Seminars

It is well known for decades that light can impart momentum to charged particles in the vicinity of a third body. With nanostructured dielectric materials and ultrafast laser pulses, this momentum transfer can become highly efficient, demonstrated in 2013 in two proof-of-concept experiments. Since then, not only acceleration has been shown but also deflection and focusing based purely on optical nearfield forces. With these ingredients at hand, we are now at a point to build an on-chip particle accelerator.

Towards lab-on-a-particle platforms we suggest using mobile engineered active (“self-propelling”) carriers to revolutionize diagnostic testing and sample analysis; with advantages of the traditional lab-on-a-chip (e.g. portability, efficiency) but overcoming current challenges (e.g. complexity, predetermined design). Our novel generic active carrier, acting as a mobile floating microelectrode, uses a single externally applied electric/optical field to selectively trap, transport and deliver user-specified payload(s).

Electromagnetic fields represent one of the most fundamental aspects of nature, and are among the most important carrier of energy. Novel ways to control electromagnetic fields therefore can have broad implications on energy technology. In this talk, I will discuss some of our efforts in designing novel electromagnetic structures, with the aims to achieve radiative cooling and robust high-efficiency dynamic wireless power transfer.