CAREER: Bridging Infrared and Visible Photonics with Chip-ready Nonlinear and Quantum Metadevices

光子学是一项强大的技术，它能够实现不断增长的数据传输，并激发出新的节能和可重新配置的架构，这些架构将为未来的计算机提供动力。然而，目前光子芯片中颜色的多样性需要一种通用的方法来将信号从一个光频率传输到另一个光频率。目前，芯片携带近红外信号用于通信，可见光信号用于成像，中红外信号用于热辐射和传感应用。这些芯片之间通过电子驱动的检测和发射进行转换，限制了效率和运行速度。这项研究工作解决了在芯片上进行高效频率转换的问题。它通过被称为光子-声子亚表面的设计纳米结构中的非线性和量子光与物质的相互作用，将信号连接到五个八度的光。将使用现代纳米技术工具以及严格的数值设计方法和最先进的光学测试工具，包括飞秒激光和单光子相关技术来构思光子-声子亚表面。这项研究的结果将为在芯片上更好、更有效地发送信号铺平道路，这将允许不同类型的光子平台和芯片的无缝集成。该项目的一个重要组成部分是综合教育努力，以培养一批未来的半导体微电子学和量子信息专家。通过无尘室培训、量子通信协议实践经验和公开演讲，该项目团队将在塑造未来高科技研究和教育的格局中发挥重要作用。这个职业项目旨在通过探索非线性和量子光与物质的相互作用，在纳米尺度上弥合中、近红外和可见光子学之间的差距。在五年的时间里，将开发出在纳米级设备的可见光和中红外之间连接五个八度的光频率的基础。三个主要目标包括：揭示基于声子-极化电子材料(hBN，MoO_3)和共振介电纳米结构组合的共同设计的光子-声子亚表面的基本性质；促进不同频率的光子的混波；以及利用中红外驱动在应变二维材料中进行单光子发射。为了实现这些目标，将使用全波分析、纳米机械联合设计、纳米制造和表征工具、近场显微镜、飞秒光谱和相关测量。该项目在探索声子-极化子材料的非线性和量子性质方面具有智力优势，为片上光管理提供了一个具有前所未有的带宽、占地面积和效率的框架。更广泛的影响延伸到通过芯片上光子学、影响计算、信号处理、电信、量子信息和生物光子学的进步来影响社会。该项目通过半导体和量子就绪的教育和劳动力发展活动将研究和教育结合在一起。为不同参与者提供的无尘室培训、量子通信协议的实践经验和公开演讲将提供培训机会，并与学术和区域组织合作努力纳入。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。

Photonics is a powerful technology that enables ever-growing data transfer and inspires novel energy-efficient and reconfigurable architectures that will empower the computers of the future. However, the present diversity of colors in photonic chips calls for a universal approach to transfer signals from one light frequency to another. Currently, chips carry near-infrared signals for communication, visible signals for imaging, and mid-infrared for thermal radiation and sensing applications. Conversion between these chips through electronics-driven detection and emission limits efficiency and operation speed. This research effort addresses the problem of efficient frequency conversion on a chip. It connects signals across five octaves of light through nonlinear and quantum light-matter interactions in designer nanostructures called photonic-phononic metasurfaces. Photonic-phononic metasurfaces will be conceived using modern tools of nanotechnology, as well as rigorous numerical design approaches and state-of-the-art optical testing tools, including femtosecond lasers and single-photon correlation techniques. The results of this research will pave the way to better, more efficient signaling on a chip, which will allow seamless integration of heterogeneous photonic platforms and chiplets. An essential component of this project is an integrated educational effort to train a diverse group of future semiconductor microelectronics and quantum information specialists. Through clean room training, hands-on experience with quantum communication protocols, and public talks, the project’s team will play an important role in shaping the landscape of high-tech research and education of tomorrow.This CAREER project aims to bridge the gap between mid-, near-infrared, and visible photonics at the nanoscale by exploring nonlinear and quantum light-matter interactions. Over five years, the foundation for connecting light frequencies across five octaves between the visible and mid-infrared in nanoscale devices will be developed. The three main objectives include unraveling the fundamental properties of co-designed photonic-phononic metasurfaces based on a combination of phonon-polaritonic materials (hBN, MoO3) and resonant dielectric nanostructures; facilitating wave-mixing of photons across different frequencies; and employing mid-infrared drive for single-photon emission in strained two-dimensional materials. To achieve these objectives, full-wave analysis, nanomechanical co-design, nanoscale fabrication and characterization tools, near-field microscopy, femtosecond spectroscopy, and correlation measurements will be used. The project holds intellectual merit in exploring the nonlinear and quantum properties of phonon-polaritonic materials, offering a framework for on-chip light management with unprecedented bandwidth, footprint, and efficiency. The broader impacts extend to influencing society through advancements in on-chip photonics, impacting computing, signal processing, telecommunication, quantum information, and biophotonics. The project integrates research and education through semiconductor- and quantum-ready education and workforce development activities. Clean room training for a diverse body of participants, hands-on experience with quantum communication protocols, and public talks will provide training opportunities and inclusion efforts in collaboration with academic and regional organizations.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.