Collaborative Research: EAGER: Generation and Manipulation of New Sources in 20-60 micron on a Chip

摘要：(非技术性的)长波长激光辐射虽然有着广泛的应用，但从未被证实过。它的有用性使得它的产生、操作和检测成为光电子界面临的关键任务。目前还没有关于导波方法产生、操纵和探测20-60微米长波长辐射的研究，因此我们认为拟议的研究将有助于启动这一新的和令人兴奋的领域。为了实现产生长波辐射及其在芯片上的操作和检测的总体目标，我们的目标是识别材料和构建光学差频产生装置，开发用于差频产生的紧凑型激光光源，并在芯片上构建集成的长波信号处理器。在芯片上产生、操作和检测长波辐射的能力将对包括吸收光谱、成像和光通信在内的众多应用产生重大影响。这项研究不仅将推进芯片级集成远红外辐射系统的基础科学技术，而且还将使在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学等领域的新应用探索成为可能。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供科学培训，并促进与圣地亚哥初中和高中的外联、教育和合作努力。通过我们与Sweetwater、Preuss和High Tech高中的关系，我们将继续成功地吸引不同种族、性别和经济背景的学生学习科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)。(技术)波长从20微米到60微米的辐射在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学等领域有着广泛的应用。它的有用性使得它的产生、操作和检测成为光电子界面临的关键任务。这一光辐射光谱范围内的技术水平还处于萌芽状态，目前的研究主要集中在自由空间实现上。长波辐射的产生通常利用使用近红外激光光源的频率混频，并产生大约几十纳瓦的功率水平，受自由空间实现的相位匹配和相应的相互作用长度的限制。此外，长波辐射的有效探测也是一个关键挑战。显然，在芯片上实现导波将对在长波长光谱范围内推进光子学产生巨大影响，因为它允许具有大非线性和透明度的工程混合材料结构，与工程相位匹配一起将使长波辐射的产生、传输和检测变得高效。这项提议的总体目标是建立芯片规模的集成技术，用于产生、操作和检测波长范围为20-60微米的光辐射。具体地说，我们的目标是全面了解和实验演示：(1)具有传输和高效差频产生所需特性的各种材料平台，(2)向下选择的材料的特性，包括它们的非线性损伤阈值，(3)用于在选定材料中产生差频的紧凑型激光光源，以及(4)用于高效产生和检测长波辐射的工程相位匹配导波配置的设计和制造方法。建议的芯片级集成长波处理器将对包括吸收光谱、成像和光通信在内的众多应用产生重大影响。这项研究不仅将推进芯片级集成远红外系统的基础科学技术，还将使在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学等领域的新应用探索成为可能。

Abstract: (Non-technical)A laser radiation with long wavelengths in the range has never been demonstrated even though it has a wide range of applications. Its usefulness makes its generation, manipulation and detection a critical task faced by the photonics community. There has not been any research on the guided wave approach to the generation, manipulation and detection of radiation in the long wavelength range of 20-60 micrometers, and therefore we feel that the proposed research will help to start this new and exciting field. To achieve the overarching goal on creating long wavelength radiation, its manipulation and detection on a chip, we aim to identify materials and construct optical difference-frequency generating devices, develop compact laser sources for difference-frequency generation, and construct integrated long wavelength signal processors on a chip. The ability to generate, manipulate and detect long wavelength radiation on a chip will have a significant impact on numerous applications including absorption spectroscopy, imaging and optical communications. The proposed research will not only advance the basic science and technology of chip-scale integrated far infrared radiation systems, but will also enable exploration of novel applications in biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy. The project will provide scientific training for students at graduate and undergraduate levels as well as contribute to outreach, education and collaborative efforts with San Diego middle and high schools. Through our relationships with the Sweetwater, Preuss, and High Tech High Schools, we will continue to successfully engage students of diverse ethnicity, gender and economic backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). (Technical) Radiation with wavelengths ranging from 20 to 60 micrometers has a wide range of applications in such fields as biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy. Its usefulness makes its generation, manipulation and detection a critical task faced by the photonics community. The state of the art of the technology in this spectral range of optical radiation is in embryonic state with the current research focused on free space realizations. The generation of long wavelength radiation typically exploits frequency mixing using near-infrared laser sources and produces power levels of about tens of nanowatts, limited by phase matching and corresponding interaction length for free space implementations. Moreover, efficient detection of long wavelength radiation also imposes a critical challenge. It is evident that guided wave realizations on a chip will have a huge impact on advancing photonics in long wavelength spectral range because it allows engineering hybrid material structures with large nonlinearities and transparency, which together with engineering phase matching will enable efficient generation, transmission and detection of long wavelength radiation. The overall goal of this proposal is to establish chip-scale integrated technology for generation, manipulation and detection of optical radiation in the wavelength range of 20-60 micrometers. Specifically, our objectives aim to comprehensively understand and experimentally demonstrate: (1) various material platforms with properties necessary for transmission and efficient difference-frequency generation compatible with chip-scale realizations, (2) characteristics of the down-selected materials, including their nonlinear damage thresholds, (3) compact laser sources for difference-frequency generation in selected materials, and (4) designs and fabrication methodology of guided wave configurations with engineered phase matching for efficient generation and detection of the long wavelength radiation. The proposed chip-scale integrated long wavelength processors will have a significant impact on numerous applications including absorption spectroscopy, imaging and optical communications. The proposed research will not only advance the basic science and technology of chip-scale integrated far infrared systems, but will also enable exploration of novel applications in biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy.