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Institute of Physics Institute of Physics

IoP colloquium by prof. Emmanuel Fort (Institut Langevin, ESPCI Paris, PSL University)

Water waves, a unique playground for wave exploration: from time-reversed mirrors and non-quantum wave-particle duality.

Emmanuel Fort is a professor at ESPCI Paris, PSL University. He holds the AXA Chair in Biomedical Imaging. He received his PhD from Ecole Polytechnique. His research activities are in the field of fluorescence imaging and plasmonic sensing for biomedical applications. He pioneered several innovative super-resolution techniques such as supercritical angle fluorescence and modulation localization microscopy. He also introduced the field of hydrodynamic quantum analog by introducing a non-quantum wave-particle duality with self-propelled droplets bouncing on a vibrated liquid. He made major contributions to the field of time-varying media using water waves as a playground introducing instantaneous time mirrors, disordered time crystals or space-time frequency cascades. He also extended the use of time-varying media to dynamically stabilize liquid interfaces, achieve liquid levitation and reverse buoyancy. He received the Denis Diderot Innovation Award and the Jerphagnon Prize. He is the co-founder of the startup Abbelight.
Date
28 September 2023
Time
16:00 -17:00
Room
L1.01 Lab 42

Title: Water waves, a unique playground for wave exploration: from time-reversed mirrors and non-quantum wave-particle duality

Abstract: 

Although water waves are the only waves we can observe with the naked eyes, they are often treated as singular waves and set apart because they involve complex hydrodynamic phenomena. In this talk, I will show that water waves offer a unique and fruitful playground for the exploration of new exciting wave phenomena and concepts.
I will focus on time-varying materials which can change their properties in times that are short relative to the period of the propagating waves. This is a fast-growing field that opens up new approaches for wave manipulation. While such media are quite challenging to produce for most waves, huge and fast variations can be obtained for water waves using either electrostriction or vertical vibrations of the bath. I will illustrate the remarkable properties of this experimental platform with a few examples. In particular, I will introduce the concept of instantaneous temporal mirrors and show that waves can travel backwards in time and refocus on the sources that created them. 


In a modulated time-varying media, the interaction between the source and the waves it emits is enhanced. We have discovered that a droplet bouncing on a vertically vibrating liquid bath can be used as a source. Each time the droplet bounces, it creates waves. Beyond a certain excitation threshold, the droplet undergoes a dynamical coupling with the waves it emits. It becomes self-propelled, driven by the wave field it has created during its previous bounces. This symbiotic object possesses a non-quantum wave-particle duality and exhibits several features previously thought to be specific to the quantum realm. I will show the behavior of these objects in various experiments such as the “Young’s slit experiment” and discuss the underlying dynamics due to the time-varying medium.

All questions can be addressed to the IoP secretariat at  secr-iop-science@uva.nl. 

Drinks and snack will be served after the colloquium, outside of room L1.01. 

Science Park 900 - Lab 42

Room L1.01 Lab 42
Science Park 900
1098 XH Amsterdam