Alexander Figotin

Biography

Alexander Figotin, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California at Irvine. He received a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Tashkent State University in 1980. His research focuses on mathematical physics and electromagnetic theory, with particular emphasis on photonic crystals, slow light phenomena, and the analytic theory of multi-stream electron beams in traveling wave tubes.

Figotin has secured over $9 million in research funding throughout his career, primarily from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. His funding includes participation in multiple MURI (Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative) grants, with his most recent MURI award spanning 2020-2025. He has maintained continuous external funding support for his research program since 1991, demonstrating sustained contributions to areas of interest to the defense research community.

Figotin is the author of three books, including "Spectra of Random and Almost-Periodic Operators" with L. Pastur (Springer, 1992), "Neoclassical Theory of Electromagnetic Interactions" with A. Babin (Springer, 2016), and "An Analytic Theory of Multi-Stream Electron Beams in Traveling Wave Tubes" (World Scientific, 2020). He has published over 115 peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from spectral theory of random operators and localization phenomena to electromagnetic wave propagation in complex media, photonic crystals, and the fundamental theory of electromagnetic interactions. His work spans theoretical foundations in mathematical physics and applications to electromagnetic devices and materials.

Education

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, Tashkent State University, USSR, 1980
• M.S. in Mathematics, Kharkov State University, USSR, 1976