Intersubband Ultrafast All-Optical Switches from Wide Band Gap II-VI Semiconductors

这项研究的目的是开发超高速全光开关，这是下一代光通信网络的关键部件。该方法是在宽带隙II-VI半导体量子阱的子带间跃迁中利用超快载流子弛豫。智能优点：所提出的材料系统有可能克服目前用于超快全光开关的材料的许多缺点。通过拟议的研究所获得的知识和开发的技术不仅将丰富用于电信网络的光子器件的现有材料的光谱，而且还可能导致拟议材料的新的重要应用。除了制造性能更好的器件外，研究成果还促进了对II-VI低维系统材料性质的理解，这可能会导致新的科学现象的发现。广泛影响：基于所提出材料的器件如果商业化和实施，将极大地提高电信网络的数据传输速率。这项拟议的研究将产生重大的社会影响，因为多媒体和数据通信现在是日常生活中不可或缺的一部分。拟议的研究计划也将产生广泛的教育和推广影响。将特别努力增加科学和工程专业中代表性不足和弱势群体的学生人数。参与研究的学生将在竞争激烈的领域获得培训和知识，从而为进入劳动力市场做好准备，获得高度重视的技能。

The objective of this research is to develop ultrafast all-optical switches, which are key components for the next generation optical communication networks. The approach is to utilize ultrafast carrier relaxation in intersubband transitions in wide band gap II-VI semiconductor quantum wells.Intellectual Merit: The proposed material systems have the potential to overcome many of the disadvantages associated with the materials currently used for ultrafast all-optical switches. The knowledge gained and the technology developed through the proposed research will not only enrich the spectrum of available materials for photonic devices used in telecommunication networks, but may also lead to new important applications of the proposed materials. In addition to producing devices with better performance, the outcome of the research advances the understanding of material properties of II-VI low-dimensional systems, which may lead to the discovery of new scientific phenomena.Broader Impact: The devices based on the proposed materials, if commercialized and implemented, will greatly increase the data transmission rate of telecommunication networks. The proposed research will have a substantial societal impact because multimedia and data communication are now an integral part of daily lives. The proposed research program is also poised to have extensive educational and outreach impact. Particular effort will be devoted to increase the number of students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in science and engineering. The students involved in the research will acquire training and knowledge in a competitive field and thus will be better prepared to enter the workforce with highly valued skills.