Welcome to the Phononics & Microscopy group website!

The Phononics & Microscopy group is part of the MN2S (Micro Nano Sciences & Systems) department of FEMTO-ST, a joint research unit between the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique  (CNRS), the université de Franche-Comté (UFC), the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et de Microtechniques (ENSMM), and, the Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM).

We are located in Besançon, 15B avenue des Montboucons.

Scientific standing

The Phononics & Microscopy group stands at the crossroad of phononics (the analysis and the control of phonons) and of micro-instrumentation (the science of metrology of physical phenomena at the micron scale).

(left) Hypersonic phononic crystal placed between a pair of wide bandwidth interdigital transducers. (right) Optical heterodyne interferometric measurement of vibrations at the surface of the phononic crystal.

Research interests

The study of phonons is presently viewed under a new light. Whether considered at the nanoscopic, at the microscopic, or at the macroscopic scale, the analysis and the control of phonons (aka, phononics) opens a new scientific front. As a research field, phononics gathers a number of closely related scientific disciplines, usually considered from the point of view of the material that hosts the propagation of acoustic or elastic waves. Those include sonic and phononic crystalsacoustic metamaterials, super-lattices, and periodic structures. Applications are to vibration isolation, MEMS, frequency control in RF communications, or to nanoscale thermal transport. The interaction of mechanical waves with optical waves inside cavities, waveguides, and ordered crystals, optomechanics, opens a new front of opportunities, especially toward telecommunications and ultimate sensing. 

Within this vast picture, our group is acknowledged internationally for contributions to phononic crystals, notably at the microscale and for theory, as well as for the study of the interaction of photons and phonons in micro- and nanostructures (opto-acoustics). Investigation of physical phenomena at the small scale, including the development of multiphysic instruments, is also part of the excellence core of the groupe. The accent in this area is on microscopy (combining acoustic, thermal, and thermoelastic properties).

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Know-how

Instrumentation

The group maintains state-of-the-art experiments for the measurement of elastic waves in phononic crystals and micro-acoustic devices in general (RF probe station, heterodyne optical interferometers, ultrasonic measurements, femtosecond-scale metrology and imaging platform, among others). Technology is performed within the MIMENTO technology center. This national technology center has a major on micro- nano-acoustics and our doctoral students are encouraged to join.

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Numerical simulation for phononics

We also care about the precise numerical simulation of experiments and we are pursuing the development of state-of-the-art multiphysical models for phononics. Along the course of time, we have developped a coherent set of plane wave, finite difference and finite element codes. We have the capability to ally numerical simulation, technological fabrication and metrology, as reflected in our scientific production.

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Please feel free to contact us!

  • We are open to scientific collaborations in our thematic field, within formal or informal projects.
  • We can host academic and engineering school trainees, with a choice of experimental and theoretical subjects.
  • Our PhD theses and post-doctoral positions are displayed on this website, in particular. This kind of position, however, can be prepared ahead of time, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us even though no position is opened.