Dr. Rick Lytel – Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
“Nonlinear optics of quantum graphs: Geometrical, topological, and universal scaling laws”
Tuesday, Jan. 28
4:10 p.m., Webster 17, WSU Pullman
Nonlinear optics describes how materials interact with electromagnetic fields, and enables light by light control for applications in computing, medicine, communications, and astronomy. Despite decades of research, materials science has yet to find structures with nonlinearities anywhere near the fundamental limits allowed by quantum mechanics. Recent work established that spatially extended structures, modeled as quantum graphs with one-dimensional electron dynamics, exhibit optical responses that can approach the fundamental limits. We present the results of a comprehensive study of the topological properties of the optical nonlinearities of quantum graphs. We show exactly how the first and second hyperpolarizability tensors of a graph depend upon its topological class and geometry. We show how bare graphs with star motifs share universal scaling behavior near the maximum nonlinear response and how dressed graphs achieve the fundamental limits allowed by quantum mechanics. We discuss design rules for quantum-confined, quasi-one dimensional systems that could be realized using molecular elements and nanowires.
Please meet our guest speaker and share in refreshments, 3:45 – 4:10 p.m. in the foyer on floor G above the lecture hall.
Host: Dr. Mark Kuzyk, Regents Professor
