Tunable photonic nanostructures exhibiting plasmonic and leaky-mode resonances

学术成就：本计画的目标是进行可调奈米结构共振元件的理论与实验研究。 该项目的动机是最近的理论结果，证明了大量的光谱可调性与最小的机械运动。 所提出的纳米/微米机电可调谐像素依赖于构成周期性波导的亚波长光子晶格中的漏模谐振效应。 通过数值模拟和原型元件的制造，探索这个概念在~0.4 m至~2 m波长范围内的实用性是有意义的。提出了一个全面的研究计划，以解决这类设备的许多有趣的方面。 该项目是智力有功的，在光子器件设计的基础上，纳米结构的亚波长元件的新的，原来的方向将被追求。 共存的等离子体和漏模共振效应的研究是基本的科学兴趣。 我们希望该项目能够建立一类新的可调光学元件，并有助于器件的设计和制造。更广泛的影响：如果研究验证了这些概念的实用性，这项工作可以在促进新设备技术方面产生重大影响。 可调谐滤波器、可变反射器、调制器和可调谐像素等应用似乎是可行的。 这些器件可用作用于显示应用的新型、平面、超薄空间光调制器中的像素，以及用于包括可调谐多光谱检测器、多光谱分析系统、偏振鉴别和分析系统以及可调谐激光器的其它系统中的像素。 此外，该项目支持康涅狄格大学光子纳米结构研究能力和教育的发展，为研究生和本科生提供分析和实验经验。 这项研究的结果将在期刊和会议上传播。 由于有强烈的全球重点研究周期性层和晶格，我们的出版物和结果，说明有趣的效果和应用实现的漏模制度和混合等离子体/漏模制度，可能会刺激更多的研究和发展。

Intellectual Merit:The objective of this project is to conduct theoretical and experimental research on tunable nanostructured resonance elements. The project is motivated by recent theoretical results that demonstrate substantial spectral tunability with minimal mechanical movement. The proposed nano/micro-electromechanically tunable pixels rely on leaky-mode resonance effects in subwavelength photonic lattices that constitute periodic waveguides. It is of interest to explore the utility of this concept across the wavelength range from ~0.4 m to ~2 m by numerical simulations and fabrication of prototype elements. A comprehensive plan of research to address numerous interesting facets of this device class is proposed. The project is intellectually meritorious in that new, original directions in photonic device design based on nanostructured subwavelength elements will be pursued. The study of coexisting plasmonic and leaky-mode resonance effects is of fundamental scientific interest. We expect the project to establish a new class of tunable optical elements and to aid device design and fabrication. Broader Impact:If the research verifies the practicality of these concepts, this work can have a significant impact in promoting new device technology. Applications such as tunable filters, variable reflectors, modulators, and tunable pixels appear feasible. These devices may be useful as pixels in new, planar, ultra thin spatial light modulators for display applications as well as in other systems including tunable multispectral detectors, multispectral analysis systems, polarization discrimination and analysis systems, and tunable lasers. In addition, this project supports development of research capability and education in photonic nanostructures at the University of Connecticut providing analytical and experimental experience for graduate and undergraduate students. The results of this research will be disseminated in journals and conferences. Because there is strong global emphasis on the study of periodic layers and lattices, our publications and results, illustrating the interesting effects and applications realized in the leaky-mode regime and in the mixed plasmonic/leaky-mode regime, might stimulate additional research and development.