Francesco Pietro Massel

Francesco Pietro Massel

Professor
Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences
Department of Science and Industry systems
Campus Kongsberg (5404)
+47 35 02 64 98 / +47 458 32 175
In my work I investigate how it is possible to shape the properties of quantum systems when coupled to an environment. In particular, I study the case of cavity optomechanical systems in the quantum regime. In these systems mechanical and radiation degrees of freedom interact giving rise to nontrivial quantum effects.

Responsibilities

Research

What is an optomechanical system?

Broadly speaking, optomechanics studies the coupling between light and (usually macroscopic) mechanical objects. More specifically, we are interested in systems in which mechanical oscillators are coupled to one or more modes of an electromagnetic field (light, microwave) through a radiation-pressure-type interaction.

In my activity I try to achieve a regime in which quantum properties of these systems become relevant. To this end, I investigate the so-called strong coupling regime, in which electromagnetic and mechanical modes are strongly coupled to each other. Does the physics of these systems correspond to anything known in other context, such as condensed matter physics? Can we exploit their properties for quantum information and communication purposes?

Teaching

I am currently teaching the following courses:

  • Mathematical modeling
  • Simulation and modeling (spring 2022)
  • Optics (spring 2022)

CV

Work experience

  • Research Fellow of the Academy of Finland 2014-2019
    (Univ. of Jyväskylä) 
  • Postdoctoral researcher 2006-2014
    (U. of Jyväskylä, U. of Helsinki, Aalto Univ., Politecnico di Torino)

Education

  • PhD in Physics (Politecnico di Torino) 2003-2006
  • MScEng (Politecnico di Torino) 1995-2001​

Publications