Research Areas
Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics
Research Type
Theorist
Research Website
Current Projects
Bounds on wave scattering, Computational design, Near-field optical physics, Optimal nanoparticle scatterers, Solar cell design principles
Research
The Miller Group specializes in design and optimization of wave systems at the micro and nanoscales. We use computation and theory, aiming to open the design space–in photonics, elastodynamics, and more general wave systems–through two approaches: (1) efficiently exploring high-dimensional spaces via large-scale computational optimization, and (2) developing analytical techniques to model new phenomena and discover fundamental response limits. We apply these techniques to application areas including photovoltaics, near-field optics, nanoparticle scatterers, thermal radiation, and more. Our goal is to describe and discover fundamental device performance limits, and to design devices approaching those limits.
Honors & Awards
- 2022 Graduate Mentor Award for Physical Sciences and Engineering
Selected Publications
- “Fundamental limits to optical response in absorptive systems,” O. D. Miller, A. G. Polimeridis, M. T. Homer Reid, C. W. Hsu, B. G. DeLacy, J. D. Joannopoulos, M. Soljačić, and S. G. Johnson, Opt. Express 24, 3329 (2016)
- “Shape-independent limits to near-field radiative heat transfer,” O. D. Miller, S. G. Johnson, and A. W. Rodriguez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 204302 (2015)
- “Strong internal and external luminescence as solar cells approach the Shockley–Queisser limit,” O. D. Miller, E. Yablonovitch, and S. R. Kurtz, IEEE J. Photovoltaics 2, 303–311 (2012)
- “Light trapping textures designed by electromagnetic optimization for subwavelength thick solar cells,” V. Ganapati, O. D. Miller, and E. Yablonovitch, IEEE J. Photovoltaics 4, 175–182 (2014)
- “Fundamental limits to extinction by metallic nanoparticles,” O. D. Miller, C. W. Hsu, M. T. H. Reid, W. Qiu, B. G. DeLacy, J. D. Joannopoulos, M. Soljačić, and S. G. Johnson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 123903 (2014)
- “Effectiveness of thin films in lieu of hyperbolic metamaterials in the near field,” O. D. Miller, S. G. Johnson, and A. W. Rodriguez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 157402 (2014)
- “Efficient broad- and tunable-bandwidth optical extinction via aspect-ratio-tailored silver nanodisks,” E. Anquillare, O. D. Miller, C. W. Hsu, B. G. DeLacy, J. D. Joannopoulos, S. G. Johnson, and M. Soljačić, Opt. Express 24, 10806–16 (2016)
- “Optimization of sharp and viewing-angle-independent structural color,” C. W. Hsu, O. D. Miller, S. G. Johnson, and M. Soljačić, Opt. Express 23, 9516 (2015)