Postdoctoral application in soft matter physics

Goal of the project

The visual system of some fish distinguishes changes in color and polarization. CLCs selectively reflect light. Wavelength, from UV to IR, and polarization, from circular to elliptical, vary with the angle of observation. The supervisor's hypothesis is that fish could use this versatility of the reflective patterns of their cholesteric collagen scales to move collectively and reorient themselves with remarkable speed within a school. In a unique biomimetic approach, the objective is to develop reflective optical tags inspired by these biological structures in relation with the optical reading of the images coded in the tags. The subject has a strong experimental component and is interdisciplinary in nature. This involves correlating the physical characteristics of the tags in close connection with the determination of the chiro-optical properties of the reflected wave.

The principal supervisor, Michel Mitov, CNRS Research Director, leads the research subject, which brings together concepts from soft matter science, liquid crystal physics, optics of chiral liquid crystals, biological cholesterics, and biomimetic liquid crystals. The topic addresses the link between the optical features and structure of designed materials as disclosed by complementary microscopy (SEM, TEM, AFM). As a member of the Complex Photonic Materials and Systems team, the post-doctoral researcher will benefit from the expertise of researchers who specialize in ultrafast optics, nanophotonics, and the physical properties of optical materials developed to meet the challenges of modern photonics.

The post-doctoral work’s will consist of creating artificial versions comprising singular twisted structures with a: non-monotonous pitch; variable orientation of the axis of symmetry; double helicity; combination of several of these geometries. This development work will be accompanied by the study of the optical properties of biomimetic films and their small-scale structure, by electron or near-field microscopy in collaboration with experts in the field.