Michael Escuti
Biography
Dr. Escuti is a leading photonics and electro-optic materials expert pioneering the development of polarization-independent devices and transformational diffractive optics. He currently directs applied and fundamental research for applications including ultra-efficient/portable liquid crystal displays, opto-fluidics, ultra-efficient beam steering for high energy applications and laser communications, IR/MIR polarimetry imaging, and novel diffractive lenses.
His work is principally supported by the National Science Foundation (including a CAREER Award) and US Air Force Research Laboratory, along with several strong partnerships with industry (including Raytheon, Boulder Nonlinear Systems, MZA Associates, and ImagineOptix).
As of mid-2011, he advises 3 PhD students, 1 undergraduate researcher, 2 post-docs, and has authored 28 journal articles, 50 refereed conference proceedings, 15 invited research presentations, 2 book contributions, and 3(+9) patents issued(+pending). He has also served as an expert witness in patent litigation before the International Trade Commission (ITC).
Education
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Ph.D.
2002
Electrical Engineering
Brown University, Providence -
Master's
1999
Electrical Engineering
Brown University, Providence -
Bachelor's
1997
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Drexel University, Philadelphia
Research Focus
Highlighted Awards
Awards & Honors
- 2019 - Senior Member of National Academy of Inventors
- 2011 - Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
- 2011 - ALCOA Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award (NC State)
- 2010 - National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award
- 2004 - International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS) Glenn H Brown Award for Outstanding PhD Dissertation
- 2002 - Optical Society of America (OSA) New Focus Student Award, Top Winner
- 2001 - Materials Research Society (MRS) Graduate Student Silver Award
- 2001 - Sigma Xi Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award, Brown University
- 2000 - Rhode Island House of Representatives Citation of Excellence in Science Education
- 1997 - Drexel University Citation of Excellence in Engineering Design
Recent Publications
- First light of a holographic aperture mask: Observation at the Keck OSIRIS Imager (2021)
- Improved saturation and wide-viewing angle color filters based on multi-twist retarders (2021)
- Mantis shrimp-inspired organic photodetector for simultaneous hyperspectral and polarimetric imaging (2021)
- Organic-based photodetectors for multiband spectral imaging (2021)
- Super achromatic wide-angle quarter-wave plates using multi-twist retarders (2021)
- Minimizing the Polarization Leakage of Geometric-phase Coronagraphs with Multiple Grating Pattern Combinations (2020)
- Solc-style color filters based on multi-twist retarders (2020)
- The Single-mode Complex Amplitude Refinement (SCAR) coronagraph: II. Lab verification, and toward the characterization of Proxima b (2020)
- Fabrication of Liquid Crystal Binary Polarization Gratings (bin-PGs) (2019)
- Highly chromatic retardation via multi-twist liquid crystal films (2019)
Recent News
Dr. Michael Escuti and ImageOptix Almost Double Light Efficiency in LC Projectors
Posted on July 27, 2012 | Filed Under: News
DepartmentHistoryFacilitiesDiversitySpotlightEmploymentFaculty AwardsStaff AwardsGraduationVisit NEWSROOM Michael EscutiJun 19, 2017 Researchers from North Carolina State University and ImagineOptix Corporation have developed new technology …
Escuti Develops Efficient, Inexpensive Laser Beam Steering
Posted on May 4, 2011 | Filed Under: News
DepartmentHistoryFacilitiesDiversitySpotlightEmploymentFaculty AwardsStaff AwardsGraduationVisit NEWSROOM Escuti Develops Efficient, Inexpensive Laser Beam SteeringMay 4, 2011 For many practical applications involving lasers, it’s important …
Recent Media Mentions
Controlling Light with Geometric-Phase Holograms
February 1, 2016
Improved fabrication techniques are creating a new generation of gratings, lenses, and other elements that are physically thin and optically thick. Michael Escuti, engineering, featured.
Creating a wide variety of new holograms
November 12, 2015
NC State researchers have developed techniques that can be used to create ideal geometric phase holograms for any kind of optical pattern – a significant advance over the limitations of previous techniques. Michael Escuti, engineering, featured.
NCSU Researchers Develop a Novel Method to Steer Laser Beams
May 10, 2011
The team led by associate professor of electrical engineering, Dr. Michael Escuti, used ‘polarization gratings’ to steer the laser beams. These gratings comprised of a thin liquid crystal layer on a glass plate. A device that would allow the passage of laser beam through a stack of polarization gratings was developed. Manipulating the optical properties of individual gratings, the researchers redirected the beam to the desired direction. Addition of more gratings increased the number of angles exponentially.