Dissertation defence (Materials Engineering): MSc Ahmed Abdelmagid
MSc Ahmed Abdelmagid defends the dissertation in Materials Engineering titled “Strong Light-Matter Interaction For Efficient Organic Optoelectronics” at the University of Turku on 28 October 2025 at 13.00 (University of Turku, Publicum, PUB1, Assistentinkatu 7, Turku).
The audience can participate in the defence by remote access: https://echo360.org.uk/section/6009eca5-eee3-4ea7-84a0-5647b732dfd7/public
Opponent: Professor Karl Börjesson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
Custos: Dr. Konstantinos Daskalakis (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/194284
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Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Light and matter usually behave as two separate things; light travels fast, and materials either absorb or emit it. In my research, I explored what happens when they become inseparable and form a new hybrid state called a polariton. This happens when light is trapped between mirrors and interacts so strongly with organic materials that it mixes with their electronic energy.
My dissertation shows that this interaction is not just a scientific curiosity but a practical way to make more efficient and precise light-emitting and light-detecting devices. By carefully designing very thin layers of organic materials inside optical cavities, I demonstrated that we can control how light is emitted or absorbed with great accuracy, even achieving stable colors that do not change when viewed from different angles.
The research revealed new ways to improve the performance of organic LEDs and photodetectors, especially in the near-infrared region, which is important for medical sensors, night-vision cameras, and environmental monitoring.
The broader impact of this work lies in showing how quantum effects can be harnessed in everyday technologies. By merging physics and materials science, this research opens a pathway toward lighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient optical devices that could eventually be used in wearable health sensors, smart displays, and advanced imaging systems.
The audience can participate in the defence by remote access: https://echo360.org.uk/section/6009eca5-eee3-4ea7-84a0-5647b732dfd7/public
Opponent: Professor Karl Börjesson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
Custos: Dr. Konstantinos Daskalakis (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/194284
***
Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Light and matter usually behave as two separate things; light travels fast, and materials either absorb or emit it. In my research, I explored what happens when they become inseparable and form a new hybrid state called a polariton. This happens when light is trapped between mirrors and interacts so strongly with organic materials that it mixes with their electronic energy.
My dissertation shows that this interaction is not just a scientific curiosity but a practical way to make more efficient and precise light-emitting and light-detecting devices. By carefully designing very thin layers of organic materials inside optical cavities, I demonstrated that we can control how light is emitted or absorbed with great accuracy, even achieving stable colors that do not change when viewed from different angles.
The research revealed new ways to improve the performance of organic LEDs and photodetectors, especially in the near-infrared region, which is important for medical sensors, night-vision cameras, and environmental monitoring.
The broader impact of this work lies in showing how quantum effects can be harnessed in everyday technologies. By merging physics and materials science, this research opens a pathway toward lighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient optical devices that could eventually be used in wearable health sensors, smart displays, and advanced imaging systems.
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