Padilla

Willie John Padilla

Dr. Paul Wang Distinguished Professor

Research Interests

Theoretical, computational, and experimental investigation of electromagnetic metamaterials and metasurfaces, with a focus on artificial intelligence, deep / machine learning, with application to spectroscopy, computational imaging and sensing at microwave, terahertz, and infrared frequencies

Education

  • Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, 2004

Positions

  • Dr. Paul Wang Distinguished Professor
  • Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • IEEE Fellow. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 2025
  • Optica Fellow. Optica (formerly Optical Society of America). 2013
  • Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. President of the United States of America. 2009

Courses Taught

  • VMS 325L: Optics and Photonics
  • PHYSICS 621: Advanced Optics
  • PHYSICS 320L: Optics and Photonics
  • MSEG 591: Independent Study
  • EGR 101L: Engineering Design and Communication
  • ECE 899: Special Readings in Electrical Engineering
  • ECE 571: Electromagnetic Theory
  • ECE 541: Advanced Optics
  • ECE 340L: Optics and Photonics
  • ECE 270L9: Fields and Waves: Fundamentals of Information Propagation (Lab)
  • ECE 270DL: Fields and Waves: Fundamentals of Information Propagation
  • BME 552: Advanced Optics

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Kang, G., K. Bae, M. Nam, D. H. Ko, K. Kim, and W. J. Padilla. “Broadband and ultrahigh optical haze thin films with self-aggregated alumina nanowire bundles for photovoltaic applications.” Energy and Environmental Science 8, no. 9 (September 1, 2015): 2650–56. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ee01757b.
  • Adomanis, B. M., C. M. Watts, M. Koirala, X. Liu, T. Tyler, K. G. West, T. Starr, et al. “Bi-layer metamaterials as fully functional near-perfect infrared absorbers.” Applied Physics Letters 107, no. 2 (July 13, 2015). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4926416.
  • Fan, K., and W. J. Padilla. “Dynamic electromagnetic metamaterials.” Materials Today 18, no. 1 (January 1, 2015): 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2014.07.010.
  • Liu, L., W. C. Chen, D. A. Powell, W. J. Padilla, F. Karouta, H. T. Hattori, D. N. Neshev, and I. V. Shadrivov. “Post-processing approach for tuning multi-layered metamaterials.” Applied Physics Letters 105, no. 15 (October 13, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4897949.
  • Withayachumnankul, W., C. M. Shah, C. Fumeaux, B. S. Y. Ung, W. J. Padilla, M. Bhaskaran, D. Abbott, and S. Sriram. “Plasmonic Resonance toward Terahertz Perfect Absorbers.” ACS Photonics 1, no. 7 (July 16, 2014): 625–30. https://doi.org/10.1021/ph500110t.
  • Shemelya, C., D. Demeo, N. P. Latham, X. Wu, C. Bingham, W. Padilla, and T. E. Vandervelde. “Stable high temperature metamaterial emitters for thermophotovoltaic applications.” Applied Physics Letters 104, no. 20 (May 19, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4878849.
  • Savo, S., D. Shrekenhamer, and W. J. Padilla. “Liquid crystal metamaterial absorber spatial light modulator for THz applications.” Advanced Optical Materials 2, no. 3 (March 1, 2014): 275–79. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201300384.
  • Watts, C. M., D. Shrekenhamer, J. Montoya, G. Lipworth, J. Hunt, T. Sleasman, S. Krishna, D. R. Smith, and W. J. Padilla. “Terahertz compressive imaging with metamaterial spatial light modulators.” Nature Photonics 8, no. 8 (January 1, 2014): 605–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.139.
  • Watts, C. M., D. Shrekenhamer, J. Montoya, G. Lipworth, J. Hunt, T. Sleasman, S. Krishna, D. R. Smith, and W. J. Padilla. “Terahertz compressive imaging with metamaterial spatial light modulators.” Nature Photonics, 2014.
  • Watts, C. M., D. Shrekenhamer, J. Montoya, G. Lipworth, J. Hunt, T. Sleasman, S. Krishna, D. R. Smith, and W. J. Padilla. “Coded and compressive THz imaging with metamaterials.” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 8985 (January 1, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058082.
  • Venkatesh, S., D. Shrekenhamer, W. Xu, S. Sonkusale, W. Padilla, and D. Schurig. “Interferometric direction finding with a metamaterial detector.” Applied Physics Letters 103, no. 25 (December 16, 2013). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4851936.
  • Shrekenhamer, D., J. Montoya, S. Krishna, and W. J. Padilla. “Four-color metamaterial absorber THz spatial light modulator.” Advanced Optical Materials 1, no. 12 (December 1, 2013): 905–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201300265.
  • Pilon, D. V., C. H. Lui, T. -. H. Han, D. Shrekenhamer, A. J. Frenzel, W. J. Padilla, Y. S. Lee, and N. Gedik. “Spin-induced optical conductivity in the spin-liquid candidate herbertsmithite.” Physical Review Letters 111, no. 12 (September 2013): 127401. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.127401.
  • Liu, X., and W. J. Padilla. “Dynamic Manipulation of Infrared Radiation with MEMS Metamaterials.” Advanced Optical Materials 1, no. 8 (August 1, 2013): 559–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201300163.
  • Shrekenhamer, D., C. M. Watts, J. Montoy, S. Krishna, and W. J. Padilla. “Metamaterial-based imaging for potential security applications.” In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 8632, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2013145.
  • Shrekenhamer, David, Claire M. Watts, and Willie J. Padilla. “Terahertz single pixel imaging with an optically controlled dynamic spatial light modulator.” Optics Express 21, no. 10 (May 2013): 12507–18. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.21.012507.
  • Kang, Gumin, Haesung Park, Dongheok Shin, Seunghwa Baek, Minjung Choi, Dai-Hyuk Yu, Kyoungsik Kim, and Willie J. Padilla. “Broadband light-trapping enhancement in an ultrathin film a-Si absorber using whispering gallery modes and guided wave modes with dielectric surface-textured structures.” Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) 25, no. 18 (May 2013): 2617–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201204596.
  • Shrekenhamer, David, Wen-Chen Chen, and Willie J. Padilla. “Liquid crystal tunable metamaterial absorber.” Physical Review Letters 110, no. 17 (April 2013): 177403. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.110.177403.
  • Chen, W. C., N. I. Landy, K. Kempa, and W. J. Padilla. “A Subwavelength Extraordinary-Optical-Transmission Channel in Babinet Metamaterials.” Advanced Optical Materials 1, no. 3 (March 1, 2013): 221–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201200016.
  • Chen, W. C., N. I. Landy, K. Kempa, and W. J. Padilla. “Optical Transmission: A Subwavelength Extraordinary-Optical-Transmission Channel in Babinet Metamaterials (Advanced Optical Materials 3/2013).” Advanced Optical Materials 1, no. 3 (March 1, 2013): 195–195. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201370017.