The Photothermal and Photoacoustic Group (GEFF) was established in 1990 at the Department of Physics of Universidade Estadual de Maringá to investigate both theoretically and experimentally laser induced photothermal effects in solids and liquids. The current research efforts include studies of photochemical reaction in aqueous solution including biological systems, photoacoustic absorption of solids, wavefront distortions in optical systems, magneto-acoustic effects, depth profiling, thermal analyses, and spectroscopic measurements. The Laboratory is supported by the Brazilian agencies CAPES, CNPq and Fundação Araucária and is one of the pioneers of its kind in the country.

GEFF facilities include: CW and Pulsed Thermal Lens/Mirror spectroscopies, Mirage method, Optical Interferometry, Specific heat, Photoacoustic spectroscopy, Magneto-acoustic, RAMAN and FTIR spectroscopies, High temperature vacuum furnace for glass preparation.