Novel TiO2-based microphotonic devices

目标：随着我们的需求推动互联网的极限，我们面临着电子电路的局限性。 为了满足这些需求，用于交换和逻辑的超快速全光技术正在成为一种可行的替代方案。 我们建议调查一种未开发的材料，二氧化钛，作为一种新的平台，能够满足这些需求的高速，高度集成的片上photonic devices.Intellectual Merit：最近的测量二氧化钛的光学非线性是类似的高度非线性硫系玻璃的幅度。 与大多数全光开关材料不同，我们对TiO 2的研究将实现可见光和红外操作。 我们将开创这种材料的结构，并开发先进设备所需的构建模块。 为了证明二氧化钛的可行性，作为一个非线性光学平台，我们将创建微米尺寸的非线性Sagnac干涉仪和量化其性能的全opticalswitches.Broader方面：除了创建小型化的光子器件，拟议的工作将有助于在纳米尺度上的光波传播的理解，并将允许在激光诱导击穿光谱，光存储器读出，和分子电子学的进步。 这项工作将有助于教育和培训未来的多学科科学家和工程师通过研究为基础的教育。我们与当地高中的合作，NSF赞助的项目，以及我们研究小组中女性的高代表性将扩大代表性不足的群体的参与。我们与学术和工业合作伙伴的广泛合作将加强研究基础设施。最后，利用该小组完善的方案，将外联和公众教育与研究相结合，这项工作将广泛传播给公众。

Objective:As our demand pushes the limits of the internet, we are confronted with the limitations of electronic circuitry. To address these demands, ultra-fast all-optical technologies for switching and logic are emerging as a viable alternative. We propose to investigate an unexplored material, TiO2, as a novel platform capable of meeting these demands for high speed, highly integrated on-chip photonic devices.Intellectual Merit:Recent measurements of TiO2's optical nonlinearity are similar in magnitude as highly nonlinear chalcogenide glass. Unlike most materials for all-optical switching, our work with TiO2 will enable both visible and IR operation. We will pioneer the structuring of this material and develop building blocks necessary for advanced devices. To demonstrate TiO2's viability as a nonlinear optical platform we will create micron sized nonlinear Sagnac interferometers and quantifying their performance as all-optical switches.Broader Aspects:Beyond the creation of miniaturized photonic devices, the proposed work will contribute to the understanding of optical wave propagation at the nanoscale and will permit advances in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, optical memory read-out, and molecular electronics. This work will contribute to the education and training of future multidisciplinary scientists and engineers through research based education. Our work with local high schools, NSF sponsored programs, and the high representation of women in our research group will broaden participation of underrepresented groups. Our extensive collaborations with academic and industrial partners will enhance infrastructure for research. Finally, using the group's well-established program integrating outreach and public education with research, this work will be broadly disseminated to the general public.