Events Calendar

Nader Engheta Seminar

Speaker: Nader Engheta, University of Pennsylvania

Talk Title: Metaphotonics: Form vs Function

Abstract: As the fields of metamaterials and nanophotonics reach certain levels of development, new directions and novel vistas appear on the horizon. Modularization, parameterization and functionalization of metamaterials and nanoscale photonics may provide new optical characteristics and functionalities for the platforms of metaphotonics. Indeed, metamaterial “forms” lead to “functions”. These include (a) the extreme-parameter nanophotonics, (b) materials that may function as optical nanocircuits (“optical metatronics” -- a platform for nanoscale information processing), (c) graphene metamaterials as one-atom-thick optical devices, (d) nanomaterials that perform mathematical operations (nanoscale analog computers), (e) nonreciprocal nanostructures for unusual flow of photons, and (f) metamaterial “bits” and “bytes” as building blocks for digital metamaterials, to name a few. In my group we are investigating a variety of features and properties of these concepts and directions in functionalizing metamaterials, and are exploring new classes of phenomena and potential applications. I will discuss some of these topics, present our latest results, and forecast future directions and possibilities.

Biography: Nader Engheta is the H. Nedwill Ramsey Professor at the University of Pennsylvania with affiliations in the Departments of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics and Astronomy, and Materials Science and Engineering. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Tehran, and his M.S and Ph.D. degrees from Caltech. Selected as one of the Scientific American Magazine 50 Leaders in Science and Technology in 2006 for developing the concept of optical lumped nanocircuits, he is a Guggenheim Fellow, an IEEE Third Millennium Medalist, a Fellow of IEEE, American Physical Society (APS), Optical Society of America (OSA), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, and the recipient of 2013 Benjamin Franklin Key Award, 2013 Inaugural SINA Award in Engineering, 2012 IEEE Electromagnetics Award, 2008 George H. Heilmeier Award for Excellence in Research, the Fulbright Naples Chair Award, NSF Presidential Young Investigator award, the UPS Foundation Distinguished Educator term Chair, and several teaching awards including the Christian F. and Mary R. Lindback Foundation Award, S. Reid Warren, Jr. Award and W. M. Keck Foundation Award. His current research activities span a broad range of areas including metamaterials, nanophotonics, graphene optics, imaging and sensing inspired by eyes of animal species, optical nanoengineering, microwave and optical antennas, and engineering and physics of fields and waves. He has co-edited the book entitled “Metamaterials: Physics and Engineering Explorations” by Wiley-IEEE Press, 2006. He was the Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Plasmonics in June 2012.

Host: EE- Electrophysics and Physics Colloquium

Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Marilyn Poplawski