Dr. Dentcho Genov

Professor

Louisana Tech University

*Refreshments Served at 3:15pm in the Student Lounge

Title & Abstract

The Art of Trapping Light by Mimicking Gravity on a Chip

Abstract: In this talk, I will present some recent advances in our understanding of the fundamental processes of wave-matter interactions at the nanoscale. I will focus on a rapidly developing sub-field of photonics commonly referred to as artificial optical materials, i.e. metamaterials. The electromagnetic metamaterials may provide the means to precisely control the flow of light and overcome previously believed physical limitations in optics. First, I will present the theoretical and experimental rational for using such artificially engineered materials for imaging with super resolution, negative refraction, and construction of exotic devices that may render objects invisible. Next, I will introduce the transformation optics approach and show how it can be applied to test the Einstein's general theory of relativity in the lab. The general theory of relativity establishes equality between matter-energy density and curvature of space-time. As a result, light and matter follow the natural geodesic paths in the inherent space-times and may experience bending and trapping in specific regions of space. I will show that the same phenomenon can be reproduced in a controlled laboratory environment, opening the way to directly investigate light scattering and trapping in close proximity to massive celestial objects including gravitational singularities. Finally, a revision of the Bertrand theorem for the stability and closeness of orbital motion for photons will be presented with important ramifications for development of stable photonic traps providing a new roadmap toward engineering novel optical cavities with application in laser science, quantum electrodynamics (QED), and bio-sensing.

Short Bio: Dr. Dentcho A. Genov, is a J. J. Cordaro and Entergy Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering and the Director of the Center for Applied Physics Studies (CAPS) at Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Genov has published three book chapters and more than 80 peer reviewed papers and conference proceedings in leading journals such as Nature, Nature Physics, Nature Photonics and Physical Review Letters. His research on metamaterials, cloaking and optical black holes has been extensively featured in the US and foreign media, including on CNN, BBC, The Huffington Post, Scientific American, etc.