GOALI: Spatially selective phase transformations of glass to single crystal and electrically conducting 3D architectures

非技术描述：正如集成电路技术缩小了尺寸，降低了成本，并使复杂的电子设备易于大众使用一样，从表面上离散光学元件的2D组装到3D集成光学平台的转变预计会产生类似的变革影响，特别是随着对信息和数据传输的需求不断增加。光子的操作需要特殊的透明单晶体，这本身就更加困难，这使得集成光学成为一个持久的挑战，而电子很容易通过任何导线。这个产学研合作项目推进了新的制造方法，用于在玻璃中实现适合实际设备的光活性单晶结构，同时通过新颖的巴斯德合作伙伴博士（P3）模型培养博士生。这些学生在教师和公司科学家的共同指导下进行使用启发的多学科研究，并获得在工业，学术界，国家实验室等成功职业的基本技能。技术细节：一个集成的“微光学芯片”如果没有光学主动元件，也可以接收电信号，将是不完整的。这种元件需要是高质量的电光单晶，并与波导电路结合在一起。该项目建立在使用飞秒激光在3D中构建的玻璃中铁电单晶结构（SCAG）的成功演示基础上。然而，这种SCAG波导的光损耗过高。通常SCAG的形成伴随着玻璃和晶体之间元素的重新分配。同时，晶化过程中生长前沿密度变化所产生的应力也会对SCAG的晶格进行修饰。通过对周围玻璃约束下晶体生长的这些特征的基本理解，该项目通过在晶体内创建渐变折射率剖面来减少光学损耗。通过适当强度分布的激光束对温度的动态控制，引入了期望的折射率变化。与此同时，该项目正在通过激光照射形成金属纳米颗粒或导电氧化物沉淀来寻求导电路径的形成。该项目正在引入制造3D玻璃晶体超材料的新方法，用于一系列光子和光电子应用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Just as integrated circuit technology reduced the size, lowered the cost and made sophisticated electronic devices accessible to masses, a similar transformative impact is expected from the transition of 2D assembly of discrete optical elements on a surface to a 3D integrated optics platform, especially with ever increasing demand for information and data transmission. Manipulation of photons that require special transparent single crystals is inherently much more difficult, making integrated optics a persistent challenge vs. that of electrons that flow readily through any conducting wire. This industry-university collaborative project advances new fabrication methods for realizing optically active single crystal architecture in glass suitable for practical devices, while educating doctoral students through a novel Pasteur Partners PhD (P3) model. These students pursue use-inspired multidisciplinary research co-advised by a faculty and a company scientist, and acquire essential skills for successful careers in industry, academia, national labs, etc. TECHNICAL DETAILS: A working integrated ‘micro-optics chip’ would not be complete without optically active elements that are also accessible to receive an electrical signal. Such elements need to be high quality electro-optic single crystals incorporated within a circuit of waveguides. This project builds on the successful demonstration of ferroelectric single crystal architecture in glass (SCAG) which is constructed in 3D using femtosecond lasers. However, the optical loss of such SCAG waveguides has been too high. Often the SCAG formation is accompanied by a redistribution of elements between glass and crystal. Also, the lattice of SCAG is modified by the stresses resulting from change in density at the growth front during crystallization. Through a fundamental understanding of these features of crystal growth under the confinement by the surrounding glass, this project is reducing optical loss by creating a graded refractive index profile within the crystal. The desired variation of refractive index is introduced through dynamic control of temperature by a laser beam of appropriate intensity profile. In parallel, this project is pursuing formation of conducting paths by forming metallic nanoparticles or precipitates of a conducting oxide by fs laser irradiation. The project is introducing new methodologies for fabricating 3D crystal-in-glass metamaterials for a range of photonic and optoelectronic applications.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.