Researchers from the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) and London Institute of Advanced Light Technologies (LIALT) at Imperial and King’s have secured a prestigious grant from the Engineering and Physics Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
This innovative project, named Meta4D, is set to explore the next frontier in metamaterial research and applications by manipulating their properties not just in space but in the temporal dimension as well.
Metamaterials are engineered to have properties that do not occur naturally, often comprising multiple materials structured in complex ways to manipulate electromagnetic, acoustic, and other types of waves. The ability to control such waves has already facilitated the development of groundbreaking technologies, such as flat lenses and invisibility cloaks.
The Meta4D consortium includes LCN and LIALT members Professors Richard Crater, Riccardo Sapienza, Rupert Oulton and Sir John Pendry from Imperial and Professors Joe Bhaseen, Anatoly Zayats and Dr Francisco Rodrigues Fortuno from King’s, together with colleagues from the University of Exeter. The project aims to revolutionise the manipulation of waves by varying metamaterial properties in time. This approach promises to open up new possibilities for wave physics, including enhanced telecommunications and computing capabilities.
The EPSRC’s funding support underscores the UK commitment to maintaining its leading position in the global science arena, particularly in the development of advanced materials. Through Meta4D, the team not only aims to explore the manipulation of temporal dimensions of waves but also to foster strong industry links that will enable the practical application of their research, potentially revolutionising fields such as telecommunications, information processing, and quantum technologies.
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