CAREER: Non-Hermitian Organic Photonics

非技术性描述：以自然界中不存在的方式定制材料的光学特性的能力导致了对光的流动的前所未有的控制和一系列非凡的技术机会。这项研究的目标是通过实验开发一类新的合成光学材料，其中光被弯曲，吸收和放大的方式在纳米尺度上彼此独立地变化。特别是，这项工作的重点是这三个属性的周期性空间排列，导致不寻常的单向效应的光传播，最终可能会发现在未来的激光和光路技术的应用。本研究的主题密切配合计划的教育工作，涉及研究生和本科生的课程开发。此外，还将开展拓展活动，以增加K-12学生接触光学科学、技术和就业机会。技术说明：本研究以有机小分子和聚合物为平台，通过实验实现宇称时间（PT）对称光学材料，并探索由此产生的潜在物理和应用可能性。有机材料在这方面具有独特的地位，因为它们具有强的线性和非线性光学响应，它们具有巨大的合成自由度，并且它们可以以任意比例混合并自由组合以形成高光学质量的薄膜和微结构。 这项研究将导致周期性PT材料和实际应用的发展，重点是PT材料与平衡的增益和损耗，PT材料结合低功率非线性，二维PT晶格，PT系统在强耦合制度，其中相关的激发是轻物质的混合称为极化激元。这项工作的关键成果包括显示单向不可见性的光栅，具有不同向前和向后光传输的薄膜涂层，以及非对称极化子状态，这些状态可以为非磁性材料的超快，低功率非互易光学功能的长期目标提供新的途径。

Nontechnical description: The ability to tailor the optical properties of a material in ways that do not occur in nature has led to unprecedented control over the flow of light and an extraordinary range of technological opportunities. The goal of this research is to experimentally develop a new class of synthetic optical materials in which the means by which light is bent, absorbed, and amplified are varied independently of one another at the nanoscale. In particular, this work focuses on periodic spatial arrangements of these three properties, leading to unusual one-way effects for light propagation that may ultimately find application in future laser and optical circuit technologies. The themes of this research tie in closely with planned educational efforts involving course development for graduate and undergraduate students. In addition, outreach activities aim at increasing the exposure of k-12 students to optical science, technology, and the career opportunities they hold.Technical description: This research identifies organic small molecules and polymers as a platform to experimentally realize parity-time (PT)-symmetric optical materials, and to explore the underlying physics and application possibilities that emerge from them. Organic materials are uniquely positioned for this purpose because they feature strong linear and nonlinear optical responses, they possess enormous synthetic freedom, and they can be mixed in arbitrary proportions and freely combined to form high optical quality films and microstructures. This research will lead in the development of periodic PT materials and practical applications by focusing on PT materials with balanced gain and loss, PT materials incorporating low power nonlinearity, two-dimensional PT lattices, and PT systems in the strong coupling regime, where the relevant excitations are light-matter hybrids known as polaritons. Key results of this work include optical gratings that display unidirectional invisibility, thin film coatings with different forward and backward light transmission, and asymmetric polariton states that could provide a new path toward the long-standing goal of ultrafast, low power non-reciprocal optical functionality from non-magnetic materials.