Greetings from Strasbourg

Hailing from India, Sukanta Nandi has been spending the past three years as a post-doctoral fellow at Dr. Tomer Lewi’s lab. He specializes in experimental and computational nanophotonics, metamaterials, and s-SNOM (scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy). “I am studying the optical properties of quantum materials, like, topological insulators, and then designing metasurfaces on these platforms. I also extensively work on near-field microscopy, mostly for the optical characterization of 2D materials, using the technique of scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy via tips (miniscule 10-nanometer long needles). Using this technique, we can measure beyond the diffraction-limit and also couple into excitations that are difficult to access from the far-field,” he explains.

Sukanta expanded on his research topic in a lecture at the SPIE (Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers) conference in Strasbourg, France. “The talk was very good, the audience was also interested in our research, and I was happy to share links to our research papers anyone who asked,” he shares. “As a result, I have made a lot of new connections in the field of Optics and with similar research interests.”

Referring to his instructor and head of lab, Dr. Tomer Lewi, Sukanta says: “Dr. Lewi is an exceptionally talented and student-oriented professor. He is an excellent teacher who actively encourages lab members to explore a range of challenges. Personally, I have a strong working rhythm and a great professional connection with him.”