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

本项目侧重于了解为超低能源成本的光通信系统实施新概念所需的物理学知识。这涉及到理解和使用一种称为极化激元的新型物理模式，它是一种结合在一起的光和电能的模式，能够在半导体芯片的小管子和空腔中移动。更好地理解和使用极化激元仍然是理解和预测它们的行为方式的一个巨大挑战。该项目将把基础科学/工程学的三个学科结合在一起，以便更好和更统一地理解极化子在通信应用中的行为。该项目涉及与法国的合作，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偏振子图案将对电子系统的整体节能产生重大影响。皮打算写一本研究生级别的非线性半导体光学教科书，将他的研究成果整合到研究生和本科生的教学和培训中？教授半导体量子井、激子相互作用、半导体微腔和激子极化子等跨学科研究概念，并对他们进行培训。PI还计划开发供本科生使用的MatLab代码，以模拟全息光学互连图。该项目将把激子系统(包括半导体量子井和半导体微腔)中的多粒子关联物理学、图案形成物理学、突变理论的数学分支和通信设备的工程科学结合在一起。它将研究可能导致极化子系统中图案形成的基本物理机制，特别是将静止图灵图案推广到极化子量子流体。对于该项目的初始阶段，可能的设备的例子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.