Materials World Network: Nonlinear Optical Metamaterials-Fabrication, Characterization, Theory

该项目对一类新的人工非线性纳米光子材料进行研究，该材料利用研究人员将纳米纤维与固有材料特性结合使用的能力来定制这些超材料的光学响应。对超材料非线性光学特性的全面理解和实验实现的主要挑战是超材料的表面和体非线性光学理论尚待发展，并且缺乏制造和测试这种理论的实用方法。这项合作的核心理由是，它匹配一个强大的英国小组在伦敦大学学院与非线性光学和聚焦离子为基础的制造能力，与美国小组在哥伦比亚大学与集成和等离子体制造，光学测试和材料制备的证明记录。与布鲁克海文国家实验室（BNL）纳米中心以及与伦敦纳米技术中心的相互作用对制造也很重要。感兴趣的材料包括铁电体和等离子体金属中的周期性纳米结构。几个纳米光子结构进行了检查，包括光子晶体，负折射率超材料，和调谐这些材料使用薄膜中的电光效应。 新的理论方面也检查，包括在等离子体散射和等离子体增强薄膜中的光吸收的非线性效应。这里进行的研究有几个领域的广泛影响。首先，它促进了人工非线性超材料的基础材料科学的跨学科研究，包括制造和生长，材料物理学，光学物理学和理论。其次，它使美国和英国的两个团体能够合作，这两个团体具有强大的互动历史和互补的专业知识和能力。这项工作涉及研究生和本科生在国际环境中合作和旅行的机会。第三，该项目有具体的计划和程序，通过在哥伦比亚大学为本科生举办的四次外展讲座和在英国伦敦大学学院举办的一次外展讲座，寻求招募不同的学生合作者。 它还使学生能够积极参与哥伦比亚的本科研究机会计划（UROP）。第四，该项目使学生能够通过延长访问和较短的行程与一个主要的美国国家实验室，即布鲁克海文，在他们的新纳米中心，以及伦敦中心纳米技术合作。

This project conducts research into a new class of artificial nonlinear nanophotonic materials, which makes use of the investigators ability to use nanofabrication in conjunction with intrinsic materials properties to tailor the optical response of those metamaterials. The main challenges towards a comprehensive understanding and experimental realization of nonlinear optical properties of metamaterials are that a theory of surface and bulk nonlinear optics of metamaterials is yet to be developed, and a practical means to fabricate and test such a theory is missing as well. The central rationale for this collaboration is that it matches a strong UK group at University College London with demonstrated theoretical capabilities in nonlinear optics and focused-ion-based fabrication capabilities, with a US group at Columbia University with a demonstrated record of integrated and plasmonic fabrication, optical testing, and materials preparation. Interactions with the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Nanocenter as well as that with the London Centre for Nanotechnology are also important for fabrication. The materials of interest include periodic nanostructures in ferroelectrics and in plasmonic metals. Several nanophotonic structures are examined, including photonic crystals, negative index metamaterials, and tuning of these materials using electrooptical effects in thin membranes. New theoretical aspects are also examined, including nonlinear effects in plasmonic scattering and plasmonic enhancement of optical absorption in thin films.The research undertaken here has several areas of broad impact. First, it fosters an interdisciplinary examination of the fundamental materials science of artificial nonlinear metamaterials, including fabrication and growth, materials physics, optical physics, and theory. Second, it enables two groups in the US and the UK, with a strong history of interactions and complementary expertise and capabilities, to collaborate. This work involves the opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students to collaborate and travel in an international setting. Third, the project has concrete plans and procedures to seek out recruitment of diverse student collaborators via four outreach talks to undergraduates at Columbia University and one outreach talk at University College London, UK. It also enables active participation of students in the undergraduate research opportunities program (UROP) at Columbia. Fourth, the project enables students to collaborate via extended visits and shorter trips with a major US National Laboratory, i.e. Brookhaven, in their new Nanocenter, as well as the London Centre for Nanotechnology.