Optical: Next-Generation Optoelectronic Materials and Devices

纳米技术的目标是创造材料和设备，由于其纳米尺寸而表现出新颖和显着改进的性能。电子量子点（QD）和光子晶体（PhCs）的技术融合将为下一代高带宽光通信的纳米光子源带来革命。然而，要实现这一目标，电子和光子系统必须紧密设计，以实现各自波函数和态密度之间的空间和光谱重叠。该提案旨在将从量子点获得的三维电子约束的积极进展与从光子晶体获得的前所未有的光学约束结合联合收割机，以开发下一代高效微腔光源。该方案有三个技术目标：（1）通过控制生长合成来展示并入工程量子点的光子源;（2）展示二维（2D）光子晶体内的工程和电注入光学纳米腔;以及（3）将单个或几个耦合的量子点集成在工程光学纳米器件内，具有高调制带宽和可控波长的高效光源的发展将是光通信的革命性进步，这是由于超高的操作性能和/或通过实现全光信号处理和先进的计算机处理。此外，拟议的研究将提供一个新的背景，以扩大对新型光学材料的纳米纤维技术的理解。因此，拟议的研究将影响纳米技术，微腔物理和下一代光子应用。此外，这项工作的指导思想是大学生的大量参与，针对代表性不足的群体的参与。PI计划继续将初中和高中教师纳入研究方案，在新的科学领域培训和激励他们，使他们能够将其传授给学生。

0335082ColemanThe goal of nanotechnology is to create materials and devices which exhibit novel and significantly improved properties due to their nanoscale size. The technology convergence of electronic quantum dots (QDs) and photonic crystals (PhCs) will enable a revolution for the next generation of nano-photonic sources for high bandwidth optical communication. However, to achieve this requires that both systems, electronic and photonic, must be intimately engineered to enable spatial and spectral overlap between their respective wavefunctions and density of states. This proposal seeks to combine aggressive advances in 3-dimensional electronic confinement obtained from quantum dots with the unprecedented optical confinement achieved from photonic crystals to develop the next generation of highly efficient microcavity optical sources. There are three technical objectives of this proposal: (1) demonstrate photonic sources incorporating engineered quantum dots through control of growth synthesis; (2) demonstrate engineered and electrically injected optical nano-cavities within a 2-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal; and (3) integrate a single or few coupled quantum dot(s) within an engineered optical nano-cavity in a 2D photonic crystal.The development of high efficiency optical sources with high modulation bandwidth and controllable wavelength will be a revolutionary advance for optical communications, by virtue of ultra-high operation performance and/or by enabling all optical signal processing and advanced computer processing. In addition, the proposed research will provide a new context to extend the understanding of nanofabrication techniques for novel optical materials. Therefore the proposed research will impact nanotechnology, microcavity physics, and the next generation of photonic applications. In addition, a guiding philosophy of the work is substantial involvement of undergraduates, targeted toward the participation of underrepresented groups. The PI plans to continue the incorporation of middle and high school teachers into the research programs to train and inspire them in new areas of science, to enable them to pass this on to their pupils.