Ultrafast and Nonlinear Nanoscopy: Watching Quantum Dynamics in Time and Space

I will present a new regime in nonlinear nano-optics and spatio-temporal nano-imaging for the study of fundamental coherent optical, plasmonic, and quantum dynamic phenomena with unprecedented nanometer spatial and few-femtosecond temporal resolution. To gain the desired simultaneous nanometer spatial resolution with spectroscopic specificity and femtosecond temporal resolution, we combine plasmonic nano-focusing and optical antenna concepts with ultrafast and shaped laser pulses to precisely control optical excitation on fs-time and nm-length scales. Examples include the first ultrafast movie of the real time and real space coherent dynamics of coupled plasmonic nanostructures. The results provide for localized and enhanced nonlinear optical interactions in nano-confined geometries opening exciting new possibilities for applications in photonic circuits, all-optical information processing, quantum nano-optics, and -imaging.