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

非技术描述：就像集成电路技术缩小了尺寸，降低了成本，使复杂的电子设备变得容易为大众所接受一样，从表面上离散光学元件的2D组装过渡到3D集成光学平台，预计将产生类似的变革性影响，特别是随着对信息和数据传输的需求不断增加。操纵需要特殊透明单晶体的光子本身就困难得多，这使得集成光学相对于容易流经任何导线的电子来说是一个持久的挑战。这个产学研合作项目提出了在玻璃中实现光学活性单晶结构的新制造方法，适用于实际设备，同时通过新的巴斯德伙伴博士(P3)模型培养博士生。这些学生在一名教员和一名公司科学家的共同建议下，从事受使用启发的多学科研究，并获得在工业、学术界、国家实验室等领域成功职业生涯所必需的技能。技术细节：如果没有光学有源元件，工作中的微光学芯片就不会完整，这些光学有源元件也可以接收电信号。这样的元件需要是结合在波导电路中的高质量电光单晶。该项目建立在铁电玻璃单晶结构(SCAG)的成功演示的基础上，该结构是使用飞秒激光以3D形式构建的。然而，这种SCAG光波导的光学损耗太高。通常，SCAG的形成伴随着元素在玻璃和晶体之间的重新分配。此外，由于晶化过程中生长前沿密度的变化，SCAG的晶格会受到应力的影响。通过对晶体在周围玻璃限制下生长的这些特征的基本了解，该项目正在通过在晶体内创建渐变折射率分布来减少光学损失。通过具有适当光强分布的激光动态控制温度，实现了折射率的理想变化。与此同时，该项目正在探索通过飞秒激光照射形成金属纳米颗粒或导电氧化物沉淀来形成导电路径。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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.