Abstract

In my thesis, I first develop the theoretical basis and tools for the
use of helicity and duality in the study, understanding and engineering
of interactions between electromagnetic radiation and material systems.
Then, within the general framework of symmetries and conservation laws,
I apply the theoretical results to several different problems: Optical
activity, zero backscattering, metamaterials for transformation optics
and nanophotonics phenomena involving the electromagnetic angular
momentum. The tool has provided new insights and design guidelines in
all these cases.