View source for European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy

{{Infobox laboratory
|name=European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy
|native_name={{Lang|it|Laboratorio Europeo per la Spettroscopia Non-lineare}}
|image=
|type=Laser facility
|operating_agency=[[University of Florence]]
|established={{Start date|1991|02|09}}
|city=[[Sesto Fiorentino]], [[Florence]]
|country=[[Italy]]
|director=Elisabetta Cerbai
|budget=€10,000,000
|staff=100+
|motto=Scientific excellence is our guiding light
|website={{URL|http://lens.unifi.it/}}
}}
The '''European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy''' ('''LENS''') is an interdisciplinary research center established by the [[Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (Italy)|Italian Ministry of Education]] in 1991<ref>[https://lens.unifi.it/media/attachments/ln37-1991.pdf Legge 30 gennaio 1991, n. 37] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118001237/https://lens.unifi.it/media/attachments/ln37-1991.pdf |date=2021-11-18 }} - Istituzione del Laboratorio europeo di spettroscopie non lineari (LENS) presso l'Università di Firenze.</ref> within the [[University of Florence]] thanks to the initiative of Prof. [[Salvatore Califano]].
== Mission ==
LENS mission is focused on three main goals:<ref>[https://lens.unifi.it/media/attachments/lens_statute.pdf LENS statute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118004635/https://lens.unifi.it/media/attachments/lens_statute.pdf |date=2021-11-18 }}.</ref> facilitating the scientific collaboration between European researchers in the field of linear and non-linear [[spectroscopy]]; providing the most advanced equipment available, assistance and advice to qualified researchers; conceive, plan and carry out research projects in collaboration with other universities and institutions both nationally and internationally.
== Structure ==
LENS has a strong international and interdisciplinary structure. The Directive Council is composed of experts in different fields of research covered by LENS. Such Council oversees all scientific, administrative and financial activities: the University of Florence, the Italian National Institute of Optics under the [[Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche|CNR]], the [[Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics]], the [[Kaiserslautern University of Technology]] and the [[Pierre and Marie Curie University]] are all represented on the board.
The current LENS director, appointed by the Rector of the University of Florence on the proposal of the Directive Council, is Elisabetta Cerbai.
The director shall be assisted by a European Committee composed of the Rectors and Presidents of universities and affiliated research organizations or their representatives.
== Head office ==
After many years on the historic hill of [[Arcetri]], since 1995 LENS is located within the Science and Technology Campus in [[Sesto Fiorentino]].
== Scientific research ==
LENS foundation was started by a group of researchers involved in atomic and molecular laser spectroscopy, but during three decades its research activity has grown and diversified to also cover cold atoms physics ([[Bose–Einstein condensate]] and [[Fermi gas]]), physics of [[Complex systems|complex]] and disordered systems, [[photochemistry]], [[biochemistry]] and [[biophysics]], [[quantum biology]], [[materials science]], [[photonics]], [[biophotonics]], [[condensed matter physics]], and the analysis, preservation and restoration of artistic heritage. All of these fields share the same fundamental methodology: the use of [[laser| laser light]] to investigate matter.
LENS research groups are involved in three main research lines: [[Quantum mechanics|quantum science]] and [[Quantum technology|technology]], [[photonics|photonic materials]] and [[biophotonics]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lens.unifi.it/research/ |title=LENS - Research |access-date=2021-11-18 |archive-date=2021-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118011430/https://lens.unifi.it/research/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== European Laserlab consortium ==
As a laser facility, LENS is part of the [[Laserlab-Europe]] consortium since its foundation,<ref>[http://www.laserlab-europe.net/transnational-access/access-facilities/access-facilities-lens Page about LENS on the official Laserlab website]</ref> providing access to its labs within the Transnational Access To Research Infrastructures Programme [http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/research-infrastructures_en.html] of the [[European Commission]]. Main research interests are represented by five Joint Research Activities [http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/joint-research-activities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323055701/http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/joint-research-activities |date=2010-03-23 }}, two of which involve LENS: ALADIN [http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/joint-research-activities/jra1-aladin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313143903/http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/research/joint-research-2009-2012/jra1-aladin/jra1-aladin |date=2016-03-13 }} and OPTBIO [http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/joint-research-activities/jra4-optbio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312230753/http://www.laserlab-europe.eu/research/joint-research-2009-2012/jra4-optbio/jra4-optbio |date=2016-03-12 }}.
[[File:Il LENS presso il Polo di Sesto Fiorentino.jpg|right|thumb|250px|LENS main building at Polo Scientifico e Tecnologico of the [[University of Florence]] in [[Sesto Fiorentino]]]]
== Training ==
LENS provides a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] school, also supported by the University of Florence and others European universities, and a [[Postdoctoral research|Postdoctoral fellowship]] programme. Both initiatives are partially supported by the [[Marie Curie Actions|EU Marie Curie Actions]] funded by the European Commission in various scientific disciplines and the [[Erasmus Mundus|European Erasmus Mundus]] programme.
== Awards ==
In 2017, the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research Systems ([[ANVUR]]), in its triennial report about national research (referred to the 2011–2014 period), has ranked LENS at the top of Italian small scientific centers for [[physics]] and [[chemistry]].<ref>[https://www.anvur.it/rapporto-2016/files/tabelle_parteprima_VQR2011-2014.pdf Tables of the final ANVUR Report, VQR 2011-2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118011440/https://www.anvur.it/rapporto-2016/files/tabelle_parteprima_VQR2011-2014.pdf |date=2021-11-18 }}, p. 84.</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.lens.unifi.it/ European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy]
* [http://www.laserlab-europe.net/ LaserLab-Europe]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:University of Florence]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Research lasers]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Florence]]