Light people: Professor Mengkun Liu

At the frontier where light meets quantum matter, Professor Mengkun Liu has built a distinctive research program that integrates advanced optical nanoscopy, quantum materials, and emergent light-matter interactions. As a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, he leads the Ultrafast & Near-field Infrared Laboratory (UNI-Lab), where his group pioneers infrared-to-terahertz near-field spectroscopy under extreme conditions, enabling direct visualization of polaritons, collective excitations, and quantum phenomena at the nanoscale. Over the past decade, Professor Liu and his collaborators have not only made fundamental discoveries in quantum materials and nanophotonics but have also reshaped experimental capabilities through instrument innovation - ranging from magneto-near-field optical microscopy to synchrotron-based infrared nanoscopy. In this interview, he reflects on the scientific ideas that drive his research, the philosophy behind building a creative research group, and his perspective on the future of optical science at the quantum frontier.