Join us for this intriguing QUBIC Seminar Series event.

Biomolecular Optomechanics

Speakers: Max Foreman, Dr Jesse Slim, Dr Igor Marinkovic (UQ)
Date: Wednesday 09 July, 1pm – 2pm AEST
Zoom: Click here to join the seminar

Abstract
Join Jesse, Igor and Max to discuss a bio-molecular extension to the field of optomechanics. Traditionally, optomechanics describes the radiation pressure mediated interaction between light circulating in a cavity and a mechanical motion that changes the cavity geometry. However, the field has recently enjoyed an extension to the molecular domain, where the mechanical motion is substituted with a Raman active molecular vibration.
Here, we will jointly discuss the feasibility of extending this framework to the bio-molecular domain. We consider borrowing laser cooling and heating techniques from optomechanics to amplify or suppress collective vibrational modes in proteins, and its applicability to controlling conformational changes. We consider the parameter regimes necessary to establish optical control over the dynamics of candidate molecules, and comment on the complexities that need to be addressed for – and progress made toward – an experimental implementation.
We’ll present our results in two short talks and then break out into an interactive session, where we aim to draw on your multidisciplinary expertise to help us physicists move forward in the wonderous world of biomolecules.”

Bios
Dr Jesse Slim completed his undergrad at TU Delft (NL) and then moved on to AMOLF (Amsterdam, NL) for a PhD in optomechanics, experimentally demonstrating mechanical resonator networks coupled by light. After finishing the PhD in 2023, Jesse moved to Queensland for the weather (and a post-doc). Bound by his Dutch heritage, he is an avid cyclist and loves to camp.

Max Foreman graduated from the University of Queensland in 2024 after completing his Honours thesis on the theme of bio-molecular optomechanics (supervised by Professor Warwick Bowen and Dr Jesse Slim). Max is also interested in applications of optomechanics to quantum state-transfer protocols and will begin his PhD studies on the theme of super resolution imaging in October (supervised by Professor Alexander Lvovsky). Outside of physics, Max is an avid beach fisherman.

Dr Igor Marinkovic received his PhD from TU Delft in 2019, working on quantum cavity optomechanics. He is currently working at UQ as a Research Fellow, with focus on optical label-free biosensing and molecular optomechanics.