GOALI:Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Chiral Photonic Circuits and Electro-Optical Devices in Silica Using Femtosecond Ultrafast Lasers

本研究计划的目标是开发一种新型的超快激光加工技术，以在石英玻璃中制造高质量和低成本的光波电路和电光器件。利用飞秒激光脉冲驱动的多光子过程，将在石英玻璃中制备出特征尺寸低于衍射极限的新型三维光子器件。技术优点：该项目将首先开发一种使用可变高重复率（250 kHz）超快脉冲序列的新型激光加工技术。用体加热法改变透明材料的折射率，可以完全消除高峰激光强度对材料的间接损伤。超快激光器所提供的三维微制造能力将被片上手性光波导制造所利用。全新的激光写入手征波导器件将在石英玻璃中开发，以控制导波的圆偏振。结合我们的材料研究，以合成具有大的三阶光学非线性的新型玻璃波导，将进行全面的超快激光极化研究，以制造硅基电光器件。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究工作，如果成功的话，将产生商业上可行的，低损耗，光子元件的新型三维光子架构，这是无法实现的任何其他制造方法。新型玻璃材料合成和超快激光极化研究的独特组合有可能为光纤通信行业生产低成本的二氧化硅波导电光调制器。我们将与当地工业界、机械工程和材料科学领域的教职员工合作，为本科生提供跨学科的培训计划。本科生将通过高级设计项目从事集成激光制造和产品创新。PI还将与匹兹堡大学本科生机器人俱乐部合作，支持本科生和K-12学生参加课外活动。通过本科生培训和课外活动，该计划将鼓励更多的本科生通过参加科学，工程和医学研究生院来进一步发展他们的职业生涯。通过外联活动，我们将吸引更多的女性和代表性不足的少数民族高中生到高等院校学习工程

The objective of this research program is to develop a novel ultrafast laser processing technique to fabricate high-quality and low-cost lightwave circuits and electro-optic devices in silica glasses. By taking advantage of multi-photon processes driven by femtosecond laser pulses, novel three-dimensional photonic devices will be fabricated in silica glasses with feature sizes below the diffraction limit. Technical Merit: This project will first develop a novel laser processing technique using variable high repetition rate ( 250 kHz) ultrafast pulse trains. Using bulk heating to modify refractive indice in transparent materials, collateral damages induced by high peak laser intensities can be completely eliminated. The three-dimensional micro-manufacturing capability offered by the ultrafast laser will be exploited by on-chip chiral optical waveguide fabrication. Entire new classes of laser-written chiral waveguide devices will be developed in silica glasses to control the circular polarization of the guided waves. In conjunction with our material research to synthesize novel glass waveguides with large third-order optical nonlinearity, comprehensive ultrafast-laser poling studies will be carried out towards the fabrication of silica-based electro-optical devices. Broader Impacts: The proposed research work, if successful, will yield commercially viable, low-loss, photonic components for novel three-dimensional photonic architectures, which are not attainable by any other fabrication method. The unique combination of the novel glass material synthesis and ultrafast laser poling studies has the potential to produce low-cost silica waveguide electro-optical modulators for the fiber-optical communication industry. Teaming up with local industry, faculty members from mechanical engineering and material science, we will provide an interdisciplinary training program for our undergraduate students. Undergraduate students will work on integrated laser manufacturing and product innovation through senior design projects. The PI will also work with the University of Pittsburgh undergraduate Robotics Club to support undergraduates and K-12 students in their participation in extracurricular activities. Through undergraduate training and extracurricular activities, this program will encourage more undergraduate students to further their careers by attending graduate school in science, engineering,, and medicine. Through outreach activities, we will attract more female and under-represented minority high-school students to study engineering in colleges and universities