We are a group of electrical engineers, applied physicists and chemists working on a range of research problems in micro- and nano-optics.  We are currently pursuing topics that include plasmonic structures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering, optical forces from plasmonic and photonic devices, semiconductor nanowires, excitonics and optofluidics.  To take a few examples of recent achievements, our group has:

· Trapped nanoparticles using an optical tweezer consisting of a plasmonic nanostructure that focuses a laser beam to sub-wavelength spots (Nature Communications 2011)

·  Trapped and sensed microparticles using Si microring resonators (NanoLetters 2010)

· Demonstrated plasmonic nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy that achieve high performance via gaps as narrow as 3 nm (Small 2011) or via resonances at pump and Stokes frequencies (ACS Nano 2010)

· Demonstrated microfluidic chips incorporating diffractive optical elements enabling high speed measurements of fluorescence from droplets at ~184,000 droplets/second (Lab Chip 2010)

· Demonstrated that silicon nanowires can take a variety of (diameter-dependent) colors covering the entire visible spectrum, in marked contrast to the gray color of bulk silicon.  The effect is readily observable by bright-field microscopy, and arises from the guided mode properties of the individual nanowires (NanoLett 2011)

The overarching goals of the group are to contribute to the fields of micro- and nano-optics AND to provide a rigorous training to PhD students and Postdoctoral Fellows, to enable them to develop new solutions to research and engineering problems in their careers beyond Harvard.  The group atmosphere is high intensity yet highly cooperative.  A common attribute amongst members is a strong drive to achieve in optics research.  Group alumni have gone on to faculty appointments, industry positions, and postdoctoral fellowships in leading laboratories.