The Laboratory for Optics and Optical Thin films investigates optical materials and electromagnetic structures that enable devising novel optical applications. The main research lines are:

• Optical thin film materials: Control on the nanostructure of thin films enables broad tailoirng of their optical response. Our focus is on metal-dielectric nanocomposites with plasmonic properties for optical coatings and sensing purposes. We also investigate thin films with unusual properties, such as near-zero dielectric function, that can act as building blocks of optical metasurfaces.

• Optical coatings and electromagnetic structures: The laboratory has a large expertise in the design, fabrication and characterization of optical coatings. Our research also addresses new fabrication approaches of 2D and 3D electromagnetic structures and their application in molding the flow of light.

• Numerical modelling in nano-optics: Theoretical investigation of the optical response of nanosystems is used to support experimental measurements, such as the plasmonic spectra of metal nanoparticles, and explore new concepts in the design of metasurfaces, optical traps and strongly focusing systems. 

The research facilities include thin film deposition systems, chemical synthesis of nanoparticles, optical spectroscopy (spectrophotometry and ellipsometry) and software codes for simulations in electromagnetism. The laboratory actively collaborates with other research groups at the Ruđer Bošković Institute and abroad. The expertise and know-how in thin film fabrication and optical characterization are available to external users as laboratory services.