Victor Veselago
Encyclopedia
Victor Georgievich Veselago (born 1929, in Ukrainian SSR
, USSR
) is a Russian physicist. In 1967, he was the first to publish a theoretical analysis of materials with negative permittivity
, ε, and permeability
μ.
He published his seminal work in a paper entitled "The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ε and μ".
It was first published in Russian (1967), and was later translated into English (1968). His published paper was key to the advancement of physics research in electrodynamics. It has been cited 1,646 times by other scientific works, according to Cross ref and 1,196 times according to Google Scholar as of Jan. 2010.
Throughout his career he has received awards and has continued contributing to electrodynamics.
, and more generally, an interest in physics
. Veselago enrolled in the Physico-Technical Department, of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. This department had at that time was just recently opened at this University. He matriculated for four years there. These university years were the happiest time of his life.
Professor Mark Yefremovich Zhabotinsky supervised Veselago's project for his graduation diploma. This same professor also helped him to build a foundation in radio electronics and electrodynamics. Also, as a result of reading the book "What is radio?", which popularized the subject he became involved in the amateur field of Ham Radio. Veselago then studied under the author of the book, Professor Semen Emmanuilovich Khaikin, for three summers at the P N Lebedev FIAN Radioastronomy Station in Crimea
. He also studied under Professor Sergei Mikhailovich Rytov, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, who lectured on the theory of oscillations. These three professors have had a notable impact on Veselago.
It appears that the most significant event of his career, and the most important moment in his life was when he realized that materials with both negative permittivity and permeability are possible.
He is also on the advisory board of the peer review
ed journal Metamaterials
, along with a number of other notable board members who have significantly contributed to metamaterial research. The journal was first published in March, 2007.
In 2009, Victor Vesalgo won the C.E.K. Mees Medal from the Optical Society of America
(OSA). The recipient is awarded this medal because he or she "exemplifies the thought that 'optics transcends all boundaries,' interdisciplinary and international alike."
was traditionally regarded as having only positive values. In this paper he was able to show that refractive index may also be negative. He hypothesized that negative refraction can occur if both the (electric) permittivity
and the magnetic permeability of a material are negative. This prediction was confirmed 33 years later when David Smith et al., created a composite material with negative refractive index, and Sir John Pendry showed that the planar lens proposed by Veselago can indeed provide greatly improved resolution.
After Smith's and Pendry's accomplishments with metamaterials, Veselago realized that the most important contribution of his original paper is not that a composite material can be designed to produce a negative refraction, but that a composite material can be designed to produce any value for permittivity and permeability. At least a part of his research goals was then to critically reconsider all formulas of classical electrodynamics that involve permittivity, permeability or refractive index. The fact that prior research is based on positive values for these parameters leads to erroneous solutions when negative values are considered or researched. He stated that many of these formulas need to be corrected.
Veselago perceived that the next big breakthrough with metamaterials will be the fabrication of transparent low-absorption metamaterials with negative refraction in the visible spectrum
range.
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
, USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) is a Russian physicist. In 1967, he was the first to publish a theoretical analysis of materials with negative permittivity
Permittivity
In electromagnetism, absolute permittivity is the measure of the resistance that is encountered when forming an electric field in a medium. In other words, permittivity is a measure of how an electric field affects, and is affected by, a dielectric medium. The permittivity of a medium describes how...
, ε, and permeability
Permeability (electromagnetism)
In electromagnetism, permeability is the measure of the ability of a material to support the formation of a magnetic field within itself. In other words, it is the degree of magnetization that a material obtains in response to an applied magnetic field. Magnetic permeability is typically...
μ.
He published his seminal work in a paper entitled "The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ε and μ".
It was first published in Russian (1967), and was later translated into English (1968). His published paper was key to the advancement of physics research in electrodynamics. It has been cited 1,646 times by other scientific works, according to Cross ref and 1,196 times according to Google Scholar as of Jan. 2010.
Throughout his career he has received awards and has continued contributing to electrodynamics.
Background
In the senior years of his high school he was an avid ham radio amateur. This hobby sparked an interest in the workings of electricityElectricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, and more generally, an interest in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. Veselago enrolled in the Physico-Technical Department, of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. This department had at that time was just recently opened at this University. He matriculated for four years there. These university years were the happiest time of his life.
Professor Mark Yefremovich Zhabotinsky supervised Veselago's project for his graduation diploma. This same professor also helped him to build a foundation in radio electronics and electrodynamics. Also, as a result of reading the book "What is radio?", which popularized the subject he became involved in the amateur field of Ham Radio. Veselago then studied under the author of the book, Professor Semen Emmanuilovich Khaikin, for three summers at the P N Lebedev FIAN Radioastronomy Station in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. He also studied under Professor Sergei Mikhailovich Rytov, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, who lectured on the theory of oscillations. These three professors have had a notable impact on Veselago.
It appears that the most significant event of his career, and the most important moment in his life was when he realized that materials with both negative permittivity and permeability are possible.
He is also on the advisory board of the peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
ed journal Metamaterials
Metamaterials (journal)
Metamaterials is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in March 2007. It is published by Elsevier in association with the Metamorphose Network of Excellence. The Coordinating Editor is Mikhail Lapine. The journal is published quarterly, with occasional special issues...
, along with a number of other notable board members who have significantly contributed to metamaterial research. The journal was first published in March, 2007.
In 2009, Victor Vesalgo won the C.E.K. Mees Medal from the Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
(OSA). The recipient is awarded this medal because he or she "exemplifies the thought that 'optics transcends all boundaries,' interdisciplinary and international alike."
Results and importance of first published work
His first paper was "The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ε and μ". Up to this point, refractive indexRefractive index
In optics the refractive index or index of refraction of a substance or medium is a measure of the speed of light in that medium. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium....
was traditionally regarded as having only positive values. In this paper he was able to show that refractive index may also be negative. He hypothesized that negative refraction can occur if both the (electric) permittivity
Permittivity
In electromagnetism, absolute permittivity is the measure of the resistance that is encountered when forming an electric field in a medium. In other words, permittivity is a measure of how an electric field affects, and is affected by, a dielectric medium. The permittivity of a medium describes how...
and the magnetic permeability of a material are negative. This prediction was confirmed 33 years later when David Smith et al., created a composite material with negative refractive index, and Sir John Pendry showed that the planar lens proposed by Veselago can indeed provide greatly improved resolution.
After Smith's and Pendry's accomplishments with metamaterials, Veselago realized that the most important contribution of his original paper is not that a composite material can be designed to produce a negative refraction, but that a composite material can be designed to produce any value for permittivity and permeability. At least a part of his research goals was then to critically reconsider all formulas of classical electrodynamics that involve permittivity, permeability or refractive index. The fact that prior research is based on positive values for these parameters leads to erroneous solutions when negative values are considered or researched. He stated that many of these formulas need to be corrected.
Veselago perceived that the next big breakthrough with metamaterials will be the fabrication of transparent low-absorption metamaterials with negative refraction in the visible spectrum
Visible spectrum
The visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is called visible light or simply light. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 390 to 750 nm. In terms of...
range.
Education
- Victor Veselago attended Moscow University and graduated from there in 1952. He received his PhD. in 1959 for investigation of molecular spectra with radiospectropySpectroscopySpectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
. He later received a Doctor of ScienceDoctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree in Solid State Physics in 1974 for his investigation of solid statesSolid-state physicsSolid-state physics is the study of rigid matter, or solids, through methods such as quantum mechanics, crystallography, electromagnetism, and metallurgy. It is the largest branch of condensed matter physics. Solid-state physics studies how the large-scale properties of solid materials result from...
in magnetic fields. His doctorate and Doctor of Science degree were both achieved at the P.N. Lebedev Physical InstituteLebedev Physical InstituteThe Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences , situated in Moscow, is one of the leading Russian research institutes specializing in physics. It is also one of the oldest research institutions in Russia: its history dates back to a collection of physics equipment established by...
, where he worked (see Career section below).
Career
- After graduating Moscow University in 1952, he went to work with the P.N. Lebedev Physical InstituteLebedev Physical InstituteThe Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences , situated in Moscow, is one of the leading Russian research institutes specializing in physics. It is also one of the oldest research institutions in Russia: its history dates back to a collection of physics equipment established by...
of the Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Academy of SciencesThe Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
in Moscow. He was there from 1952 to 1983. In 1983 he became Head of Laboratory of Magnetic Materials in the A.M. Prokhorov Institute of General Physics. As of July 2010 he is still listed in this position.
- In 1980 he became a professorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of applied physicsApplied physicsApplied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
for the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. As of 2007, he had maintained this position. Moreover, he has been noted to be mainly interested in the sciences of magnetismMagnetismMagnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
, solid-state physics, and electrodynamics.
- Besides notable work establishing and publishing the theory of negative refractionNegative index metamaterialsNegative index metamaterials or negative index materials are artificial structures where the refractive index has a negative value over some frequency range. This does not occur in any known natural materials, and thus is only achievable with engineered structures known as metamaterials...
in electrodynamics from 1966 to 1972 he is a winner of the State Prize for science of USSR (1976), and a winner of the academician V.A. Fock prize (2004), and an Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation (2002). Currently (2007), he is actively involved as an expert for the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, the Russian Foundation for Humanitarian Research, and he is the vice-chairman of the physics department of the Supreme Attestation Committee of Russia (VAK). He is a founder and vice-editor of the electronic, Russian scientific journal " Исследовано в России, for which the English translation is "Investigated in Russia".
- V. Veselago is married and has three daughters along with one son. His favorite animal is a female cat named Fifa. His notable hobby is real railways, not hobby sets.
See also
- Metamaterials
- Negative index metamaterialsNegative index metamaterialsNegative index metamaterials or negative index materials are artificial structures where the refractive index has a negative value over some frequency range. This does not occur in any known natural materials, and thus is only achievable with engineered structures known as metamaterials...
- Photonic crystalPhotonic crystalPhotonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons in a similar way that periodicity of a semiconductor crystal affects the motion of electrons...
- 2009 recipient of the OSAOptical Society of AmericaThe Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
*C.E.K. Mees Medal
Further reading
Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience Vol.3, 1–30, 2006.-
- Note: The DOI number on this paper, and at Ingenta is incorrect.
- "Electrodynamics of materials with negative index of refraction" by V.G. Veselago. 2003.
Veselago's web page
There appears to be a web page that is Veselago's own page. He gives a welcome, and then there is list of links which he has entitled as his main area of research (see below). Google translator is needed for English. Included in the list is a link to his notable 1967 work. A link that appears to be accessed indirectly is a power point presentation that outlines this 1967 paper (see below). At this time, it appears to be not possible to access what might be a missing page before the first web page. This is a Russian cite, and may be related to Veselago's affiliated institution: A.M. Prokhorov, Institute of General Physics RAS. This acknowledgement is at the beginning of the power point presentation, along with Victor Veselago's name and email address.
- V.G. Veselago's personal list of main area of research. He states that it is incomplete.
- Power point presentation, entitled "Electrodynamics of left-handed materials by V.G.Veselago (v.veselago@relcom.ru) Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) Institute of General Physics RAS". This title shows up in the address bar of the power point presentation, after scrolling back.
There is another title with next slide:- Electrodynamics of materials with negative electric and magnetic permeabilities. V.G.Veselago (v.veselago@relcom.ru) Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) Institute of General Physics RAS.