23 July 2015, 11.00am

The Nano-optics of Plasmonic Optical Tweezers, SERS Substrates, and Multicoloured Silicon Nanowires

Professor Ken Crozier, University of Melbourne

Seminar Room N101, CSIT Building 108, North Road

Abstract

Optical methods are challenging to apply at the nanoscale, due to the large mismatch between the optical wavelength and the sizes of objects such as nanoparticles and molecules. In this talk, I will describe research projects that have addressed this challenge via the use of metal nanostructures that function as antennas at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Applications in spectroscopy and optical manipulation will be described. In addition, I will describe work where the interaction between light and nanoscale objects has been harnessed to the modify the optical properties of objects, specifically the colour of silicon.

Brief Biography

Kenneth Crozier is Professor of Physics and Electronic Engineering at the University of Melbourne. His research interests are in nano- and micro-optics, with an emphasis on plasmonics, semiconductor nanowires, and optical nanotweezers. He received his undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering (first class honours, with medal) and Physics at the University of Melbourne. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2003. In 2004, he joined Harvard as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. In 2008, he was a recipient of an NSF CAREER award and a Loeb Chair at Harvard, an endowed position (four year term) for junior faculty. In 2014, he returned to the University of Melbourne. In that year, he was awarded an Innovation Fellowship from the Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge and Innovation (VESKI) and a Future Fellowship from the ARC.