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

该项目的重点是理解实现超低能耗光通信系统新概念所需的物理学。这涉及到理解和使用新型的物理模式，称为极化子，这是一种光和电能结合在一起的模式，能够通过半导体芯片中的小管和空腔移动。更好地理解和使用极化激元仍然是一个巨大的挑战，以了解和预测他们将如何表现。该项目将汇集基础科学/工程的三个学科，以便更好地和更统一地理解极化激元在通信应用中的行为。该项目包括与法国合作，法国将提供新模型的实验测试，以及与德国和香港在理论上的合作。在低能量光通信设备中应用极化子模式将对电子系统的整体节能产生重大影响。 PI打算写一本关于非线性半导体光学的研究生水平的教科书，将他的研究成果整合到研究生和本科生的教学和培训中？课程及训练学生有关半导体量子威尔斯、激子相互作用、半导体微腔及激子极化激元的跨学科研究概念。 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（包括半导体量子威尔斯和半导体微腔）中多粒子关联的物理学、图案形成的物理学、突变理论的数学分支和通信设备的工程科学。它将研究的基本物理机制，可以导致图案形成的极化激元系统，特别是广义的静态图灵模式极化激元量子流体。 对于项目的初始阶段，可能的器件的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.