At first glance, optical cloaks of invisibility that seem to make objects disappear appear to be magic. Like all applications of optical metamaterials, however, they are based on physical laws that are known from everyday life. Professor Tomás Tyc from the University of Masaryk (Czech Republic) will explain the magic of unusual phenomena on a usual day. His presentation with experiments will take place on Tuesday, September 14, 18.30 to 19.30 hrs at the Audimax of KIT (building 30.95, Campus South). Admission will be free.
All interested persons and in particular non-experts are invited to come. In his presentation initiated by the DFG Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN), Tyc will focus on the “Miracles of Everyday Life” in modern optics, but also in other areas of physics. For example, he will talk about a fata morgana in a water glass or ellipses and hyperbolas of a laser pointer. In contrast to a magician, however, he will explain his experiments, as he intends to make his audience understand the physical principles underlying everyday life.
Tomás Tyc is a theoretical physicist. He is conducting research and teaching at the University of Masaryk, Czech Republic, and regularly presents physics shows with experiments to a broad public.
Tyc’s presentation will be part of the international conference “Metamaterials 2010”. For the first time, this congress will take place at KIT in Karlsruhe after Rome, Pamplona, and London in the past years. From September 13 to 16, about 350 scientists will focus on artificially produced electromagnetic materials and surfaces and their applications. These metamaterials appear to turn the laws of optics upside down, as their electric and magnetic field properties reach values that usually do not occur in nature.
The congress is organized by the DFG Center for Functional Nano-structures (CFN) and the Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics (KSOP), KIT. The Europe-wide Virtual Institute for Artificial Electromagnetic Materials and Metamaterials is responsible for overall coordination. Detailed information can be found at: http://congress2010.metamorphose-vi.org/
The presentation of Tomás Tyc will be in English.
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