The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the University of Ottawa have launched the Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics (JCEP), forming the strongest team in extreme and quantum photonics research in the country and reinforcing Canada’s leading role in photonics, the science of light.
Housed at the University of Ottawa and the NRC, the Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics brings together 12 expert researchers, along with postdoctoral fellows from both institutions. It builds on more than a decade of collaborative research in the field of photonics, and focuses on collective research and development in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, specializing in ultrafast quantum photonics, high-accuracy clocks, attosecond science and nanophotonics. It also provides training opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
“The creation of the Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics is an important milestone in the University of Ottawa’s long-established partnership with the National Research Council of Canada,” said Jacques Frémont, president and vice-chancellor of uOttawa. “It will be instrumental in further strengthening Canada’s reputation as a global force in photonics research.”
The JCEP is one of 12 collaboration centres the NRC is establishing with regional ecosystems, universities, polytechnic institutions, and colleges across the country. Through these centres, researchers share access to specialized equipment, work on collaborative projects, and provide training for emerging scientists.
“This collaboration centre brings together leading researchers to make significant advances in photonics for Canadians and Canadian businesses,” said Iain Stewart, president of the NRC. “Thanks to our partnership with the University of Ottawa, the Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics will also capitalize on significant investments in talent and infrastructure, while providing succession planning for some of Canada’s most eminent scientists.”
The JCEP team is composed of world-class researchers whose work will lead to new technologies, patents, and innovations. The six researchers from the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa are Paul Corkum, Ebrahim Karimi, Jeff Lundeen, Jean-Michel Ménard, Lora Ramunno and Albert Stolow. They will work alongside NRC researchers Angela Gamouras, Marina Gertsvolf, Khabat Heshami, André Staudte, Ben Sussman and David Villeneuve.
Photonics is one of uOttawa’s Strategic Areas of Research. The JCEP will enhance the reach of the University’s photonics research program, which is considered one of the best in the world.
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