[LA-SiGMA] LASiGMA Seminar Wednesday, March 19th - Matthew Escarra, 3:30pm

[shelley lee]

Dear All,

Dr. Matthew Escarra of Tulane University will be giving a talk Wednesday,
March 19th at 3:30pm, 1008B, Digital Media Center, Louisiana State
University.
The title of his talk is  "Photonic Solutions for 21st Century Problems:
Quantum cascade lasers, optical metamaterials, and full spectrum solar
energy conversion."

Abstract:
Photonic materials and devices hold great potential to address pressing
societal issues related to energy use, environmental monitoring, human
health, and more. In this talk I will address three key technologies that
harness light-material interactions for these important application areas.
1) Quantum cascade (QC) lasers have emerged as a key light source for trace
chemical detection, with applications ranging from pollutant monitoring to
breath diagnostics and industrial process control. I will discuss how these
devices work and will highlight a few recent advances in improving their
performance. Development of these light sources for the market will be
discussed within the context of two start-up ventures. 2) Novel photonic
metamaterials offer the potential for revolutionary new optical
functionality by enabling light manipulation by design. Here I will mention
bulk all-semiconductor metamaterials and future possibilities for low-loss
metasurfaces. 3) Ultra-high efficiency (η > 50%) solar modules may open new
application areas to photovoltaic technology. High efficiency spectrum
splitting design approaches will be discussed, with a particular focus on a
holographic spectrum splitting module design.

Biography:
Matthew Escarra is an assistant professor in Physics and Engineering Physics
at Tulane University. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at
Princeton University in 2011 in the group of Prof. Claire Gmachl. He also
received a certificate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy
while at Princeton. He went on to complete postdoctoral training at the
California Institute of Technology, where he developed new approaches to
high efficiency solar energy conversion in the group of Prof. Harry Atwater.
He also has worked with two start-up companies, Daylight Solutions and
Sentinel Photonics, and larger companies such as Shell and Dow Chemical.
Matthew's undergraduate studies were in electrical engineering at Rice
University. His current research interests include low-loss photonic
metasurfaces, optoelectronics from two-dimensional semiconductors, and
engineering concentrating photovoltaics for new applications.

Note, this seminar will ONLY be available via Abobe connect
http://connect.lsu.edu/la-sigma/

Regards,

Shelley Lee
Project Coordinator
225-578-0465




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