Design of impedance matched infrared antennas using optical vector near-field mapping

目的：提高天线耦合红外探测器的灵敏度。我们将获得相关的设计参数的理解，并随后设计阻抗匹配的天线传感器组合。我们利用我们新开发的高空间分辨率，三维探头技术来测量电场附近的红外天线。这使我们能够，第一次，以确定作为位置的函数的红外频率阻抗。结合迭代的设计-制造-测试方法，这将使红外阻抗匹配组件的开发成为可能。智力优势：我们将射频网络分析仪的概念扩展到频率的九个数量级。这一经过验证的进步产生了实验工具，这些工具可以将天线耦合传感器的性能扩展到类似的频率范围，使整个无源低频电子器件领域在红外范围内工作。红外天线已经被提出用于广泛的应用，包括纳米级化学和光子传感器、近场显微镜和用于能量收集的光学整流天线。这样的设备将改变光学领域，使传感设备的纳米尺度的尺寸与数量级的增强灵敏度，响应度和可靠性相比，传统的optical techniques.Broader影响：拟议的研究大大扩展了经典电子学的频率范围，同时作为一个动态的基础和参与学习环境中的每一个PI？机构职能体系这三个PI都有一个代表性不足的学生导师的既定记录，所有三个参与科学和工程推广到K-12学生和本科生的研究参与计划。

Objective:We seek to increase sensitivity of antenna-coupled infrared detectors by an order of magnitude. We will gain understanding of relevant design parameters, and subsequently design impedance-matched antenna-sensor combinations. We utilize our newly developed high-spatial-resolution, three-dimensional probe techniques to measure electric fields in the vicinity of the infrared antennas. This enables us, for the first time, to determine the infrared-frequency impedance as a function of position. Combined with an iterative design-fabrication-test approach, this will enable development of infrared impedance-matching components.Intellectual merit:We scale up the concept of a radiofrequency network analyzer by nine orders of magnitude in frequency. This proven advance yields experimental tools needed to extend the performance of antenna-coupled sensors by a similar scale in frequency, making the entire field of passive low-5frequency electronics operational in the infrared range. Infrared antennas have been proposed for a wide range of applications, including nanoscale chemical and photon sensors, nearfield microscopy, and optical rectennas for energy-harvesting. Such devices would transform the field of optics, enabling sensing devices of nano-scale dimensions with order-of-magnitude enhancement in sensitivity, responsivity, and reliability compared to conventional optical techniques.Broader impact:The proposed research greatly extends the frequency range of classical electronics, while serving as the foundation for a dynamic and engaging learning environment at each of the PIs? institutions. All three PIs have an established track record of mentorship of underrepresented students, and all three participate in programs for science and engineering outreach to K-12 students and research participation of undergraduate students.