Humboldt fellow joined OPTIMAS research group for research on tunable optical surfaces

The performance of modern sensors and communication equipment is constantly improving. Therefore, it becomes crucial that the materials used in such systems keep pace with demand. In order to maintain the required pace of improvements, Dr. Shemelya is tackling some of the important questions in the field of semiconductors and photonics. While researching in Germany, Shemelya will be developing customized materials that combine metal and semiconductor material systems structured on the micro- and nanometer scale. It is the hope that these devices will one day be used in new communication and optical technologies. In the words of Dr. Shemelya: By creating unique, tunable structures, our proposed surfaces can be rapidly modified for a specific optical response. This would in effect drastically increase the utility of present terahertz technologies.

These novel surfaces hold the potential to revolutionize the field of thin film optical semiconductors by producing highly customizable surfaces with engineered optical properties. “One of the relatively new advancements in the field is the development of dynamic, or tunable, frequency-selective surfaces.” says the scientist. “These devices are designed to alter the optical response of a surface with the application of external stimuli, such as an electrical current or an optical pulse.” Such techniques can then be applied to imaging with one example being terahertz body scanners operated at airports.

A fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will allow Dr. Shemelya to stay two years at the University of Kaiserslautern. Before the transition, Shemelya was a Research Assistant Professor at University of Texas at El Paso, and he earned his PhD at Tufts University (Boston, MA). Shemelya’s overall research interests include 3D printing, GHz and THz technologies, metamaterials, infrared devices, nano-photonics, and sustainability. Additionally, He has been recognized with several accolades, including the Joseph P. Noonan Outstanding Doctoral Research Prize (2015), a Dow Chemical Sustainability Award (2012), and an Edmond Optics “Optics Super Hero” Grant (2010).

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants annual awards to scientists from all over the world. A fellowship award is considered highly prestigious for both the awardee and the host institution. Postdoctoral Researchers are chosen for both their exceptional research record.

For further information
Dr. Corey Shemelya
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
E-Mail: shemelya(at)eit.uni-kl.de
Phone +49 631 205-3432 (Secretary to the Chair of Metamaterials and Terahertz Technology)