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Ataollah Kalantari Osgouei

Computational nanophotonics and plasmonics

I’m Ata, a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Physics at Rice University, working with Prof. Peter Nordlander. I simulate metasurfaces and plasmonic nanoantennas, test my models against theory and experiment, and help turn them into real devices.

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Ataollah Kalantari Osgouei
Δx = 1.00, Δp = 0.50

A wave packet at the uncertainty limit, Δx·Δp = ħ/2 (units with ħ = 1). Squeeze it in position and it spreads in momentum. Run your cursor or finger along the plot, or use the slider.

About

My work sits where computation meets the lab. I build full-wave electromagnetic models (FDTD, FEM and RCWA) in Lumerical, COMSOL and CST. I script the geometry, parameter sweeps and post-processing, so large design studies run on their own.

I only trust a model once it matches analytic Mie theory and measured spectra. Before Rice, I spent five years at NANOTAM, Bilkent University, where I also fabricated and measured my own designs with e-beam lithography, thin-film deposition, ellipsometry, FTIR and SEM.

So far I have 20 publications: 8 journal articles, 4 of them as first author, and 12 conference papers.

Research

  • Chiral light and matter

    Twisted metal nanostructures treat left- and right-handed light differently. I model chiral silver-nanowire films coupled to dye molecules and explain the circular-dichroism signals measured in the lab.

    Current work at Rice

  • Switchable metasurfaces

    Flat optics that change their response on demand. With phase-change materials such as Sb2S3 and VO2, I design tunable resonances, color filters and adaptive photodetectors.

    J. Phys. D 2022, Plasmonics 2021, IEEE AP-S 2024

  • Controlling heat radiation

    Nanoantennas that emit infrared light only where it helps. One design absorbs almost perfectly at 1.5, 2.3 and 6 µm, yet emits very little in the 3–5 µm and 8–12 µm bands that thermal cameras see.

    J. Opt. 2021, Nanoscale 2023, IEEE Access 2021

  • One-way light

    An optical diode for the 1550 nm telecom band. It passes about 88% of light in one direction and less than 3% in the other, confirmed with both RCWA and FDTD.

    J. Phys. D 2021

  • Light-driven chemistry

    Light can drive chemical reactions through “hot” electrons in metal nanostructures. I contributed to a 2D MXene photocatalyst that makes hydrogen from ammonia under red light.

    ACS Nano 2025

  • Simulations you can trust

    Every model is checked against analytic theory, with mesh and convergence tests, before a design goes to fabrication. I wrote a core–shell Mie solver in MATLAB for this, plus a Python pipeline that extracts SERS enhancement factors from FDTD runs.

Tools and methods

Simulation
Lumerical FDTD and DEVICE, COMSOL Multiphysics, CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS
Methods
FDTD, FEM, RCWA, analytic Mie theory, Fano and Drude–Lorentz fitting, convergence studies, near-to-far-field projection
Code
Python (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib), MATLAB, C/C++, Lumerical scripting, Linux, Git
Fabrication
E-beam lithography and lift-off, thermal and e-beam evaporation, atomic layer deposition, plasma cleaning
Measurement
Spectroscopic ellipsometry, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy

Publications

Journal articles, newest first. The full list, including 12 conference papers, is on Google Scholar.

  1. 2025

    2D plasmonic photocatalyst enables highly efficient hot-electron-mediated surface reactions under red light irradiation

    Y. Gan, A. Kalantari Osgouei, et al. ACS Nano 19, 17006 (2025). Published 2025.

  2. 2023

    Phase-change Fano resonator for active modulation of thermal emission

    B. Khalichi, A. Ghobadi, A. Kalantari Osgouei, Z. Rahimian Omam, H. Kocer, E. Ozbay. Nanoscale 15, 10783 (2023). Published 2023.

  3. 2022

    Visible light metasurface for adaptive photodetection

    A. Kalantari Osgouei, A. Ghobadi, B. Khalichi, R. Asgari Sabet, O. Tokel, E. Ozbay. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 55, 475103 (2022). First author Published 2022.

  4. 2021

    A spectrally selective gap surface-plasmon-based nanoantenna emitter compatible with multiple thermal infrared applications

    A. Kalantari Osgouei, A. Ghobadi, B. Khalichi, E. Ozbay. J. Opt. 23, 085001 (2021). First author Published 2021.

  5. A transparent all-dielectric multifunctional nanoantenna emitter compatible with thermal infrared and cooling scenarios

    B. Khalichi, A. Ghobadi, A. Kalantari Osgouei, H. Kocer, E. Ozbay. IEEE Access 9, 98590 (2021). Published 2021.

  6. Diode-like high-contrast asymmetric transmission of linearly polarized waves based on plasmon-tunneling effect coupling to electromagnetic radiation modes

    B. Khalichi, A. Ghobadi, A. Kalantari Osgouei, E. Ozbay. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 54 (2021). Published 2021.

  7. Hybrid indium tin oxide–Au metamaterial as a multiband bi-functional light absorber in the visible and near-infrared ranges

    A. Kalantari Osgouei, H. Hajian, A. E. Serebryannikov, E. Ozbay. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 54 (2021). First author Published 2021.

  8. Active tuning from narrowband to broadband absorbers using a sub-wavelength VO2 embedded layer

    A. Kalantari Osgouei, H. Hajian, B. Khalichi, A. E. Serebryannikov, A. Ghobadi, E. Ozbay. Plasmonics 16, 1013 (2021). First author Published 2021.

Experience and education

Experience

  1. 2023 – now Graduate Research Assistant Nordlander Group, Rice University, Houston

    Full-wave modeling of metasurfaces and plasmonic nanoantennas, from FDTD and FEM models to Fano analysis of chiral films.

  2. 2018 – 2023 Researcher NANOTAM, Bilkent University, Ankara

    Designed, simulated, fabricated and measured plasmonic and phase-change devices for solar energy, photodetection, thermal emission and optical isolation.

  3. 2018 – 2021 Teaching Assistant, General Physics I and II Bilkent University, Ankara

    Led recitations and labs, designed new experiments and mentored students one-on-one.

Education

  1. 2023 – 2028 (expected) Ph.D., Applied Physics Rice University

    Advisor: Prof. Peter Nordlander. Applied Physics Program Graduate Fellowship.

  2. M.Sc., Physics Bilkent University

    Advisor: Prof. Ekmel Özbay. Full scholarship. Thesis on plasmonic absorbers, infrared emitters and an optical diode.

  3. B.Sc., Physics Middle East Technical University (METU)

    High honors. Ranked first of 110 students.

Awards

  • Rice Applied Physics Program Graduate Fellowship (2023 – now)
  • Bilkent Comprehensive Graduate Scholarship
  • TÜBİTAK Graduate Research Scholarship
  • METU Dean’s High Honors

Languages

English and Turkish (fluent), Azeri and Persian (native).

Contact

Questions about my work, a collaboration, or a role in computational nanophotonics? I’d like to hear from you.

Email ak160@rice.edu

Based in Houston, Texas.