Towards Dispersion Management and Coherent Plasmon Optics in Nanostructured Metallodielectric Composites

技术：本项目旨在加深对新型金属介电纳米复合材料的理解、开发和光学表征。介电常数的色散，由组成、结构和对称性引起，是一个主要问题，因为它使光学信息的控制、创造和检测成为可能，因为现在已知在微纳米结构材料中出现了新的色散现象。该方法在选择纳米结构金属介电复合材料（称为超材料）时解决了这种色散响应，并在三种基本不同的色散管理协议的背景下研究了金属介电复合材料的线性光学响应：(i)从纳米结构复合材料开始，测量有效材料的介电常数，描述它们对对称性、尺度和顺序的依赖。（ii）在中观尺度，准二维金属介电光子晶体中的等离子体模式耦合将在相干诱导透明的背景下进行研究。（iii）在材料层面，金属介电结构与谐振增益介质的耦合将允许对超材料色散进行主动控制。本研究的综合结果有望对有源和无源超材料的色散管理有更全面和基本的了解。由于该项目解决了纳米级等离子体系统中光-物质相互作用的基本问题，因此所获得的结果和知识将与理解强色散存在下亚衍射体积中的信号操纵有关。这种理解有望在诸如光收集、纳米级信号路由和存储、高分辨率成像系统和有源等离子体器件等领域产生影响。非技术性：项目涉及电子/光子材料科学领域的基础研究问题，具有较高的技术相关性。当前能够操纵光信息的光子器件的发展可能会对当前和未来的光学技术的进步产生重大影响。拟议的研究本质上是跨学科的，为所有参与的学生提供合作机会。我们的目标是通过让各级大学生接触研究和多学科科学工作，使人们了解材料科学的许多迷人方面。在本科阶段，目标是通过提供各种课程和研究机会来扩大学习途径。在研究生阶段，该项目涉及材料科学和光学领域现有教育和实习项目的参与和发展。

Technical: This project aims for greater understanding, development, and optical characterization of new metallodielectric nano-composite materials. Dispersion of the dielectric permittivity, as arising from composition, structure and symmetry is a primary issue of concern, because it enables control, creation and detection of optical information, since new dispersive phenomena are now known to arise in micro and nanostructured materials. The approach addresses such dispersive response in selection of nanostructured metallodielectric composite materials, referred to as metamaterials, and study of linear optical response of metallodielectric composites in the context of three fundamentally distinct dispersion management protocols: (i) Starting with nanostructured composites, effective material permittivities will be measured, delineating their dependence on symmetry, scale and order. (ii) At the meso-scale, plasmon mode-coupling in quasi two-dimensional metallodielectric photonic crystals will be studied in the context of a coherently-induced transparency. (iii) At the material level, coupling of the metallodielectric structures to a resonant gain medium will allow active control over metamaterial dispersion. The integrated results of this study are expected to result in a more comprehensive and fundamental understanding of dispersion management in both active and passive metamaterials. Since the project addresses fundamental questions of light-matter interactions in nanoscale plasmonic systems, results and knowledge gained will be relevant to understanding signal manipulation in sub-diffraction volumes in the presence of strong dispersion. Such understanding is expected to have impact in fields such as light harvesting, nanoscale signal routing and storage, high-resolution imaging systems and active plasmonic devices.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of electronic/photonic materials science with high technological relevance. Current development of photonic devices capable of manipulating optical information may substantially impact advancement of present and future optical technologies. The proposed research is interdisciplinary in nature, offering collaborative opportunities for all participating students. A goal is to make known the many fascinating aspects of materials science by exposing university students of all levels to research and multi-disciplinary scientific work. At the undergraduate level the aim is to expand avenues for learning by offering a variety of course and research opportunities. At the graduate level the project addresses involvement and development of existing educational and internship programs, both in materials science and optics.