CAREER: Creating a new class of organic-inorganic dispersion engineered RF-optical modulators

本研究的目的是创造一种新型的有机-无机色散工程射频光调制器，以实现节能的电光转换。该方法是基于有机材料与无机材料的集成和各向异性周期结构的色散工程。智力优势：该研究项目有两个主要重点。第一个涉及电光平面波导技术的工程，该技术具有无反应离子蚀刻引起的表面粗糙度，通过旋转涂层沉积薄膜，高折射率对比度和大的二级磁化率。这些优势在第二推力中得到了利用，这是基于有限各向异性周期结构的仿真，其中内部光场增长到周期数的四次方。非线性光学效应极大地增强，从而提高了调制器转换效率，同时也使元件小型化。更广泛的影响：将光学和射频的优势结合在混合系统中，解决了对更大带宽和移动性的并发需求，从而影响了网络、计算和传感行业。综合教育计划回应了准备科学和工程学生在日益跨学科和全球环境中取得成功的挑战。该计划是在俄亥俄州立大学开发一个全球科学家和工程师系列研讨会，以及一个综合光学课程，以产生综合研究思维。此外，该计划还鼓励本科生和少数族裔学生参与研究项目，并与当地科学博物馆合作，向不同的学生群体介绍工程学。

The objective of this research is to create a new class of organic-inorganic dispersion engineered RF-optical modulators for the purpose of achieving energy efficient electrical-to-optical conversion. The approach is based on the integration of organic materials with inorganic materials and the dispersion engineering of anisotropic periodic structures. Intellectual merit: The research program has two major thrusts. The first involves the engineering of electro-optical planar waveguide technology that exhibits no reactive ion etch induced surface roughness, thin film deposition through spin-coating, high index contrast, and large second order susceptibility. These advantages are leveraged in the second thrust, which is based on the emulation of finite anisotropic periodic structures, where the internal optical field grows to the fourth power of the number of periods. Nonlinear optical effects are tremendously intensified, thereby enhancing modulator conversion efficiency while also enabling component miniaturization. Broader impacts: Combining the advantages of optics and RF in hybrid systems addresses concurrent demands for greater bandwidth and mobility, thereby impacting the networking, computing, and sensing industries. The integrated educational plan responds to the challenge of preparing science and engineering students to be successful in an increasingly interdisciplinary and global environment. The plan is to develop a global scientists-and-engineers seminar series at Ohio State University and an integrated optics curriculum that engenders integrative research thinking. Additionally, the plan fosters the involvement of undergraduates and minority students from underrepresented groups in the research program and engages the local science museum to introduce engineering to diverse student populations.