Nano-Optomechanics with Applications to Protein Dynamics and Terahertz Technology

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The proposed research program has two main thrusts unified by our expertise and leadership in light-matter interaction at the nanometer scale, particularly using nanoplasmonics (nanostructured metals).1) Bio: Proteins are the machines of life. We want to understand their dynamical biophysics and how this plays a role in their function, how mutation leads to malfunction, and finally, how small molecules can correct malfunctions to cure diseases. To do this, we are developing new techniques capable of looking at proteins one-at-a-time. We have already licensed an earlier technology on "optical trapping of a single protein" to a pharmaceutical company, and here we aim to create more powerful techniques that can probe the vibrational energy landscape of proteins and answer fundamental questions about their behavior and interactions. 2) Info: While our thirst for data is growing (e.g., more than 6 billion cell phones in the world), data processing industries are facing "unmanageable" challenges to achieve high speed with low energy consumption. Radically different approaches are required; for example, considering those that naturally operate a thousand times faster than conventional computer clock rates. All-optical approaches can certainly achieve such terahertz data rates, but efficient switching requires much stronger nonlinearities than natural materials provide. Here, we investigate entirely new and original classes of designer materials to achieve a strong nonlinear response. These materials are designed to harness extremely nonlinear sub-nanometer scale processes that have not been investigated in this context before: Coulomb blockade (single electron blocking) and quantum tunneling (exponentially sensitive). We will achieve modulation through Blockade and electrostriction of nanoscale particles, and we will squeeze light down to sub-nanometer gaps by using plasmonics, allowing for dense integration of information processing devices.This program aims at ground-breaking discovery in the "bio" and "info" sectors. The program builds on our past successes in nanoplasmonics (with high impact contributions to the scientific community and technology transfer to industry), but is mainly made up of highly-ambitious new approaches to protein analysis and all-optical switching that could, if successful, transform both science and industry.