Marin Soljačić facts for kids
Marin Soljačić (born February 7, 1974) is a brilliant scientist from Croatia and the United States. He is a physicist and an electrical engineer. He is famous for his work on making electricity move through the air without wires! Imagine charging your phone just by placing it on a table, without plugging it in. That's the kind of amazing technology he helps create.
Quick facts for kids
Marin Soljačić
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Soljačić in 2009
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| Born | February 7, 1974 |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Known for | WiTricity, Nonlinear optics |
| Awards | Adolph Lomb Medal (2005) TR35 (2006) MacArthur Fellowship (2008) Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists (2014) Max Born Award (2023) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physicist and Electrical Engineer |
| Institutions | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Doctoral advisor | Mordechai Segev |
| Notable students | Prineha Narang |
Contents
About Marin Soljačić
Marin Soljačić was born in Zagreb, which is now in Croatia, in 1974. He went to a special high school in Zagreb called XV Gymnasium. After that, he moved to the United States to study at MIT.
His Education and Career
At MIT, he earned his first degrees in physics and electrical engineering in 1996. He then continued his studies at Princeton University, getting his master's degree in 1998. In 2000, he earned his PhD in Physics.
In 2005, Marin Soljačić became a professor of Physics at MIT. This means he teaches and does research at one of the world's top universities. In 2008, he received a special award called a MacArthur Fellowship. This award is given to very talented people who show great originality and dedication in their work.
How Marin Soljačić's Work Helps Us
Marin Soljačić is best known for his amazing work on wireless energy transfer. This means sending electricity through the air without using any wires!
Wireless Power: A Big Idea
In 2007, Professor Soljačić and his team did something incredible. They successfully turned on a 60-watt light bulb from 2 meters away, without any wires. About 40% of the energy sent reached the bulb, which was a big step forward!
His ideas are similar to the famous inventor Nikola Tesla, who also dreamed of wireless power. However, there are important differences. Tesla worked on sending power over very long distances. Soljačić's team focuses on shorter distances, like across a room.
Magnetic Fields vs. Electric Fields
Another key difference is how they send the power. Tesla often used electric fields, which can create things like artificial lightning. Soljačić's group uses magnetic fields. Magnetic fields are safer and don't interact as much with things around them.
WiTricity and the Future
This exciting work is now being developed by a company called WiTricity, which Professor Soljačić helped start. He believes that soon, we will be able to charge our mobile phones and other small devices wirelessly. Imagine never having to search for a charging cable again!
Other Research Areas
Besides wireless energy, Professor Soljačić also studies other cool things about light and materials. He looks at how light behaves in very tiny structures, like those found in nanotechnology. This includes making special devices that can change light in new ways.
He also works on using photonic crystals to make solar cells better. Solar cells turn sunlight into electricity. His research, supported by the United States Department of Energy, aims to make solar power even more efficient.
