Collaborative research: Mid-IR Photonic Funnels: Coupling, emitting, and re-shaping mid-IR photons in the nano-world

合作研究：中红外光子漏斗：在纳米世界中耦合、发射和重塑中红外光子

• 批准号: 2004422
• 负责人: Daniel Wasserman
• 金额: $ 30.95万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-08-01 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2004422&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; research; Mid; IR; Photonic

Progress in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology, healthcare, and communications all require precise control and understanding of light interaction with nanoscale objects. Unfortunately, the phenomenon known as the diffraction limit prevents focusing of light to areas smaller than approximately half the wavelength of the light. For thermal (mid-infrared) radiation, the diffraction limit-scale is roughly five microns, much larger than 10-100’s-nanometer size of semiconductor electronic components, viruses, and other objects of interest. In this collaborative research the investigators develop novel structures, photonic funnels, that eliminate the diffraction limit and efficiently guide the optical signals between free space and nano-scale areas. Theoretically, the investigators develop equations and computer codes to model propagation of light through the funnels, as well as the emission of light by nanoscale objects positioned within, and in proximity to, the funnels. Experimentally, the researchers develop procedures to fabricate the funnels, integrate light emitters, and analyze light propagation through, and from, these structures. The exploration and development of these novel composite materials have the potential to open new avenues in high-resolution probing of biological, electronic, and optical structures, and in engineering optical interactions with these structures. In addition, the investigators plan for outreach and educational activities aimed at both high-school and college-level students, as well as personnel exchange and training across the disciplines.This collaborative project aims to address one of the fundamental limits of light-matter interaction, the diffraction limit. The research team utilizes recently developed composite optical materials with highly doped plasmonic inclusions, hyperbolic metamaterials, and develops tools for the design, fabrication, and analysis of conical structures with hyperbolic cores, photonic funnels, in the important mid-infrared frequency range. The strong dielectric anisotropy of hyperbolic materials postpones the onset of the diffraction limit inside the funnels and thus enables propagation of light between micro- and nano-scales. The research team analyzes, theoretically and experimentally, light-matter interaction inside, and in close proximity to, the photonic funnels. Specifically, the team develops theoretical tools capable of accurate modelling of light generation from within, and in the near field of, the funnels, as well as of light propagation through the funnels. In parallel, the team develops fabrication and characterization procedures to accurately control the geometry of the funnels and to understand their optical response. The collaborative feedback within the team enables comprehensive development of a novel material platform offering unique opportunities for light manipulation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

材料科学、纳米技术、医疗保健和通信领域的进步都需要精确控制和理解光与纳米级物体的相互作用。不幸的是，被称为衍射极限的现象阻止光聚焦到小于光的波长的大约一半的区域。对于热（中红外）辐射，衍射极限尺度大约为5微米，远大于半导体电子元件、病毒和其他感兴趣物体的10-100纳米尺寸。在这项合作研究中，研究人员开发了新的结构，光子漏斗，消除了衍射极限，并有效地引导自由空间和纳米级区域之间的光信号。从理论上讲，研究人员开发了方程和计算机代码来模拟光通过漏斗的传播，以及位于漏斗内和附近的纳米级物体的光发射。在实验上，研究人员开发了制造漏斗的程序，集成了光发射器，并分析了通过这些结构和来自这些结构的光传播。这些新型复合材料的探索和发展有可能为生物、电子和光学结构的高分辨率探测以及与这些结构的工程光学相互作用开辟新的途径。此外，研究人员还计划开展针对高中和大学生的推广和教育活动，以及跨学科的人员交流和培训。该合作项目旨在解决光物质相互作用的基本限制之一，衍射极限。该研究团队利用最近开发的具有高度掺杂的等离子体夹杂物的复合光学材料，双曲超材料，并开发用于设计，制造和分析具有双曲芯，光子漏斗的圆锥形结构的工具，在重要的中红外频率范围内。双曲线材料的强介电各向异性推迟了漏斗内部衍射极限的开始，从而使光能够在微米和纳米尺度之间传播。研究小组从理论和实验上分析了光子漏斗内部和附近的光-物质相互作用。具体来说，该团队开发的理论工具能够准确模拟从漏斗内部和近场产生的光，以及通过漏斗的光传播。同时，该团队开发制造和表征程序，以准确控制漏斗的几何形状并了解其光学响应。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Controlling Light Emission with Photonic Funnels

用光子漏斗控制光发射

• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Proc. CLEO 2022
• 作者: J. LaMountain, E. Simmons

Subdiffraction Limited Photonic Funneling of Light

光的子衍射有限光子漏斗

• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202001321
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: Advanced Optical Materials
• 影响因子: 9
• 作者: Li, Kun;Simmons, Evan;Briggs, Andrew;Nordin, Leland;Xu, Jiaming;Podolskiy, Viktor;Wasserman, Daniel
• 通讯作者: Wasserman, Daniel

Hyperbolic Metamaterial Photonic Funnels

双曲超材料光子漏斗

• DOI: 10.1364/cleo_qels.2020.fm1b.4
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: CLEO: QELS_Fundamental Science 2020
• 作者: Li, K.;Simmons, E.;Briggs, A.;Xu, J.;Cheng, Y.;Chen, Ray T.;Bank, S.;Podolskiy, V.A;Wasserman, D.
• 通讯作者: Wasserman, D.

Temporal Shaping of Light at the Nanoscale with Photonic Funnels

利用光子漏斗在纳米尺度上对光进行时间整形

• DOI: 10.1364/cleo_fs.2023.ftu4d.7
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: CLEO 2023
• 作者: LaMountain, J.;Raju, A.;Briggs, A.;Wasserman, D.;Podolskiy, V.A.
• 通讯作者: Podolskiy, V.A.