"When something is said to be impossible

there are two points for researchers to initially clarify: whether it really is forbidden by the laws of nature; or whether it is simply that no material that currently exists in nature can do that." Metamaterials are such magical beings

which have physical properties like invisibility

negative refraction

super-resolution

and perfect absorption that are absent from natural materials. It has been rated by Science as one of the top ten scientific and technological breakthroughs affecting human beings in the 21st century.

In this issue of Light People

we spoke with a "magic" creator

Professor Che Ting Chan

the Associate Vice-President (Research & Development) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the American Physical Society. He has researched a number of theoretical problems in material physics

investigated the theory behind what they seek to achieve

and modulated light (electromagnetism) and acoustic waves through metamaterials. In the following

let's take a closer look at Professor Che Ting Chan's research life

and appreciate his style and the background of his accomplishment.