On Monday, October 16, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. c.t., the next meeting of our Physics Colloquium will take place.
The speaker is Prof. Dr. Ömer Ilday (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) on "Nonlinear feedback driven emergence, from modelocking of lasers to collective laser matter interactions"..
Nonlinearity is often seen as a source of instability but also underlies self-organization, collective behavior, and lasers. Our long-term goal is to gain a better understanding of emergence, not only to predict outcomes but to figure out how to pick the conditions that lead to a particular outcome. We explore this using laser physics and laser-matter interactions as model systems, building analogies among seemingly unrelated phenomena using toy theories, which we test experimentally, often resulting in technological advancement. In 2002, we proposed Nonlinearity Management to overcome the instabilities of modelockedlasers, which led to new laser concepts. A decade ago, we began a program to translate the lessons of modelockingto a broader class of phenomena, spanning pattern formation, optical tweezers, holography, and laser surgery.
These taught us the importance of nonlocal nonlinearities that constitute positive feedback, which motivated new explorations that range from a new form of laser modeling to implications of nonlocal nonlinearities for complex pattern formation and the most enigmatic symmetry-breaking phenomenon in biology. This is an ongoing story that continues to be shaped; I will walk you through what we learned and will attempt to share the sense of adventure that nonlinear emergence instills in me.
Abstract of the lecture by Prof. Ilday
The introduction will be given by Prof. Dr. Ömer Ilday.
The faculty cordially invites all interested parties. The event will take place in the lecture hall HZO 20. Before the colloquium we offer coffee and cookies.
All dates of the Physics Colloquium can be found here.