MechE Colloquium: Fluidic shaping of optical components – from eyeglasses to space telescopes
Event details
| Date | 10.12.2024 |
| Hour | 12:00 › 13:00 |
| Speaker | Prof. Moran Bercovici, Fluidic Technologies Laboratory, Technion Israel Institute of Technology |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract: I will present our theoretical and experimental work on leveraging the basic physics of liquid-fluid interfaces for fabrication of a wide range of high-quality optical components, without the need for any mechanical processing. I will first discuss the use of light projection as a mechanism to induce temperature gradients on a thin liquid film, resulting in its spatial deformation by the thermocapillary effect. Based on an inverse problem solution, we can predict the illumination pattern required in order to create a desired deformation. Polymerization of the film results in phase masks with sub-nanometric surface quality. To create larger components such as eyeglasses or telescope lenses, the elimination of gravity is crucial. We turned to experimenting with neutral buoyancy and developed a passive method wherein we engineer boundary conditions on fluidic interfaces to drive liquid volumes into minimum energy states that correspond to desired optical topographies. Finally, I will discuss our collaboration with NASA on the use of this technology for the creation of large space telescopes that overcome launch constraints. I will present our parabolic flight experiments, as well as our recent experiments on the international space station.
Biography: Moran Bercovici is a full professor of mechanical engineering at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and currently a visiting professor at ETH Zurich. He is equally interested in understanding basic physical mechanisms related to fluid mechanics and in leveraging them to create new tools and technologies across different disciplines including optical fabrication, in-space manufacturing, space telescopes, reconfigurable microfluidics, and biomolecular analysis. He is an aerospace engineer by training and worked for 6 years as an aerodynamics engineer in the aerospace industry (2000-2006), before continuing to a PhD at Stanford School of Engineering (2006-2010) and a short postdoctoral period in the Department of Urology at Stanford School of Medicine (2010-2011). He joined Technion as a faculty member in 2011, where he established the Fluidic Technologies Laboratory.
Biography: Moran Bercovici is a full professor of mechanical engineering at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and currently a visiting professor at ETH Zurich. He is equally interested in understanding basic physical mechanisms related to fluid mechanics and in leveraging them to create new tools and technologies across different disciplines including optical fabrication, in-space manufacturing, space telescopes, reconfigurable microfluidics, and biomolecular analysis. He is an aerospace engineer by training and worked for 6 years as an aerodynamics engineer in the aerospace industry (2000-2006), before continuing to a PhD at Stanford School of Engineering (2006-2010) and a short postdoctoral period in the Department of Urology at Stanford School of Medicine (2010-2011). He joined Technion as a faculty member in 2011, where he established the Fluidic Technologies Laboratory.
Practical information
- General public
- Free