoltaics and optoelectronic devices.