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Abstract

Recently evanescent waves have been finding practical application in everything from terahertz lasers to superlens microscopes.  However, the applications have been limited to visible light or longer wavelengths.  We have successfully extended this to x-ray wavelengths through a judicious application of evancescent wave physics to nano-structured metamaterials.  These materials obtain their properties from artificially larger structures, resulting in novel material responses, such as the capability of bending high-energy x-rays through angles never before thought possible or demonstrated.  Exploiting this capability, we have patented an x-ray fiber optic-type lens that can focus hard x-rays, which, when coupled to low powered x-ray sources, will be capable of producing photon flux densities comparable to those delivered by synchrotrons.  High photon flux densities of this sort will enable the next generation of computed tomorgraphy and analytical x-ray imaging of patients, industrial parts, and archaeological artifacts.  This talk will describe the physics needed to make these structures work, show experimental data demonstrating the fundamentals of the lens concept, and present a few x-ray applications that will be the first beneficiaries of the described new, high-flux, x-ray source.

Short Biography

Dr. Lee began her academic career with a gambling scandal in pre-school where she cornered the market on milk and cookies. She subsequently did time in several fine American institutions. She enriched the lives of her Cornell University professors upon graduating with a B.Sc. engineering physics and leaving that august institution as the salutatorian of the engineering class. Her kindergarten career ensured that Harvard University would accept her for graduate studies. Eight years later, her Harvard professors were possibly even more pleased than her Cornell professors to see her graduate and leave with her Ph.D. Fifteen years of academic gypsy life ensued that ended happily for all concerned at SUNY-Albany when she was finally granted tenure and resigned. The Lee curse then fell upon GE Global Research in Niskayuna, NY.

For more information, please contact Assistant Professor Nick Polydorides tel. +357 22208600 or email n [dot] polydorides [at] cyi [dot] ac [dot] cy