April 7, 2025, Hirotaka (Taka) Sakaue, University of Notre Dame

4:00 p.m.
190 Goodwin Hall 

"Introduction to Luminescent Imaging and Chemical Flow Control for Aerospace and Environmental Applications"

Abstract: Interdisciplinary research combining fluid science and chemistry is introduced. There are two research columns: luminescent imaging and chemical flow control. The former uses a luminescent molecule to understand unsteady flows. By using the light emission from a luminescent molecular probe, spatiotemporal information of a fluid flow can be captured. The presentation focuses on the fundamental principle of luminescent imaging and its application to the aerospace and environmental flows. The latter uses a functional chemical to control a flow or a moving object in a flow. Two representative works using hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemicals and a hair structure will be introduced.

The presenter is open to discussions and potential collaborations with people at Virginia Tech.

Bio:  Dr. Hirotaka Sakaue is an associate professor at the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame. Prior to his current position, he had spent over ten years at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as a researcher. He received his BS in Biomolecular Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 1996, and MS and PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University in 1999 and 2003, respectively.