Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light

The Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light performs basic research in optical metrology, optical communication, new optical materials, plasmonics and nanophotonics and optical applications in biology and medicine. It is part of the Max Planck Society and was founded on January 1, 2009 in Erlangen near Nuremberg. The Institute is based on the Max Planck Research Group "Optics, Information and Photonics", which was founded in 2004 at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, as a precursor.StructureThe institute currently is organized in 3 divisions, each led by an equal director. The institute is also the home of several Max Planck research groups that are organizationally independent of the divisions. The institute researchers are supported by several scientifically active technology development and service units. The MPL also hosts an International Max Planck Research School Physics of Light. Through the appointment of the directors and affiliated professors as university professors, through several affiliated groups and participation in graduate schools, a collaboration between the MPL and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg is maintained.Division LeuchsThe head of this division Prof. Gerd Leuchs is the first founding director. He held the chair of optics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, which is now integrated in the MPL. The range of topics investigated includes classical optics (optical 3D metrology, interferometry, high-resolution interferometry, etc.) as well as quantum information processing and nanophotonics.