Extreme Control of Light and Sound Waves with Metamaterials

The field of metamaterials — artificial materials engineered at the nanoscale — has been rapidly evolving in the past two decades, demonstrating extreme wave phenomena and unprecedented control over wave propagation.

In this talk, Andrea Alù will discuss recent developments in this field of research, emphasizing the role of symmetries in establishing emerging optical and acoustic properties of metamaterials based on otherwise simple constituents. He will explore how 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, dualities and phase transitions. Finally, he will examine the underlying physical principles that span over many wave platforms, and their impact on practical technologies, from imaging, energy and sensing to computing and communications.