Novel Photon-Electron Interaction Devices

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Long-term objectives: The proposed research addresses challenging issues and potential applications of optoelectronic interaction effects between photons and electrons. The goal is to utilize their unique properties for establishing photonic functionalities based on optical gain and optical nonlinear interactions. The long-term goal is to establish theoretical, experimental, and technological platforms for photon functional elements with built-in optoelectronic gain, and possibly storage capabilities, in order to control and manipulate photons at ultra-high speeds. The strategy is to design, and implement in a longer term, a functionality-optimized material and its structurality for ultra-fast switching/processing elements with built-in optoelectronic amplification.******Short-term objectives: The research will concentrate on understanding and exploitation of ways, via material nonlinear and plasmonic interactions, for obtaining photon energy gain other than known spontaneous and stimulated emission effects. The research activities will centre around understanding the behaviour of photons in electrons' environments and on how they can be brought into active interactions within and via the materials. Nanoscale waveguide, plasmonic, periodic and nonlinear optical nanostructures will be investigated for control, manipulation, amplification, and possible storage of photons.******Methodology: Materials such as silicon, III/V and II/VI semiconductors, graphene or superconductors will be considered for interaction studies, and for designs of novel structures. The material structuring with periodic, aperiodic, chirped or random elements distribution will be studied with a goal of designing configurations that accommodate best the desired functionality. Material properties and structural aspects will be optimally combined to yield the best possible performance. A new general solution to Maxwell's equations has been derived. A robust algorithm has been developed for evaluating linear prolate functions that possess unique properties. Efficient and fast programs in Mathematica have been developed to solve Maxwell's equations for any nonlinear inhomogeneous structures, to calculate accurately linear prolate functions to any precision and order, and to implement design particle swarm optimization procedures.******Feasibility: Our high-quality publications in the last six years testify to the ability and suitability of our tools and expertise for addressing proposed research subjects successfully over the term of this proposal. Student involvement is crucial as the training and development of HQP is important to the overall goals of this research program.******Impact: Generic elements investigated in this research project offer to possess a ground-breaking nature with potential applications in engineering, communications, signal processing, biomedicine, defence.