You are kindly invited to the Photonics center seminar, which will be held on Thursday, 05. 11. 2026. at 12h, in the "Dragan Popović" hall. The Laboratory for photoacoustics will be presented at the seminar. Dragan Markušev will tell us something about the lab, and he will give a seminar entitled:

Abstract
As we mark 147 years since this scientific titan's passing, we look beyond his famous electromagnetic equations to honour his foundational work in thermodynamics and the kinetic theory of gases. Maxwell famously brought mathematical order to the chaotic, invisible motion of particles, introducing statistical mechanics to describe how heat and molecular transport dictate macroscopic reality.

Today, this legacy directly bridges the nineteenth century and cutting-edge engineering through photoacoustics. When modulated light triggers temperature changes in matter, it sets off the thermal diffusion and acoustic generation processes that we model today. These very calculations rely on diffusion equations rooted in Maxwell’s kinetic theory—derived by combining the transport equation with the fundamental law of conservation of energy.

By understanding the chaotic nature of molecular dynamics through Maxwell's lens, we can accurately quantify heat propagation and acoustic generation. This mathematical framework has become vital for advanced material characterisation, allowing us to probe the thermal, structural, and mechanical properties of complex media with unprecedented precision. Let us explore how his timeless insights into molecular mechanics continue to illuminate modern applied physics.