Research group website: www.valev.org.

Prof Valev heads the MultiPhoton NanoPhotonics research group, which focuses on the interaction between powerful laser light and nanostructured materials. In January 2019, the team "made history" by demonstrating a new physical effect, that had eluded scientists for 40 years. The effect had been referred to as the impossible theory.

Valev's main expertise is in building laser experiments for studying novel materials, such as plasmonic nanostructures, metamaterials, 2D materials and quantum optical materials. He aims to discover new properties and to test theoretical predictions. His focus is on the physics of photons, electrons and magnetism confined to tiny volumes of space – nanoparticles or 2D sheets. He seeks out new and useful intersections between classical electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. His investigations are both fundamental and applied, with potential benefits for the pharmaceutical, food, perfume, and agrochemical industries.