Low-Loss, Impedance-Matched Dirac-Cone Metamaterials for Integrated Optics

用于集成光学的低损耗、阻抗匹配狄拉克锥超材料

• 批准号: 1360889
• 负责人: Eric Mazur
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1360889&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Low; Loss; Impedance; Matched; Dirac

Non-technical Description: This project implements a new form of optical materials - integrated impedance-matched metamaterials with zero refractive index. These materials do not bend light like ordinary transparent materials and can be incorporated in optical devices. Using this novel material platform, this project explores the exotic physics of zero refractive index materials and implements a number of applications in integrated photonics, including beam-steering and super-coupling. To efficiently transfer this new type of optical metamaterial from academia to commercial applications, the research team collaborates closely with industrial partners. This project contributes to the Principal Investigators' effort in education and outreach in two ways: first, this novel type of metamaterial can be used as a simple platform in education and exhibitions to demonstrate the exotic material properties and interesting physical phenomena of metamaterials; second, students at many different levels involved in this project gain research experience in state-of-the-art research.Technical Description: This project investigates optical metamaterials achieved by a Dirac cone at the center of the Brillouin zone of a photonic crystal. Because the homogenization criterion is met in the vicinity of the Gamma point, the photonic crystal can be treated as a homogeneous bulk metamaterial with low or zero refractive indices near the Dirac point. This approach offers three important advantages: low loss, free-space impedance matching, and isotropy. The goal of this project is to design, fabricate, and characterize Dirac-cone metamaterials consisting of 2D square array of silicon pillars, which can be fabricated using standard planar processes, then, based on this 2D platform, to theoretically and experimentally demonstrate several exotic physical phenomena and potential applications including beam-steering and super-coupling. Specifically, the research approaches are: 1) theoretical design using analytical models and commercially available simulators; 2) experimental fabrication using the clean room facilities at the Harvard Center for Nanoscale Systems; 3) experimental measurements of optical properties of Dirac-cone metamaterials using a fiber-launch coupling system.

非技术描述：该项目实现了一种新形式的光学材料-零折射率集成阻抗匹配超材料。这些材料不像普通透明材料那样使光弯曲，并且可以被结合到光学器件中。使用这种新型材料平台，该项目探索了零折射率材料的奇异物理学，并在集成光子学中实现了许多应用，包括光束转向和超耦合。为了有效地将这种新型光学超材料从学术界转移到商业应用，研究团队与工业合作伙伴密切合作。该项目在两个方面为主要研究者的教育和推广工作做出了贡献：首先，这种新型的超材料可以作为一个简单的教育和展览平台，展示超材料的奇异材料特性和有趣的物理现象;其次，参与该项目的许多不同层次的学生可以获得最先进研究的研究经验。技术描述：本计画主要研究在光子晶体的布里渊区中心设置一个狄拉克锥所形成的光学超材料。由于在伽马点附近满足均匀化准则，因此光子晶体可以被视为在狄拉克点附近具有低折射率或零折射率的均匀块体超材料。这种方法提供了三个重要的优点：低损耗、自由空间阻抗匹配和各向同性。本项目的目标是设计、制备和表征由二维正方形硅柱阵列组成的Dirac-cone超材料，该材料可以使用标准的平面工艺来制备，然后，基于这个二维平台，从理论和实验上证明一些奇异的物理现象和潜在的应用，包括光束转向和超耦合。具体而言，研究方法是：1）使用分析模型和商业可用的模拟器的理论设计; 2）使用哈佛纳米系统中心的洁净室设施的实验制造; 3）使用光纤发射耦合系统的Dirac-cone超材料的光学性质的实验测量。