CAREER: Ferroelectric Heterostructure Integration With GaAs Optoelectronic Devices

0238108这个职业项目探索铁电体与半导体光电子学的集成，以提高器件性能水平，并引入光电集成电路(OEIC)的新功能。将铁电材料独特的功能集成到半导体光电子学中，可能会给器件和OEIC工程带来革命性的变化。该计划的目标是通过研究活动将铁电材料与光电子学相结合，并通过教育和推广活动培养和培训未来的光电子学科学家和工程师。本课程将提供对化合物半导体中铁电体的物理及其对光电子学的潜在影响的更多了解。动机：铁电体具有独特的物理特性，包括自发极化、热释电、压电和电光特性。这些特性提供了各种控制电学和光学行为的方法，这对光电子学是有利的。半导体异质结构和量子电子限制的使用已经成功地提供了实现光电集成所必需的工具，尽管它们不具有铁电氧化物材料固有的强大的电光性能、折射率对比度和偏振特性。铁电材料在化合物半导体上的集成将对光电子学产生巨大的影响，使光源、调制器、探测器和电子学的集成具有更高的性能和新的功能。研究：该计划的研究活动将包括四项任务：铁电材料与砷化镓的集成，具有成分梯度、偏振和电光特性的光电子学用多层结构和薄膜的集成，以及铁电薄膜与光电子器件的集成。每项任务都将朝着成功地将具有强电光和偏振特性的铁电薄膜插入边缘发射和表面发射集成激光调制器设备的最终目标前进。每个任务领域的研究都将做出重大的科学贡献，并为调查者作为该领域的领导者继续未来的研究提供基础。研究工作将通过铁电集成推动OEIC领域的发展，并将通过铁电/半导体异质结构提供新的光电子工程可能性。教学：通过修改本科半导体器件课程和将多功能氧化物材料和器件的研究生课程引入电气工程课程，将教育活动正式整合到该计划中。课程的修改和增加将侧重于通过利用大学现有的教育资源来改进教和学。通过指导参与该计划研究工作的研究生和本科生，教学活动将进一步整合。该计划将包括通过与大学社团合作和在当地小学实施光电子示范，鼓励妇女和代表不足的少数民族参与科学和工程领域的外联活动。广泛影响：综合研究和教育活动将有助于推进光电子集成技术，这将影响使信息时代成为可能的领域，如光纤电信、数据存储和处理、光学计算。这些努力也将为PI和该部门领导进一步的光电子学铁电/半导体集成研究和教育奠定基础。外展工作预计将促进未来光电子工程师和科学家的多样性。

0238108PhillipsThis CAREER program explores the integration of ferroelectrics with semiconductor optoelectronics to advance device performance levels and to introduce new functionality for optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEIC). The integration of the unique functionality of ferroelectrics into semiconductor optoelectronics could revolutionize device and OEIC engineering. The objective of this program is to enable the integration of ferroelectrics with optoelectronics through research activities, and to prepare and train future scientists and engineers in optoelectronics through educational and outreach activities. This program will provide a greater understanding of the physics of ferroelectrics on compound semiconductors and their potential impact on optoelectronics.Motivations: Ferroelectrics offer unique physical properties including spontaneous polarization, pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and electro-optic properties. These properties offer a variety of ways of controlling electrical and optical behavior that are advantageous for optoelectronics. Semiconductor heterostructures and the use of quantum electronic confinement have been successful in providing the tools necessary to realize OEICs, though they do not possess the intrinsically strong electro-optic properties, index of refraction contrast, and polarization properties of ferroelectric oxide materials. The integration of ferroelectrics on compound semiconductors would have a tremendous impact on optoelectronics, enabling optical sources, modulators, detectors, and electronics integration with increased levels of performance and new functionality.Research: The research activities of this program will consist of four tasks: integration of ferroelectric materials with GaAs, multilayer structures and thin films with compositional gradients, polarization and electro-optic properties for use in optoelectronics, and integration of ferroelectric thin films with optoelectronic devices. Each task will progress towards the end goal of successfully inserting ferroelectric thin films with strong electro-optic and polarization properties into edge-emitting and surface-emitting integrated laser-modulator devices. The research in each task area will make a significant scientific contribution and provide a basis for the investigator to continue future research as a leader in the field. The research efforts will advance the field of OEICs through ferroelectric integration, and will provide new optoelectronic engineering possibilities through ferroelectric/semiconductor heterostructures.Teaching: Educational activities will be formally integrated in this program through the revision of an undergraduate semiconductor device course and introduction of a graduate course on multi-functional oxide materials and devices into the electrical engineering curriculum. The course modifications and additions will focus on improvement of teaching and learning through use of existing educational resources at the university. Teaching activities will be further integrated through mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students participating in the research efforts of the program. This program will include outreach activities to encourage participation of women and underrepresented minorities in science and engineering through cooperation with university societies and through implementation of optoelectronics demonstrations for local elementary schools.Broader Impacts: The integrated research and educational activities will serve to advance optoelectronics integration technology, which will impact fields enabling the information age such as fiber-optic telecommunications, data storage and processing, and optical computing. These efforts will also establish a foundation for the PI and the department to lead further research and education in ferroelectric/semiconductor integration for optoelectronics. Outreach efforts are expected to promote diversity in future optoelectronics engineers and scientists.