Search by tag «Research» 640 results

• METANANO 2018: Professor Stefan Maier on Nanophotonics’ Key Tasks

  Why does it often take decades for a fundamental discovery to be introduced in the industry and enter our daily lives? What are the key challenges of today’s nanophotonics? And what are the prospects of metamaterials’ further development? Stefan Maier, professor of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and participant of the recent METANANO conference, spoke about these topics in an interview for ITMO.NEWS.

  25.09.2018

• Scientists Develop New Analysis Method of Non-Linear Optical Properties

  Scientists from ITMO University in collaboration with their colleagues from National Taiwan Normal University have developed a high-sensitivity method of studying the non-linear optical properties of substances. Unlike other research in this area, this project uses a collimated (unfocused) laser beam, which allowed the researchers to decrease the power density applied to a sample, though at the price of loss of useful signal. Using a special procedure for recording holograms and processing images, as well as using a special computational modeling algorithm, they have been able to measure the properties of optically non-linear media despite a weak signal. The project opens up new possibilities for diagnostics of non-linear properties. Results of the research were published in Optics Letters.

  19.09.2018

• Researchers Investigate Correlation Between Blood Flow and Body Position

  For the first time ever, an international research group detected alterations in capillary blood flow around the face caused by body position change. This became possible through the use of imaging photoplethysmography. Using this method, scientists can examine blood vessels located in the carotid system in order to, for example, investigate the cerebral blood flow response to various stimuli in health and disease. The results of the research were published in Scientific Reports.

  18.09.2018

• Scientists Create New Magnetic Nanosphere For Efficient Drug Delivery

  Researchers from ITMO University created a new kind of magnetic nanospheres for drug delivery. Due to the unique combination of synthesis methods, the size of these magnetite-based nanospheres can be easily regulated. At the same time, the nanospheres are not damaging to cells. The scientists proved the new material’s effectiveness in a range of experiments on dissolving model plasma clots. The results were published in Applied Materials & Interfaces.

  10.09.2018

• Researchers Use Silicon Nanoparticles for Enhancing Solar Cells Efficiency

  An international research group improved perovskite solar cells efficiency by using materials with better light absorption properties. For the first time, researchers used silicon nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles can trap light of a broad range of wavelengths near the cell active layer. The particles themselves don’t absorb light and don’t interact with other elements of the battery, thus maintaining its stability. The research was published in Advanced Optical Materials.

  05.09.2018

• What’s the Commotion? ITMO Scientists Discover How Obstacles Change Crowd Dynamics

  An international group of scientists from ITMO University, University of Amsterdam, and Indian Institute of Science continue their pioneering research on crowd behavior. Based on data collected in the aftermath of the 2016 Indian religious festival Kumbh Mela, which lasted for two months and gathered more than 65 millions of pilgrims, the scientists have conducted a comprehensive analysis of how different types of obstacles impacted the flow of human crowds. The festival’s main venue attracting the largest number of pilgrims, the Mahakal Temple was chosen as a case example. Research findings were published in the Journal of Computational Science. The project was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation as part of ‘Strategic research areas for Russia’s science and technology sector’ 2014-2020 federal target program. 

  27.08.2018

• St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Singapore: ITMO Graduate on Improving City Infrastructure

  ITMO University graduate Valentin Melnikov got into high-performance computing during his Master’s program run by ITMO in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam. He started his research with the question of how power cuts influence the traffic situation in Amsterdam. Thanks to ITMO University’s partnership with the University of Amsterdam, the graduate was invited to the Nanyang Technological University to work in the laboratory headed by Professor Peter Sloot who teaches at all three aforementioned universities. While in Singapore, Valentin is developing an infrastructure model which would help create a comfortable urban space in extremely hot and humid climate conditions. ITMO.NEWS met the graduate to talk about his research.

  21.08.2018

• Vacation With a Purpose: Science Tourism and Citizen Science

  Summer is already on the wane, but we still have almost a month of holidays left. For those who’ve become fed up with lazing on some beach and can't think of abandoning science and research even during their vacation, we’ve prepared a list of citizen science activities that will help make the most of their time.

  06.08.2018

• Building A New Generation of Drugs: SCAMT Laboratory Scientists On Rational Chemical Design Using Metal-Organic Frameworks

  Aimed at creating materials with pre-planned properties, rational design has become one of the most prevalent research trends in chemistry. Its advocates postulate that instead of going through the exhaustive search of random combinations, a better strategy for finding the right material would be to start with analysing the structural elements and the interactions that occur between them. This will lead to significant reductions in the effort, time, and money needed for creating new drugs or purification systems. Following their paper on framework materials that was published in Russian Chemical Reviews, ITMO University’s SCAMT Laboratory scientists met with ITMO.NEWS to talk about their research.

  03.08.2018

• Study Reveals The Great Pyramid of Giza Can Focus Electromagnetic Energy

  An international research group applied methods of theoretical physics to study the electromagnetic response of the Great Pyramid to radio waves. Scientists found out that under resonance conditions the pyramid can concentrate electromagnetic energy both in its internal chambers and the area located under its base. The research group plans to apply these findings to design nanoparticles capable of reproducing similar effects in the optical range. Such nanoparticles may be used to develop sensors and highly efficient solar cells. The study was published in the Journal of Applied Physics.

  30.07.2018