Marie Curie Mobility Actions
RTN Clermont II
CLERMONT2 is a Marie-Curie Research Training Network funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework "Marie-Curie Actions" programme [http://europa.eu.int/mariecurie-actions].
The network project started on 1st November 2003 for a duration of 48 months. The network research is a collaborative European program involving growth, optical spectroscopy and theory of microcavities aimed at the study of novel phenomena arising from light-matter interactions in such structures. Both training and transfer of knowledge activities are being undertaken on the following topics:-
Strong exciton-photon coupling at room temperature
- Polariton lasing
- Spin manipulations in microcavities
- Free carriers in microcavities
- Exciton-polaritons in new semiconductor materials
- Semi-magnetic microcavities
"Clermont" has provided more than 300 months of training of early-stage and experienced researchers, and resulted in a major breakthrough in the physics of microcavities, namely, evidence of the stimulated scattering of exciton polaritons which paves the way towards a new generation of opto-electronic devices (polariton devices).
The new consortium includes 7 members of "Clermont" and 4 new teams most active in the field. Its subject is enlarged to include semiconductor materials other than nitrides. Participants of "Clermont2" are highly recognized experts in growth (CRHEA, LPN, Sheffield, Strathclyde), optical spectroscopy (Montpellier, LPN, ENS-Paris, Clermont, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Florence, Madrid), and theory (Southampton, Clermont, Sheffield, Rome, Madrid) of semiconductor microcavities. They have a huge record of collaboration and a remarkable experience in exchanges of PhD students and postdocs.
The consortium has organized its yearly conference (PLMCN) in five continuous editions, each time attended by about or more than 70 international specialists in light-matter coupling in solids and PhD students working in the field. The research program of "Clermont2" includes design, fabrication and testing of the first polariton lasers and parametric amplifiers. High-quality microcavities based on GaAs, GaN, and II-VI materials are being studied using a complete set of modern spectroscopic techniques.
The objectives of the research program are: the observation of strong exciton-photon coupling at room temperature, evidence of Bose-condensation of exciton polaritons, experimental realisation of the first polariton laser and spin engineering and transport in microcavities.
Our training program includes 400 months of training for young and experienced researchers, multiple exchanges, 8 meetings of the consortium, and training connections to relevant industry. In September 2005 has been held the firs summer school hosted by the project, in Maratea, Italy, attended by about 30 young researchers.
The aim of the program could be encapsulated as "A new generation of scientists for a new generation of optical devices". The name is derived from one of the partner city, Clermont-Ferrand, in France.