COMPLEX MEDIUMS

Scientific and technological progress during the second half of the 20th century has been dominated by the conceptualization, characterization, fabrication, and application of many different classes of materials. Although some of these materials are found in nature, laboratory processing is often needed for efficient use. Others are entirely synthetic, created by chemical and physical processes. Certain materials are multi-phase composites designed for certain desirable response properties otherwise unavailable. Multi-functional materials as well as functional gradient materials are often needed for special purposes. Nanostructural engineering is often used to make material samples with the same chemical composition but different response characteristics.

An ongoing series of SPIE conferences provides a forum for scientists and engineers, specializing in one or several classes of complex mediums, to benefit from each other's specialist knowledge. Aimed is the creation of trend-setting inter-disciplinary links among specialists in diverse areas in order to

• further the development and intelligent use of current and new materials with uncommon properties, as well as
• facilitate the future emergence of entirely new classes of useful materials.

Original unpublished contributions are invited and solicited. All abstracts are reviewed for novelty, scientific and technological utility, and vision. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• chiral materials
• anisotropic and bianisotropic materials
• nonlinear materials
• nonlocal materials
• multi-phase composite materials
• multi-functional materials
• functional gradient materials
• non-stochiometric materials
• nanostructured materials
• sculptured thin films
• piezoelectric and ferroelectric thin films
• quantum dots and wires
• fullerenes and nanotubes
• electrically mediated material response
• magnetically mediated material response
• linear and nonlinear constitutive relations
• homogenization theories
• mesoscopic modeling
• atomic-scale modeling
• optical and optoelectronic applications
• microwave and infrared applications
• acoustic and elastodynamic applications