07:30 – 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

Programming

Lecture Hall: 3.1.3

09:00 - 09:30

School Opening & Welcome Remarks

Program Chairs:

Shane Eaton

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Cristian Manzoni

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Francesco Canella

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

09:30 – 10:15

Solid-State Lasers for Fusion

Franz Kärtner

DESY – Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) & Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), University of Hamburg, Germany

In late 2022, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the U.S. achieved pressures and temperatures at which hydrogen-based fuel was ignited and burned for the first time, with a fusion gain G > 1 using Laser Indirect Drive technology. This success has given Inertial Fusion Energy research a significant boost and most importantly also to solid-state laser physics. There is an intense search for laser technologies capable of delivering high-energy pulses (MJ) at high repetition rates (> 10 Hz) to support advanced IFE research and power plants. We will review the basics of lasers and laser amplifiers and an approach towards a Fusion grade laser technology based on cryogenic Yb:YLF laser amplifiers.

10:15 – 11:00

Quantum Cascade Laser: A Semiconductor Laser Emitting from 3 to 300 µm (I)

Carlo Sirtori

École Normale Supérieure - PSL, France

After a brief historical introduction to the ideas and scientific context that led to the invention of the quantum cascade laser, I will review the fundamental physical concepts underlying the engineering of optical gain between two-dimensional electronic states in semiconductor quantum structures. I will then discuss the ultrafast gain dynamics of these lasers, explaining why mode-locking operation does not lead to pulse generation. This will be followed by a short section describing a coherent detection technique that enables the measurement of both the phase and amplitude of a laser electric field. Finally, I will introduce the design and operation of arrays of quantum cascade nano-lasers.

11:00 – 11:30

Break

11:30 – 12:30

Precise Molecular Spectroscopy and Frequency Metrology with Frequency Combs (I)

Piotr Maslowski

Institute of Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland

Optical frequency combs have transformed optical metrology by establishing a direct, phase-coherent link between radio and optical frequencies. This lecture explores how these "optical rulers" enable unprecedented precision in molecular spectroscopy. I will cover the core principles of comb generation, stabilization, and direct frequency comb spectroscopy (DFCS), highlighting techniques like dual-comb spectroscopy for rapid, high-resolution broadband measurements. Attendees will learn how comb-based techniques probe fundamental molecular dynamics, enhance gas-sensing sensitivity, and advance optical atomic clocks. Ultimately, this session bridges foundational laser physics with cutting-edge metrology and emerging real-world chemical applications.

12:30 – 13:15

Fiber Lasers for the Generation of Ultrashort Pulses

Federico Pirzio

Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Italy

Ultrashort pulse fiber lasers have emerged as a cornerstone technology in modern optics, offering unmatched stability, compact designs, and exceptional beam quality. In this lecture we will recap the main features of fiber lasers and we will explore the fundamental principles behind generating ultrashort pulses within optical fiber platforms. We will cover key mode-locking mechanisms—including active, passive, and nonlinear polarization evolution techniques—alongside chromatic dispersion management and optical nonlinearities.

13:15 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 18:00

Hands-on Experiments and Lab Visits

Optica Student Chapter

Discover Interferometry One Brick at a Time

DynamicOptics

Sculpting Light: Wavefront Control with Adaptive Optics

NIREOS

Hyperspectral Imaging: From Theory to Hands-On Experience

National Ignition Facility (NIF)

Overview and Virtual Tour

18:00 – 19:00

Break

19:00 – 20:00

Dinner

07:30 - 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

Programming

Lecture Hall: 3.1.3

09:00 - 09:30

School Opening

Program Chairs:

Shane Eaton

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Cristian Manzoni

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Francesco Canella

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

09:30 – 10:15

Ultrashort-Pulse Laser Processing of Hard and Brittle Materials for Deterministic 3D Structuring: Diamond as a Case Study

Reina Yoshizaki

The University of Tokyo, Japan

Hard and brittle materials are difficult to machine with conventional tools, while lasers enable processing without mechanical contact. Lasers producing ultrashort pulses are particularly suitable for precise processing of transparent materials, including glass and diamond, because they can minimize thermal damage. However, achieving both high processing efficiency and high accuracy remains challenging. Using diamond as an example, this lecture introduces approaches toward deterministic structuring in three dimensions. The focus is on controlling the spatial distribution of laser energy and on feedback processing based on measurements performed directly on the machine, enabling fabricated shapes to converge reliably toward their intended geometries.

10:15 – 11:00

Ultrafast Fiber Lasers for Waveform Synthesis (I)

Daniele Brida

University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Ultrafast fiber lasers can be designed for the generation of ultrashort pulses with controlled waveforms where the optical field is directly harnessed as a source of electric bias in light-matter coupling experiments. We will look into how to design a fiber laser for this purpose in all its ingredients, i.e. tailored supercontinuum generation, pulse synthesis and carrier envelop control. Furthermore, we will explore some applications where the electric field of light is the driver of coherent electron manipulation at the atomic spatial scale and at the attosecond temporal resolution.

11:00 – 11:30

Break

11:30 – 12:30

Ultrafast Fiber Lasers for Waveform Synthesis (II)

Daniele Brida

University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Ultrafast fiber lasers can be designed for the generation of ultrashort pulses with controlled waveforms where the optical field is directly harnessed as a source of electric bias in light-matter coupling experiments. We will look into how to design a fiber laser for this purpose in all its ingredients, i.e. tailored supercontinuum generation, pulse synthesis and carrier envelop control. Furthermore, we will explore some applications where the electric field of light is the driver of coherent electron manipulation at the atomic spatial scale and at the attosecond temporal resolution.

12:30 – 13:15

Advanced Micromachining with Short and Ultrashort Laser Pulses

Valentina Furlan

Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Pavia

Laser micromachining with short and ultrashort laser pulses has become a key enabling technology for precision material processing across a wide range of engineering materials. The interaction between laser radiation and matter is governed by process parameters such as pulse duration and energy density, which determine material removal mechanisms, machining accuracy, and surface quality. Compared with conventional manufacturing techniques, laser-based processes provide exceptional flexibility, high precision, and contactless material processing, enabling applications including drilling, cutting, engraving, milling, marking, and surface texturing. Continuous advances in laser sources, beam delivery systems, and process control are further expanding the capabilities of laser micromachining, supporting the development of innovative solutions for industrial manufacturing, biomedical devices, and functional surface engineering.

13:15 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 15:45

Femtosecond Lasers on a Chip

Franz Kärtner

DESY – Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) & Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), University of Hamburg, Germany

Femtosecond lasers are a mature technology today, with major applications ranging from materials processing to multi-photon microscopy and surgery. If femtosecond lasers would be as robust and cheap as microelectronic devices today, these fields would advance, and new fields would open up. Here, we review the principles of mode locking to produce ultrashort pulses from lasers, and we explore how to implement a femtosecond laser in silicon photonics technology with parameters similar to those of table-top fiber laser oscillators.

15:45 – 16:15

Break             

16:15 – 17:15

Industry Technical Talks From:        

Edmund Optics, Gestione SILO, Optoprim & Menhir Photonics

17:15 – 19:00

Poster Sessions I

19:00 – 20:00

Poster Sessions I and Aperitivo

07:30 - 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

Programming

Lecture Hall: 3.1.3

09:00 – 09:30

School Opening

Program Chairs:

Shane Eaton

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Cristian Manzoni

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Francesco Canella

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

09:30 – 10:15

Time-Resolved Photoluminescence for the Study of Cultural Heritage

Daniela Comelli

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging are powerful analytical techniques with applications spanning fields from biology to materials science. Although their use in the study of cultural heritage materials and objects is less well known, they offer unique opportunities for their characterization.

After introducing the principles of the techniques, this seminar will present selected applications to inorganic pigments, paints, and artworks. Particular emphasis will be placed on photoluminescence arising from crystal-defect trap states, whose spectral and temporal signatures provide insight into pigment identification, paint degradation, and physicochemical reactivity, highlighting the contribution of time-resolved photoluminescence to cultural heritage research and conservation.

10:15 – 11:00

Introduction to Femtosecond Lasers and Applications

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Femtosecond lasers generate light pulses lasting only a few millionths of a billionth of a second, enabling access to ultrafast phenomena in matter. This lecture will introduce the basic principles of ultrashort pulse generation, amplification and characterization, with emphasis on modern few-cycle laser sources. Applications of femtosecond lasers in science and technology will be discussed, including time-resolved spectroscopy, nonlinear microscopy, precision micro- and nanostructuring, and the investigation of novel materials and biomolecular systems.

11:00 – 11:30

Break

11:30 – 12:30

Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Ultrafast laser spectroscopy allows researchers to observe atomic, molecular and electronic dynamics on their natural femtosecond timescales. This lecture will present the fundamental concepts of pump-probe and multidimensional spectroscopic techniques, illustrating how ultrashort light pulses can track energy flow, charge transfer and structural changes in complex systems. Examples will be drawn from studies of photoactive biomolecules, photosynthetic complexes, nanostructures and two-dimensional materials. The talk will highlight how ultrafast spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for understanding and controlling light-induced processes in matter.

12:30 – 13:15

Quantum Cascade Laser: A Semiconductor Laser Emitting from 3 to 300 um (II)

Carlo Sirtori

École Normale Supérieure - PSL, France

After a brief historical introduction to the ideas and scientific context that led to the invention of the quantum cascade laser, I will review the fundamental physical concepts underlying the engineering of optical gain between two-dimensional electronic states in semiconductor quantum structures. I will then discuss the ultrafast gain dynamics of these lasers, explaining why mode-locking operation does not lead to pulse generation. This will be followed by a short section describing a coherent detection technique that enables the measurement of both the phase and amplitude of a laser electric field. Finally, I will introduce the design and operation of arrays of quantum cascade nano-lasers.

13:15 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 19:00

Group Activity: Guided City Tour and Historic Tram Ride

19:00 – 20:00

Dinner

07:30 - 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

Programming

Lecture Hall: 3.1.3

09:00 – 09:30

School Opening

Program Chairs:

Shane Eaton

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Cristian Manzoni

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Francesco Canella

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Giulio Cerullo

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy  

9:30 – 10:15

Precise Molecular Spectroscopy and Frequency Metrology with Frequency Combs (I)
Piotr Maslowski

Institute of Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland

Optical frequency combs have transformed optical metrology by establishing a direct, phase-coherent link between radio and optical frequencies. This lecture explores how these "optical rulers" enable unprecedented precision in molecular spectroscopy. I will cover the core principles of comb generation, stabilization, and direct frequency comb spectroscopy (DFCS), highlighting techniques like dual-comb spectroscopy for rapid, high-resolution broadband measurements. Attendees will learn how comb-based techniques probe fundamental molecular dynamics, enhance gas-sensing sensitivity, and advance optical atomic clocks. Ultimately, this session bridges foundational laser physics with cutting-edge metrology and emerging real-world chemical applications.

10:15 – 11:00

Quantum-Enhanced Sensing with Squeezed Light

Tatevik Chalyan

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

The use of non-classical light in sensing and metrology is rapidly increasing. Quantum squeezed states were first discussed more than 40 years ago. However, in recent years, after being implemented in LIGO and then VIRGO gravitational wave detectors, they have found their use in applications such as quantum-enhanced microscopy or plasmonic sensing. Suppressing shot noise allows for getting a better signal-to-noise ratio, yielding lower limits of detection and higher sensitivity.

11:00 – 11:30

Break

11:30 – 12:30

Ultrafast All-Optical Metasurfaces

Margherita Maiuri

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Ultrafast manipulation of light–matter interactions in photonic nanostructures has opened new opportunities to dynamically control light on femtosecond timescales. Optical metasurfaces are ultrathin arrays of engineered nanostructures that control the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light within a planar device. However, their properties are fixed once fabricated, motivating the development of dynamically reconfigurable metasurfaces. Ultrafast optical excitation enables their reconfiguration on femtosecond timescales. This overview discusses the physical mechanisms underlying ultrafast all-optical metasurfaces, the experimental techniques used to probe their transient response, and recent advances across plasmonic, dielectric, and excitonic platforms, highlighting their potential for active flat optics and ultrafast nanophotonic technologies.

12:30 – 13:15

Generation of Energetic Pulses in Fiber Lasers: The Mamyshev Oscillator

Federico Pirzio

Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Italy

While ultrafast fiber lasers offer unmatched beam quality and stability, conventional mode-locking techniques hit severe energy limits due to non-linear optical wave breaking. The Mamyshev oscillator has emerged as a groundbreaking paradigm to overcome these barriers, enabling microjoule-level, high-peak-power ultrashort pulses directly from a fiber cavity. This lecture explores the physical principles driving this technology, focusing on non-linear spectral broadening followed by offset spectral filtering to achieve robust, pulsed operation. We will also examine critical design aspects such as pulse-seeding and alternative strategies to start the mode-locking regime.

13:15 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 16:00

Formation Mechanisms of Internal Modification and Optical Waveguides in Quartz by Ultrashort-Pulse Laser Irradiation

Reina Yoshizaki

The University of Tokyo, Japan

Ultrashort laser pulses can reach extremely high optical intensities and induce nonlinear absorption in materials that are normally transparent. When tightly focused inside such materials, they enable localized modification while leaving the surface largely unaffected. This lecture explains how laser energy is absorbed in quartz and how internal modifications develop. Pump-probe imaging is used to visualize electron dynamics from sub-picosecond to nanosecond timescales, providing experimental insight into the formation process. The lecture then introduces optical waveguide writing as an application, showing how micrometer-scale modifications can be integrated to create millimeter-scale waveguide.

16:00 – 16:30

Break

16:30 – 17:15

Diamond Nanophotonics: From Quantum Sensing to Nonlinear Optics

Paul Barclay

University of Calgary, Canada

17:15 – 19:00

Poster Sessions II

18:30 – 20:00

Poster Sessions II and Aperitivo

07:30 - 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

Programming

Lecture Hall: 3.1.3

09:00 - 09:30

Orazio Svelto, A Life with Lasers

Roberta Ramponi

Senior Research Associate, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, National Research Council (CNR), Italy

Orazio Svelto, Emeritus Professor in Physics at Politecnico di Milano and founder of CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, has been a pioneer of laser science. Since the very beginning he has contributed to the development of lasers, in particular of ultrafast lasers, and related applications. Moreover, he has been a passionate educator and communicator whose influence spans generations worldwide. In this talk, I will go through the main achievements of Orazio Svelto in laser physics, his legacy and his role shaping the intellectual framework of coherent-light science worldwide.

09:30 – 10:15

Nanosecond, Picosecond and Femtosecond Lasers and Industrial Applications
Jim Kafka

Spectra-Physics / MKS, Emeritus Fellow, USA

Pulsed lasers dominate today’s micromachining applications due to their combination of high peak power and moderate average power.  These applications include processing of PCBs and solar cells, glass cutting for smart phone displays and processing of thermally sensitive materials including OLEDs.  The large range of materials to be processed demand a range of pulse durations and wavelengths to reach the optimum speed and quality.  I will describe the design strategies behind the current commercial nanosecond, picosecond and femtosecond lasers used for micromachining.

10:15 – 11:00

Nanoscale Cavity Optomechanics: Coupling Photons, Phonons and Spins

Paul Barclay

University of Calgary, Canada

11:00 – 11:30

Break

11:30 – 12:30

Femtosecond Laser Micromachining of Transparent Materials for Advanced Devices

Roberto Osellame

National Research Council (CNR) – Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italy

Femtosecond laser micromachining (FLM) is rapidly becoming a major player in processing transparent materials. Being contactless, maskless, cost-effective and capable of 3D microstructuring it proved to be a unique technology, raising interest both in scientific as well as in industrial applications. FLM encompasses several processes, from gentle modification of materials for waveguide writing, to subtractive approaches like ablation or laser assisted etching to produce microchannels, to additive approaches like two-photon polymerization to produce 3D micro/nano structures. An important advantage of this technology is that all these processes rely on the same setup and can thus be combined to produce complex and powerful microsystems with multiple functionalities.

12:30 – 13:15

Attosecond Science: The Art of Making Electron Movies

Mauro Nisoli

Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

More than two decades after the first experimental demonstration of attosecond pulses, attosecond science has developed into a mature and rapidly expanding research field. Its applications now span atomic, molecular, and condensed-matter physics, enabling direct access to electron dynamics on their natural timescale. The combination of advanced experimental techniques with increasingly sophisticated theoretical methods has revealed ultrafast processes that were previously inaccessible. This lecture will introduce the fundamental concepts of attosecond pulse generation and measurement, illustrate selected applications to atoms, molecules, and solids, and discuss the experimental and theoretical challenges involved in resolving, interpreting, and ultimately controlling electron dynamics on attosecond timescales.

13:15 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 18:00

Hands-on Experiments and Lab Visits

Optica Student Chapter

Discover Interferometry One Brick at a Time

DynamicOptics

Sculpting Light: Wavefront Control with Adaptive Optics

NIREOS

Hyperspectral Imaging: From Theory to Hands-On Experience

National Ignition Facility (NIF)

Overview and Virtual Tour

18:00 – 19:00

Break

19:00 – 20:00

Closing Ceremony

La Balera dell'Ortica

07:30 - 09:00

Breakfast at Hotel:

Starhotels Anderson or 21 House of Stories Città Studi

09:00 - 12:00

Hotel Check-out and Departure