The Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering was delighted to host Prof. Quan Xu (許全) from Tianjin University on December 4, 2025, for a captivating seminar titled “Meta-Optics Empowered Terahertz Devices.“ The seminar was hosted by Prof. Hongchao Liu.
Prof. Quan Xu is an Associate Professor at the School of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University. He earned his Ph.D. from Tianjin University in 2019, bolstering his academic training with research visits to internationally renowned institutions such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and the University of Birmingham in the UK. His primary research expertise lies in the intersecting fields of terahertz photonics and terahertz meta-devices, where he focuses on manipulating terahertz waves using advanced meta-optical surfaces.
In the seminar, Prof. Xu explained how terahertz waves, which sit between infrared and microwaves, are crucial for future technologies like 6G communications. Further, Prof. Xu introduced meta-optics, which uses artificial microstructures to control light, provides the perfect toolkit to manipulate these once-challenging waves. The talk highlighted two main categories of innovative devices: (1) Free-space manipulation Devices, including meta-optical components like ultra-thin waveplates, lenses, and holographic plates that efficiently control terahertz waves in open space. (2) Devices that bridge free-space terahertz waves with integrated on-chip systems. This is essential for creating the compact, multifunctional hardware needed for 6G applications.
The seminar was followed by a vibrant Q&A session, where attendees from various research backgrounds engaged Prof. Xu in a deep discussion on the practical challenges, material choices, and future commercialization pathways for this exciting technology.
