Chiral photonics offers, via selective circular polarization (photon spin), spin control of both linear and nonlinear optical functions for applications ranging from optical switching, to negative- and near-zero refractive index metamaterials, to chiral bioimaging. It represents a new direction with substantial opportunity including secure optical communication, beam steering, all optical switching, signature control, quantum computing, bio-detection, subwavelength imaging, and brain wave detection to enhance human effectiveness. However, realization of such applications requires materials with optical activity at visible wavelengths that is orders of magnitude larger than that of any naturally occurring materials. 

Our theory-guided-design and synthesis of novel chiral polymers has yielded very large linear and multiphoton circular dichroism . We have introduced the concepts of plasmonic, excitonic, and structural enhancement of linear and nonlinear multiphoton optical activities. Some results on polymers and nanocomposites exhibiting chirality derived large magneto-optic effect have also been achieved, which may enable mapping of ultra-weak magnetic fields, like those generated by brain function. We are pursuing multiscale modeling and experimental design of the interaction of structured light endowed with both spin and orbital angular momentum, with nanostructured chiral plasmonic media for adaptive control of effective dielectric function.

The seminar will conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities in Chiral Photonics.

 PRASAD currently holds the unique multidisciplinary position of SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Medicine (four departments spanning three schools). He is the Samuel P. Capen Chair of Chemistry and the Executive Director of the multidisciplinary Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, which he founded in 1999. His pioneering contributions in interdisciplinary research at the interface of photonics, nanotechnology, and biomedicine have broadly impacted healthcare, energy, and optical technologies. Scientific American named him among the world’s top 50 science and technology leaders. He has authored 900 scientific papers; four field-defining monographs, widely used in teaching worldwide, in nonlinear optics, biophotonics, nanophotonics, and nanomedicine; eight edited books; and numerous patents.  He holds numerous awards and honorary doctorates.  Globally his technologies have produced none spin off companies including publicity-traded Nanobiotix, now in advanced clinical trials for cancer therapy.