COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Nanobeam Lasers

本研究的目标是发展低阈值、高开关速度、可编程/可重构的单模纳米激光器。该计划将解决与纳米激光器相关的重要问题，包括电注入和可调谐性。该计划的智力优势在于对亚波长尺度纳米腔中的光学过程的基本理解，材料生长技术的发展，以及具有以下特征的纳米激光器的演示：i）物理覆盖区比现有技术小20-30倍，ii）电注入，iii）宽可调谐性（数十纳米）。光子晶体纳米梁腔，基于光波导穿孔与1-D晶格的孔，使有效的控制自发辐射在亚波长尺度。此外，它们的物理覆盖区与光波导的物理覆盖区完全相同，因此，它们代表了最小可能的高Q腔几何形状。最后，通过利用它们的灵活性，可以实现在宽波长范围内的动态波长可调谐性，而稳态功耗可以忽略不计。拟议计划的更广泛影响是开发用于高效光产生，收集和定位的技术和设备，应用范围从光学和量子光通信到生命科学和生物化学传感。该计划为学生提供了一个独特的跨学科研究和教育机会，包括激光理论和设计，外延材料生长，纳米纤维和器件表征。该计划的一个重要组成部分是推广：团队成员将继续与波士顿科学博物馆合作，参与高中物理课程的开发，并参与本科生研究经验计划。

The objective of this research is the development of low-threshold, high-switching speed, programmable/reconfigurable, single-mode nanolasers. The proposed transformative program will address important problems that pertain to nanolasers including electrical injection and tunability.The intellectual merits of the proposed program are in the fundamental understanding of optical processes in sub-wavelength scale nanocavities, development of material growth techniques, and demonstration of nanolasers with following features: i) physical footprint 20-30 times smaller than state-of-the-art, ii) electrical injection, iii) wide tunability (tens of nanometers). The photonic crystal nanobeam cavities, based on an optical waveguide perforated with 1-D lattice of holes, enable efficient control of spontaneous emission at sub-wavelength-scale. Furthermore, their physical footprint is exactly the same as that of an optical waveguide, and therefore, they represent the smallest possible high-Q cavity geometry. Finally, by taking advantage of their flexibility, dynamical wavelength tunability over a wide wavelength range, with negligible steady-state power consumption, can be achieved. The broader impact of the proposed program is the development of techniques and devices for efficient light generation, collection, and localization, with applications ranging from optical and quantum-optical communication to life sciences and bio-chemical sensing. The program represents a unique interdisciplinary research and educational opportunity for students that encompass laser theory and design, epitaxial material growth, nanofabrication, and device characterization. An essential component of the program is outreach: the team members will continue their collaboration with Museum of Science in Boston, their involvement in the development of high-school physics curricula, and participation in Research Experience for Undergraduates program.