Thursday, October 31, 2013

TOMORRROW! Distinguished Seminar Series "Plasmonics: dealing with loss" by Dr. Jacob Khurgin/11.1.13/ 12:00pm-1:00pm/ CREOL 102

Distinguished Seminar Series "Plasmonics: dealing with loss" by Dr. Jacob Khurgin
Friday, November 1, 2013 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
CREOL Room 102


Jacob Khurgin
Professor- Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Johns Hopkins University

Abstract:

Recent years have seen staggering growth of interest in using nanostructured metals in optical range with the goal of enhancing linear and nonlinear optical properties or even engineering novel optical properties unknown in Nature – usually this burgeoning field is referred to as “Plasmonics and Metamaterials”. After the initial years of excitement the community is belatedly beginning to recognize that loss in the metal is an important factor that might impede practical application of plasmonic devices, be it in signal processing, sensing, imaging or more esoteric applications like cloaking. Yet there is still an optimism that the loss can be either cleverly “designed away”, compensated by gain, or a new lossless materials can be found. In this talk we examine these concepts one by one and find that they all have limitations. First we show that when it comes to enhancing the device performance (solar cells, sensors, nonlinear optical devices, etc.) only the most inefficient devices can be improved by plasmonics while the performance of any decent device will only degrade. Then we demonstrate that in truly sub-wavelength metal structures the metal loss is inherent and cannot be engineered away by crafty changes in shape. Graphene as an alternative plasmonic material will also be considered and found to fall well short of being a universal cure for plasmonic ills. We then consider the idea of compensating loss using semiconductor gain medium and demonstrate that required gain can never be achieved due to increase in recombination rates caused by Purcell effect. After that we consider the physics of losses in metals at optical frequencies and show that the nature of these losses is quite different from the losses in RF domain. We then show that negative dielectric constant at optical frequencies does not have to inevitably lead to large absorption, and guardedly point to the tentative way in which new materials with negative dielectric constant and very low loss might be synthesized, thus restoring the faint hope for plasmonics.

Biography:

Jacob B. Khurgin had graduated with MS in Optics from the Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics in St Petersburg, Russia in 1979, where, naturally, he was had been earlier born. In 1980 he had emigrated to US, and, to his own great surprise, immediately landed what at a time seemed to be a meaningful job with Philips Laboratories of NV Philips in Briarcliff Manor, NY. There for 8 years he worked with various degrees of success on miniature solid-state lasers, II-VI semiconductor lasers, various display and lighting fixtures, X-ray imaging, and small appliances such as electric shavers and coffeemakers (for which he holds 3 patents). Simultaneously he was pursuing his graduate studies at Polytechnic Institute of NY (nowadays NYU School of Engineering) where he had received PhD in Electro-physics in Jan. 1987. In Jan. 1988, prompted by a promotion to a Department Manager, Khurgin’s industrial career came to an abrupt end, and he had joined the Electrical and Computer engineering department of Johns Hopkins University, where, despite his ever present reservations about that place, he had settled down and is currently a Professor. His research topics over the years included an eclectic mixture of optics of semiconductor nanostructures, nonlinear optical devices, lasers, optical communications, microwave photonics, and condensed matter physics. Currently he is working in the areas of mid-infrared lasers and detectors, phonon engineering for high frequency transistors, disorder in condensed matter physics, plasmonics, coherent secure optical communications, silicon photonics, cavity optomechanics, and slow light propagation. His publications include 6 book chapters, one book edited, 240 papers in refereed journals and 28 patents. Prof Khurgin had held a position of a Visiting Professor in an array of institutions of variable degrees of repute – Princeton, UCLA, Brown, Ecole Normale Superieure (Paris), Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) and so on. Prof. Khurgin is a Fellow of American Physical Society and Optical Society of America.


For additional information:

Dr. Demetrios Christodoulides
Professor of Optics
407-882-0074
demetri @ creo l. ucf . edu

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Register Today: "From Garage to Global: The Right Way to Expand Internationally"





Register Today To Attend 



Join the Florida Venture Forum and Nair & Co. for a discussion on how to best position your company for international expansion. From protecting your IP to hiring the best talent, a panel of international experts will discuss how best to enter both stable and developing markets worldwide!

How to establish a secure foothold in places such as China, India, Latin America and in other locations where economies are growing but volatile; the countries that are the easiest and hardest to expand into and why.

Program Details
  • Steps companies should take to ensure they are truly prepared to expand
  • What to keep in mind when hiring employees in foreign countries
  • Legal issues that can sidetrack expanding companies 
  • How to handle accounting and other financial issues    
  • Big surprises and even bigger mistakes
  • The roles investors and board members can and should play
And much more...Including your questions 

Date: 
November 7th 2013

Time:  
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location:
Law offices of Greenberg Traurig
333 SE 2nd Avenue Suite 4400
Miami, FL 33131

This is a MUST-ATTEND Event! 
Click Here For More Detailed Information!


Speaker Spotlight

Welcome

Stanley G. Jacobs, Jr.
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Executive Committee Member, Florida Venture Forum 

Stanley "Stash" Jacobs focuses his practice on corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity and venture capital transactions. He regularly counsels established and emerging companies, entrepreneurs and investors in significant corporate and transactional matters.


Opening Speaker

Sir Alan Collins KCVO CMG 
Advisor to the Board, Nair & Co.

Sir Alan is a former British diplomat, and brings to Nair & Co. a wealth of experience in international trade and investment, particularly in the US, Asia, and the Commonwealth countries. His association with various international industry bodies and government organizations provides invaluable political and economic insight to the company's strategies and operations. Previously, he has been the High Commissioner to Singapore and the Ambassador to the Philippines, Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia, and the Director General of the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan. He was also the Director General of Trade and Investment USA and Consul General New York, where he worked extensively to attract high-value inward investment to the UK. During his time in Singapore, Sir Alan was part of the delegation that won the 2012 Olympics for London.  He was the Olympics Ambassador for the UK, and directed international business-related work from the London 2012 Games aiming at outcomes worth over $15 billion to the UK economy. 


Moderator

Chris Stone
Interim CEO, Nair & Co.

Chris Stone is a technology and services industry veteran, with a strong track record of building successful, global businesses. In 1992 he joined EDS as the UK Marketing Director, and stayed there through several roles until joining Digital Equipment Company in 1996 as the UK General Manager for Services. Following the acquisition of DEC by Compaq in 1998, he joined Accenture as an Associate Partner in the BPO practice, focussing on the Financial Services industry. In October 1999, He became CEO of Northgate, an £80M revenue Software and Services business. 


Panelist

Mark A. Lopez
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig

Mark A. Lopez has advised multinational clients in connection with domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings, private equity and corporate financings throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States. He is proactively involved with clients assisting them to grow their businesses. Mark has represented clients in cross-border transactions involving such countries as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Spain. Mark has experience with the private banking industry, having completed a secondment with the local private banking branch of a major international bank where he served as Interim Director of Compliance.


John TullisPanelist

John Tullis
Partner & Head of International Activities, 
Tullis Health Investors

John is responsible for Tullis Health Investors' international activities.  His investment focus areas include international health care distribution and information technology investments, where he works with and engages companies, offering guidance and global perspective.  John has spent more than 15 years in international business in various capacities, including venture capital, capital markets, and corporate development. John has a BA from DePauw University.  He received a graduate business certificate from the University of Virginia's McIntire Business Institute, and an MBA from the University of Miami Graduate School of Business.  


Panelist

Matt Waldron
Trade Commissioner
Consulate General of Canada 

Matt is Product and Brand Development professional with undergraduate degrees in Business from Culver-Stockton College and an International MBA from the University of South Carolina's renowned Moore School of Business.  He has worked as a product manager and retail manager with companies such as Wal-Mart, GameStop Inc., Colgate-Palmolive, Pelican, and Logitech.  Matt has lived and worked internationally in Latin America, Asia and Europe. Matt has worked for UK Trade & Investment with the British Consulate for over seven years as a Vice Consul for Trade & Investment; first with the Consumer Industrial team out of San Francisco and then with the Miami team covering Technology, Financial Services and Creative/Media sectors. He now works at the Trade Commissioner for the Consulate General of Canada covering Technology & Advanced Engineering Sectors.  


Panelist

Thomas "Tigre" Wenrich, Chief Operating Officer,
Open English

Tigre has been with Open English since 2009, helping grow the business from Venezuela-based start-up to multinational with offices in Miami, Caracas, Bogota, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, employing (directly and indirectly) over 2,000 people worldwide.   He has also served as CFO, helping to raise over $120M of venture capital during the past four years.  Prior to Open English, Tigre had a 16 year career in strategy consulting with The Boston Consulting Group, and he owned and operated a chain of 20 check cashing and payday loan stores in the Miami area.   He was born in the Dominican Republic and speaks fluent Spanish and English. Open English is an online school created to reinvent the English-language-learning experience. 


Pricing:
Florida Venture Member Registration: $45.00
Non-Member Registration: $60.00


Supporting Sponsors:
eFloridaGerman American Business Chamber of South Florida 



Florida Venture Forum | 813-335-8116 | 707 W. Azeele Street | Tampa, FL 33606
Bringing Together Florida's Entrepreneurial Community


Monday, October 28, 2013

TOMORROW! Undergraduate Seminar "Smartphone Displays: How do they work?" 10.29.13/ CREOL 102/ 3:00pm-4:00pm

Get to Know Photonics at UCF:  Tuesday Oct. 29, 3:00 – 4:00 pm CREOL 102:
Smartphone Displays:  How do they work?  Amazingly thin and increasingly complex, smartphone displays use technologies that are being developed at CREOL.  Find out how they work and visit a lab to explore what could be the next advancement to show up on your cell phone!  Presented by Dr. S.T. Wu, Photonics and Display Group at the College of Optics and Photonics.


RSVP to Mike McKee at undergrad @ creol . ucf . edu


Physics Colloquium - Friday, Nov. 1, 4:30, PSB 161

Dr. Andre J. Gesquiere
University of Central Florida
Conjugated Polymer Nanostructured Materials for Device and Biophotonics Applications
     The application of composite conjugated polymer nanostrcutured materials will be discussed in view of applications in nanotechnology enabled optoelectronic devices and biophotonics.
     Integration of nanoscale objects fabricated from conducting polymers in devices, and control of nanoscale morphology of conducting polymer materials in devices are productive ways of developing efficient plastic optoelectronic devices with precisely controlled properties.  In this colloquium, the importance of molecular architecture and polymer chain morphology with respect to conducting polymer nanostructure formation and nanoscale properties and will be addressed first. Second, data on conducting polymer nanoparticle devices enabling memory functions via optical programming and electrical erasing will be discussed. These findings open the door for novel approaches to understanding charge-storage mechanism on the nanometer scale and future applications of composite conjugated polymer nanoparticles in nanoscale memory and photoresponsive devices. Third, recent work on organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices built on Near-Infrared (NIR) photoresponse sensitization of solvent additive processed poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene solar cells by a low band gap polymer will be highlighted. The combination of a NIR absorbing conducting polymer and processing with solvent additive results in a ternary blended OPV device with controlled active layer morphology for optimal function across the visible and NIR spectrum. The data indicate that with the proper control of the morphology of ternary blended materials, NIR absorbing conjugated polymers can be effectively used to efficiently extend the photon capture range of polymer solar cells in an alternative fashion compared to tandem solar cells. 
            The fabrication and study of composite conjugated polymer nanoparticles for application in biophotonics will be discussed as a second direction of research on nanoscale objects fabricated from conducting polymers.  The focus will be on bioimaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. The PDT scheme was tested in-vitro for MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer), A549 (human lung cancer), and OVCAR3 (human ovarian cancer) cell lines. While the treatment was observed to be only marginally effective for the MDA-MB-231 cell line, 60% and complete cell death was observed for the A549 and OVCAR3 cell lines, respectively. Through live/dead cell staining apoptotic cell death was observed for OVCAR3. This is a promising finding for potential development of treatment for ovarian cancer by the PDT scheme discussed herein. 

Mona Doshi1, Zhongjian Hu1, Samantha Schneider-Pollack,4 Kirsten Treglown1, Alicja Copik,2 Simon Tang,1 Anne Ahlvers, 1,3 Andre J. Gesquiere*,1

1. NanoScience Technology Center, Department of Chemistry and CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 400, Orlando FL 32826, USA

2. Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA

3. Truman State University, Physics Department, 100 E Normal St, Kirksville Mo 63501, USA

4. Inamori School of Engineering, Ceramic Engineering Department, Alfred University, Alfred, NY


FSI Seminar Oct 30

Florida Space Institute Seminar Announcement

Speaker: Robert Peale
Affiliation: Physics, UCF
Day and Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

Location: Research Park
12354 Research Parkway
Partnership 1 Bldg. Suite 209
Orlando, FL 32826

Title Planetary Atmospheres Minor Species Sensor
Trace gasses are indicative of biologic activities and geologic activities on planets and their satellites as well as asteroids and comets.  Detection of trace gasses on Earth can also advance our understanding human impact on climate change.  Trace gas detection in Earth’s atmosphere as a balloon traverses the 30 km to the Stratosphere can be daunting as temperatures swing below -60C and air density drops below a point to sustain cooling of electronics by convection.  This necessary first step will qualify PAMSS, the Planetary Atmospheres Minor Species Sensor, and the first mid-infrared intracavity laser absorption spectrometer, for space flight.  The prototype system has demonstrated sensitivity to molecular absorption coefficients as small as 1 x 10^-5 cm^-1 (equivalent to a mixing ratio as small as 30 ppbv at 1 atm), and this is by no means a fundamental limit of PAMSS capabilities.  We present the results of our work to fly PAMSS to 30 km using Near Space Corporation’s Small Balloon System.  Technologies tested during the flight involve heat transfer and re-use, and autonomous data collection using COTS, along with self-alignment techniques to ensure data gathering throughout the flight with the goal of advancing the project to TRL6.
.For further information please the click below:
                         
Contact:
Ashley Kehoe / Josh Colwell
Department of Physics
Phone: 407-823-6306
Email: Ashley . Kehoe @ ucf . edu / jec @ ucf . edu
Follow us on Twitter at ucfFSI

And check out our website at: http://fsi.ucf.edu/

Tuesday, October 22, 2013


Longwood, FL – October 21, 2013. Analog Modules, Inc. (AMI) has acquired the OmniPulse Technology (www.omnipulsetechnology.com) Diode Driver and Pockels Cell Driver product lines, including relevant Patents, and intends to support all former customers with the OmniPulse product range.  This additional product line supplements AMI’s existing product lines by adding lower cost, typically linear, driver solutions, and provides a reliable future source of supply for programs currently using OmniPulse products. The OmniPulse designed ultra compact, precision current sources are ideal for driving pulsed laser diodes in a variety of applications including rangefinding, target designation, LIDAR, seeding fiber lasers, and pumping solid state lasers. These pulsed laser diode drivers are precise, easily integrated, user friendly and exceed expectations and industry standards of performance. For more information on AMI, visit our web site at www.analogmodules.com

Monday, October 21, 2013

Florida Space Institute Seminar Oct 23

Florida Space Institute Seminar Announcement

Speaker: Nicoleta Soroaica Hickman
Affiliation: FSEC / UCF
Day and Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

Location: Research Park
12354 Research Parkway
Partnership 1 Bldg. Suite 209
Orlando, FL 32826

Title Fully-Functional Space And Terrestrial Photovoltaic/Electrodynamic Shield (PV/ES) Hybrid System For Dust Mitigation
The dust deposit on sensitive and costly surfaces of investigative
equipment is a serious concern for future lunar and Martian missions.
Several methods have been surveyed to protect optical or photovoltaic
surfaces from the dust deposition threat but limiting condition of
lunar and Martian environment makes them either inefficient or
infeasible. Since there is no drag force on particles, and the magnetic
field is negligible, applying electrostatic field could be the best
approach for dust control.

The unique properties of ITO, Graphene and Carbon Nanotube (CNT)
combined with recent scientific advancements that make these materials
readily available allow development of smart surfaces on a small and
large scale that will benefit the power generation devices. Our
research groups from UCF and UF in collaboration with KSC have been
working on high and low voltage technologies like Electrodynamic Dust
Shield (EDS) and Electrostatic Lunar Dust Collector (ELDC) for future
lunar and Mars Missions.

The research team developed active and very efficient cleaning methods
based on ITO, Graphene and CNT materials requiring minimal cost,
weight, and power that repel and remove particulate buildup of surface
contaminants, e.g., dust and dirt, from solar panels used for the space
mission. The cleaning methods ensure that solar panels are operational
for longer periods of time and with lower power loss due to dust
obscuration.

For further information please the click below:
                         
Contact:
Ashley Kehoe / Josh Colwell
Department of Physics
Phone: 407-823-6306



 



Physics Colloquium - Fri., Oct. 25, 4:30, PSB 161

Dr. David C. Johnston
Ames Lab - Iowa State University
The Puzzle of High-Temperature Superconductivity in Iron Pnictides

Iron is a ferromagnetic metal, and ferromagnetism and superconductivity are generally mutually exclusive.  Therefore the discovery of superconductivity in Fe-pnictide (pnictide = As, P) compounds in 2008 with high transition temperatures Tc up to 56 K was a welcome shock to the CMP community.  Experimental and theoretical studies carried out over the past five years that help to explain this puzzle will be discussed.  The results strongly point to an unconventional magnetic mechanism for high-Tc superconductivity in the Fe-pnictides, just as is generally believed to be the case in the layered copper oxides discovered in 1986 that have Tc’s up to 164 K, despite the large differences between these two types of materials.  Our recent studies of compounds that we synthesized in an attempt to discover new, but related, high-Tc superconductors will also be discussed. 




Contact: Pat Korosec  407-823-325

Register Today To Attend How to Grow Using Ruthless Focus Plus 6 Ideas to Make Tampa a "Cool City"





Register Today To Attend 
How to Grow Using Ruthless Focus Plus 6 Ideas to Make Tampa a "Cool City" 

Ruthless Focus: How to use the concept of a single, powerful strategy to outperform your competition. 
Join the Florida Venture Forum for lunch and a special presentation to learn about the concept of Ruthless Focus and how to apply it to your business or non-profit to develop a growth platform for the future. An added bonus: 6 ideas for making Tampa the cool city everyone wants it to be!
You can expect to learn the following:
  • How companies have used Ruthless Focus to build strong businesses that last.
  • Different strategies that you can use to ignite growth.
  • How to determine the best strategy with the best fit for your organization.

* This Event
Qualifies for 1.0 Technical Business CPE
Credit 
General Business 
and Management Services Categories 
by the State of Florida.



DATE: 
Wednesday, November 6th 2013

TIME: 
 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

LOCATION:
The University Club 
201 North Franklin Street #3800
Tampa, FL 


Featured Speaker

Thomas Hall
Chairman, Tucker/Hall, Inc.

Tom Hall is chairman of Tucker/Hall, one of the leading public relations firms in the Southeast and the largest in Tampa Bay. Their practice includes public affairs, crisis, and strategic communications. He has researched fast-growth companies for years and has written a successful book titled Ruthless Focus about corporate strategy.

Hall has built and sold two companies to national firms. He started and built Creative Seminars into the largest advertising education firm in the US and sold it to Adweek Magazine in New York. He owned and built Ensslin and Hall Advertising into one of the largest marketing firms in the South and sold it to Earle Palmer Brown in Washington.

Hall invented a formula for getting free media for public service advertising and used it to get  more than $50 million in anti-drug abuse ads for the state of Florida. He then gave the formula to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which has gotten more than $3 billion in free media with the system.

He is the first person to receive the Partnership's lifetime achievement award and was invited to the White House by President George H. W. Bush in recognition of his efforts. He led the effort to build the Florida Aquarium which is credited as the catalyst for changing downtown Tampa into a more balanced city. He was involved with the Tampa Downtown Partnership's efforts to get the new cruise terminal, residential in the Channel District, and the Tampa Bay Times Forum. He is a former member of the National Advertising Review Board and the AAAA National Committee on improving advertising.

Ruthless Focus was chosen as featured book of the month by the American Management Association and has five gold reviews on Amazon.

This is a Must-Attend Event!

PRICING:
FVF Member registration: $45.00
Non-Member registration: $55.00






Florida Venture Forum | 813-335-8116 | 707 W. Azeele Street | Tampa, FL 33606
Bringing Together Florida's Entrepreneurial Community