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An international team of physicists led by Dr Michaël Lobet, lecturer at UNamur, re-examines the foundations of quantum physics from the point of view of momentum in the prestigious journal Nature Light Science & Applications. The researchers investigated what happens when this momentum is reduced to zero. Some interesting things happen! Explanations.

Let's go and discover the qualified researchers of UNamur, winners of the funding granted by the FNRS in 2022. Today, we meet Michaël Lobet, currently a lecturer at UNamur, who will begin his new mandate as a qualified FNRS researcher at the NISM Institute next fall. The subject of his research: twisted optics for the manipulation of slow photons or how to create light traps. Explanations.

What is a perfect fluid? It is a theoretical model of a fluid that allows us to assume that the fluid is not viscous, that it does not conduct heat, that it is incompressible and does not create vortices. It is therefore an approximation of reality that simplifies theoretical predictions of fluid flows. For the first time, an international team has experimentally demonstrated this same behaviour for light immersed in a medium of low refractive index.

On 21 and 22 September 2023, for the 4th year running, Belgian researchers came together for the bePOM conference. The format was original, with a virtual day and a hybrid day combining virtual and face-to-face sessions. A great success, and a Belgian network that is growing from strength to strength.

The Physics Department's research today focuses on the study of inert or living materials, various forms of radiation, and their interactions. The Department of Physics is divided into 5 promising and original research themes, explored within several Research Institutes and supported by technological platforms.

The research team is led by the principal investigator (PI), Professor Michaël Lobet, an FNRS Research associate, who is a member of the Department of Physics and is also affiliated with the NISM Institute (NOP Research Cluster) and the IRDENa Institute. The team is composed of postdoctoral researchers, doctoral students, and master’s students, with the team’s composition varying from year to year and depending on the projects.  It strives to be as diverse and inclusive as possible. It is also very proud of its network of alumni, which has grown over time and has contributed significantly to the team’s development. Committed to excellence, the research team has won numerous prizes and awards.  

Focus The AI Score, Belgium’s first tool to scientifically evaluate artificial intelligence | RTBF.be (May 26, 2026)In Namur, researchers are developing an AI Score to measure the reliability of artificial intelligence | RTL Info (April 30, 2025)Three MSCA Doctoral Networks projects selected: a remarkable achievement for UNamur | UNamur Newsroom (June 4, 2026)Twister with Light | Faces of Research -FNRS-LN24 (11/14/2024)  How ChatGPT Will Revolutionize Students’ Work | Le Soir (March 27, 2024)Does Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak really exist? | EUREKA RTL-TVI (11/17/2022)   Invisibility Unveiled | TEDxUNamur – (re)Shape the Future (April 20, 2022)  In the UNamur newsroom June 4, 2026 | Three MSCA Doctoral Networks projects selected: a remarkable achievement for UNamurSeptember 16, 2025 | Manipulating Light to Revolutionize Quantum Computing08/07/2025 | Let’s Twist (Light) Again: UNamur and Stanford University bend light beams in photonic crystalsApril 3, 2025 | Toward highly energy-efficient smart windows?02/07/2025 | A Look Back at the 6th Edition of the SETT Trade ShowAugust 27, 2024 | A Comic Book to Help You Understand Everything About EnergyOctober 2, 2023 | Success for the 4th edition of the bePOM conference July 18, 2023 | ChatGPT Used in EducationApril 7, 2023 | ChatGPT: An Opportunity for Education?October 1, 2022 | Research at the Heart of the Energy Transition August 29, 2022 | The physicist of the invisible world where light twistsJuly 20, 2022 | Paper on the observation of light published in "Nature Communications"April 26, 2022 | Following in Einstein’s Footsteps: Old Theories, New Perspectives  In the Press 2025Is Going to College a Waste of Time? Two Experts DisagreeSudInfo | 10/27/2025 – Benoit FRENAY – Michaël LOBETEducation: Integrating AI into CurriculaRTL-TVI - RTL Info 7:00 p.m. | 10/23/2025 – Katrien BREULS – Benoit FRENAY – Michaël LOBETSmart filtering glass developed in collaboration with GREEnMatwww.batichronique.be | August 5, 2025 – Luc HENRARD – Michaël LOBETSmart filtering glass developed in collaboration with GREEnMatwww.buildings-forum.com | August 5, 2025 – Luc HENRARD – Michaël LOBETBelgians could soon save energy in their homes thanks to smartglass RTL-TVI - RTL Info 1:00 p.m. | June 18, 2025 – Michaël LOBET – Luc HENRARDForeign Students Banned from HarvardVivacité - Namur Matin | May 26, 2025 – Michaël LOBET (starting at 33:39)Foreign Students Barred from HarvardRTBF - La Une - 7:30 p.m. News | May 23, 2025 – Michaël LOBETAdaptive window glazing ushers in a new era of energyefficiency dailyscience.be | May 6, 2025 – Michael LOBET – Luc HenrardSmart glass designed by ULiègewww.qu4tre.be | April 30, 2025 – Michael LOBET – Luc HenrardQu4tre smartglass - Le JT | April 30, 2025 – Michael LOBET – Luc Henrard2024How ChatGPT Will Revolutionize Students’ Work Le Soir | March 28, 2024 - Elise DEGRAVE, Benoit FRENAY, Michaël LOBET, Laurent SCHUMACHERHow ChatGPT Will Revolutionize Student Workwww.lesoir.be | March 27, 2024 – Elise DEGRAVE, Benoit FRENAY, Michaël LOBET, Laurent SCHUMACHERWays to Use ChatGPT to Support Learningwww.lesoir.be | March 27, 2024 - Elise DEGRAVE, Benoit FRENAY, Michaël LOBET, Laurent SCHUMACHERFNRS AwardsFNRS News | October 1, 2024 - Louise THINES - Michael LOBET - Andre FUZFA AI and EducationFNRS News | October 1, 2024 - Michael LOBETAI in Educationbouke.media | May 23, 2024 - Michael LOBETArtificial Intelligence: An Opportunity for Education?Boukè - L'Info | 01/31/2024 - Michael LOBETApplication of Deep Learning to the Design of Photonic Devices for Exoplanet Detection FNRS News | June 1, 2024 - Nicolas ROY - Alexandre MAYER - Michael LOBETWhy Are My Students Writing My Exam Questions Using AI?www.lesoir.be | June 13, 2024 - Michael LOBETThe Faces of Research – Twister with LightLN24 – 11/13/2024 – Michaël LOBETLN24 Unveils the Faces of ResearchLa Libre Belgique | November 8, 2024 - Michaël LOBETFrom Harry Potter’s cloak to Leonardo da Vinci: here are the new “faces of research” on LN24 starting this Wednesdaywww.lalibre.be | November 6, 2024 - Michaël LOBETExcerpt from the SETT program: Education in the Age of New Technologiesbouke.media | January 26, 2024 - Michaël LOBET  In Praise of NuanceFNRS News | 02/01/2024 - Denis SAINT-AMAND - Michael LOBET 2023UNamur professors encourage the use of ChatGPT in their classesLa Libre Belgique | 02/04/2023 - E. DEGRAVE - M. LOBET - L. SCHUMACHER - O. SARTENAER - M. LOBET - N. KIRSCHVINKA Story of Water and LightRTBF La Première - Les Eclaireurs | August 5, 2023 - Michael LOBET2022Z-Science: Luc Henrard and Michaël Lobetcanalz.levif.be | June 22, 2022 - Luc HENRARD - Michaël LOBETDoes Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak really exist?RTL TVi | 11/17/2022 – Michael LOBETOptimizing the central part of coronagraphs for exoplanet detection FNRS News | October 1, 2022 - Michael LOBET He plays with lightFNRS News | October 1, 2022 - Michael LOBETSexism remains commonplace in higher education Le Soir | February 10, 2022 - V. ENGLEBERT - J. FIERENS - A. ROEKENS - C. LOBET - S. WATTIER - A. MODERNA - N. RIGAUX - C. VYT Academics denounce sexism in their institutionsLe Soir | 02/10/2022 Sexism remains commonplace in higher education La Libre Belgique | 02/10/2022 V. ENGLEBERT - J. FIERENS - A. ROEKENS - C. LOBET - S. WATTIER - A. MODERNA - N. RIGAUX - C. VYTThis week on La Première (2 of 8/12)www.rtbf.be | December 1, 2022 - Michael LOBETLes Eclaireurs: A Story of Water and LightRTBF La Première - Les Eclaireurs | 12/03/2022 - Michael LOBET

We study the properties of diverse photonic systems such as metamaterials, photonic crystals and plasmonic systems. Our expertise lies in the use and development of numerical codes in optics, coupled with models combining classical and quantum electrodynamics to study innovative and applied photonic systems. Particular attention is paid to machine learning developments in photonics, as well as to applications geared towards "green photonics".

Job openings will be posted on LinkedIn, so feel free to follow us: Michaël Lobet | LinkedIn. In addition, job openings will be posted on the UNamur website under “Job Openings — UNamur” and on Euraxess: EURAXESS | Researchers in motion. However, there are various ways to collaborate. 

We are interested in understanding fundamental physics and the use of light technologies. We stand at the crossroads of analytical developments in classical and quantum electrodynamics and an intensively developed toolbox in numerical simulation for photonic systems. Our aim is to stay as close as possible to experimental fabrication and characterization.

Some recent publications O.Mello, L. Vertchenko, S. Nelson, A. Debacq, D. Guney, E. Mazur, M. Lobet, “Long-range quantum entanglement in dielectric mu-near-zero metamaterials”, Light Sci Appl 14, 300 (2025).N. Roy, L. Beicheng, S. Fan, A. Mayer, M. Lobet. "Twist-Induced Beam Steering and Blazing Effects in Photonic Crystal Devices.", Light Sci Appl 14, 263 (2025).M. Lobet, N. Kinsey, I. Liberal, H. Caglayan, P. A. Huidobro, E. Galiffi, J. R. Mejía-Salazar, G. Palermo, Z. Jacob, N. Maccaferri, "New horizons in near-zero refractive index photonics and hyperbolic metamaterials." ACS Photonics, 10, 3805–3820 (2023).M. Lobet, I. Liberal, L. Vertchenko, A. Lavrinenko, N. Engheta, E. Mazur, “Momentum considerations inside near-zero index materials”, Light Sci Appl 11, 110 (2022).M. Lobet, I. Liberal, E. N. Knall, M. Zahirul Alam, O. Reshef, R. W. Boyd, N. Engheta, E. Mazur, “Fundamental Radiative Processes in Near-Zero-Index Media of Various Dimensionalities”, ACS Photonics, 7 (8), 1965-1970 (2020).See all publications on Google Scholars Michaël Lobet on the research portal Michaël Lobet on ORCID Image Michaël Lobet in the media Articles from the UNamur newsroom, in the press... Read more

Contact University of Namur, Department of Physics Professor Michaël Lobet michael.lobet@unamur.be