Marin Soljacic
Encyclopedia
Marin Soljačić is a Croatia
n physicist
and electrical engineer known for wireless non-radiative energy transfer
.
in 1974. After graduating from XV Gymnasium
(MIOC) in Zagreb he got a scholarship from MIT where he got his BSc in physics and electrical engineering in 1996. In 1998 he got his MSc
from Princeton University
and in 2000 he got his PhD in Physics. In 2005 he became a professor of Physics at MIT. In 2008, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
in the early 20th century, but also have significant differences: unlike Tesla's failed efforts at long-range wireless energy transfer, the Soljačić group focuses only on short-range transfer, and unlike Tesla coil
s which resonantly transfer power with electric fields (which couple strongly to surrounding matter, most famously inducing artificial lightning) the Soljačić proposal uses coupling primarily via magnetic fields. This work is currently being pursued in Soljačić's WiTricity
company. Soljačić believes that low-power commercial application of this technology, such as charging of mobile phone
s, is several years away.
In addition to wireless energy transfer, Prof. Soljačić works on numerous problems on electromagnetism in materials structured on the scale of the wavelength, such as micro- and nano-structured materials for infrared and visible light, including nonlinear optical devices and surface plasmons. His recent research, supported by a US$20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy
, focuses on use of photonic crystal
s in solar cell
s.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and electrical engineer known for wireless non-radiative energy transfer
Resonant energy transfer
Resonant energy transfer may refer to:*Förster resonance energy transfer*Resonant inductive coupling...
.
Biography
Marin Soljačić was born in ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in 1974. After graduating from XV Gymnasium
XV Gymnasium
Fifteenth Gymnasium , previously called, and still better known as, MIOC, is a public high school in Zagreb, Croatia. It specializes in mathematics and computer science and it is considered to be the best high school in the country, along with Fifth Gymnasium , also located in Zagreb...
(MIOC) in Zagreb he got a scholarship from MIT where he got his BSc in physics and electrical engineering in 1996. In 1998 he got his MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and in 2000 he got his PhD in Physics. In 2005 he became a professor of Physics at MIT. In 2008, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Work
In 2007 Marin Soljačić and his assistants successfully made the first efficient non-radiative power transfer at a distance of 2 meters turning on a 60 W light bulb. Energy transfer was 40% efficient. Professor Soljačić's experiments and work in wireless energy transfer are related in spirit to the work of Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
in the early 20th century, but also have significant differences: unlike Tesla's failed efforts at long-range wireless energy transfer, the Soljačić group focuses only on short-range transfer, and unlike Tesla coil
Tesla coil
A Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla around 1891. It is used to produce high voltage, low current, high frequency alternating current electricity. Tesla coils produce higher current than the other source of high voltage discharges, electrostatic machines...
s which resonantly transfer power with electric fields (which couple strongly to surrounding matter, most famously inducing artificial lightning) the Soljačić proposal uses coupling primarily via magnetic fields. This work is currently being pursued in Soljačić's WiTricity
WiTricity
WiTricity, a portmanteau for "wireless electricity", is a trademark of WiTricity corporation referring to their devices and processes which use a form of wireless energy transfer including resonant energy transfer etc., the ability to provide electrical energy to remote objects without wires using...
company. Soljačić believes that low-power commercial application of this technology, such as charging of mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s, is several years away.
In addition to wireless energy transfer, Prof. Soljačić works on numerous problems on electromagnetism in materials structured on the scale of the wavelength, such as micro- and nano-structured materials for infrared and visible light, including nonlinear optical devices and surface plasmons. His recent research, supported by a US$20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, focuses on use of photonic crystal
Photonic crystal
Photonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons in a similar way that periodicity of a semiconductor crystal affects the motion of electrons...
s in solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
s.
External links
- BBC article explaining non-radiative power transfer