Aperiodic Photonics: from Physics to Device Engineering

Abstract:  The ability to design complex wave fields and electromagnetic interactions in optical structures with arbitrary geometries and material dispersion properties is essential to the advancement of nanophotonics and metamaterials technologies. In particular, recent progress in the design, fabrication and characterization of metal-dielectric nanostructures offers unique opportunities to achieve novel optical functionalities driven by enhanced linear and nonlinear optical responses. In this talk, I will discuss our work on the design and engineering of novel functional materials and optical components driven by anomalous light transport, resonant multiple scattering, and wave localization phenomena in aperiodic photonic environments with controllable long-range correlations. Finally I will address the integration of designed aperiodic photonic structures and Si-based optical materials with largely tunable optical responses and discuss critical applications to solid-state lighting, lasing, multispectral imaging and optical spectroscopy.

All seminars are held on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon-1:00 p.m. in the Bowen Hall Auditorium Room 222. A light lunch is provided at 11:30 a.m. in the Bowen Hall Atrium immediately prior to the seminar.