Dr. Raman’s research explores how light and heat can be controlled at the nanoscale to enable new technological possibilities for cleaner energy, information processing, sensing, displays, and communication systems. His research group’s interdisciplinary interests include metamaterials, nanophotonics, photonic materials, plasmonics, and new computational and machine learning methods. A highlight of his recent work has been initiating an emerging field of research, and a new approach to energy efficiency and generation, known as radiative cooling. Using nanoscale photonic materials, his research has explored how to harness a ubiquitous and renewable source of energy that remains largely unexploited: the cold of the universe. Dr. Raman’s group has openings for postdocs and graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) students, as well as undergraduates. Students with backgrounds in Optics & Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and related fields may send their CV and a short statement of interest to aaswath@ucla.edu. Area of Thesis Guidance: Metamaterials, Optical and Photonic Materials, Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, Thermal Sciences, Energy Systems, Computational Methods

1. Shanhui Fan and Aaswath Raman, “Metamaterials for radiative sky cooling”, National Science Review (2018) *Invited Review Paper
2. Eli Goldstein, Aaswath Raman* and Shanhui Fan*, “Sub-ambient non-evaporative fluid cooling with the sky”, Nature Energy, 2, 9 (2017).
3. Alexander Cerjan, Aaswath Raman and Shanhui Fan, “Exceptional contours and band structure design in parity-time symmetric photonic crystals”, Physical Review Letters, 116, 203902 (2016).
4. Linxiao Zhu*, Aaswath Raman* and Shanhui Fan, “Radiative cooling of solar absorbers using a visibly-transparent photonic crystal thermal blackbody”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2015).
5. Aaswath Raman, Marc Abou Anoma, Linxiao Zhu, Eden Rephaeli and Shanhui Fan, “Passive Radiative Cooling below Ambient Air Temperature under Direct Sunlight”, Nature, 515, 540-544  (2014).
6. Aaswath Raman, Wonseok Shin and Shanhui Fan, “Upper bound on the modal material loss rate in plasmonic and metamaterial systems”, Physical Review Letters, 110, 183901 (2013).
7. Aaswath Raman and Shanhui Fan, “Photonic band structure of dispersive metamaterials formulated as a Hermitian eigenvalue problem”, Physical Review Letters, 104, 087401 (2010).

• The Cool Technologies that Could Protect Cities from Dangerous Heat | Nature, August 2024
• Cheaper Way to Passively Heat and Cool Homes on Horizon | COSMOS Magazine, August 2024
• 'Cooling Glass' Could Fight Climate Change by Reflecting Solar Radiation Back into Space | Space.com, January, 2024
• Star Track: A laser-powered mini-rocket could find humans a new home | UCLA Newsroom, September 2022
• Air conditioning: keeping us cool but making the planet hotter | ABC Radio Australia, September 2022
• City of the future: can London adapt to survive the soaring temperatures? | Evening Standard, August 2022
• Pannelli fotovoltaici notturni/ Cos’è e come funziona l’invenzione di Stanford | Sostienici.net, April 2022
• Lightsail technology billows into the future | Astronomy, March 2022
• Aaswath Raman named senior member of National Academy of Inventors | UCLA Newsroom, February 2022
• Laser Light Sails Could Make Interstellar Voyages To Faraway Galaxies A Reality | Hot Hardware, February 2022
• Common Household Materials Can Cool Outdoor Temperatures | Photonics.com, November 2021
• DIY radiative cooler developed to serve as a research standard | Phys Org, November 2021
• The Hot And Cold Past Of The Air Conditioner | NPR Podcast, (Timestamp: 15:31:04 - 15:434:49) October 2021
• This company uses technology and nature to cut your air conditioning bill | CNN Business, August 2021
• This Company Is Using New Technology With Nature To Combat Excessive AC Use | The National Digest, August 2021
• This new technology could help cool people down—without electricity | National Geographic, August 2021
• This California company wants to make modern AC obsolete | Popular Science, July 2021
• Engineering Faculty Part of UCLA Team that Wins Nearly $1 Million to Tackle Rising Heat in Los Angeles | UCLA Samueli Newsroom
• UCLA professors win $956,000 award to tackle rising heat in Los Angeles communities | UCLA Newsroom
• This Tech Can Cool the Planet Without Electricity | Now this
• The Spark Guide to Civilization, Part Two: Ventilation | Spark on CBC Radio (Canada)
• Superwhite paint can cool buildings even in hot sunlight | New Scientist
• SkyCool Energy Efficient Panels In Stockton, CA. | The Washington Post
• Ways to keep buildings cool with improved super white paints | Science Daily
• Transformative? New Device Harvests Energy in Darkness
• Keeping It Cool to Create Power

• TED 2018 Invited Speaker (2018)
• MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 (TR35) (2015)
• Stanford University Postdoctoral Research Award (2013)
• Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction (2011)
• SPIE Green Photonics Award (2011)