27-31 July 2026. International Summer School – New Frontiers in Ultrafast Quantum Optics
The International Summer School “New Frontiers in Ultrafast Quantum Optics” was held from 27 to 31 July 2026 within the framework of the Lake Como School of Advanced Studies. It was co-organised by Prof. Giulio Cerullo (Politecnico di Milano), Prof. Simone Cialdi (University of Milan), Prof. Matteo Clerici (CLIP, University of Insubria), and Prof. Alfred Leitenstorfer (University of Konstanz). The school took place at Villa del Grumello, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.
The event was a great success, thanks to the enthusiasm and active engagement of the students and lecturers, as well as the generous support of its sponsors. A total of 41 participants attended the school, contributing to a lively and stimulating atmosphere throughout the week.
The programme focused on emerging topics at the intersection of ultrafast photonics and quantum science—two rapidly converging fields that are reshaping our ability to probe, measure, and control quantum dynamics on electronic timescales. Topics included:
- Sub-Cycle Quantum Electrodynamics and Field-Resolved Spectroscopy
- Ultrafast Quantum Spectroscopy and Imaging
- Attosecond Quantum Phenomena and Free-Electron Quantum Optics
- Ultrafast Quantum Chemistry and Photonics
- Fundamental Fluctuations in Condensed Matter
Lecturers: Jens Biegert (ICFO); Lucia Caspani (University of Insubria); Giulio Cerullo (Politecnico di Milano); Maria Chekhova (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light); Daniele Fausti (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg); Michael Krüger (Technion); Alfred Leitenstorfer (University of Konstanz); Maciej Lewenstein (ICFO); Mauro Nisoli (Politecnico di Milano); Ioachim Pupeza (RPTU Kaiserslautern); Frank Schlawin (Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter); and Ron Tenne (Technion).
Thanks to the support of the Lake Como School of Advanced Studies, the organising institutions, and the school’s generous sponsors, the registration fee was offered at the reduced rate of €450.
Student grants and fee waivers were also made available. Zurich Instruments, OPTICA, and OPTOMAN each generously sponsored a student grant covering the full registration fee. The grants were awarded competitively, and several additional fee waivers were provided.
A poster competition was also held during the school, with four best-poster prizes awarded to participating students.
Further information about the programme is available on the school website.
