PhD Studentship: Time-varying metamaterials for controlling thermal properties

This is a 4-year full studentship opportunity for a Home student in Physics at King's College London. The project focuses on metamaterials engineered to manipulate physical phenomena in ways not possible with natural materials, specifically controlling thermal properties. Time-varying metamaterials, which change their properties dynamically over time, offer innovative solutions for thermal management. These materials can be programmed to respond to external stimuli such as temperature, light, or electromagnetic fields, enabling precise control over heat flow and distribution. The project aims to develop systems that can adapt to changing environmental conditions, optimize thermal performance, and enhance the overall efficiency of various technologies in areas such as energy efficiency, thermal insulation, thermal cloaking and advanced cooling systems for electronics. The project includes both numerical modelling and experimental components. The metamaterials will be designed using numerical techniques, fabricated and their optical and thermal properties characterised experimentally. The student will learn electromagnetic simulations using commercial numerical tools, advanced nanofabrication techniques, including thin film deposition and electron beam lithography, linear and nonlinear optical measurements using state-of-the-art femtosecond-laser facilities. The position is supervised by Professor Anatoly Zayats in the Department of Physics.