Transformative Concepts and Investigations for Piezoelectric Resonance Defined Devices

本研究的目的是探索压电谐振频率下非线性机械-光电耦合过程的机制，并开发一系列具有特殊性能的新型频率选择性信号处理器件，如超低功率微波传感器和超快/超紧凑光子调制器。该方法是通过有限元分析建模和在压电谐振器上进行一系列精心设计的电光和微波光子实验，研究共振时极化和晶格声子耦合现象的控制原理。该项目的智力优势：结合数值和实验研究将揭示非中心对称压电晶体谐振器中结合应变梯度，局部极化和位移电流贡献的谐振过程的定义参数。该项目将导致对共振时非线性多物理场耦合过程的基本理解，并开发工程策略，以捕获压电谐振定义的电磁互连设备的巨大潜力。项目的边界影响：该项目是跨学科的，需要广泛的知识，包括固态物理，材料科学和电气工程。因此，它为研究生提供了良好的研究和教育/培训机会。pi一直并将继续积极吸引和指导本科生进行研究。该项目将有助于开发新的研究生课程，并加强UTSA的电子设备新博士课程。UTSA是一所西班牙裔服务学院，拥有快速增长的工程研究项目和丰富的少数族裔学生。

The objective of this research is to explore mechanisms of nonlinear mechanical-optoelectronic coupling processes at frequencies defined by piezoelectric resonances and to develop a family of novel frequency elective signal processing devices that have exceptional properties, such as ultralow power microwave sensors and ultrafast/ultracompact photonic modulators. The approach is to study the principles governing the polarization and lattice phonon coupled phenomena at resonance, both by finite element analysis modeling and by conducting a series of carefully designed electrooptic and microwave-photonic experiments on piezoelectric resonators. Intellectual Merits of the Project: The combined numerical and experimental investigations will reveal the defining parameters of the resonance process that combines contributions of the strain gradient, the local polarization, and the displacement current in a non-centre-symmetrical piezoelectric crystal-resonator. The project will lead to an essential understanding of the nonlinear multi-physics coupling process at resonance and to the development of engineering strategies that capture the substantial potential of the piezoelectric resonance defined electromagnetic interconnecting devices.Boarder Impacts of the Project: The project is interdisciplinary requiring a broad range of knowledge including solid state physics, material science, and electrical engineering. It thus provides excellent research and education/training opportunities for graduate students. The PIs have been, and will continue to be, active in attracting and mentoring undergraduate students in research. The project will help the development of new graduate courses and strengthens the new PhD program in electronic devices at UTSA that is a Hispanic serving-institute with a fast growing engineering research program and a rich pool of underrepresented minority students.