Watson Lecture - The Power of Nonlinearities: Unlocking Opportunities for Sensing and Computing with Light

As the information age evolves, we are faced with new challenges in how to capture and process information. Nonlinearity, which leads to functions such as logic operations and frequency conversion, is a critical part of addressing these challenges. Many of today's information technologies simply would not be possible without nonlinear circuitry and integrated silicon-based transistors.

In his lecture, Alireza Marandi will describe how he and his research group are exploring scientific frontiers in nonlinear photonics, from ultrafast optics to laser spectroscopy and more, using state-of-the-art laser systems, micro and nano fabrication tools and techniques, unconventional materials, and numerical and theoretical techniques. He will also discuss the applications of those explorations to some of our most daunting modern-day inquiries in computing and sensing, including the creation of universal breath-analysis devices.

This Zoom webinar is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.

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Each Watson Lecture will begin at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time as a Zoom Webinar with live audience Q&A at the end. Please note the new start time. At 8 p.m. Pacific Time the recorded lecture (without Q&A) will be posted on Caltech's YouTube channel.

About the Speaker

Alireza Marandi is Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics at Caltech and a 2019 KNI-Wheatley Scholar.

About the Series

Since 1922, The Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series has brought Caltech's most innovative scientific research to the public. The series is named for Earnest C. Watson, a professor of physics at Caltech from 1919 until 1959. Spotlighting a small selection of the pioneering research Caltech's faculty is currently conducting, the Watson Lectures are geared toward a general audience, as part of the Institute's ongoing commitment to benefiting the local community through education and outreach. Through a gift from the estate of Richard C. Biedebach, the lecture series is able to highlight assistant professors' research each season.

Many past Watson Lectures are available in a playlist on YouTube.