Project acronym: NOLACOME

Project title: Nonlinear Optics and Lasing in Complex Media

Funding Scheme: International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF), FP7

Grant Agreement number: 303228

The past decade has witnessed a stupendous growth in research activity on the way we control the flow and storage of photons. This activity has been, to a large extent, driven by the enormous progress in micro- and nano-fabrication capabilities of photonic media. The complexity of these media stems from their non-trivial spatial structure which is required for the control of electromagnetic radiation in various applications like novel micro- and nano-lasers.

In this context, the present Marie-Curie International Outgoing Fellowship proposal aims at the research training of Dr. Konstantinos Makris in the Mesoscopic Quantum Optics Group of Prof. Hakan E. Tureci at the Outgoing Host Organization, Princeton University, USA. The Return Host Organization is Technische Universität Wien, Austria, and the Scientist in charge is Prof. Stefan Rotter, who is affiliated with the Institute for Theoretical Physics at TU-Vienna. In particular, the presented proposal aims at a theoretical and computational study of NOn-linear optics and LAsing in COmplex photonic MEdia (NOLACOME).

Research training

PCTS Non-Equiibrium Physics seminars at Center of Theoretical Science of Princeton University.

Attended CLEO-QELS, June 2012, San-Jose,California, US, for training in semiclassical laser Physics.

Attended NANOMETA, Tirol-Seefeld, Austria, January 2013, for training in nano lasers.

Attended NSF-ERC, MIRTHE Summer Workshop, Princeton, USA, August 2013.

Regarding the transfer of knowledge, the Researcher actively participated to the teaching of the “Quantum Electronics” graduate course (Fall semester 2013) of Prof. Tureci, by offering one lecture and preparing notes. He also supervised one PhD student at TU-Wien (group of Prof. Rotter) and one PhD student at Princeton (group of Prof. Tureci) in subjects directly related to NOLACOME, thus offering transfer of knowledge to TU-Wien, Princeton graduate students.

Papers submitted (related to topics 1, 2 ,3 of the proposal)

1. P. Ambichl, K. G. Makris, L. Ge, Y. Chong, A. D. Stone and S. Rotter, “Breaking of PT-symmetry in bounded and unbounded scattering systems”, PRX 3, 041030 (2013).

2. S. Esterhazy, D. Liu, M. Liertzer, A.Cerjan, L.Ge, K. G. Makris, A.D.Stone, J.M.Melenk, S.G. Johnson, and S. Rotter, “Scalable numerical approach for Self-Consistent Ab-initio Laser Theory”, accepted for publication in Physical Review A (2014).

3. K. G. Makris, L. Ge, and H. Tureci, “Anomalous transient amplification in lossy waveguides”, CLEO-QELS, JTu4A22 (2014).

4. K. G. Makris, L. Ge, and H. Tureci, “Anomalous transient amplification of waves in non-normal photonic media”, submitted to Physical Review X (2014).

Oral Conference Presentations (related to topics 1, 2, 3 of the proposal)

1 K.G. Makris, “Multimoded PT-symmetric optical structures”, Non-Hermitian Operators in Quantum Physics,

PHHQPXI, Paris, France, August 2012 (Invited).

2 K.G. Makris, “PT-symmetric Optics”, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, USA,

7 December 2012 (Invited).

3 K.G. Makris, “Nonlinear dynamics in non-hermitian optical potentials”, IMACS Conference on Nonlinear Evolution

Equations and Wave Phenomena: Computation and Theory, Athens, Georgia, March 2013 (Invited).

4 K.G. Makris, “Wave propagation in PT-symmetric optical potentials”, Light-Matter Interactions Workshop, Technion,

Israel, April 2013. (Invited).

5 K.G. Makris, “Optical beam dynamics in non-hermitian potentials”, Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation: Theory and

Applications Conference, University of Crete, Greece, May 20-24, 2013. (Invited).

6 K.G. Makris, “Nonhermitian Photonics”, Physics Department, Wesleyan University, Connecticut, USA,

28 March 2014 (Invited).

7 K.G. Makris, “Wave propagation in complex media: Fundamental aspects and imaging applications”,

Physics and Engineering Science Department, College of Staten Island, CUNY, USA, 29 April 2014 (Invited).

All research work, payments, travel, and management actions have been carried out in compliance with the "Agreement for implementing research training activities for marie curie single-beneficiary projects" between the researcher and both institutions, University of Princeton and Technical University of Vienna, and according to national legislation, the grant agreement and the regulations of the University of Princeton.