Photonic, Phononic and Meta- Materials Group

The Photonic, Phononic and Meta- materials (PPM) group belongs to the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (FORTH). The research of the group concerns theoretical and experimental study of electromagnetic metamaterials and other photonic materials, such as photonic crystals and plasmonics, while there is a long experience also in the study of phononic (acoustic) crystals.

The main current research topics range between applied physics and electromagnetism to chemical synthesis of materials and structural characterization and instrumentation.

Specifically,

• Electromagnetic wave propagation in composite media, with emphasis on metamaterials, photonic crystals, plasmonic structures, and random dielectric and metallodielectric systems.
• Design, fabrication and characterization of left-handed metamaterials.
• Design, simulation and experimental verification of both passive and dynamically controllable chiral metamaterials, as well as electromagnetic characterization of such metamaterials in microwaves and infra-red regime.
• Realization/calculation of Casimir force between chiral metamaterials.
• Synthesis and study of metal oxide thin films and nanostructures of (ZnO, InOx, WO3, TiO2, SiO2, VO2) emphasized in:
  (a) photocatalysis of organic pollutants in liquid and gas phase,
  (b) growth of novel metal oxide coatings with self-cleaning properties,
  (c) growth of thermochromic and electrochromic materials.

• Mikhail V. Shuba, Alesia G. Paddubskaya, Polina P. Kuzhir, Sergey A. Maksimenko, Gintaras Valusis, Nikolai A. Poklonski, Stefano Bellucci, George Kenanakis, and Maria Kafesaki, “Temperature induced modification of the mid-infrared response of single-walled carbon nanotubes”, J. Appl. Phys. 119, 104303 (2015).
• G. Kenanakis, K. C. Vasilopoulos, Z. Viskadourakis, N.-M. Barkoula, S. H. Anastasiadis, M. Kafesaki, E. N. Economou, C. M. Soukoulis, “Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and mechanical properties of graphite-based polymeric films”, Appl. Phys. A 122, 802 (2016).
• G. Kenanakis, E. N. Economou, C. M. Soukoulis, and M. Kafesaki, “Controlling THz and far-IR waves with chiral and bianisotropic metamaterials, EPJ Applied Metamaterials”, EPJ Appl. Metamat. 2, 15 (2015).
• George Kenanakis, Costas M. Soukoulis, and Eleftherios N. Economou, “Casimir forces of metallic microstructures into cavities”, Phys. Rev. B 92, 075430 (2015).
• Anna C. Tasolamprou, Lei Zhang, Maria Kafesaki, Thomas Koschny, and Costas M. Soukoulis, “Frequency splitter based on the directional emission from surface modes in dielectric photonic crystal structures”, Opt. Express 23, 13972 (2015).
• George Kenanakis, Aggelos Xomalis, Alexandros Selimis, Maria Vamvakaki, Maria Farsari, Maria Kafesaki, Costas M. Soukoulis, and Eleftherios N. Economou, “Three-Dimensional Infrared Metamaterial with Asymmetric Transmission”, ACS Photonics 2, 287-294 (2015).
• G. Kenanakis, R. Zhao, N. Katsarakis, M. Kafesaki, C. M. Soukoulis, and E. N. Economou “Optically controllable THz chiral metamaterials”, Opt. Express 22, 12149 (2014).
• M. Kafesaki, A.A.Basharin, E. N.Economou, and C. M.Soukoulis, “THz metamaterials made of phonon-polariton materials”, Photonic. Nanostruct. 12, 376 (2014).
• A. Reyes-Coronado, M.F. Acosta, R.I. Merino, V.M. Orera, G. Kenanakis, N. Katsarakis, M. Kafesaki, Ch. Mavidis, J.G, de Abajo, E. N. Economou, C. M. Soukoulis, “Self-organization approach for THz polaritonic metamaterials”, Opt. Express 20, 14663 (2012).
• Costas M. Soukoulis and Martin Wegener, “Past achievements and future challenges in the development of three-dimensional photonic metamaterials”, Nature Photonics B 5, 523 (2011).

Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece