Title: Topology Optimization & Wave Physics – Photonics, Plasmonics, Optomechanics and Acoustics
When: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 12:00
Place: Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Module 5, Seminar Room (5th Floor)
Speaker: Rasmus E. Christiansen, PhD / Technical University of Denmark
Topology optimization has emerged as a powerful computational design paradigm for wave-based systems, enabling the discovery of non-intuitive structures with tailored functionalities. By systematically (re)distributing material within a design domain, the method allows for the creation of blueprints for devices able to manipulate electromagnetic, acoustic, and mechanical waves in unprecedented ways. This talk provides an introduction to topology optimization in the context of wave physics, outlining its formulation and numerical implementation in the context of electromagnetics. A brief history of the method will be outlined followed by a series of applications and method developments, spanning metalenses, extreme dielectric light confinement, general photonic component design, plasmonic particle design, optomechanical interactions, and even an acoustic rainbow. Each example demonstrates how topology optimization can lead to compact, high-performance designs, often validated through experimental fabrication and characterization.
