Wednesday 28 November 2018, 17:30 - 18:30
Venue: Main Lecture Theatre, Aston Webb (R7 on campus map - PDF)
Putting a spin on light: from Poynting to knotting
Although we can’t feel it, light carries a momentum that can push, or twist material objects. Henry Poynting was one of the first physicists to suggest an experiment to measure the twist — or angular momentum — of light. Professor Mark Dennis will give his inaugural lecture on the Wednesday 28 November. He will describe how to control the shape of light beams and optical wavefunctions, especially their angular momentum, even leading to the possibility of tying laser beams in knots.
Professor Dennis is a Professor of Theoretical Physics. His research is primarily in the physics of waves (optical, electromagnetic, quantum, etc.), and how geometry and topology may be used to understand and control their propagation and scattering. Another focus includes singular optics and structured light (optical vortices, optical angular momentum, polarization singularities), and applied topology in physics (especially applications of knot theory in optics, quantum mechanics and molecular biology).
He has published over 100 research papers, proceedings, reviews, and book chapters, working with various other theorists and experimentalists around the world.
Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be served at the drinks reception following the event. Alcoholic drinks will be only be served to those who are aged 18 or over.
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