CAREER: Experimental and Theoretical Analysis for Optical Induced Thermal Energy Transport in Nano-Optical Systems with Pulsed Light Sources

这个职业计划的目标是建立一个集成的研究、教学和推广框架，涉及光诱导纳米尺度的热传递，重点是纳米光学器件。纳米光学器件(如扫描光学探头和等离子体器件)代表了一类新的光学器件，它可以将光限制在亚衍射极限范围内(可见光小于200 nm)。这种高度受限的光对于光子计算机和超高速光开关的光电电路的小型化以及纳米级检测和纳米级制造都是有价值的。智能优点：对于大多数纳米光学设备来说，很大一部分光能在运行过程中会在设备中消散。由此产生的高温会显著改变器件的光学性质，甚至会损坏纳米光学系统。为了评估和控制纳米光学器件中的加热现象，将开发一个综合的实验和理论程序，在该程序中将确定纳米光学系统中的稳态和瞬时光热能量传输以及温度演变。为了获得纳米光学系统在不同实验条件下的热演化，将发展一种新的高速、高空间分辨率测温技术。同时，还将建立一个包括波型光传输、纳米级热传导和近场热辐射的实验验证的数值模型，以确定纳米光学系统内的能量分布和传输。然后，将应用集成的纳米级光学/热分析来确定热演变中的关键参数以及由此产生的光学特性变化，包括可能对纳米光学器件的热损害。因此，该计划的智力优势与以下方面有关：(A)高分辨率、时间分辨成像，用于纳米光学系统在不同特定操作条件下的热演化；(B)集成的纳米级光热分析，包括对纳米光学系统中光学诱导的纳米级传导和近场辐射的物理描述；以及(C)将热能传输纳入纳米光学系统的性能分析。更广泛的影响：就业计划将提供一个可持续的基础设施，以吸引和培训对科学和工程感兴趣的不同级别的学生，特别是在光学和热能运输方面。将开发一门新的本科生/研究生交叉列出的纳米级光/热能传输课程，向对纳米科学感兴趣的学生传达PI的研究见解。此外，该职业计划将包括一些本科生和研究生参与不同纳米光学系统的纳米级光热分析的开发。这两项活动对于培养具有纳米级光热能量传输专业知识的下一代工程师和科学家至关重要。在大学开展活动的同时，该职业计划将为德克萨斯州少数族裔人口众多的学校的高中教师提供暑期培训，以吸引少数族裔学生进入大学，然后参与光热研究。对于校园外的人，职业成就将通过一个互动网站和与不同研究领域的其他研究小组的广泛合作活动来传播。除了这些和其他培训活动外，与大学内部、国家实验室和小型工业中的其他研究小组的大力合作将促进对纳米光热能量传输的理解和应用，以开发热效应减弱的下一代纳米光学设备。这些新型纳米光学器件对于利用纳米光学器件更好地控制纳米制造、化学检测和生物操纵至关重要。

0845794WenThe goal of this CAREER program is to establish an integrated research, teaching and outreach framework involving optically-induced nanoscale heat transfer with an emphasis on nano-optical devices. Nano-optical devices (for example, scanning optical probes and plasmonic devices) represent a new group of optical devices which can confine and transport light within a sub-diffraction limit range (less than 200 nm for visible light). This highly confined light is valuable with respect to the miniaturization of photoelectrical circuits for photonic computers and ultra-high-speed light switches, as well as for nanoscale detection and nanoscale fabrication. Intellectual Merit: For most nano-optical devices, a significant portion of the light energy dissipates in the devices during operation. The resulting high temperatures can significantly change the optical properties of the device, and even damage a nano-optical system. To assess and control the heating phenomena within nano-optical devices, an integrated experimental and theoretical program will be developed in which the steady state and the transient optical-thermal energy transport as well as the temperature evolution within nano-optical systems, will be determined. New high-speed, high-spatial resolution thermometry will be developed to obtain the thermal evolution in nano-optical systems under different, specified experimental conditions. Simultaneously, an experimentally-validated numerical model including wave type light transport, nanoscale heat conduction, and near field thermal radiation will be developed to determine the energy distribution and transport within nano-optical systems. The integrated nanoscale optical/thermal analyses will then be applied to identify critical parameters in the thermal evolution and the resulting optical property changes, including possible thermal damage to nano-optical devices. Therefore, the intellectual merit of this program pertains to (a) high resolution, time-resolved imaging for thermal evolution within nano-optical systems under different specified operating conditions, (b) an integrated nanoscale optical-thermal analysis including physical description of optically-induced nanoscale conduction as well as near-field radiation in nano-optical systems, and (c) inclusion of thermal energy transport in the performance analysis of nano-optical systems. Broader Impacts: The CAREER program will provide a sustainable infrastructure to attract and train students at different levels with an interest in science and engineering especially in optical and thermal energy transport. A new undergraduate/graduate cross-listed course for nanoscale optical/thermal energy transport will be developed to convey the PI's research insight to the students with an interest in nanoscale science. Also, the CAREER program will involve a number of undergraduate and graduate students in the development of nanoscale optical-thermal analysis for different nano-optical systems. Both activities are crucial for preparing next generation engineers and scientists with expertise in nanoscale optical-thermal energy transport. In parallel with the activities in the university, the CAREER program will provide summer training for high school teachers from schools of Texas with large minority population in order to attract minority students to attend colleges and then participate in optical-thermal research. For people outside the campus, the CAREER achievement will be disseminated through an interactive website and through extensive cooperation activities with other research groups in different areas of research. In addition to these and other training activities, strong cooperation with other research groups within the University, at National Laboratories, and in small industry will accelerate both the understanding and application of nano optical-thermal energy transport to the development of next generation nano-optical devices with diminished thermal effect. These new nano-optical devices are crucial for better controlling of nano-fabrication, chemical detection, and bio-manipulation utilizing nano-optical devices.