Physics Program Presents
UPDATED START TIME: 11:45-12:45 p.m.
Tractor Beams: Using Topology to Build Science-Fiction Technology
Friday, April 26, 2024
Hegeman 107
11:45 am – 12:45 pm EDT/GMT-4
11:45 am – 12:45 pm EDT/GMT-4
David Grier, New York University
Waves exert forces and torques on illuminated objects. The structure of a wave-mediated force landscapecan be controlled by shaping the wavefronts with computer-generated holograms. Holographically imprinting
topological defects into the wavefronts of a classical wave can endow it with remarkable properties including
quantized angular momentum, diffraction-free propagation, and force-free acceleration. After reviewing the theory
of wave-matter interactions, we will use wavefront topology to transform optical traps into real-world tractor beams
that transport illuminated objects upstream. Applying the same principles to acoustic traps reveals a class of
dynamical states that we call "wave-matter composites" whose emergent properties hint at the existence of
new states of active matter.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EDT/GMT-4
Location: Hegeman 107