Breaking the Wall of Light-Matter Interactions

Breaking the Wall of Light-Matter Interactions

Global Call 2026 Finalist Interview: Physical Sciences

Andrea Alù is Distinguished Professor and Einstein Professor of Physics at the City University of New York (CUNY), and Founding Director at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Centre. He earned his PhD from the University of Roma Tre and is a fellow of NAI, AAAS, IEEE, MRS, Optica, SPIE and APS, a member of Academia Europaea and Italian Academy of Engineering, and a recipient of several awards, including the NSF A. T. Waterman, the Max Born Award and the Blavatnik National Award.

Which wall does your research or project break?  

A fundamental challenge in fundamental physics and in many applied technologies is the weakness and limited control over the interactions between light and matter. Conventional optical technologies rely on natural materials, whose properties constrain how strongly light can be confined, redirected, amplified or converted. These limitations restrict the performance of communication systems, imaging technologies, sensors, energy devices, and emerging quantum platforms.

My research has been focused on breaking these fundamental barriers by developing new physical concepts and engineered materials that enable extreme and highly controllable light-matter interactions. Through metamaterials, metasurfaces, non-Hermitian photonics, materials driven out of equilibrium, polaritonics, and symmetry-based wave engineering, we have been exploring various ways to enhance and entirely reshape the interaction between light and matter beyond what occurs in nature. This includes creating structures that can trap light in extremely small volumes, make objects less visible, enhance nonlinear and quantum effects, break the symmetries with which waves travel in space and time, and manipulate waves with extreme efficiency and precision.

The challenge is both scientific and technological. Light and matter interact across vastly different spatial and temporal scales, and fundamental physical constraints often appear to set immutable limits on performance. Our work seeks to identify hidden opportunities where these limits can be overcome through innovative design and deeper understanding of wave physics. By uncovering new mechanisms for controlling light, we open pathways toward more powerful optical communications, advanced sensing and imaging systems, energy-efficient photonic devices, and transformative quantum technologies.

Ultimately, the wall we seek to break is not a physical barrier, but a set of long-standing assumptions about what light can do and how strongly it can interact with matter. By challenging these assumptions, our research expands the boundaries of photonics and enables technologies that were once considered impossible.

What is the main goal of your research or project?  

The main goal of my research project, Breaking the Wall of Light–Matter Interactions, is to develop new physical principles and engineered photonic platforms that enable unprecedented, extreme and rational control over how light interacts with matter. Light underpins modern technologies ranging from communications and imaging to sensing, computing, and quantum science. However, the strength and functionality of light–matter interactions are often limited by the properties of natural materials and by fundamental constraints in each relevant application of light and electromagnetic waves.

Our research seeks to overcome these limitations by designing artificial materials and wave systems that can manipulate light in ways previously thought impossible. We use rational approaches, curiosity-driven, in which we expand the boundaries of what is possible in the context of wave control and manipulation, extending from light to radio-waves, and even to sound. This approach allows us to uncover new regimes of wave behaviour and create functionalities that do not exist in conventional materials, pushing the boundaries of many technologies.

A central objective is to translate these scientific discoveries into enabling technologies. Stronger and more controllable light–matter interactions can lead to faster and more energy-efficient communications, highly sensitive sensors, advanced imaging systems, improved energy-harvesting devices, and new platforms for quantum information processing. At the same time, our work addresses fundamental scientific questions about the ultimate limits for wave control, and the same fundamental nature of electromagnetic phenomena as they interact with matter.

Ultimately, the project aims to expand the boundaries of what is physically achievable with light and with light strongly coupled to matter. By challenging long-standing assumptions and discovering new mechanisms for controlling electromagnetic waves, we seek to create both transformative technologies and a deeper understanding of the physical world. In doing so, we hope to open new opportunities across science and engineering, enabling breakthroughs that can benefit society for decades to come.

What impact does your research or project have on society?

The impact of Breaking the Wall of Light–Matter Interactions lies in its potential to enable transformative technologies that address some of society’s most pressing needs in communication, healthcare, green energy, security, and computing. 

Light is fundamental to many of modern technologies. By developing new ways to control how light interacts with matter, our research creates the scientific foundation for devices that are faster, smaller, more efficient, and more capable than existing technologies. Modern society depends heavily on the transmission and processing of information through electromagnetic waves. Advances in our ability to manipulate light can lead to higher-capacity communication networks, reduced energy consumption in information technologies, and improved sensing and imaging systems. These capabilities are essential for supporting the growing global demand for connectivity, data processing, green-energy and intelligent technologies. 

Our discoveries also have important implications for healthcare and environmental monitoring. Enhanced light–matter interactions can improve the sensitivity of optical sensors, enabling earlier disease detection, more precise medical diagnostics, and real-time monitoring of environmental conditions. Similarly, new photonic devices can improve imaging systems used in medicine, science, and industry. 

Another major societal benefit is the potential contribution to sustainable energy technologies. Light carries an enormous amount of ‘free energy’, coming from the sun to our planet. Being able to efficiently harnessing it is another important challenge. By controlling light more efficiently, we can improve energy harvesting, light emission, and energy management processes, helping to reduce waste and enhance the performance of next-generation energy systems. 

Beyond specific applications, this project advances fundamental scientific knowledge and helps train the next generation of researchers and innovators. Many of the technologies that shape modern life—from lasers and fiber optics to semiconductor electronics—originated from curiosity-driven research in fundamental physics. By exploring new frontiers in wave science and photonics, we are creating opportunities for future breakthroughs whose full impact may extend far beyond what can be predicted today. Ultimately, the project seeks to expand humanity’s ability to harness light, creating new technologies, economic opportunities, and scientific discoveries that can improve quality of life and drive innovation across multiple sectors.

What advice would you give to young scientists or students interested in pursuing a career in research, or to your younger self starting in science?

My advice is to stay curious, be fearless in tackling difficult, long-term problems, and never let the pressure of delivering results in the short term limit your curiosity and passion for fundamental problems. Scientific research is a journey, and progress often comes from exploring ideas that initially seem unconventional. Many of the most important discoveries arise when we challenge accepted assumptions and persist through setbacks.

I would encourage young scientists to focus on understanding fundamental principles, challenge the status quo, ask 'what if' questions, rather than chasing short-term trends. Technologies evolve rapidly, but a strong foundation in science and critical thinking remains valuable throughout your entire career. It is also important to cultivate creativity. Science is not only about solving technical problems—it is about asking the most compelling next questions and imagining the directions to pursue.

It is also important to find the right mentors, collaborators and colleagues who can inspire you. Modern research is a collective endeavour, and some of the most important breakthroughs emerge from interactions across disciplines and cultures. Be open to learning from people with different perspectives and expertise.

If I could speak to my younger self, I would say to think long-term, not to worry about the small issues that always come our way, but to explore big questions and ideas that most excite your imagination and curiosity. Success in science is determined by passion and motivation, so it is important to pursue questions that truly excite you.

What inspired you to be in the profession you are today?

I have always been passionate about fundamental research, so I did not have any doubts about pursuing a career in academia.