EFRI NewLAW: Mid-infrared topological plasmon-polaritons with 2D materials

中红外光谱在技术上是一个重要的光谱范围，用于识别生物和化学中的分子指纹，用于自由空间通信的大气透明窗口以及与热相关的事件。提出的研究包括建立非平凡的拓扑（或表面相关）现象在集体等离子激子-极化激子激发。这将为新型纳米光子元件（波导、分离器等）创造一个平台，它可以支持中红外频率的非互反和理想的单向波传播。到目前为止，所有的光子拓扑绝缘体设计都涉及到块状铁磁材料、金属和介电材料。这些超材料的特性是由设计预先确定的，并且是不可调节的。我们的方法是利用电可调谐量子材料及其等离子体极化模式。例如，非互易等离子体-极化模式的方向性可以在飞行中进行电气控制。如果成功，这项研究将提供集成的中红外纳米光子学解决方案，如光调制器、隔离器和路由器、片上中红外激光器和片上手性生物分子传感。在加强教育和外联方面，本项目将实施三管齐下的扩大参与计划。首先，它将为参与的pi采用统一的行动计划，将量子材料纳米光子学纳入当前的本科课程，包括量子材料，光子学，光谱学和加工课程。其次，研究团队将在当地社区为K-12学生组织并建立一个暑期体验工作坊。第三，团队将组织暑期学校和额外的量子材料纳米光子学科学研讨会。这些活动将与研究所密切协调，并每年向美国国家科学基金会报告。基态电子波函数中的非平凡Berry相位最近启发了二维材料的实验观察，例如谷霍尔输运和间隙狄拉克材料的圆二色性。然而，据预测，电子基态的底层贝里相也应该赋予集体电子激发一种全新的非互反特征，称为贝里等离子激元。该项目将研究两个基本问题：1)包括拓扑材料的等离子体-极化子在内的集体模式如何受到其单粒子电子态的非平凡拓扑的影响？2)我们如何利用拓扑等离子体来制造新的光电器件？为了回答这些问题，我们提出了一个联合的理论和实验方案，目标如下：进行原理验证实验以验证预测的集体激发，Berry等离子体，并演示一套中红外纳米光子学组件，如节能非互易光调制器和路由器，片上中红外泵浦和探针激光器，以及用于手性生物分子传感的集成平台。该项目集成了凝聚态物理、材料和电磁学建模、先进的逆光子系统设计、最先进的二维材料器件制造、先进的近场红外技术高光谱成像和中红外集成光子元件。这个为期四年的项目包括明尼苏达大学、哥伦比亚大学、斯坦福大学和宾夕法尼亚大学。

The mid-infrared spectrum is a technologically important spectral range used for identifying molecular fingerprints in biology and chemistry, atmospheric transparent windows for free-space communications, and thermal-related events. The proposed research consists of establishing non-trivial topological (or surface-related) phenomena in collective plasmon-polaritonic excitations. This will then create a platform for novel nanophotonic components (waveguides, splitters, and others) which can support non-reciprocal and ideally unidirectional wave-propagation in the mid-infrared frequency. So far, all designs of photonic topological insulators involve bulk ferromagnetic materials, metals and dielectrics. The characteristics of these metamaterials are predefined by design and non-tunable. Our approach is to utilize electrically tunable quantum materials and their plasmon-polaritonic modes. For example, the directionality of the non-reciprocal plasmon-polaritons mode can be electrically controlled on-the-fly. If successful, this research would deliver integrated mid-infrared nanophotonics solutions, such as optical modulators, isolators and routers, on-chip mid-infrared lasers, and on-chip sensing of chiral biomolecules. On enhancing both education and outreach, this project will implement a three-pronged broadening participation program. First, it will employ a unified plan of action for the participating PIs to incorporate quantum materials nanophotonics into current undergraduate curricula, including classes in quantum materials, photonics, spectroscopy and processing. Secondly, the research team will organize and establish a summer experience workshop for K-12 students in the local communities. Third, the team will organize summer school and additional scientific workshops on quantum materials nanophotonics. These activities will be closely coordinated with the institution and reported to NSF annually.Non-trivial Berry phase in its ground state electronic wavefunction has recently inspired its experimental observation in 2D materials, such as valley Hall transport and circular dichroism in gapped Dirac materials. However, it was predicted that the underlying Berry phase of the electronic ground state should also imbue the collective electronic excitations with a completely new non-reciprocal character known as Berry plasmons. This project will investigate two fundamental questions: 1) How are the collective modes, including plasmons-polaritons of topological materials, impacted by the non-trivial topology of their single-particle electronic states? 2) How can we harness topological plasmons for creating new optoelectronic devices? To answer these questions, we propose a joint theoretical and experimental program, with the following goals; perform proof-of-principle experiments to verify the predicted collective excitation, Berry plasmons, and demonstrate a suite of mid-infrared nanophotonics components such as energy efficient non-reciprocal optical modulators and routers, on-chip mid-infrared pump and probe lasers, and integrated platform for sensing of chiral biomolecules. The program integrates condensed matter physics, materials and electromagnetics modeling, advanced inverse photonic system design, state-of-the-art 2D materials device fabrication, advanced hyperspectral imaging with near field infrared techniques, and mid-infrared integrated photonics components. This 4 years program involves University of Minnesota, Columbia University, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania.