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OSU researcher helps unlock key to metamaterial optics
Podolskiy assisted Norfolk State University researchers in preventing loss of light in photonic metamaterials
Katie Wolf
Issue date: 1/8/09 Section: News
OSU and Norfolk State University researchers may have discovered the key to a lens that would allow them to see things the size of a nanometer.
Viktor Podolskiy, an assistant professor of physics at OSU, contributed largely to this advance.
Along with researchers from Norfolk State University, Podolskiy has solved one of the remaining challenges surrounding the field of metamaterial optics - developing a way to prevent the loss of light as it passes through photonic "metamaterials."
Metamaterials are composite substances which possess distinctive electromagnetic properties. Because of their unique ability to create materials which can bend light differently than any other substance in nature, photonic metamaterials have recently attracted much research interest.
"This is a significant breakthrough," said Mikhail Noginov, professor at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va.
"Many of the fantastic possible applications of these materials have been largely prevented by the obstacle of the absorption loss. That's a big problem that we should now be able to work past."
The discovery was recently published in Physical Review Letters, an esteemed physics journal which strives "to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics" while producing publications of great prestige, according to the journal's website.
A highly regarded physicist, Podolskiy has taught and researched at OSU since 2004. He has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as over 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
This progress has made way for further advancement in optical, communication and electronic technologies.
Along with the advancement of a super-lens, this discovery could contribute to progress in machine visions systems and electronic manufacturing.
Furthermore, a "cloaking device", used to make objects disappear, may become a greater possibility as a result of these advances.
Podolskiy's recent publication explains the ways to offset the loss of light, which was the major obstacle to many useful applications of metamaterials.
"The observed stimulated emission and corresponding compensation of the metallic absorption loss by gain enables many applications of metamaterials and nanoplasmonic devices," the researchers wrote in their study.
Although this advance was theorized to be possible, it had never been made. The theories themselves, explained the researchers, were subject to much debate.
This progress has likely broken down the final barrier of "a number of dreamed-about applications," Podolskiy said.
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Viktor Podolskiy, an assistant professor of physics at OSU, contributed largely to this advance.
Along with researchers from Norfolk State University, Podolskiy has solved one of the remaining challenges surrounding the field of metamaterial optics - developing a way to prevent the loss of light as it passes through photonic "metamaterials."
Metamaterials are composite substances which possess distinctive electromagnetic properties. Because of their unique ability to create materials which can bend light differently than any other substance in nature, photonic metamaterials have recently attracted much research interest.
"This is a significant breakthrough," said Mikhail Noginov, professor at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va.
"Many of the fantastic possible applications of these materials have been largely prevented by the obstacle of the absorption loss. That's a big problem that we should now be able to work past."
The discovery was recently published in Physical Review Letters, an esteemed physics journal which strives "to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics" while producing publications of great prestige, according to the journal's website.
A highly regarded physicist, Podolskiy has taught and researched at OSU since 2004. He has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as over 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
This progress has made way for further advancement in optical, communication and electronic technologies.
Along with the advancement of a super-lens, this discovery could contribute to progress in machine visions systems and electronic manufacturing.
Furthermore, a "cloaking device", used to make objects disappear, may become a greater possibility as a result of these advances.
Podolskiy's recent publication explains the ways to offset the loss of light, which was the major obstacle to many useful applications of metamaterials.
"The observed stimulated emission and corresponding compensation of the metallic absorption loss by gain enables many applications of metamaterials and nanoplasmonic devices," the researchers wrote in their study.
Although this advance was theorized to be possible, it had never been made. The theories themselves, explained the researchers, were subject to much debate.
This progress has likely broken down the final barrier of "a number of dreamed-about applications," Podolskiy said.
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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