PHILADELPHIA --  University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Nader Engheta has been named by Scientific American magazine as one of the 2006 Scientific American 50, the magazines annual list of leaders in science and technology. The list appears in the December issue, available on newsstands now.  Engheta was cited for his research contributions in plasmonics, an emerging field of scientific inquiry regarding the optical and electrical properties of solid matter, such as metals, at nanometer scales.  

In writing about Engheta and his groups research, George Musser from the Scientific American cites Enghetas development of plasmonic versions of conventional electronic components, including resistors, capacitors and inductors that could allow engineers to build circuits at nanometer scales using light instead of electricity.  

"The current that flows around the circuit is not the motion of electric charges, but fluctuations in the electric field associated with the light," Musser said. "One day soon, the fantastic world of plasmonics may be hanging from the rack at Radio Shack."  

Engheta is the H. Nedwill Ramsey Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering and professor of bioengineering in Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The magazines Scientific American 50 listing can be found at www.sciam.com.