Quantum Photonics and the Physics of Light

我们提出了一个综合的五年研究计划，涵盖了从光学物理的基本方面到应用工程光子学方面的研究课题。在这一更广泛的背景下，本文件重点介绍了两个具体的研究项目。一个需要研究的光子材料最近发现的PI，拥有一个非常大的（有史以来最大的测量！），超快非线性响应与其ε近零（ENZ）光谱区。我们将研究这种巨大的非线性响应的性质，其对光子学应用的影响，以及小介电常数和大非线性的组合所允许的新物理。另一个项目需要使用纳米制造方法来制造新的光子表面，结构和设备。这部分工作的一个特定目标是开发一个微型的芯片级光谱仪。这种光谱仪对改善社会有很大的希望，包括开发用于健康科学的便携式诊断设备和用于阻止恐怖主义威胁的现场准备设备。我们的研究计划由于各种原因而很重要。它应该导致增加对光学物理学中的基本过程的理解，例如自发辐射和超辐射过程如何在ENZ条件下被修改。它也将导致增加对光学非线性的起源的理解，以及为什么某些材料比其他材料更具非线性（在某些情况下显着）。这项工作也有实际意义。一个目标是开发高度微型（芯片级）的光谱分辨率与实验室大小的设备。我们的设备前所未有的良好光谱分辨率是通过在干涉仪的一个臂内放置高度色散的材料（慢光介质）来实现的。这样的设备适用于无数的应用，包括环境污染传感，生物医学监测和化学恐怖主义威胁的检测。此外，我们对自发辐射性质的修改工作应该导致显著提高固态照明光源效率的方法。这项工作具有巨大的商业意义。这些应用将有益于加拿大社会，科学界将对将要开发的基础设施感兴趣。这项工作将为本科生，研究生和博士后HQP提供与光子技术相关的高度期望的技能，使他们成为学术界，工业界和政府就业的有吸引力和竞争力的候选人 **

We propose an integrated five-year research program that spans research topics ranging from fundamental aspects of optical physics to aspects of applied engineering photonics. Within this broader context, this document highlights two specific research projects. One entails studies of a photonic material recently uncovered by the PI that possesses an extremely large (largest ever measured!), ultrafast nonlinear response associated with its epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) spectral region. We will study the nature of this huge nonlinear response, its implications for photonics applications, and the novel physics permitted by the combination of small dielectric permittivity and large nonlinearity. The other project entails the use of nanofabrication methods to manufacture new photonic surfaces, structures and devices. A particular goal of this part of the work is to develop a miniature, chip-scale spectrometer. A spectrometer of this sort holds great promise for the betterment of society, including the development of portable diagnostic equipment for the health sciences and field-ready equipment to thwart terrorism threats.******Our program of research is important for a variety of reasons. It should lead to increased understanding of basic processes in optical physics, such as how the processes of spontaneous emission and superradiance are modified under ENZ conditions. It will also lead to increased understanding of the origin of optical nonlinearities and of why some materials are more nonlinear (in some cases dramatically so) than others. There are also practical implications to this work. One aim is to develop highly miniature (chip-scale) optical spectrometers with a spectral resolution comparable to those of laboratory-sized devices. The unprecedentedly good spectral resolution of our device is achieved by placing a highly dispersive material (a slow-light medium) within one arm of an interferometer. Such a device lends itself to myriads of application, including environmental pollution sensing, biomedical monitoring, and the detection of chemical terrorism threats. Moreover, our work on the modification of the properties of spontaneous emission should lead to means for dramatically increasing the efficiency of solid-state-lighting sources. This work has enormous commercial implications. These applications will be of benefit to Canadian society and the infrastructure to be developed will be of interest to the scientific community. This work will provide undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral HQP with highly desired skills related to photonics technology, making them attractive and competitive candidates for employment in academia, industry and government**