Objective
Metamaterials rely on spatial structures on the scale of light wavelength to transform and enhance their macroscopic properties. Current metamaterials passively redistribute wave energy in space only, enabling, for example, sub-micron flat lenses and ultra-compact spectrometers. In the last few years, exciting breakthroughs have shown that metamaterials can also power wave-based analogue computation a technology for fast, massively parallel computation at a fraction of the power. With low energy consumption, metamaterials have the potential to address sustainable computing, and the rapid adoption of power-hungry artificial intelligence.
The challenge is to exploit the temporal dimension and develop metamaterials that can compute both spatial and temporal derivatives and simulate spatio-temporal potentials. The temporal degree of freedom is already within reach as time-varying metamaterials have been recently demonstrated. Building on this novel field, I have shown that synthetic motion in metamaterials, where materials behave as if they were moving, is possible, and even at superluminal speeds, through the combination of both spatial and temporal modulation.
Light interaction with synthetically moving metamaterials (LUMINOUS) is the first experimental investigation of synthetic motion to perform analogue computation. The key to this project is our ability to achieve very large, close-to-unity temporal modulations on the timescale of the optical period of light (~fs), together with digital control of millions of spatial degrees of freedom via structured light, therefore enabling programmable synthetic motion. I will establish the experimental platform for programmable motion and use it to control light flow and light generation. Moreover, using synthetically moving metamaterials as space-time operators, I will solve non-separable differential equations, as well as perform analogue simulation of relativistic phenomena.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SW7 2AZ LONDON
United Kingdom
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