Controllable Polariton Patterns: An Approach to Low-Energy All-Optical Communication Devices

该项目的重点是了解实现具有超低能耗的光通信系统新概念所需的物理。这涉及到对一种新型物理模式的理解和使用，这种模式被称为极化子，它是一种光和电能结合在一起的模式，能够在半导体芯片中的小管和腔中移动。更好地理解和使用极性仍然是一个巨大的挑战，以理解和预测它们的行为。该项目将结合基础科学/工程的三个学科，以便更好和更统一地了解极化如何在通信应用中表现。该项目包括与法国合作，法国将为新模型提供实验测试，并与德国和香港合作进行理论研究。极化子模式在低能量光通信器件中的应用将对电子系统的整体节能产生重大影响。PI打算编写一本研究生水平的非线性半导体光学教材，将他的研究成果融入到研究生和本科生的教学和培养中。教授和训练他们跨学科的研究概念，包括半导体量子阱、激子相互作用、半导体微腔和激子极化。PI进一步计划开发MATLAB代码供本科生使用，以模拟全息光学互连图。该项目将汇集激子系统（包括半导体量子阱和半导体微腔）中多粒子相关的物理学，模式形成的物理学，突变理论的数学分支和通信设备的工程科学。它将研究导致极化子系统中模式形成的基本物理机制，特别是将固定图灵模式推广到极化子量子流体。对于项目的初始阶段，可能的器件示例包括全光开关或晶体管和全光可控扇出互连。

This project focuses on the understanding of physics required to implement a new concept for optical communication systems with ultralow energy costs. This involves the understanding and use of novel type of physical pattern, called a polariton, which is a pattern of light and electrical energy bound together and is capable of moving through small tubes and cavities in semiconductor chips. Better understanding and use of polaritons is still a great challenge to understand and predict how they will behave. This project will bring together three disciplines of basic science/engineering, in order to develop a better and more unified understanding of how polaritons behave for communication application. The project involves a collaboration with France, which will provide experimental tests of the new models, and collaborations on theory with Germany and Hong Kong.The application of polariton patterns for low-energy optical communication devices will have a significant impact on the overall energy savings in electronic systems. PI intends to write a graduate-student-level text book on nonlinear semiconductor optics, integrate the outcome of his research into the teaching and training of graduate and undergraduate students? course and train them in interdisciplinary research concepts involving semiconductor quantum wells, excitonic interactions, semiconductor microcavities and exicton polaritons. The PI further plans to develop MATLAB codes for use by undergraduate students to simulate holographic optical interconnection maps. The project will bring together the physics of many-particle correlations in exciton systems (including semiconductor quantum wells and semiconductor microcavities), the physics of pattern formation, the mathematical branch of catastrophe theory and the engineering science of communication devices. It will study the basic physical mechanisms that can lead to pattern formation in polariton systems, in particular generalizations of stationary Turing patterns to polariton quantum fluids. For the initial phase of the project the examples of possible devices include an all-optical switch or transistor and an all-optical controllable fan-out interconnect.