About CeOPP

In 1989 we proposed as deans of the departments of physics and of electrical engineering to build up an interdisciplinary research Center for Optoelectronics to focus our work on material research, device and system development in this exciting and promising field.

We started with common work in integrated optics and corresponding theoretical modelling accompanied by advanced spectro-scopic material characterization; four groups of the departments of physics and electrical engineering were involved. Supported by the University and the Ministry of Science and Research of North Rhine-Westphalia these activities were extended in the following years. Groups dedicated to research on semiconductor (nanostructure) optoelectronics in the physics department and on optical communication systems, sensor technology and high- frequency electronics in the department of electrical engineering were built up.

Moreover, two groups of the department of chemistry joined the Center for Optoelectronics offering their expertise in liquid crystals and soft matter research. Very recently, the scope was further extended by a physics group developing (photonic bandgap) nanophotonic materials.

In the meantime  10 groups in the departments of  physics , of  electrical engineering and information technology , and of  chemistry are involved in research and teaching in the fields of Optoelectronics and Photonics. Two further groups will be incorporated in the near future. The wide scope of our activities ranges from basic material research in semiconductors, ferro-electrics, liquid crystals and polymers via development of fabrication technologies and of a wide spectrum of optoelectronic and photonic devices to numerous applications in optical communications, instrumentation and sensing.

We gratefully acknowledge the support and funding of many of our projects by a variety of institutions.

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) not only supports the research unit “Integrated Optics in Lithium Niobate“ since 1997, but also a large number of projects with Paderborn groups involved in focussed programs on “Group III Nitrides and their Hetero-Structures”, “Photonic Crystals”, “Optical Signal Transmission”, “Organic Field Effect Transistors” and “Specific Phenomena of Silicon Chemistry”. It is planned to establish a second DFG-funded research unit “Tuneable Photonic Microstructures” in the near future. The Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) supports several projects within its program on optical technologies; within these projects there is a close collaboration with major industrial companies.

Moreover, there are several projects, which are directly funded by industrial companies. A lot of activities are performed in an international collaboration, in particular within the framework of European projects. Moreover, DFG, Volkswagen-Stiftung, and Heinz-Nixdorf-Stiftung support(ed) various single projects on special topics in Optoelectronics and Photonics. In addition, the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung awards grants to first-class foreign researchers to come to Paderborn doing collaborative research in our well-established labs.

In the near future a  new building will considerably improve our working conditions. Planning has been completed; break ground will be this spring. The University of Paderborn is one of the first Universities in Germany, which will change its education to the international Bachelor/Master system. This new system will allow to offer an interdisciplinary master program in Photonics and Optoelectronics in the future. First steps in this direction are our graduate lectures (taught in English), commonly organised by the departments of chemistry, physics and electrical engineering and information technology.

This site intends to inform colleagues, friends, supporting institutions and companies, students and the interested public on current research activities and recent achievements of all groups of the Center of Optoelectronics and Photonics of the University of Paderborn. It should also be understood as an invitation to cooperate with us in the different fields.