Collaborative Research: EAGER: Generation and Manipulation of New Sources in 20-60 micron on a Chip

摘要（非技术）长波长范围内的激光辐射虽然有广泛的应用，但从未被证实。它的实用性使它的生成、操作和检测成为光子学界面临的一个关键任务。在20-60微米的长波长范围内，导波方法对辐射的产生、操纵和检测还没有任何研究，因此我们认为提出的研究将有助于开启这个新的和令人兴奋的领域。为了实现在芯片上产生长波辐射、对其进行操作和检测的总体目标，我们的目标是确定材料并构建光学差频产生装置，开发用于差频产生的紧凑激光源，并在芯片上构建集成的长波信号处理器。在芯片上产生、操纵和检测长波辐射的能力将对包括吸收光谱、成像和光通信在内的许多应用产生重大影响。拟议的研究不仅将推进芯片级集成远红外辐射系统的基础科学和技术，而且将使探索在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学方面的新应用成为可能。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供科学培训，并为圣地亚哥初中和高中的推广、教育和合作做出贡献。通过我们与甜水、普鲁斯和高科技高中的关系，我们将继续成功地吸引不同种族、性别和经济背景的学生参与科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）。波长在20到60微米之间的辐射在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学等领域有着广泛的应用。它的实用性使它的生成、操作和检测成为光子学界面临的一个关键任务。该光谱范围内的光辐射技术尚处于萌芽状态，目前的研究主要集中在自由空间的实现上。长波辐射的产生通常利用近红外激光源的频率混合，产生大约几十纳瓦的功率水平，受相位匹配和自由空间实现的相应相互作用长度的限制。此外，对长波辐射的有效探测也是一个关键的挑战。很明显，在芯片上实现导波将对推进光子学在长波长光谱范围内的发展产生巨大影响，因为它允许具有大非线性和透明度的工程混合材料结构，与工程相位匹配一起，将使长波辐射的高效产生，传输和检测成为可能。本提案的总体目标是建立芯片级集成技术，用于产生，操纵和检测波长范围为20-60微米的光辐射。具体来说，我们的目标是全面理解和实验证明：(1)具有与芯片级实现兼容的传输和高效差频产生所需特性的各种材料平台；(2)下选材料的特性，包括其非线性损伤阈值；(3)在所选材料中用于差频产生的紧凑激光源；(4)基于工程相位匹配的导波结构的设计和制造方法，以实现长波辐射的高效产生和检测。该芯片级集成长波处理器将对吸收光谱、成像和光通信等众多应用产生重大影响。拟议的研究不仅将推进芯片级集成远红外系统的基础科学和技术，而且将使探索在生物、化学、安全、物理和天文学方面的新应用成为可能。

Abstract: (Non-technical)A laser radiation with long wavelengths in the range has never been demonstrated even though it has a wide range of applications. Its usefulness makes its generation, manipulation and detection a critical task faced by the photonics community. There has not been any research on the guided wave approach to the generation, manipulation and detection of radiation in the long wavelength range of 20-60 micrometers, and therefore we feel that the proposed research will help to start this new and exciting field. To achieve the overarching goal on creating long wavelength radiation, its manipulation and detection on a chip, we aim to identify materials and construct optical difference-frequency generating devices, develop compact laser sources for difference-frequency generation, and construct integrated long wavelength signal processors on a chip. The ability to generate, manipulate and detect long wavelength radiation on a chip will have a significant impact on numerous applications including absorption spectroscopy, imaging and optical communications. The proposed research will not only advance the basic science and technology of chip-scale integrated far infrared radiation systems, but will also enable exploration of novel applications in biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy. The project will provide scientific training for students at graduate and undergraduate levels as well as contribute to outreach, education and collaborative efforts with San Diego middle and high schools. Through our relationships with the Sweetwater, Preuss, and High Tech High Schools, we will continue to successfully engage students of diverse ethnicity, gender and economic backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). (Technical) Radiation with wavelengths ranging from 20 to 60 micrometers has a wide range of applications in such fields as biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy. Its usefulness makes its generation, manipulation and detection a critical task faced by the photonics community. The state of the art of the technology in this spectral range of optical radiation is in embryonic state with the current research focused on free space realizations. The generation of long wavelength radiation typically exploits frequency mixing using near-infrared laser sources and produces power levels of about tens of nanowatts, limited by phase matching and corresponding interaction length for free space implementations. Moreover, efficient detection of long wavelength radiation also imposes a critical challenge. It is evident that guided wave realizations on a chip will have a huge impact on advancing photonics in long wavelength spectral range because it allows engineering hybrid material structures with large nonlinearities and transparency, which together with engineering phase matching will enable efficient generation, transmission and detection of long wavelength radiation. The overall goal of this proposal is to establish chip-scale integrated technology for generation, manipulation and detection of optical radiation in the wavelength range of 20-60 micrometers. Specifically, our objectives aim to comprehensively understand and experimentally demonstrate: (1) various material platforms with properties necessary for transmission and efficient difference-frequency generation compatible with chip-scale realizations, (2) characteristics of the down-selected materials, including their nonlinear damage thresholds, (3) compact laser sources for difference-frequency generation in selected materials, and (4) designs and fabrication methodology of guided wave configurations with engineered phase matching for efficient generation and detection of the long wavelength radiation. The proposed chip-scale integrated long wavelength processors will have a significant impact on numerous applications including absorption spectroscopy, imaging and optical communications. The proposed research will not only advance the basic science and technology of chip-scale integrated far infrared systems, but will also enable exploration of novel applications in biology, chemistry, security, physics, and astronomy.