Seminars

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Prof. Uri Banin from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "Colloidal Semiconductor Quantum Dots: From Artificial Atoms to Designer Molecules"

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), often regarded as artificial atoms, have reached an exceptional level of synthetic control and fundamental understanding—particularly regarding their size, composition, and surface-dependent properties.

Their tunable characteristics, scalable bottom-up synthesis, and compatibility with solution-based processing have enabled widespread applications in displays, lasers, light-emitting diodes, single-photon sources, photodetectors, and beyond.

Prof. Konstantin Bliokh from Donostia International Physics Center: "Topologically structured waves and manipulation of particles"

I will present recent theoretical and experimental results on: (i) subwavelength high-intensity vortices around ‘holes’ or ‘islands’ in 2D wave systems: from surface polaritons to ocean waves, (ii) generation of the Bessel-type vortices, displacement-field skyrmions, and polarization Möbius strips in sound and water waves, and (iii) manipulation of floating particles using topologically structured water waves.

Prof. Maria Chekhova: "Spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a liquid crystal"

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) is the workhorse of quantum optics and photonic quantum technologies. It is used as a source of entangled photons, single photons, and squeezed light. SPDC is a second-order nonlinear process and requires materials without centre of symmetry, like crystals. SPDC in liquids or gases has never been observed up to now.

Miri Blau, Columbia University: "Scaling Beyond 2 Mode interactions in Quantum Photonic Systems"

Superposition and entanglement are fundamental features of quantum systems. Over the years bipartite entanglement has been analyzed thoroughly and shown to be a vital resource in quantum computation and communication protocols, as is the case for the dual-mode superposition, i.e. qubits. However, extending entanglement into multiple particles, and extending the Hilbert space to higher dimensional superpositions, holds potential yet to be unfolded.

Doron Naveh: "Two-Dimensional Materials: From Synthesis to Devices and Applications"

The fast evolution of technological advancement drives materials and device research with a demand for ever-faster, energetically efficient, compact electronic devices. Two-dimensional materials are among the most promising platforms for emerging disruptive technologies. However, for several reasons that I describe in my talk the field is considered to be at its infancy in terms of industrial level of readiness. The reasons for this assesement include the materials quality, wafer-scale production of 2D materials and also device fabrication and processing.

Prof. Jeffrey D. Rimer: "New Paradigms for the Prevention of Pathological Crystallization"

An efficient method to inhibit pathological crystallization is the identification of modifiers, which are (macro)molecules that reduce the rate of crystal growth. Here, I will discuss progress in understanding nonclassical pathways of crystallization and the design of effective modifiers as treatments of three human diseases: kidney stones, malaria, and atherosclerosis. One of the primary tools used to explore crystal growth mechanisms and modifier-crystal interfacial interactions is in situ atomic force microscopy, which we have coupled with microfluidics to assess modifier efficacy.

Prof. Avinoam Zadok: "Silicon photonic integrated filters for optical and microwave frequencies"

The exponential growth of data communication makes photonic integration both a necessity and a reality. Optical communication is increasingly required over shorter links, and on ever larger scales. Silicon is the favored material platform for photonics integration, due to the promise of co-integration alongside electronics and unparalleled fabrication capabilities. One of the main tasks of silicon photonics is the filtering of ultra-broadband signals, that cannot be sampled and handled directly in the optical domain.

Seminars