Space-time meta-surfaces for light waves
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
In this project we propose experiments to develop the building blocks of a space-time metasurface for optical waves, based on large and ultrafast modulations of the complex refractive index of indium tin oxide (ITO). Static metasurfaces have been a milestone in how we control light waves by manipulating their phase and amplitude on the wavelength scale. Yet, they are still bounded by Lorentz reciprocity and energy conservation. A dynamical metasurface, whose optical response can be fully controlled at the speed of light through a time-varying refractive index, n(x,t), would not be just a powerful technological element, but would also bring about the rich new physics of non-Hermitian and non-time-reversible optics.
Organisations
Publications
Bruno V.
(2021)
Negative refraction in time-varying, strongly-coupled plasmonic antenna-ENZ systems
in International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics
Galiffi E
(2022)
Photonics of time-varying media
in Advanced Photonics
Tirole R
(2022)
Saturable Time-Varying Mirror Based on an Epsilon-Near-Zero Material
in Physical Review Applied
Tirole R
(2023)
Double-slit time diffraction at optical frequencies
in Nature Physics
Sapienza R
(2023)
APL special topic: Time modulated metamaterials
in Applied Physics Letters
Tilmann B
(2023)
Comparison of Harmonic Generation from Crystalline and Amorphous Gallium Phosphide Nanofilms
in Advanced Optical Materials
Barelli M
(2023)
Single-Photon Emitting Arrays by Capillary Assembly of Colloidal Semiconductor CdSe/CdS/SiO 2 Nanocrystals
in ACS Photonics
Zotev P
(2023)
Van der Waals Materials for Applications in Nanophotonics
in Laser & Photonics Reviews
Tirole R
(2024)
Second harmonic generation at a time-varying interface
Tirole R
(2024)
Nonlinear Dielectric Epsilon Near-Zero Hybrid Nanogap Antennas
in Advanced Optical Materials
| Title | An Entangled Time Machine |
| Description | Exhibition at La Science de L'art - Collectif pour la Culture en Essonne, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Grasping the Cosmos (Paris, France) - and - Villa Galileo (Museum System of the University of Florence) and Galileo Galilei Institute for Theorethical Physics (Florence Italy) |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | visitors, multiple discussions online, eg https://www.arte.go.it/tina-salvadori-paz-quantum-flickers-of-time/ |
| URL | https://www.valentinalapolla.it/2024/03/20/an-entangled-time-machine/ |
| Description | We have studied time-varying metamaterials and how their properties can be controlled by external modulation. This has led to various scientific outputs and a large consortium has been gathered now in the process to apply for further funding. We have show the temporal analogue of temporal diffraction, which has open many new research directions. We are about to start a programme grant on this topic |
| Exploitation Route | We plan to develop new generation metamaterials, capable of controlling the frequency of the waves (optical for us but not limited to that) interacting with them. This research will benefit a broad range of researchers, from material science, to nanophotonics, to optical material engineering. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Energy |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/244037/double-slit-experiment-that-proved-wave-nature/ |
| Description | We are participating in the day of light celebration, producing outreach and societal engagement. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Next generation metamaterials: exploiting four dimensions |
| Amount | £7,731,660 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Y015673/1 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2029 |
| Description | AI for Growth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Round table at the British Embassy in Paris around AI and in particular sustainability, ahead of the AI Summit 2025 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Keynote at IBM 24 Hours of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 24 hrs of talks across the planet within the IBM company |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | conference Waves in time-varying media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/photonics/events/waves-in-time-varying-media-workshop/ https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/131843/waves-in-time-varying-media-workshop-series/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2023 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/131843/waves-in-time-varying-media-workshop-series/ |