Andrea Alù (City University of New York)

Date: Thu. March 5th, 2026, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
Location: Rockefeller 301

Extreme Light Control with Metamaterials

The field of metamaterials, artificial engineered materials, has been rapidly evolving in the past
two decades, demonstrating extreme optical phenomena and unprecedented control over
wave propagation. In this talk, I discuss recent developments in this field of research, with an
emphasis on the role of symmetries in establishing emerging optical responses for
metamaterials based on otherwise simple constituents. Geometrical rotations, suitably tailored
perturbations, and broken time reversal symmetry can be carefully engaged to tailor waves in
robust and efficient ways, control their propagation, break Lorentz reciprocity and enable
topological order and phase transitions. In particular, the use of strongly coupled light and
matter interactions in polaritonic systems enables extreme responses at the nanoscale, well
suited for classical-wave and quantum applications. In my talk, I will discuss the underlying
physical principles that span over a wide range of frequencies, and their impact on practical
technologies, from imaging, energy and sensing to computing and communications.