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SUMMARY:Biological Photonics: Controlling the Flow of Colour - Dr Peter Vu
 kusic\, School of Physics\, University of Exeter
DTSTART:20081031T141500Z
DTEND:20081031T151500Z
UID:TALK13723@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Kevin Chalut
DESCRIPTION:Structurally generated colour in brightly coloured animals is 
 an exciting interdisciplinary area of research. Complex photonic bandgap (
 PBG) structures (which prevent the propagation of certain of wavelengths t
 hrough them – causing strong coloured reflections) in Colepotera and Lep
 idoptera suggest broad innovation in nature’s use of materials and its m
 anipulation of light.  In certain butterflies\, ultra-long-range visibilit
 y of up to one half-mile is attributed to photonic structures that are for
 med by discrete multilayers of cuticle and air. This contrasts\, in other 
 butterfly species\, to photonic structures designed more for crypsis and w
 hich not only produce strong polarisation effects but can also create addi
 tive colour mixing using highly adapted structures. Even the existence of 
 analogues of cholesteric liquid crystalline structures have been shown res
 ponsible for circularly polarised reflection from certain beetles’ exocu
 ticle.\nOptical systems also exist that employ remarkable 2D and 3D photon
 ic crystals of cuticle to produce partial PBGs\, with the effect that brig
 ht colour is reflected\, or fluorescence emission is inhibited\, over spec
 ific angle ranges.  From the perspective of modern optical technology\, th
 ese structures indicate a significant evolutionary step\, since in princip
 le\, these 2D and 3D periodicities are potentially able to manipulate the 
 flow of light in all directions.\nNumerous studies\, many of them very rec
 ent\, have sought to discover and characterise the photonics associated wi
 th a diverse range of natural specimens. Many of them have revealed system
  designs that have evolved and existed naturally for millennia and that we
 re\, until their discovery in nature\, thought to have been the product of
  recent technological innovation.\nThis lecture will present an overview o
 f this emerging field of study\, as well as several of the exciting recent
  discoveries that reflect nature’s optical design ingenuity\, and the te
 chnological applications to which they are currently being applied.
LOCATION:Small Lecture Theatre\, Cavendish Laboratory
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