Date and Time Tues, Dec 3, 2013, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location SF B560
Host Arnab Dewanjee

Light Concentration Using Low-Index Metamaterials

Mohammad Memarian

Eleftheriades Group, EM

 

Abstract:

Focusing incident power into an area of high concentration is of significant interest for various electromagnetic and optic applications. Lenses are commonly used for this purpose, where higher curvature and lens permittivity typically result in shorter focal distances. We recently proposed a mechanism for collecting, refracting and guiding incident light into an area of high power concentration using a hetero-junction of anisotropic low-permittivity plasmonic metamaterials. The proposed device can outperform lenses by concentrating the power at extremely shorter distances in a lower profile design.

In this talk I will present this flat low-profile concentrator by briefly describing the metamaterial and the unique refraction that is utilized, the theory of operation of the device, possible realizations, and some of its features compared to existing lenses. The proposed designs may find applications in various scenarios including solar and thermo photovoltaics, photodetectors, concentrated photovoltaics, non-imaging optics, micro- and nano-Fresnel lenses.

Biography:

Mohammad Memarian received his BASc (Honours Co-op) in 2007 and MASc in 2009 from the University of Waterloo. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Electromagnetics group under the supervision of professor G. V. Eleftheriades. His research has been on devising and analysis of a novel radiation enhancement mechanism using periodic structures, as well as light concentration and radiation shaping using low-index metamaterials. His research in MASc was on developing novel dielectric resonator filters and multiplexers. Mohammad’s research interests are in different areas of electromagnetics and optics including metamaterials, antennas, microwave circuits and devices.