NIRT: Photon and Plasmon Engineering in Active Optical Devices based on Synthesized Nanostructures

智力优势：本项目的重点是了解有源光学纳米结构中光产生和控制的基本特性，以及开发用于光学/量子信息处理的鲁棒实用设备和系统（例如单光子源，纳米激光器）。有前途的路线包括纳米尺度的表面等离子体和光子晶体。将在该计划中开发的知识和技术可以在其他领域找到应用，包括生命科学和先进的光刻。为了实现这些目标，自下而上合成的纳米级光发射器和自上而下制造的光定位和控制先进结构将结合起来。自下而上合成的纳米发射器提供了许多优于传统外延生长的光发射器的优点，包括更好的均匀性、易于制造、与无源光学平台的集成以及多波长操作。这些混合纳米结构的重要问题，如集成不同的制造技术，开发的方法来操纵，定位和有效地在/出耦合的光，将被调查。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将为学生提供强大的教育机会，让他们接触到跨学科的合作（化学，物理和工程），包括理论计算，纳米结构合成，器件物理和设计，纳米纤维和光学表征。这将通过共同指导研究生，举行联合小组会议和研讨会，以及组织讲习班来实现。教育部分将通过让本科生有机会通过NSF支持的本科生研究经验计划在这个令人兴奋的跨学科领域进行研究，并鼓励妇女和少数民族学生的参与来进一步加强。团队成员将继续在当地公立学校举办公开讲座和组织科学项目，指导高中学生，并通过NSF支持的教师研究经验计划与高中教师合作。团队成员还将把他们的专业知识带到正在进行的哈佛外展计划中，并与面向商业的公众接触（例如哈佛纳米技术商业论坛，哈佛工业外展计划）。

Intellectual Merits: The present project focuses on understanding of fundamental properties of light generation and control in active optical nanostructures, as well as development of robust and practical devices and systems for optical/ quantum information processing (e.g. single photon sources, nano-lasers). Promising routes include nano-scale surface plasmons and photonic crystals. The knowledge and techniques that will be developed in this program can find application in other fields, including life sciences and advanced photolithography. To achieve these goals, bottom-up synthesized nanoscale light emitters and top-down fabricated advanced structures for light localization and control will be combined. Bottom-up synthesized nanoemitters offer number of advantages over conventional epitaxially grown light emitters, including better uniformity, ease of fabrication, integration with passive optical platforms, and multi-wavelength operation. Important questions that pertain to these hybrid nanostructures such as, integration of different fabrication techniques, development of methodology for manipulation, positioning and efficiently in/out-coupling of light, will be investigated. Broader Impacts: The proposed research will provide powerful educational opportunities for students by exposing them to an interdisciplinary collaboration (chemistry, physics and engineering) that encompasses theoretical calculations, nanostructure synthesis, device physics and design, nanofabrication and optical characterization. This will be accomplished by co-advising graduate students, holding joint group meetings and seminars, as well as organizing workshops. The educational component will be further enhanced by giving undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct research in this exciting interdisciplinary field through the NSF supported Research Experience for Undergraduates program and also by encouraging the participation of women and minority students. The team members will continue giving public lectures and organizing science projects at local public schools, mentoring high school students and working with high school teachers through the NSF supported Research Experience for Teachers program. The team members will also bring their expertise to ongoing Harvard outreach programs and engage the business-oriented public (e.g. Harvard Nanotechnology & Business Forum, Harvard Industrial Outreach Program).