EAGER: Properties of ultra-sparse resonant photonic lattices

EAGER：超稀疏纳米级谐振反射器和偏振器的开发本提案的目的是设计、制造和表征在其实施例中需要极少量物质的宽带谐振反射器和偏振器。偏振器是日常光学系统中必不可少的部件。例如，它们被用于液晶电视屏幕、电脑和手机显示器。类似地，反射器广泛用于光学成像系统、电信和激光技术。这里显示的是一个显着的和违反直觉的事实，即95%空空间的纳米级周期层可以在100 nm宽的光谱带内以100%的效率反射光。这个简单的器件也具有令人印象深刻的偏振性能。我们称这些元件为超稀疏反射器和偏振器。由于这些器件不含金属，因此它们是无损的，因此可以高效地对入射光进行操作，而不会产生任何热量。该项目有助于对这类器件的基本理解，从而为其在常见光子系统中的应用奠定基础。拟议的研究项目将侧重于从可见光区到普通电信系统运行的红外范围的光谱区。然而，需要注意的是，这些元素的基本物理性质并不限制它们在这些区域的部署。因此，在诸如远红外和太赫兹频带的较长波长区域中的未来发展也可以使得在这些区域中实现紧凑的低损耗元件。因此，拟议的项目奠定了新的操作制度和随之而来的可能的应用程序在多个实际的光谱区域的设备的基础。我们介绍了超稀疏反射器和偏振器的基础上，在光子器件工程的原始新的想法。在该项目下，原型设备将在几乎无损的半导体和被空气或玻璃基质包围的半导体薄膜中成型。最初的重点是400-2400 nm区域内的光谱操作。利用现有的纳米纤维加工设施，我们将制造代表性的设备作为概念验证原型，测量它们的光谱响应，并与理论预测进行比较。从基本物理学的观点来看，在这些极小共振系统中可以产生所提出的宽带谱表达式是非常有意义的。仅在这一基础上就证明了拟议的研究是合理的。因此，该项目具有很强的潜力，以推进国家的知识和理解纳米光子共振系统。与广泛接受的观点相反，位于两个光栅脊的法布里-珀罗模之间的干涉不是所观察到的宽带反射的原因。因此，从逻辑上讲，光栅脊中这种模式的数量就基本物理而言是无关紧要的。我们表明，宽带反射器确实是一个单一的支持脊模式实现。这一事实使我们能够概念化共振元件，这些元件大多是具有最小物理体积的自由空间，这是一个非常有趣和重要的发现。为了提高对这一领域的认识，我们计划广泛传播研究结果。这将拓宽科学家和工程师在这类器件中创新的设计空间。

EAGER: Development of ultra-sparse nanoscale resonant reflectors and polarizersThe objective of this proposal is to design, fabricate, and characterize wideband resonant reflectors and polarizers that require extremely small amounts of matter in their embodiments. Polarizers are essential components in every-day optical systems. They are used, for example, in liquid-crystal television screens and computer and cell-phone displays. Similarly, reflectors are widely used in optical imaging systems, telecommunications, and laser technology. Shown here is the remarkable and counterintuitive fact that a nanoscale periodic layer that is 95% empty space can reflect light at 100% efficiency across a 100-nm-wide spectral band. This simple device exhibits impressive polarizing performance as well. We call these elements ultra-sparse reflectors and polarizers. As these devices incorporate no metals, they are lossless and thus operate on incident light with high efficiency and without generating any heat. The project contributes to fundamental understanding of this class of devices and thereby lays foundation for its applications in common photonic systems. The proposed research project will focus on a spectral region spanning from the visible region into the infrared range where common telecommunication systems operate. However, it is noted that the fundamental physics of these elements does not limit their deployment to these regions. Hence, future developments in longer wavelength regions such as the far-infrared and terahertz bands may enable compact low-loss elements to be realized in these regions as well. The proposed project therefore lays a foundation for devices with new operational regimes and attendant possible applications in multiple practical spectral regions. We introduce ultra-sparse reflectors and polarizers based on original new ideas in photonic device engineering. Under the project, prototype devices will be fashioned in nearly lossless semiconductors and dielectrics as membranes surrounded by air or glass host media. Initial focus is on spectral operation within the 400-2400 nm region. Using available nanofabrication processing facilities, we will fabricate representative devices as proof-of-concept prototypes, measure their spectral response, and compare with theoretical predictions. From a fundamental physics standpoint, it is extremely significant that the wideband spectral expressions presented can be generated in these minimal resonance systems. The proposed research is justified on that basis alone. Therefore, the project has strong potential to advance the state of knowledge and understanding in nanophotonic resonance systems. Contrary to widely accepted views, interference between two grating-ridge located Fabry-Perot modes is not the cause of the observed wideband reflection. Therefore, it follows logically that the number of such modes in a grating ridge is immaterial as far as the fundamental physics is concerned. We show that wideband reflectors are indeed achievable with a single supported ridge mode. This fact allows us to conceptualize resonant elements that are mostly free space with minimal physical bulk, an extremely interesting and important finding. To improve the state of understanding in this field, we plan on wide dissemination of the results of the research. This will broaden the design space available to scientists and engineers innovating within this device class.