Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, is a captivating blend of historical charm and vibrant innovation. Nestled at the foot of the Styrian Alps and bisected by the river Mur, Graz offers a rich tapestry of medieval architecture, UNESCO World Heritage landmarks, and a thriving contemporary arts scene. From the iconic Schlossberg hill and its famous clock tower to the futuristic Kunsthaus Graz and lively farmers’ markets, attendees will find themselves immersed in a city where tradition meets modernity. As the host city for ICOAM 2026, Graz sets the stage for a memorable event offering not only stimulating academic discussions but also a deep dive into the heart of Austrian culture and innovation.
ICOAM 2026 is the eighth conference in the series, and it will bring together scientists whose research focuses on structured light in a broad sense. The optical angular momentum attached to certain structures, such as twisted wavefronts, might be the most well-known property. However, it is only one of many unique features characterizing these states of light. In addition to its fundamentally interesting properties, structured light is highly appealing for a wide range of applications, including light-matter interactions, quantum information, imaging, and microscopy.
Over the last few decades, the field has also branched out into various directions such as nonlinear optics, optical communication, and matter-wave phenomena. These topics will be similarly covered by the conference.
The upcoming meeting in Graz will provide an opportunity for researchers to share their latest results and discuss new ideas about future directions yet to be explored. Don't miss this unique chance to connect with leading experts in the field while experiencing the cultural vibrancy and historical depth that Graz has to offer!
Topical areas to be covered by the conference
Research related to optical angular momentum, structured light, light-matter interactions and beyond.
Topics include, but are not limited to
- Spin and orbital angular momenta
- Structured electromagnetic waves in general
- Structured sound and matter
- Singular optics
- Interaction of structured light with matter
- Imaging, microscopy, endoscopy, etc.
- Optical forces, trapping, and optomechanics
- Optical spin-orbit effects
- Quantum information
- Photonic integrated circuits
- Structured near-fields
- Optical communication
- Nonlinear optics
- Nano-optics
- Metasurfaces and metamaterials
- Spatio-temporal vortices