Professor Bonin's research involves using laser light to investigate the structure and behavior of clusters and nanostructures.
Recent research focuses on understanding optical properties of materials using light forces.
By scattering cluster beams through a laser light grating, the electric-dipole polarizability of clusters can be measured. Interesting studies include the electrical response and structure of fullerenes, endohedral fullerenes, and charged cluster beams. These techniques are important in providing experimental benchmarks for theoretical calculations of linear and nonlinear optical properties of clusters, nanostructures, and thin films. Current efforts are aimed at optically trapping single-particle nanostructures for optical and electronic characterization. We are also developing techniques for optical manipulation of single-particle nanostructures to produce novel nanoelectronics or chemical sensors.