Slow Light Enhanced Mid-infrared Nonlinear Optical Devices

该计划的目标是对新型非线性材料和波导设计进行实验研究，并为中红外光谱区域的非线性光学器件开发一个紧凑的集成光子器件平台。目前中红外非线性光学器件缺乏，提出的研究计划旨在填补这一空白。其智力上的优点是：(1)新颖的低损耗慢光传播器件架构；(2)新的中红外波段可调谐光源和放大器。慢光器件基于光子晶体，以实现慢光所需的色散工程，但具有完全不同的设计，以绕过散射损失所施加的基本限制。此外，该器件将在硫系材料系统中实现，具有高非线性和拉曼增益，长红外透明度和高玻璃化转变温度。更广泛的影响是多方面的。首先，提出的工作将通过提供基于慢光非线性增强的新型器件，广泛影响应用物理和材料科学领域。非线性超低阈值的能力将为使用标准、低成本激光器的器件开辟广阔的应用空间。在中红外领域展示低阈值非线性光学器件的潜力将对传感、光谱学、通信、医学等领域的应用产生革命性的影响。该项目还旨在将研究与本科和研究生水平的教育结合起来，吸引未被充分代表的少数民族学生，并向公众提供服务。

The objective of this program is to conduct experimental investigation of novel nonlinear material andwaveguide designs and to develop a compact, integrated photonic device platform for nonlinear opticaldevices operating in the mid-infrared spectral region. There is a current dearth of nonlinear opticaldevices in the mid-infrared and the proposed research program aims to fill this void.The intellectual merits are: (1) novel device architecture for slow light propagation with low loss and (2)new tunable light sources and amplifiers for the mid-infrared frequency region. The slow light devicesare based on photonic crystals to enable dispersion engineering necessary for slow light but has radicallydifferent designs to circumvent the fundamental limits imposed by scattering loss. Additionally, thedevices will be implemented in a chalcogenide material system, with high nonlinearity and Raman gain,long infrared transparency, and a high glass transition temperature.The broader impacts are many. First, the proposed work will broadly impact the applied physics andmaterials science world by providing a new class of devices based on nonlinear-enhancement from slowlight. The capability of ultralow threshold for nonlinearities will open a wide application space for the useofdevices with standard, low cost lasers. The potential to demonstrate a low-threshold nonlinear opticaldevice in the mid-infrared will be transformative for applications in sensing, spectroscopy,communications, medicine and more. The project is also designed to integrate research with education atboth undergraduate and graduate levels, attract underrepresented minority students, and offer outreach togeneral public.