EAGER: Electrodynamic modeling of nanophotonic structures with two-level systems

摘要标题：用于模拟混合光电子器件量子效应的电动力学模拟软件。在光电子器件的设计中，非技术性的电动力学仿真软件是必不可少的。它用于预测和优化设备性能。传统的模拟软件求解控制光传播的麦克斯韦方程。它是为经典设备设计的，这意味着它不包括量子效应。近年来，量子效应在小型化光学器件中变得越来越重要。例如，量子点，一种可以吸收或发射单个光子的元素，可以用作极具能效的开关。这样的装置不能使用现有的电动力学模拟工具来建模。该项目将开发一种新的模拟工具，将量子效应纳入经典的电动力学模拟。为了实现这一目标，该项目将研究一种新的量子散射理论，该理论可以与经典的麦克斯韦方程对接。该项目的结果包括一个通用模拟器，允许科学家和工程师有效地探索下一代光电子器件的量子效应。初步研究表明，这一新设计空间中耐人寻味的量子效应可以用于快速安全的通信、可再生能源和医学成像。这些技术领域具有显著的社会效益。软件开发还将带来重大的教育好处，特别是通过一个在线开源平台。通过综合研究和教育计划，将为K-12的学生创造学习光科学和科学编程的新机会。该项目将开发一个通用的、开源的模拟工具，用于模拟混合光子器件。混合器件将复杂的纳米光子结构与量子二能级系统相结合。这些量子元件实现了非传统功能，如低功率光开关、量子信息处理和动态波前产生。然而，混合器件的数值模拟是非常困难的，因为麦克斯韦方程和薛定谔方程都必须同时求解。现在确实存在分析方法，但它们只适用于低维问题，如腔和波导中的量子电动力学。该项目将开发一种用于混合装置通用建模的数值工具。它将首先发展一个非微扰量子散射理论来模拟三维空间中Fock态光子的传输。该理论明确地包含了光子的空间自由度，这使得它可以直接集成到经典的电动力学模拟中。在此理论基础上，将实现数值模拟软件，并作为开源项目发布。

Abstract Title: Electrodynamic simulation software for modelling the quantum effects in hybrid optoelectronic devices. Nontechnical Electrodynamic simulation software is indispensable in designing optoelectronic devices. It is used to predict and optimize device performance. Conventional simulation software solves the Maxwell's equations, which govern the propagation of light. It is designed for classical devices, which means that it does not include quantum effects. In recent years, quantum effects have become increasingly important in miniaturized optical devices. For example, a quantum dot, an element that can absorb or emit a single photon, can be used as an extremely energy-efficient switch. Such devices cannot be modelled using existing electrodynamic simulation tools. The project will develop a new simulation tool to incorporate quantum effects into classical electrodynamic simulation. To achieve this goal, the project will research a new quantum scattering theory that can interface with the classical Maxwell's equations. The result of the project includes a general-purpose simulator that allows scientists and engineers to efficiently explore quantum effects for next-generation optoelectronic devices. Preliminary studies show that intriguing quantum effects in this new design space could be used in fast and secure communication, renewable energy sources, and medical imaging. These technological areas are of significant societal benefits. The software development will also bring significant educational benefits, particularly through an online open-source platform. New opportunities will be created for K-12 students to learn light sciences as well as scientific programming through an integrated research and education program.TechnicalThis project will develop a general-purpose, open-source simulation tool for modeling hybrid photonic devices. Hybrid devices integrate complex nanophotonic structures with quantum two-level systems. These quantum elements enable unconventional functionalities, such as low-power optical switching, quantum information processing, and dynamic wave-front generation. However, the numerical modeling of hybrid devices is extremely difficult because both the Maxwell's equations and the Schrodinger equation must be solved simultaneously. Analytical methods do exist today, but they are only suitable for low dimensional problems such as those in cavity and waveguide quantum electrodynamics. The project will develop a numerical tool for generic modelling of hybrid devices. It will first develop a non-perturbative quantum scattering theory to model the transport of Fock-state photons in three dimensional spaces. The theory explicitly includes the spatial degrees of freedom of photons, which makes it possible to be directly integrated into classical electrodynamic simulation. Based on the theory, numerical simulation software will be implemented and will be released as an open-source project.