Anatoly Zayats

Anatoly Zayats is a Professor of Physics and Head of the Photonics & Nanotechnology Group at King's College London. He holds academic leadership roles as Co-Director of the Net Zero Centre, London Centre for Nanotechnology, and London Institute for Advanced Light Technologies. His research focuses on nanophotonics, plasmonics, metamaterials, and their applications in sensing, quantum technologies, and sustainable energy. He earned his PhD in 1989 from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and previously served as Chair of Physics at Queen’s University Belfast.

Education: PhD (1989) and MSc (1986) in Physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Research interests include nonlinear optics, ultrafast plasmonics, topological light quasiparticles, and plasmonic metamaterials. He has pioneered work on hot-electron dynamics, optical spin-orbit coupling, and structured waves.

Key achievements include the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award and fellowships from major scientific societies. His work bridges fundamental science and applications in fields like bio-sensing, quantum plasmonics, and renewable energy. He co-edits Advanced Photonics and leads multidisciplinary projects funded by EPSRC and the European Commission.

Research highlights include large-area single-crystal gold films for nanophotonics, copper-based ENZ metamaterials, and topological optical skyrmions. He advises on UK national initiatives like the London Quantum Technology Cluster and MetaHUB.