Victor Georgievich Veselago (; 13 June 1929 – 15 September 2018) was a Soviet Russian physicist, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, and a university professor. In 1967, he was the first to publish a theoretical analysis of materials with negative permittivity, ε, and permeability, μ.

He published his seminal work in a paper entitled "The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ε and μ".

He received awards and continued to contribute to electrodynamics throughout his career.

Background

In the senior years of his high school he was an avid ham radio amateur. This hobby sparked an interest in the workings of electricity, and more generally, an interest in physics. Veselago enrolled in the Physico-Technical Department, of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. This department had at that time was just recently opened at this university. He matriculated for four years there. These university years were the happiest time of his life.

Professor Mark Yefremovich Zhabotinsky supervised Veselago's project for his graduation diploma. This same professor also helped him to build a foundation in radio electronics and electrodynamics. Also, as a result of reading the book "What is radio?", which popularized the subject he became involved in the amateur field of Ham Radio. Veselago then studied under the author of the book, Professor Semen Emmanuilovich Khaikin, for three summers at the P N Lebedev FIAN Radioastronomy Station in Crimea. He also studied under Professor Sergei Mikhailovich Rytov, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, who lectured on the theory of oscillations. These three professors had a notable impact on Veselago.

In 2009, Victor Vesalgo won the C.E.K. Mees Medal from the Optical Society of America (OSA). The recipient is awarded this medal because he or she "exemplifies the thought that 'optics transcends all boundaries,' interdisciplinary and international alike." He was also a Fellow of OSA.

Results and importance of first published work

His first paper was "The Electrodynamics of Substances with Simultaneously Negative Values of ε and μ". Up to this point, the refractive index was traditionally regarded as having only positive values. In this paper he was able to show that refractive index may also be negative. He hypothesized that negative refraction can occur if both the (electric) permittivity and the magnetic permeability of a material are negative. This prediction was confirmed 33 years later when David Smith et al., created a composite material with negative refractive index. Veselago also predicted a flat plate consisting of these materials will produce some curved lens properties.

Sir John Pendry demonstrated this prediction in the lab and noted greatly improved optical resolution.

V. Veselago was married and had three daughters along with one son. His favorite animal was a female cat named Fifa. His notable hobby was real railways, not hobby sets.

See also

  • Metamaterials
  • Negative index metamaterials
  • Photonic crystal
  • 2009 recipient of the OSA
  • Kenneth Mees Medal

References

Further reading

  • "Electrodynamics of materials with negative index of refraction" by V.G. Veselago. 2003.
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