Physics Department Events

 

Metamaterials with Hyperbolic Dispersion
M. A. Noginov
Center for Materials Research, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA 23504

Friday Sept 28, 2012  at 11:00 am
in Osborne A204

Metamaterials – engineered composite materials with sub-wavelength inclusions – havereceived widespread attention due to their ability to manipulate light in unconventional ways, as exemplified by negative index of refraction, optical cloaking, and limitless focusing. Metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion, also known as indefinite media, is an important class of metamaterials, in which dielectric permittivities in orthogonal directions have opposite signs. This property enables propagation of waves with nominally infinitely large wavevectors and infinite density of photonic states. Metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion support and facilitate scores of unparalleled phenomena (including but not limited to sub-diffraction imaging, control of spontaneous emission, and perfect absorption), which will be discussed in the presentation.

4th Annual UCCS Math Distinguished Lecture
Thursday, Sept 20, 2012
12:30-1:30pm (refreshments served at 12pm)
3rd floor Library Apse (West)

Speaker: Dr. Jerry L. Bona
Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science
University of Illinois at Chicago

Mathematics and the Ocean
Describing various aspects of the Earth's oceans using mathematics goes back to the 17th century.
Some of the world's greatest mathematicians and physicists have been involved in this enterprise.

The lecture will begin with a cursory sketch of some of the more important milestones in the
mathematics of the ocean. We will then move on to indicate briefly an example taken from
water wave theory of how mathematical models are created.

We then turn to some of the more spectacular applications of the theory. 
This will involve us in tsunami propagation, rogue waves and near-shore zone sand bars
and beach protection, as time permits.

 

 

Magnetodynamics and magnetostatics in nano-scale structures and spintronic materials.
Michael Pechan, Department of Physics, Miami University
Osborne Center for Science and Engineering A204
Friday Sept 21, 2012      1:00 pm

Following a brief introduction, I will discuss our recent and ongoing investigations in nanoscale physics and spintronics.  The main probe utilized in this talk is ferromagnetic resonance.  First I will discuss magnetostatic and magnetodynamic effects in exchange coupled permalloy nano-dots in collaboration with Hitachi Global Storage.  Next I will present anisotropy and damping results in single crystal films of Fe3O4 on MgO with and without a silver overlayer (to probe spin-pumping effects) from room temperature through the Verwey transition.  This project is done in collaboration with Casey Miller at U of South Florida. Finally, I will describe some new and exciting spectra arising from hard/soft, core/shell nanoparticles done in collaboration with Josep Nogues from Unviversitat Autònama de Barcelona, Spain.