ENTEG lunch seminar by Prof Anastasiia Krushynska: "What are metamaterials, and what can we do with them?"

Abstract

Metamaterials are rapidly emerging as a strategic research direction in the Netherlands, forming part of national initiatives such as the Top Sectors policy (High Tech Systems & Materials, Energy, Chemistry) and Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). At their core, these are engineered structures designed to control waves and transport phenomena in ways that go far beyond what is possible with conventional materials.

This highly interdisciplinary field spans a wide range of domains, including electromagnetics, acoustics, phononics, mechanics, and thermal transport, as well as cutting-edge areas such as active, nonlinear, and topological metamaterials. Despite this diversity, all metamaterials share a common principle: their properties arise not just from their composition, but from their carefully designed structure.

In this talk, I will introduce phononic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials studied in the Metamechanics group. Starting from the fundamental concepts and design principles, I will highlight how these materials can exhibit unconventional— often counterintuitive—mechanical and wave-manipulation phenomena. We will then connect these ideas to real-world applications, addressing challenges in engineering, energy, and technology.

To make these concepts tangible, the talk will include live demonstrations of metamaterial functionalities. Participants are also very welcome to interact directly with physical samples after the seminar.