Sessions of similar topics may be proposed, if needed we will schedule them at different slots over the conference period. Should you be interested in organizing a Special Session at META'18, contact us at contact@metaconferences.org.

SP1. "Novel Design and Applications of Metamaterials, Metasurfaces and Metadevices using Hybrid and New Materials"

Organizer: Mohamed Swillam (The American University in Cairo, Egypt)

With current progress in the field of metamaterials, various materials have been utilized in conjunction with metal in order to improve the performance of the metastructures. For example, all dielectric metastructures have been utilized for various novel applications. Metal oxides have been exploited to reduce the losses in metamaterials. On the other hand, doped semiconductor is considered as a promising solution for planar metastructures with effective fabrication methodology. Recently, novel all dielectric metastructures and metadevices have been proposed in the NIR and MIR for different applications including sensing, and imaging. In this session we focus on novel applications of the metastructures and metadevices. These applications may include sensing, imaging, cloaking, and energy harvesting in the visible and infrared regimes. We encourage authors to submit abstracts and manuscripts demonstrating their research achievements concerning, but not limited to, the following topical areas.

1. Metasurfaces for sensing and imaging applications;
2. Metadevices for energy harvesting;
3. Metamaterial for thermal energy harvesting and managements;
4. Metamaterial for Near and Midinfrared applications;
5. All dielectrics metamaterial and devices;
6. Integrated metadevices;
7. Organic metamaterials;
8. Nano wires based metamaterials;
9. Graphene based metamaterials;
10. Modelling techniques of metamaterials and devices.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

This session has been upgraded to Symposium II

SP2. "A bottom-up approach towards metamaterials and plasmonics"

Organizers: Dorota Pawlak (ITME, Poland) & Virginie Ponsinet (CNRS-Université de Bordeaux, France)

The session will cover all aspects of novel approaches to manufacturing of materials with special electromagnetic properties as metamaterials and plasmonic materials. The stress will be on bottom-up approach however the session aims to bring together also scientists applying novel ideas in top-down manufacturing methods. The session will include manufacturing, theory, characterization and application. The session aims to bring together material scientists, experts in electromagnetic theory and characterization as well as researchers presenting applications of the materials.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Alexandre Baron, Université de Bordeaux, France
2. Alessandro Belardini, University Roma 1, Italy
3. Jun Hee Choi, Samsung, Korea
   
4. Glenna Drisko, ICMCB - Bordeaux, France
5. Maria Farsari, IESL-FORTH, Greece
6. Agustin Mihi, ICMAB, Spain

SP3. "Advanced passive and active metasurfaces"

Organizers: Howard Lee (Baylor University and Texas A&M, USA) & Din Ping Tsai (Academia Sinica Taiwan and National Taiwan University, Taiwan)

Metasurfaces are arrays of subwavelength anisotropic light scatters (optical antennas) that can produce abrupt changes in the phase, amplitude, or polarization of light. Within last few years significant progress, design of metasurfaces that refract and focus light, enabling many unique properties and applications such as holograms, optical vortex generation/detection, ultrathin focusing lens, perfect absorber, etc. This technical session will cover the fundamental principles and technological applications of metasurfaces, and particularly aim to explore on new materials, structures, and advanced optical science/functionality of metasurfaces for applications spanning from imaging system, bio/chemical sensing, energy harvesting devices, communication system, and data storage.

1. Active metasurfaces (via electrical, thermal, optomechanical, optical controls, etc);
2. Nonlinear metasurfaces;
3. Quantum metasurfaces;
4. New materials for metasurfaces (e.g., 2D materials, oxides/nitrides, phase-change materials, high-index dielectrics);
5. Passive metasurfaces with advanced optical properties and functionalities;
6. New applications of metasurfaces.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Alexandra Boltasseva, Purdue University, USA
2. Andrei Faraon (Keynote Speaker), California Institute of Technology, USA
3. Min Seok Jang, KAIST, Korea
4. Yongqian Li, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
5. Yu-Jung Lu, Research Center for Applied Sciences - Academia Sinica Taiwan, Taiwan
6. Andrea Marini, University of L'Aquila and Institute for Complex Systems (ISC-CNR), Italy
7. Mazhar Nasir, King's College London, UK
8. Carlo Rizza, CNR-SPIN (L'Aquila), taly
9. Polina Vabishchevich, Sandia National Laboratories, USA
10. Zi Jing Wong, Texas A&M, USA
11. Ta-Jen Yen, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
12. Nanfang Yu, Columbia University, USA
13. Xiang Zhang (Keynote Speaker), UC Berkeley, USA

SP4. "Fano resonances in optics and microwaves: Physics and application"

Organizers: Eugene Kamenetskii (Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel) & Almas Sadreev (Institute of Physics, Krasnoyarsk, Russia)

Being originated in atomic physics, Fano resonances have become one of the most appealing phenomena in the wave resonant scattering in optics and microwaves.  The Fano resonances have been extensively studied in nanoparticles, plasmonic structures, and metamaterial systems. Strongly dispersive Fano phenomenon is exploited  for ultrasensitive biosensing. Fano resonances in plasmonic and magnonic structures, Fano resonances and exceptional points, collapse of Fano resonances – all these  and many other problems related to the Fano resonances are the topics for discussions in the Session. It is very worthwhile to encourage the lightwave community and  the microwave community to meet and talk (or listen) to each other in the Session on the Fano-resonance phenomenon.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Dagmawi Bekele, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
2. Ángela Barreda, Universidad de Cantabria, Spain
3. André de Lustrac, Université Paris-Saclay, France
4. Daniel Gomez, RMIT University, Australia
5. Changzhi Gu, Institite of Physics Chinese Academy Science Beijing, China
6. Eugene Kamenetskii, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
7. Boubacar Kante, University California San Diego, USA
8. Philippe Lalanne (Keynote Speaker), Institut Optique Graduate School, France
9. Tiefu Li, Tsinghua University, China
10. Mikhail Limonov, ITMO University and Ioffe Institute, Russia
11. Ya Yan Lu, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
12. Dmitrii Maksimov, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian State Aerospace University, Russia
13. Andrey Miroshnichenko, UNSW Canberra @ ADFA, Australia
14. Egor Muljarov, Cardiff University, UK
15. Xianji Piao, Seoul National University, Korea
16. Janne Ruostekoski, Southampton University, UK
17. Mikhail Rybin, ITMO University, Russia
18. Almas Sadreev, Institute of Physics, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
19. Keiji Sasaki, Hokkaido University Japan
20. Satoshi Tanaka, Osaka Prefecture University Japan
21. Hong Tang, Yale University, USA
22. Mehmed Emre Tasgin, Hacettepe University, Turkey
23. Xiulai Xu, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
24. Gianluigi Zito, National Research Council - IBP, Italy

SP5. "Photo/Thermal Conversions and Their Applications"

Organizer: Qiang Li (Zhejiang University, China)

The ability to generate and control light and heat in the nanoscale has received huge attention. The ubiquitous absorption in metal and semiconductor materials provides an avenue for photo-to-thermal (optical absorption) and thermal-to-photo (thermal radiation) conversions. With photonic crystal, plasmonics and metamaterials to confine energy in the near-field, the photo/thermal conversions can be significantly enhanced and artificially engineered. The photo/thermal conversions have triggered a variety of new applications, including thermophotovoltaics, water processing, imaging/camouflage, optical recording, heating/cooling, material processing, etc. This special session will focus on recent development on photo/thermal conversions and their applications.

1. Optical absorbers and thermal emitters; 
2. Hot electron in nanostructures; 
3. Near-field radiative heat transfer for energy harvesting; 
4. Photo/thermal conversions for imaging/camouflage, heating and cooling; 
5. Photo/thermal conversion for thermophotovoltaics, water processing, optical recording, sensoring, etc.; 
6. Extreme photothermal conversion for material processing; 
7. Tunable photo/thermal conversion;
8. Fabrication of large-scale photo/thermal conversion materials; 
9. New materials including 2D materials (such as graphene) for photo/thermal conversion.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Guerrero-Martínez Andrés, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
2. Jean-Jacques Delaunay, The University of Tokyo, Japan
3. Dong Liu, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
4. Yuebing Zheng, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
5. Xiaolong Zhu, echnical University of Denmark, Denmark

SP6. "Structural Color for Displays and Imaging"

Organizer: Debashis Chanda (College of Optics and Photonics - CREOL, University of Central Florida, USA)

Structural color is produced through combinations of reflection, scattering and interference which eliminates color bleaching of pigmentation based absorptive color generation mechanisms. Plasmonic as well as dielectric metasurfaces/nanostructures offer the unique ability to control the propagation of light via phase/amplitude modifications on nanostructured surfaces, producing vivid structural color. Flexible, thin-film structural color holds great promise for next generation displays and prints.

1. Transmissive/reflective structural color; 
2. High contrast color; 
3. Angle independent color generation; 
4. Active and passive tunability; 
5. Bio-inspired color; 
6. Integrated devices.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Clark Alasdair, University of Glasgow, UK
2.  Roberts Ann, The University of Melbourne, Australia
3.  Daniel Franklin, University of Central Florida, USA
4.  Guo Jay, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
5.  Magnus Jonsson, Linköping University, Sweden
6. Pruneri Valerio, ICFO, Spain

SP7. "Nanophotonics and Plasmonics Based on Graphene and Related 2D Materials"

Organizers: Mohamed Farhat  (QEERI, HBKU, Qatar) & Pai-Yen Chen (Wayne State University, USA)

Graphene plasmonics is believed to be the ultimate light manipulation at “atomic” scale. The field-tunable, collective oscillation of massless Dirac fermions in graphene leads to the exciting electrically-tunable surface plasmon polaritons. This session will focus on recent development on many aspects of nanophotonics and plasmonics based on graphene and related 2D materials.

1. Graphene Plasmonics: Wave Propagation, Absorption and Scattering in Graphene Structures, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces, Nanocavities, Cloaking Devices; 
2. Graphene-Based sub-THz/THz/IR Optoelectronic Devices, Lasers, Antennas and Monolithic Integrated Photonics; 
3. Strong Light-Matter Interaction in Graphene Structures and Nonlinear Electrodynamics, Graphene Complex Conductivity Model;
4. Promising 2D materials for plasmonics, nanophotonics and nano-optoelectronics.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Alberto G. Curto, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
2. Nader Engheta, Pennsylvania University, USA
3. Itai Epstein, ICFO, Spain
4. Mohamed Farhat, HBKU, Qatar
5. Hai-Tao Jing, Tongji University, China
6. Agnes Maurel SP7 ESPCI Paristech France
   

SP8. "Wave propagation in acoustic and elastic metamaterials: novel design and practical applications"

Organizers: Marco Miniaci (University of Le Havre, France) & Guancong Ma (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong)

Recent studies of novel functional materials with unconventional vibrational properties have opened up new research roadmaps due to their unique possibilities to control acoustic and elastic waves. This Special Session is intended to provide a forum for researchers working in the field of acoustic/elastic metamaterials, as well as phononic crystals, to disseminate their ideas and new discoveries, highlighting novel dynamic phenomena and exploring additional promising applications. Related topics that are not explicitly listed are also welcomed.

1. Acoustic and elastic metamaterials; 
2. Phononic crystals; 
3. Elastic and acoustic topological insulators; 
4. Novel physical concepts applied for acoustic and elastic waves manipulations.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Badreddine Assouar, Université de Lorraine, France
2. Thomas Brunet, University of Bordeaux, France
3. Che Ting Chan, HKUST, Hong Kong
4. Johan Christensen, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain
5. Mathias Fink, Institut Langevin, France
6. Romain Fleury, EPFL, Switzerland
7. Yun Jing, North Carolina State University, USA
8. Pawel Kudela, Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
   
9. Gengkai Hu, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
10. Yong Li, Tongji University, China
11. Bin Liang, Nanjing University, China
12. John Page, University of Manitoba, Canada
13. Massimo Ruzzene (Keynote Speaker), Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
14. Vincent Tournat, Laboratoire d'Acoustique de l'Université du Maine, France
15. Jie Zhu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

SP9. "Parity-Time and related symmetries in Photonics, Plasmonics, Acoustics"

Organizers: Anatole Lupu (C2N/Paris-Sud University, France) & Henri Benisty (Institut d'Optique Graduate School, France)

The use of new symmetry properties in Photonics, Plasmonics, Acoustics has emerged in the recent years. They exploit unusual categories of states that open yet unexplored applicative and fundamental avenues. Parity-Time symmetric structures are a key example of such a class of non-Hermitian systems of renewed interest in optics and photonics (gain/loss structures), with features such as broken symmetries and nonreciprocal reflections. This special session will cover theoretical and experimental progress in the exploration and functionalization of systems exhibiting this class of special-symmetry-related features in the areas of photonics, plasmonics and acoustics.

1. Non-Hermitian Photonics, Plasmonics, Metamaterials, Acoustics; 
2. PT-symmetry related functionalities enabled by gain-loss engineering: theory, devices, applications; 
3. Singularities, broken symmetries, topological states in non-Hermitian systems;
4. Transformation and nonreciprocal optics using Parity-Time or related special symmetries.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Nora Alexeeva, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2. Igor Barashenkov, University of Cape Town, South Africa
3. Eugene Kamenetskii, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

SP10. "Extraordinary topological effects and singular plasmonics"

Organizers: Yuri Gorodetski (Ariel University, Israel) & Denis Garoli (Italian Institute of Technology, Italy)

The session will be focused on plasmonic effects stemming from generation of the angular momentum in surface or evanescent waves. Coupling of structured light with singular plasmonic fields may lead to extraordinary topological phenomena such as the plasmonic spin-Hall or Aharonov-Bohm effects. The comprehension of the underlying physical principles is highly desired for the efficient and precise control of the near-field plasmonic behavior and the development of nanoscale photonic technologies.

1. Plasmonic spin-orbit interaction;
2. Plasmonic polarization effects;
3. Transverse spin of surface waves;
4. Singular plasmonics;
5. Far-field and near-field plasmonic manifestation of optical angular momentum;
6. Generation and analysis of plasmonic vortex beams;
7. Chiral plasmonics;
8. Hybrid plasmonics with 2D topological materials.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Peter Banzer, MPL, Germany
2. Konstantin Bliokh, RIKEN, Japan
3. Aurelien Cuche, CEMES, France
4.  Francesco De Angelis, IIT, Italy
5. Seung-Yeol Lee, Kyungpook National University, Korea
6. Nicolo Maccaferri, IIT, Italy

SP11. "Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Applications "

Organizer: Hong Wei (Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China)

The excitation of surface plasmons in metal nanostructures enables manipulating light beyond the diffraction limit, which can be utilized for enhancing and tailoring light-matter interactions and developing ultra-compact high-performance nanophotonic devices for various applications. This session will cover recent advances in both the fundamentals and the applications of plasmonics.

1. Plasmon-assisted processes: energy transfer, photon entanglement, hot carriers, nonlinear effects, optical forces, and spectroscopy (Raman, fluorescence, absorption, etc);
2. Plasmon-exciton coupling, plasmon-mediated radiation of nanoemitters;
3. Plasmonic nanogaps, plasmon coupling in composite nanostructures;
4. Plasmonic nanocircuits, active and passive plasmonic components: waveguide, nanolaser, single-photon source, router, splitter, switch, modulator, amplifier, logic gates, coupler, detector, etc;
5. Fundamentals for manipulating light at nanometer scale, quantum plasmonics, plasmonic spin-orbit interactions;
6. Plasmonic nanoantennas, sensing, and imaging;
7. Plasmochemistry;
8. Plasmonic metamaterials and metasurfaces;
9. Advanced nanofabrication and characterization techniques.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Péter Dombi, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungary
2. Ying Gu, Peking University, China
3. Richard Hobbs, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
4. Xiaoyong Hu, Peking University, China
5. Zee Hwan Kim, Seoul National University, Korea
6. Juerg Leuthold, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
7. Tao Li, Nanjing University, China
8. Xing Yi Ling, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
9. Xiangang Luo, Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
10. Meir Orenstein, Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
11. Ruwen Peng, Nanjing University, China
12. Jerome Plain, Technological University of Troyes, France
13. Ann Roberts, University of Melbourne, Australia
14. Limin Tong, Zhejiang University, China
15. Päivi Törmä, Aalto University, Finland
16. Niels Verellen, IMEC, Belgium 
17. Wei Zhang, Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, China
    

SP12. "Shaping Light Using Photonic Integrated Devices"

Organizer: Jian Wang (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China)

Shaping light means to tailor different physical dimensions (wavelength/frequency, time, complex amplitude, polarization, spatial structure) of lightwaves. For example, structured light with tailored spatial structure has recently attracted increasing interest. Shaping light may find wide applications in optical manipulation, imaging, microscopy, metrology, quantum processing, and optical communications. Photonic integrated devices enabling flexible light manipulation are essential for compact light shaper. This session will cover recent advances in light manipualtion using various photonic integrated devices on different platforms.

1. Fundamentals of light manipulation using photonic integrated devices on different platforms;
2. Active and passive photonic integrated devices;
3. Tunable and reconfigurable photonic integrated devices;
4. Shaping light using silicon nanophotonic devices;
5. Shaping light using plasmonics;
6. Shaping light using metamaterials and metasurfaces;
7. Chip-scale optical interconnects and optical signal processing;
8. Structured light with tailored spatial structure;
9. Applications in optical manipualtion, imaging, microscopy, metrology, quantum processing and optical communications.

SP13. "3D printing for photonics, metamaterials, and energy applications"

Organizers: Maria Farsari (FORTH, Greece) & Edik Rafailov (Aston University, UK)

The 3D printing revolution has already affected many aspects of science and technology. In this special session, we will focus on 3D printing on the sub-micron scale and its applications in photonics, metamaterials and energy.

1. 3D micro & nano printing techniques;
2. 3D metamaterial design, modelling, fabrication and characterization;
3. Materials for 3D micro & nano printing;
4. 3D metamaterials for energy harvesting;
5. 3D metamaterials for sensing;
6. 3D micro-optics;
7. 3D mechanical metamaterials;
8. 3D bio-printing.

SP14. "Nonlinear metasurfaces and plasmonics"

Organizers: Guixin Li (Southern University of Science and Technology, China) & Dangyuan Lei (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)

Nonlinearities have been used in a wide range of applications, from the X-ray to the microwave regime. This session will cover the recent progress made on nonlinear photonic metasurfaces, Nonlinear Metamaterials, and Nonlinear Plasmonics for wavelengths form the visible to the infrared, Terahertz ranges, which have great potential for future on-chip applications.

1. Nonlinear Photonics Metasurfaces;
2. Nonlinear Plasmonics;
3. Nonlinear Metamaterials;
4. Nonlinear Spin-Orbit Interaction;
5. Nonlinear Meta-2D Hybrid System;
6. Optical Switching and Modulation;
7. Quantum Metasurfaces.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Tun Cao, Dalian University of Technology, China
2. Hongsheng Chen, Zhejiang University, China
3. Shumei Chen, University of Birmingham, UK
4. Shuqi Chen, Nankai University, China
5. Jianwen Dong, Sun Yat-sen University, China
6. Luping Du, Shenzhen University, China
7. Marcello Ferrera, Heriot-Watt University, UK
8. Jiaguang Han, Tianjin University, China
9. Zhanghua Han, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
10. Lingling Huang, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
11. Lijun Jiang, Hong Kong University, China
12. Yongyuan iang, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
13. Jiafang Li, Institute of Physics, China
14. Wendi Li, The Hong Kong University, Hong Kong
15. Xiaowei Li, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
16.  Zhiyuan Li, South China University of Technology, China
17. Shaoding Liu, Taiyuan University of Technology, China
18. Yanjun Liu, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
19. Bumki Min, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea
20. Min Qiu, Zhejiang University, China
21. Mengxin Ren, Nankai University, China
22.  Jinwen Shi, Beijing Normal University, China
23. Qinghai Song, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
24. Mu Wang (Keynote Speaker), Nanjing University, China
25.  Shuming Wang, Nanjing University, China
26. Zhenlin Wang, Nanjing University, China
27. Shumin Xiao, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
28. Weihua Zhang, Nanjing University, China
29. Yan Zhang, Capital Normal University, China
30. Yong Zhang, Nanjing University, China
31. Wanhua Zheng, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
32.  Yuanlin Zheng, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
33. Jia Zhu, Nanjing University, China

SP15. "Transformation Optics and Other waves: Novel Physics and Practical Applications"

Organizers: Hui Liu  (Nanjing University, China) & Hongsheng Chen (Zhejiang University, China)

Origined from covariance of Maxwell's equations in Einstein's general relativity, transformation optics is invented to provide an arbitrary way to control light in metamaterials. In this special session, we will focus on recent new progress of trasnformation optics and other waves in different systems.

1. Cloaking effects in Transformation Optics
2. Conformal Mapping in Transfromation Optics
3. Near Field Transformation Optics
4. Transformation Optics for Surface Waves
5. Transformation Optics for Analogue General Relativity
6. Transformation Optics for Antenna Engineering and Metasurfaces
7. Trasnformation Other Waves
8. Other Novel Effects in Transformation Structures

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Igor I. Smolyaninov, University of Maryland, USA 
2. Yu Luo, Nanyang Technological Unversity, Singapore 
3. Alexander V Kildishev,Purdue University, USA 
4. Ruwen Peng, Nanjing University, China 
5. Yungui Ma, Zhejiang University, China 
6. Hongwei Yu,Hunan Normal University, China 
7. Chong Sheng, Nanjing University, China 
8. YongLiang Zhang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 
9. Fan Zhong, Nanjing University, China

SP16. "Quantum Nanophotonics for Applications in Quantum Information Science"

Organizer: Tobias Heindel & Stephan Reitzenstein (Technische Universität Berlin, Germany)

The proposed special session ‘Quantum Nanophotonics for Quantum Information Science’ at META2018 will focus on recent advances in emerging and highly active fields of photonic quantum technologies. It will bring together experts on quantum light sources, integrated quantum circuits, quantum memories and non-linear light-matter interaction in nanocavities to present and discuss recent advances in photonic quantum devices and their applications in quantum information science.

1. Sources of single photons and entangled photon pairs;
2. Generation of multi-photon states (e.g. Fock-states, cluster states);
3. Deterministic fabrication technologies for photonic quantum devices;
4. Metrology of quantum-light sources;
5. Entanglement distribution and implementation of advanced quantum communication protocols;
6. On-chip photonic quantum circuits;
7. Spin-photon interfaces and quantum memories;
8. Single-photon bandwidth- and wavelength converters.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Nika Akopian, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
2. Alexander Carmele, Technische Universität Berlin (TUB), Germany
3. Fei Ding, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany
4. Jonathan Finley, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany
5. Niels Gregersen, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
6. Tobias Heindel, Technische Universität Berlin (TUB), Germany
7. Jin Liu, Sun-Yat Sen University, China
8. Simone Luca Portalupi, Universität Stuttgart (IHFG), Germany
9. Anna Musiał, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (WUT), Poland

SP17. "Advanced numerical and theoretical tools as applied to materials for photonics: Plasmonics and Metamaterials"

Organizer: Kofi Edee (Université Clermont Auvergne, France)

In the, relatively, recent fields of nanophotonics and especially plasmonics and metamaterials the theoretical approaches and their related numerical techniques (mainly based on the solution of Maxwell's equations) play an extremely important role. Indeed, a major part of published papers focus on the numerical simulations when exploring plasmonic/metamaterials configurations, which is a key step towards design and experimental fulfillment. Among these approaches, methods tailored for diffraction gratings are of high importance because they lighten the numerical load by exploiting the periodicity, which is always present in metamaterials for example.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Brahim Guizal, Université de Montpellier, France
2. Philippe Lalanne, Institut d'Optique, France
3. Dmitry Solnyshkov, Institut Pascal, France

Organizer: Alina Karabchevsky (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Isreal)

Novel guided wave configurations utilizing artificial sub-wavelength structures made of plasmonic or all-dielectric metamaterials can pave the road to new devices with novel functionalities. These devices can be exploited to manipulate light on a chip in a well-controlled manner. This session will focus on the theory and implementation of advanced integrated photonics meta-devices. A wide range of techniques will be discussed including multipole decomposition, transformation optics, and others for the emerging application such as, but not limited to, the quantum computing, photonic hook, cloaking and sensing.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Ibrahim Abdulhailm, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
2. Angeelene Ang, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
3. Vladimir Belotelov, MSTU, Russian Federation
4. Alina Karabchevsky, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
5. Aviad Katiyi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
6. Alexey Kavokin, University of Southampton, UK
7. Pavlos Lagoudakis, University of Southampton, UK
8. Jian Wang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
   

SP19. "Bio-engineered metamaterials and plasmonics"

Organizer: Alasdair W. Clark (University of Glasgow, UK)

Recent progress in metamaterial research has been driven primarily by top-down fabrication techniques. However, there is an emerging field of research that seeks to apply nature’s own biological engineering tools to the creation of plasmonic and nanophotonic systems with unique functionalities. By taking advantage of cutting-edge DNA and synthetic-biology techniques, we are now gaining access to a scale and versatility of metamaterial fabrication that was previously out of reach, opening the door to complex 3D materials; materials capable of programmable self-assembly; and even active materials with switchable geometric and optical properties. This special session will explore recent developments and challenges in the application of molecular biology to metamaterials and plasmonics.

1. Active meta-atoms and metasurfaces (via biomolecular and/or chemical control);
2. Biomolecular assembly of nanoparticles, meta atoms, metasurfaces and metamaterials;
3. Biomolecular nanopatterning of plasmonic surfaces/devices;
4. Bottom-up and self-assembling lithography techniques.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Wenlong Chen, Monash University, Australia
2. Jennifer Gracie, University of Strathclyde, UK
3. Viviana Gradinaru, Caltech, USA
4. Sarah Henry, University of Glasgow, UK
5. Craig Ward, University of Strathclyde, UK

SP20. "Functional Materials and Devices for Lighting and Display"

Organizer: Xiaowei Sun (Southern University of Science and Technology, China)

This special session intends to provide a central forum for the update and review of scientific and technical information on display and lighting covering a wide range of fields from fundamental research to systems and applications.

1. Light emitting materials: phosphor, fluorescent materials, wavelength conversion materials, optoelectronic materials;
2. Lighting: human-centric lighting, engineering lighting, display light sources;
3. Display: LED, micro-LED, visible lasers;
4. Liquid crystal technology.

SP21. "Plasmon-induced hot carrier: fundamentals and applications"

Organizers: Qin Chen (Jinan University, China) & Xiaofeng Li (Soochow University, China)

The kinetic energy of hot carriers can be harvested to drive a wide range of physical and chemical processes such as energy harvesting, photodetection and photocatalysis, etc. Plasmonic nanostructures can remarkably enhance and artificially engineer the generation and transport of hot carriers due to the enhanced electromagnetic field localization and the nanoscale heterojunction. This special session will focus on the recent developments on plasmon-induced hot carrier fundamentals and their applications, which include, but not limited to, the following topical areas.

Topics:

1. Coherent and incoherent process of energy conversion into hot carriers;
2. Broadband and narrowband plasmonic nanostructures for hot carrier generation;
3. Plasmonic hot carrier photodetection;
4. Plasmonic hot carrier photocatalysis;
5. Plasmonic hot carrier solar energy;
6. Hot carriers in 2D materials;
7. Ultrafast dynamics of plasmonic hot carriers.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Qin Chen, Jinan University, China
2. Alexander Govorov, Ohio University, USA
3. Hongxiang Lei, Sun Yat-sen University, China
4. Zaizhu Lou, Jinan University, China
5. Jeremy Munday, University of Maryland, USA
6. Pan Wang, King’s College London, UK
7. Qilong Wang, Southest University, China

SP22. "Harnessing acoustic and elastic waves via new materials and advanced technologies"

Organizers: Jie Zhu (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong) & Xue-Feng Zhu (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China)

Recently, more researchers are working hard on bridging the gap between physics and significant applications. This session will cover various prototypes of acoustic and/or elastic meta-devices based on new materials and/or advanced technologies, for the goal of harnessing acoustic and elastic waves for important uses. Sharing the very benefits of most recent advances in physics and best technologies will help a better development of different disciplines, and would foster new approaches, insights as well as cross-field collaborations.

Topics:

1. Acoustic and/or elastic meta-devices based on transformation acoustics, topological acoustics, parity-time symmetric acoustics, nonreciprocal acoustics;
2. Acoustic and/or elastic meta-devices exploiting radiation force, photoacoustic effect;
3. Acoustic and/or elastic meta-devices incorporated with optic fibers and lasers;
4. Acoustic and/or elastic meta-devices incorporated with soft materials, 2D materials, magnetic materials, piezoelectric materials.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Qian Cheng, Tongji University, China
2. Zhihong Hang, Soochow University, China
3. Han Jia, Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
4. Yabin Jin, University of Bordeaux, France
5. Weiwei Kan, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, China
6. Feng Li, South China University of Technology, China
7. Jiuyang Lu, South China University of Technology, China
8. Wei Luo, Huazhong University of Science &Technology, China
9. Jie Ren, Tongji University, China
10. Qizhen Sun, Huazhong University of Science &Technology, China
11. Xu Wang, Tongji University, China
12. Xuefeng Zhu, Huazhong University of Science &Technology, China

SP23. "Current Advances in Frequency Selective Surfaces and Metasurfaces"

Organizers: Tzong-Lin Wu, Chun-Wen Lin and Zakaria Zouhdi (National Taiwan University, Taiwan)  

Periodic surfaces, such as frequency selective surfaces (FSS) have been a subject of active research for more than thirty years, due to the numerous applications yielded by their reflective, transmissive and/or absorptive properties. The most relevant applications may include furtivity, EM compatibility and radome design. This special session will cover the recent advances in FSS and metasurfaces technology and analysis, as well as novel designs.

Topics:

1. Flexible FSS and Metasurfaces;
2. Complementary Metasurfaces;
3. Wideband and Ultra-Wideband designs;
4. Advances on analysis techniques;
5. Antenna Superstrates;
6. Absorptive Surfaces.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

1. Pavel Belov, ITMO University, Russia
2. Xianzhong Chen, Heriot-Watt University, UK
3. Bahram Djafari-Rouhani, Université Lille 1, France
4. Yi-Cheng Lin, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
5. Yoshiaki Nishijima, Yokohama National University, Japan
6. Alan Tennant, University of Sheffield, UK
7. Shubo Wang, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong