Publications by Type: Book Chapter

2017
Graphene and Active Metamaterials: Theoretical Methods and Physical Properties
M.Mattheakis, G. P. Tsironis, and E. Kaxiras. 2017. “Graphene and Active Metamaterials: Theoretical Methods and Physical Properties.” In Nanoplasmonics - Fundamentals and Applications, edited by Gregory Barbillon. InTech. Publisher's VersionAbstract

The interaction of light with matter has triggered the interest of scientists for long time. The area of plasmonics emerges in this context through the interaction of light with valence electrons in metals. The random phase approximation in the long wavelength limit is used for analytical investigation of plasmons in three-dimensional metals, in a two-dimensional electron gas and finally in the most famous two-dimensional semi-metal, namely graphene. We show that plasmons in bulk metals as well as in a two-dimensional electron gas originate from classical laws, whereas, quantum effects appear as non-local corrections. On the other hand, graphene plasmons are purely quantum modes and, thus, they would not exist in a “classical world”. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, light is able to couple with plasmons on metallic surfaces, forming a surface plasmon polariton, which is very important in nanoplasmonics due to its subwavelength nature. In addition, we outline two applications that complete our theoretical investigation. Firstly, we examine how the presence of gain (active) dielectrics affects surface plasmon polariton properties and we find that there is a gain value for which the metallic losses are completely eliminated resulting to lossless plasmon propagation. Secondly, we combine monolayers of graphene in a periodic order and construct a plasmonic metamaterial that provides tunable wave propagation properties, such as epsilon-near-zero behavior, normal and negative refraction.

mattheakisNanoplasmonicsChapter.pdf
2015
Extreme waves and branching flows in optical media
M Mattheakis and G. P. Tsironis. 2015. “Extreme waves and branching flows in optical media.” In Quodons in Mica: Nonlinear localized travelling excitations in crystals , 221: Pp. 425-454. Springer. Publisher's VersionAbstract

We address light propagation properties in complex media consisting of random distributions of lenses that have specific focusing properties. We present both analytical and numerical techniques that can be used to study emergent properties of light organization in these media. As light propagates, it experiences multiple scattering leading to the formation of light bundles in the form of branches; these are random yet occur systematically in the medium, particularly in the weak scattering limit. On the other hand, in the strong scattering limit we find that coalescence of branches may lead to the formation of extreme waves of the “rogue wave” type. These waves appear at specific locations and arise in the linear as well as in the nonlinear regimes. We present both the weak and strong scattering limit and show that these complex phenomena can be studied numerically and analytically through simple models.

arxiv_ChapterBranchedFlowExtremeEvents.pdf