Research Bio.

Janos Perczel has recently graduated from the University of St Andrews with a BSc degree in Physics (with a minor in Logic and Philosophy of Science). His main interest is in mathematical physics.

In the summer of 2010 he spent two months at the Lorentz Institute of Theoretical Physics, Leiden, where he did research on the cosmic signatures of the topology of the universe under the supervision of Dr Mark Jackson.

Last August he started doing research on the theory of invisibility under the supervision of Professor Ulf Leonhardt with an EPSRC grant. Subsequently, this work has developed into a research project and resulted in the publication of two papers (see below).

Currently, he is attending Trinity College, Cambridge to complete Part III of the Mathematics Tripos.

Project Description

Supervisor : Ulf Leonhardt  Project title : Quantum Optics and Invisibility

According to Fermat’s Principle, light follows the trajectory of the "shortest" optical path -- that is, the path over which the integral of the refractive index function is extremal. Therefore, the refractive index of an optical medium determines how light propagates within it. Consequently, by a suitable choice of refractive index profile for an optical medium, light rays can be bent around and made to propagate along curved trajectories.

As Ulf Leonhardt has shown in a series of groundbreaking articles, this phenomenon is of utmost importance in the physics of invisibility and perfect imaging. By designing refractive index profiles that force light to follow curved trajectories, it is possible to make things invisible by guiding light rays around objects in such a way that the light rays from behind the object would reach our eyes with their original direction unaltered - creating the illusion that space is empty. Thus the object in the middle would become undetectable. (In a similar way, naturally divergent light rays emerging from a light source can be forced to meet in an arbitrarily tiny singular point, making unlimited imaging resolution possible.)

In this project we investigated how invisibility can be made practicable by studying the properties and modifications of refractive index profiles that have the ability to guide light rays around objects.

Research Topics

Mr. Perczel's research topics include:

• Transformation optics
• Invisibility

Publications

1) J. Perczel, T. Tyc, and U. Leonhardt, Invisibility cloaking without superluminal propagation, New J. Phys. 13, 083007 (2011).

2) J. Perczel, C. Garcia-Meca, and U. Leonhardt, Partial transmutation of singularities in optical instruments, J. Opt. 13, 075103 (2011).

His CV is available for viewing.

His dissertation is available for viewing