Nanoantenna Optomechanics: Forces, Devices, and Sensors

计划的研究是研究各种新型的光子器件的基础上的辐射压力所产生的局部电场的高灵敏度的光学传感器的开发。该方法涉及的热-光-机械力的可重构器件的开发的综合研究。分析和实验的细节得到充分解决，并可能导致有用的设备以及新的光学科学。拟议的努力有很强的教育组成部分，包括合作研究互动代表性不足的少数民族，高中生和本科生。PI计划将计划中的研究与各级学生的纳米技术和光子学教育结合起来。拟议的研究是基于将金属纳米粒子作为光学纳米天线与微机电系统相结合，以实现传感应用的独特设备功能。该方法是采用这些纳米天线中的等离子体共振，该等离子体共振由金属中的传导电子的振荡引起，用于使微机械谐振器在期望的波长范围内光学响应，而与构成机械谐振器材料的光学透明度无关。该平台将使光和机械谐振器之间的相互作用的研究，通过光诱导力以及机械可调光电器件的调查。如果成功，拟议的研究可能对独特的光电机械传感器产生变革性影响，其灵敏度远远超过当今技术。

The planned research is to investigate various novel photonic devices based on the radiation pressure created by localized electric fields for development of high sensitivity optical sensors.The approach involves an integrated investigation of thermal-optical-mechanical forces for the development of reconfigurable devices. The analytic and experimental details are adequately addressed and may lead to useful devices as well as new optical science. The proposed effort has strong educational components including collaborative research interactions for underrepresented minorities, high school students and undergrad students. The PI intends to integrate the planned research with student education of nanotechnology and photonics to students at all levels.The proposed research is based on integration of metallic nanoparticles that act as optical nano-antennae with micro-electro-mechanical systems for unique device functionality for sensing applications. The approach is to employ the plasmonic resonances in these nano-antennae arising from the oscillations of the conduction electrons in metals for making micromechanical resonators optically responsive at the desired wavelength range independent of the optical transparency of constituent mechanical resonator materials. This platform will enable the study of interaction between light and mechanical resonators through optically induced forces as well as the investigation of mechanically tunable optoelectronic devices. If successful, the proposed research could have a transformative impact on unique opto-electro-mechanical sensors with sensitivities far exceeding present-day technologies.