Femtosecond Fieldoscopy

Research Group Hanieh Fattahi

Welcome to the Research Group Femtosecond Fieldoscopy

Our independent research group, funded by the Max Planck Society (MPG), the European Research Council (ERC), and the European Innovation Council (EIC), is tackling two of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Research focus

1. Advancing label-free Sensing and Imaging Technologies

On a fundamental level, we are pushing the boundaries of label-free sensing and imaging to unlock new avenues for research in soft matter and solid-state physics.

2. Sustainable Solutions for Space Exploration

In the global race for space exploration, we are advancing sustainable technologies to advance interplanetary communication, propulsion, and energy harvesting—paving the way for a sustainable future beyond Earth.

Our group has made significant strides in these areas through innovative technologies developed over years of dedicated research. To learn more about our projects, visit:

Femtosecond Fieldoscopy: A breakthrough in broadband near-petahertz electric-field sensing in ambient air. Learn more
APACE: Revolutionizing solar-pumped laser technology. Learn more

Our Team

Contact

Research Group Hanieh Fattahi

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
Staudtstr. 2
91058 Erlangen, Germany

hanieh.fattahi@mpl.mpg.de

Accuracy Record set: Research Group of Dr. Hanieh Fattahi awarded Helmholtz Prize

The 2026 Helmholtz Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of precision measurement has been awarded to, among others, Dr. Hanieh Fattahi and her research group “Femtosecond Fieldoscopy”. The award recognizes their contribution to the development of femtosecond fieldoscopy, a new measurement technique for the high-precision analyzation of optical electric fields under ambient conditions.

New insights into optical switching processes through extremely rapid light-matter interactions

Understanding how a structure influences field oscillations provides valuable insights into the structure’s physical properties. Researchers are investigating the changes in field oscillations that occur when light interacts with indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals. This will deepen our understanding of how the interaction between light and these nanocrystals depends on time.

Ytterbium thin-disk lasers pave the way for sensitive detection of atmospheric pollutants

Alongside carbon dioxide, methane is a key driver of global warming. To detect and monitor the climate pollutants in the atmosphere precisely, scientists have developed an advanced laser technology. This novel method can play a crucial role in tracking greenhouse gas cycles and the effects of climate change.

Femtosecond-fieldoscopy accesses molecules fingerprints at near-infrared spectral range

In a breakthrough that could revolutionise biomarker detection, researchers have developed a novel technique called ‘femtosecond-fieldoscopy’. This method enables the precise measurement of minute liquid quantities, down to the micromolar level, with unmatched sensitivity in the near-infrared region.

Hanieh Fattahi receives ERC Consolidator Grant to advance 'Label-free microscopy' research

Dr. Hanieh Fattahi is delighted to have been awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant and will receive around two million euros in funding over a period of five years. The head of the ‘Femtosecond Fieldoscopy’ research group will advance the next generation of laser-driven biological microscopy with her research project ‘Beyond the visible’.

Research on solar lasers at MPL receives funding from Europe-wide APACE project

Dr. Hanieh Fattahi and her team are aiming to develop a new type of solar laser. The bio-inspired sunlight-pumped laser is capable of upgrading diffuse natural sunlight into a coherent laser beam. This research project is part of the larger consortium „Towards A Bio-Mimetic Sunlight Pumped Laser Based On Photosynthetic Antenna Complexes“ (APACE).