Jon Schuller, Ph.D.

Professor , Electrical & Computer Engineering , University of California at Santa Barbara

 

2024 Experimental Physics Investigator

Jon Schuller, Ph.D.
Image Credit: Jeff Liang, UCSB
 

Research Description

Although light is an electromagnetic wave, the optical properties of materials are assumed to arise only via interactions with the electric field component. Jon Schuller’s group recently discovered unprecedented linear light-matter interactions driven by the magnetic field component of light. There is one central animating question of this project: How does this unprecedented optical magnetism manifest in nonlinear light-matter interactions? In answering this question, Dr. Schuller’s group aims to discover new classes of light-matter interaction, elucidate underlying symmetry-breaking phenomena, and develop powerful new methods for nonlinear optical spectroscopy.

The group will first develop a nonlinear energy-momentum spectroscopy apparatus that allows them to control and measure the energy and momentum of incident and generated photons. Using this apparatus, they will investigate magnetic-field-driven nonlinearities such as two-photon absorption and second harmonic generation in two-dimensional hybrid organic/inorganic perovskites and other materials.

Research Impact

Dr. Schuller’s research has the potential to reveal new classes of nonlinear light-matter interaction, clarify symmetry-breaking phenomena in an important class of materials, and establish a new experimental method for investigating any type of nonlinear light-matter interaction.

 
 

related links

Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Science University of California, Santa Barbara Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Back

Education

PhD, Stanford University
BS, University of California at Santa Barbara

Affiliated Investigators