3:30–4:30 pm
Tractor Beams and Related Topological Waves
David Grier, New York University
Host: Young-Kee Kim
Introducing topological defects into the wavefronts of traveling waves endows them with surprising and useful properties including quantized angular momentum, freedom from diffraction and apparent force-free acceleration. Recent advances in the theory of photokinetic effects reveal how wavefront topology can be harnessed to create practical tractor beams, thereby transforming science fiction tropes into functional tools for research and exploration.
Event Type
Oct
14