Find Esa Jaatinen on
Areas of expertise: nonlinear optics, spectroscopic sensing, photocatalytic reactions
My overarching motivation in physics research is to use my skills to safeguard the community and protect the environment. To this end I explore light-matter interactions with the direct aims of realizing energy efficient photocatalysts and developing Raman and other spectroscopic sensors. My work requires a transdisciplinary approach involving physics, chemistry, forensic science and engineering to deliver successful outcomes achieved through many collaborations. Particular focus areas are: understanding the nonlinear processes that can occur under high laser intensity illumination, plasmonic enhancement of photocatalytic processes at the nanoscale, and enhancing Raman signals to detect substances of interest at distance. Of key importance is the integrity of the spectroscopic measurement and what can be inferred from it. After 8 years at the National Measurement Institute of Australia, I continue to be intrigued by the research question of separating the loss processes of optical scatter and absorption. To this end we have developed various techniques and facilities to achieve this.