[institut] Workshop on metamaterials: Dr. Yin Chang, Monday, 9 December, 13:30

[Branko Kolarić]

Dear colleagues,

You are cordially invited to the first lecture of the Workshop on 
metamaterials, which will be held on Monday, 9 December 2024 at 13:30 in 
the “Dr. Dragan Popović” library hall of the Institute of Physics 
Belgrade.

Dr. Yin Chang from TU Dresden, Germany, will give the talk entitled 
"Convergent Structural Color via Divergent Evolutionary Paths in 
Beetles". The abstract of the talk:

Beetles in the genera Pachyrhynchus nobilis and Doliops similis 
demonstrate strikingly similar green coloration despite employing 
distinct structural and material strategies, offering a fascinating 
example of convergent evolution in nature's photonic systems. My 
research reveals that Pachyrhynchus nobilis reflects vivid green through 
protein-based diamond photonic crystal structures, while Doliops similis 
forms amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles arranged in opal-like 
photonic crystals, generating a similar green color hue via scattering. 
Despite these fundamental differences, their shared appearance is 
effective in fooling both predators and prey, suggesting that microscale 
structural differences are imperceptible at the behavioral level.

This talk explores whether their green coloration serves as a warning 
signal or provides thermoregulatory advantages. I further contextualize 
these findings by examining mimicry pairs across diverse geographical 
regions, highlighting the potential evolutionary pressures driving these 
adaptations. Methodologically, I leverage high-resolution FIB/SEM 
imaging for structural analyses and nonlinear optical techniques, such 
as FLIM, to elucidate material composition and heterogeneity at 
nanoscales. These insights into the convergent evolution of biological 
photonic systems could inspire innovative approaches to designing 
bio-inspired metamaterials for multifunctional applications.

By integrating chemical, structural, and optical analyses, my work 
bridges biology and physics, offering new perspectives on the adaptive 
significance of structural colors and their implications for material 
science. This exploration resonates with current advances in nonlinear 
optics and quantum measurements, illustrating nature's ingenuity in 
material and optical design.

Best regards,

Branko Kolaric

Head of Nanophotonics Lab