GOALI: Magnetooptical Materials for Integrated Optical Isolators

非技术描述：未来的超高速通信和数据处理将使用光子芯片进行，其中数据传输使用光（而不是传统的电流）。这些光子芯片包括微型激光器和其他产生和调制光束的设备。光子芯片的一个重要组成部分被称为隔离器，它作为光的单向阀。隔离器由透明磁性材料制成，该项目的目的是为这些关键部件开发和测试新的和改进的材料，这将使制造完全集成的光学芯片成为可能。研究生和本科生研究人员将对该项目进行研究，并将与工业伙伴合作。此外，还将开展外联活动，例如在高中示范光学通信系统。技术细节：这项工作很重要，因为它将探索基于钙钛矿晶格的一系列材料的性质，这些材料以前没有被考虑用于隔离器。如果成功，一系列光子或数据存储应用将成为可能。该项目将涉及钙钛矿结构材料的制造，公式为ABO3，其中金属离子A和B紧密相连，使材料具有磁性并具有高法拉第旋转。早期对石榴石材料的研究表明，A位的Bi或Ce以及B位的Co和Fe等离子将是有希望的候选者。薄膜将由脉冲激光沉积制成，并在结构、光学、磁性和磁光性能方面进行表征。这些性质将被建模，并与离子的配位和价态有关。研究生和本科生将接受先进材料合成、测量和建模方面的培训，并将有机会与光子公司合作和实习。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Future ultra-fast communications and data processing will be carried out using photonic chips, in which the data is transmitted using light (instead of conventional electric current). These photonic chips include miniature lasers and other devices that produce and modulate beams of light. One important component of a photonic chip is called an isolator, which acts as one-way valve for light. Isolators are made from transparent magnetic materials, and the aim of this project is to develop and test new and improved materials for these critical components, which will make it possible to create complete integrated optical chips. Graduate and undergraduate student researchers will carry out research on this project and will collaborate with industrial partners. Additionally, outreach activities will be developed such as high school demonstrations of optical communications systems. TECHNICAL DETAILS: This work is important because it will explore the properties of a family of materials based on the perovskite lattice which have previously not been considered for isolators. If successful, a range of photonic or data storage applications are possible. The project will involve the fabrication of perovskite-structured materials, of formula ABO3, where metal ions A and B are closen such that the material will be magnetic and have a high Faraday rotation. Earlier work on garnet materials suggests that ions such as Bi or Ce in the A sites and Co and Fe in the B sites will be promising candidates. Films will be made by pulsed laser deposition and characterized in terms of structure, optical, magnetic and magnetooptical properties. The properties will be modeled and related to the coordination and valence state of the ions. Graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in advanced materials synthesis, measurement and modeling, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with photonics companies and work on internships.