Abstract

Come to Wolfson Lecture Theatre on 18:30, Oct 14th (Thursday) to hear the talk on light-matter interactions from Professor Thomas Ebbesen, a Norwegian physical chemist and professor at the University of Strasbourg!

The talk is free and open to all as always. It will start at 18:30 at Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry. The venue is on the ground floor, accessible from the main entrance of the Department.

Please be aware that face coverings must be worn in all public areas and circulation spaces within the Department, eg foyers, corridors, staircases etc.

Here is a short abstract for the talk.

“Light-matter interactions are not only fundamental for the existence of life but also play a key role in our culture and technology. What is perhaps more surprising, is that light-matter interactions occur even in total darkness due to electromagnetic fluctuations that pervade the Universe. As I will show, matter can be made to interact with such fluctuations so strongly that it leads to fundamental changes in chemical, biological and solid-state properties.”

About the speaker:

Professor Ebbesen is Chair of Physical Chemistry of Light-Matter Interactions at the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS). His research interest still focuses on the properties of plasmonic nanostructures and the interactions between plasmons and molecules.