Harry A. Atwater

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Harry A. Atwater is a pioneering figure in nanophotonics and metamaterials, whose work has fundamentally reshaped how we control light at the nanoscale. As the Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science at Caltech, Atwater’s research spans plasmonics, photovoltaics, and optical metasurfaces—artificially engineered materials that manipulate electromagnetic waves with unprecedented precision. His major contributions include the development of high-efficiency solar cells using light-trapping nanostructures and the demonstration of flat optical components that replace bulky lenses. The 2025 paper "The second optical metasurface revolution: moving from science to technology" (77 citations) captures his vision for translating these lab breakthroughs into real-world devices like LiDAR and augmented reality displays. With over 70,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 130, Atwater is among the most influential researchers in photonics. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, and his work has earned awards such as the Julius Springer Prize for Applied Physics. For students and researchers, Atwater exemplifies how fundamental physics can drive technological innovation, offering a roadmap from scientific discovery to practical impact.