Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL)

YouTube video by IFIMAC – Condensed Matter Physics Center What is a polariton? #science #physics

🤔 Have you heard about polaritons? Do you know what they are? Vahid Sandoghdar @mpi-scienceoflight.bsky.social explains it to us. @cienciasuam.bsky.social @uam.es youtube.com/shorts/uh_OS...

Light is scattered from a microresonator as it interacts with its material (in this case glass). The distribution of the optical field within the resonator is visualized using an infrared camera. These microresonators have diverse applications in sensing, astronomy, and all-optical devices. Researchers at the MPL confine light in these microstructures to explore their nonlinear effects.

#MPL This image highlights the optical mode distribution in a silica rod microresonator, as observed in the scattering profile captured via an infra-red camera.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

📸 MPL, Arghadeep Pal

Beyond presenting the latest research, the meeting aimed to spark new collaborations.

Prof. Gerd Leuchs, Prof. Robert Boyd, Prof. Pierre Berini, Prof. Florian Marquardt, Prof. Christoph Marquardt, Prof. Birgit Stiller, Prof. Flore Kunst, Prof. Nicolas Joly, Prof. Maria Chekhova, Dr. Nicholas Karpowicz, Prof. Peter Hommelhoff, Assoc. Prof. Jeff Lundeen, Prof. Ebrahim Karimi, Prof. Claudiu Genes

Read more about the Meeting here 👉 https://mpl.mpg.de/news/article/advancing-quantum-photonics-11th-annual-meeting-of-the-max-planck-uottawa-centre-at-mpl

Informal discussions, networking opportunities, and the invitation to extend stays in Erlangen encouraged participants to deepen scientific connections onsite.

From July 21 to 24, 2025, MPL hosted the 11th Annual Meeting of the Max Planck uOttawa Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics in Erlangen. More than 80 participants, including 18 researchers from Ottawa 🇨🇦, came together for four days of scientific exchange.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

On July 30, the International Day of Friendship serves as a reminder of the importance of human connections.

📧 Become a member! The association connects scientists with science enthusiasts and welcomes new members: friends@mpl.mpg.de

The glycocalyx – a sugar-rich layer on the surface of every cell – influences numerous processes, from immune responses to cancer development. Until now, however, it has been impossible to directly link its spatial organization to its biological function. This research was conducted in collaboration between the group of Leonhard Möckl at MPL and the Jungmann group at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried. Using an innovative microscopy technique combined with special chemical labeling, they were able to directly visualize individual sugar molecules in the glycocalyx – at a scale of just one nanometer. This ultra-precise imaging makes it possible to count sugars, determine their arrangement, and understand their interactions in the cell’s natural environment. This opens the door to uncovering functional connections – for example, how genetic changes during cancer development affect the glycocalyx.

🔬 Structure Meets Function: Glycocalyx Visualized at the Molecular Level for the First Time

👉 For more information visit:
bit.ly/3UArA8I

📄 Authors of the original publication:
L. A. Masullo, K. Almahayni, I. Pachmayr, M. Honsa, L. Heinze, S. Fritsche, H. Grabmayr, R. Jungmann, and L. Möckl.

Interesting discussion outdoors at the the first public general assembly of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Max-Planck-Instituts für die Physik des Lichts e.V.

Dr. Cornelia Holler talks with the guests at the first public general assembly of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Max-Planck-Instituts für die Physik des Lichts e.V.

A highlight of the event was the keynote lecture by Prof. Florian Marquardt, Managing Director of MPL. Entitled “100 Years of Quantum Science”.

On July 18, 2025, the first public general assembly of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Max-Planck-Instituts für die Physik des Lichts e.V.” took place.

The first public general assembly of the “Verein der Freunde und Ehemaligen des Max-Planck-Instituts für die Physik des Lichts e.V.” took place.

📧 The association brings scientists and science enthusiasts together: friends@mpl.mpg.de

A fascinating talk about artificial neural networks by our managing director, Prof. Florian Marquardt @fmarquardtgroup.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy

The Distinguished Lecturer Series (#DLS)

Nader Engheta, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, will give his fascinating talk “Near-Zero-Index Optics” on July 18 at 10 am CET.

Zoom access:
eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6893123404...
Meeting-ID: 68931234049
Identification code: 902553

YouTube video by MPI for the Science of Light DLS with Laurer Waller: Computational Aberration Correction

The Distinguished Lecturer Series (#DLS)

In June, Laura Waller, Charles A. Desoer Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, gave her lecture “Computational Aberration Correction.”

You can find her talk here 👉 youtu.be/N8kWm30gZiU

Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Professor of Physics at the University of Queensland, will give her talk “Sculpted Light in Nano and Microsystems and Quantum Biotechnology” on July 10 at 2 pm CET.

 Zoom access:
eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6189513980...
Meeting ID: 618 9513 9808
Identification code: 627575

Nazlican is illuminating the complex landscape of the glycocalyx. Together with her colleague Dijo M. Joseph, she co-led their latest publication: Glycan Atlassing: Nanoscale analysis of glycocalyx architecture enables functional tracing of cell state.

👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

The image shows the tail fin of a genetically modified zebrafish larva (~200 x 200 microns). Peripheral nerve fibres are labelled in cyan, fibroblasts in orange & magenta.

#MPL scientists study principles controlling spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. The scientists aim to understand how different cell types in zebrafish interact to promote nerve regeneration. This may help develop therapeutic approaches for humans.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

📸 Daniel Wehner

🎉 On Friday, June 20, 2025, Prof. Sandoghdar and his team were awarded first prize of the Berthold Leibinger Innovation Prize for their development of the analysis method (iNTA).

➡️ Learn more about this pioneering innovation: bit.ly/44EzKTg

📸 Andreas Schlosser

We are happy to announce that Laura Blazquez Martinez, Jesús Humberto Marines Cabello, and Changlong Zhu — members of the Birgit Stiller Research Group — will be presenting in Munich this week. 🎉

Save the date for the next remarkable event in our Distinguished Lecturer Series! 📅 ✍️

▶️ Computational Aberration Correction
🕒 Thursday, June 26 at 2 pm CET

👉 Zoom access:
eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6355922031...
Meeting-ID: 635 5922 0318
Kenncode: 838870

Departure Heligoland

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics – 📅 June 9–14, 2025

We look back on an adventure filled with fresh impulses and new ideas. The scientists were able to experience Werner Heisenberg’s legacy on the island – and they left inspired.

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

🎉 Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Maria Chekhova! We are proud that she has been awarded one of the Advanced Grants from the ERC.

Prof. Dr. Chekhova is the research team leader of the Quantum Radiation Group at our institute.

🔍 Discover more about their research:
mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

Preisverleihung Berthold Leibinger Laser-Preise 2025 Preisverleihung des Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis und Zukunftspreis am 20. Juni 2025 18:00 - 20:00 Uhr.

Berthold Leibinger Stiftung GmbH – INNOVATION PRIZES 2025

The recipients of the three Innovation Prizes for applied laser breakthroughs will be revealed today.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for our amazing team! 🍀

📺 Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/dqFXnNp...

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics – 📅 June 9–14, 2025

There were exciting insights on June 13th, 2025 as well. The panel discussion was one of the highlights of the day.
📸 Gerard Milburn, David Wineland, Ana Maria Rey, Christine Silberhorn, Serge Haroche

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

Ashley Shin Price

Celebrating Excellence in Research at MPL!

We’re proud to announce that Dr. Ashley Shin from the Nano-Optics Division at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) has been awarded a prestigious MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship!

Find out more about the topic: mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

June 12th: Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Rainer Blatt captivated his audience with a lecture titled "100 Jahre Quantenphysik – und das ist erst der Anfang" (Eng.: "100 Years of Quantum Physics – and This Is Just the Beginning").

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

Yesterday, participants attended the second poster session. Jun Ye, among others, presented on his topic "Scaling Clock Performance for Fundamental Physics," and the panel discussion sparked exciting conversations.

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

The anniversary workshop on Helgoland has begun!
Upon their arrival, the scientists were welcomed by the mayor and the tourism director. Afterwards, the research team had the honor of signing the island’s Golden Book."

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

YouTube video by MPI for the Science of Light DLS with Peter Maurer: From diamond defects to protein-based qubit sensors

The Distinguished Lecturer Series (#DLS) is the main venue of MPL to bring to you the international thought leaders in the science of light. Peter Maurer, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, gave his lecture "From diamond defects to protein-based qubit sensors".

👉 youtu.be/iEvNCeMvcoA

Event: Helgoland 2025

Helgoland 2025 – 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

The coming days are dedicated entirely to quantum mechanics.

⭐ Highlights:
The fascinating history of X and Z
From Bell inequalities to Quantum Measurements
Quantum foundations and gravity as oracles for each other

➡️ helgoland2025.yalepages.org

YouTube video by MPI for the Science of Light DLS with Giulio Cerullo: Novel approaches to broadband coherent Raman microscopy

The Distinguished Lecturer Series #DLS is the main venue of MPL to bring to you the thought leaders in the science of light.

In May, Giulio Cerullo, Professor of Physics at Politecnico di Milano, gave his lecture "Novel approaches to broadband coherent Raman microscopy".

👉 youtu.be/U_Bwryqouw4

Group picture of the MPL participants of the visit at Siemens Healthineers.

The visit started with a short talk.

The group took part in a guided tour.

The group visited the MedMuseum.

New perspective, new impulses!

As part of our #talentdevelopment program #LightUpYourCareer, a group of non-scientific employees from #MPL visited #SiemensHealthineers in Erlangen – thanks for the opportunity!

Read more 👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

📸 1: M. Bodendorf; 2-4: E. Fischer

Research Group Leonhard Möckl ›Physical Glycosciences‹ Natural killer cells (NK cells) are one of the essential components of the innate immune system. They recognize and eliminate diseased cells. NK cells do not have to be activated by other cells to kill a target, unlike their adaptive immune counterparts. This fast response requires their activity to be tightly regulated in the body. One mode of regulation might be glycan-protein interactions happening on the membranes of NK cells. Research in the Möckl group ›Physical Glycosciences‹ uses advanced optics to reveal the functional role of glycosylation in immune cell regulation.

Natural killer cells are key to the immune system, eliminating diseased cells. Their activity must be tightly controlled, possibly through glycan-protein interactions. Researchers use advanced optics to study how glycosylation regulates immune cells.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

📸 Nazlican Yürekli

YouTube video by MPI for the Science of Light DLS with Hakan Türeci: Computing with Physical Systems: Opportunities and Fundamental Limits

The Distinguished Lecturer Series #DLS is the main venue of #MPL to bring to you the leading minds in the #science of #light.

In April, Hakan Türeci, Princeton University, gave his lecture "Computing with Physical Systems: Opportunities and Fundamental Limits".

👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJtI...

People standing at MPL's Science Tent in Erlangen, getting to know more about our research.

A scientist explains an experiment which can be seen on a monitor to a visitor.

MPL director Prof. Florian Marquardt presents his research in quantum science in a small talk.

People are standing at the tent of our partner Deutsches Museum Nürnberg and getting explained the experiments there.

Experiments, quantum physics and curious minds: Together with the #DeutschesMuseumNürnberg, we celebrated #DayOfLight and #IYQ2025.

A big thank you goes to all those who visited us. Your curiosity & enthusiasm made the day special!

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

📸 S. Viezens

#Quantum100 #IDL2025