CAREER: Computational Studies of New Metallodielectric Structures for Manipulating Light At Sub-wavelengthscales

最近关于周期性金属结构的实验和理论工作导致了一些特殊的光学和电磁现象的发现。这些现象中的许多都指向了在远小于入射光子波长的长度尺度上限制、传输和操纵光的新可能性。最近的两个例子包括等离子体激元辅助的通过亚波长光圈的高透射率的实验发现，以及构造具有负折射率的透镜的理论建议，该透镜允许以无限分辨率聚焦。这些发现正在为纳米制造和成像带来新的设备可能性。这些发展反过来又提出了许多有趣的理论问题。所有这些现象的一个关键因素是使用了微结构和纳米结构的金属物体。因此，我们需要从总体上了解微纳米结构如何与电磁场中的亚波长特征相互作用。因为这里的新奇效果直接源于结构和几何参数之间微妙的相互作用。重要的是进行理论研究，以第一原理的方式考虑结构的全部复杂性。我们建议进行一系列大规模模拟，以阐明与这些现象相关的基本机制，并探索可能表现出更多有趣特性的新结构。特别是，我们将研究微结构对聚焦分辨率的影响，以及利用非周期结构帮助隧道通过单个孔径的详细机制。我们还将探索混合金属和介电周期结构作为一种新型的负折射率材料的应用，这种材料可能会缩小到光域。这些研究将加深我们对这一新的光学体系的了解，并将为设备应用带来新的机会。这个项目与我其他关于光子晶体和微型光子器件的研究项目相结合，将为学生提供极好的研究和教育机会。学生将通过研究一种新的光学体系来获得深刻的理论理解。与此同时，他们将有足够的机会与实验小组在光学和纳米制造方面进行合作。学生们还将学习最先进的计算技术。此外，研究计划的设计是为了让本科生和硕士学生可以接受短期项目，进行一系列定义明确的模拟研究。最后，为了与公众分享我们在这一研究领域的兴奋，我们将探索建造一个声学晶体雕塑的可能性，让参观者可以直接体验到显著的带隙效应。

Recent experimental and theoretical efforts on periodic metallic structures have led to the discoveries of a number of extraordinary optical and electromagnetic phenomena. Many of these phenomena are pointing towards new possibilities of confining, transmitting and manipulating light at a length scale that is far smaller than the wavelength of incident photons. Two recent examples include the experimental discoveries of plasmon-assisted high transmission through sub-wavelength apertures, and the theoretical proposal for constructing a lens with a negative refractive index that allows for focusing at infinite resolution. These discoveries are leading to new device possibilities in nano-fabrication and imaging.These developments, in turn, raised many interesting theoretical questions. A key ingredient in all these phenomena is the use of micro and nano-structured metallic objects. Therefore, we need to understand in general how micro and nano-structures interact with sub-wavelength features in the electromagnetic fields. Since the novel effects here directly result from the subtle interplay between the structural and geometrical parameters. It is important to undertake theoretical studies that take into account the full complexity of the structures in a first-principles way.We propose to undertake a series of large-scale simulations to elucidate the basic mechanisms associated with these phenomena, and to explore new structures that might exhibit further interesting properties. In particular, we will study the effects of microstructure on the resolution of focusing, and the detailed mechanisms of using aperiodic structures to assist tunneling through a single aperture. We will also explore the use of hybrid metal and dielectric periodic structures as a novel negative refractive index material that might be scaled down into the optical domain. These studies will enhance our understanding in this new regime of optics, and will lead to new opportunities for device applications.This program, in combination with my other research programs on photonic crystals and micro-photonic devices, will provide excellent research and educational opportunities for students. The students will gain a deep theoretical understanding by pursuing research in a new regime of optics. At the same time they will have ample opportunities to collaborate with experimental groups in optics and in nano-fabrication. The students will also learn state-of-the-art computational techniques. In addition, the research program is designed so that undergraduate and M. S. students can take on short-term projects to carry out sets of well-defined simulation studies. Finally, in order to share our excitement in this research field with the general public, we will explore the possibility of constructing a sculpture of an acoustic crystal, so that a visitor may directly experience the remarkable band gap effect.